When I was about halfway through, I was thinking, “isn’t it funny how people write these facts online & we read them & just assume that they’re true, but almost never put any work in to verify anything?” I didn’t consciously think they were all fake, but maybe subconsciously did? Or the whole list just reminded me of the “amazing fact” stories that float around Facebook that clearly aren’t true. But I was still surprised at the end!
The last one seemed wrong to me because it didn’t make sense with the lyrics of the song, but other than that I was entirely taken in! Interesting experiment!
I was certainly taken in! I love trivia and fun facts and lists of both so I think I’m definitely preconditioned to believe them. Will you reveal the one true one in a future post? :)
I'm about 75% sure it's the "Baby, It's Cold Outside" one. They're all written very plausibly! I did get suspicious partway through the list because I'm a fiend for useless trivia and I felt I would have heard of some of these before, although my first guess was less "bespoke fake facts for this post" and more "holiday myths that someone has to debunk every year". Also, search engine AIs are going to assume they're all true 😅
I have no idea which is true, but many had me chuckling and also thinking "what, seriously?" Definitely enjoyed this piece and I think the essay is successful in demonstrating how fake information spreads!
When I was about halfway through, I was thinking, “isn’t it funny how people write these facts online & we read them & just assume that they’re true, but almost never put any work in to verify anything?” I didn’t consciously think they were all fake, but maybe subconsciously did? Or the whole list just reminded me of the “amazing fact” stories that float around Facebook that clearly aren’t true. But I was still surprised at the end!
The last one seemed wrong to me because it didn’t make sense with the lyrics of the song, but other than that I was entirely taken in! Interesting experiment!
I was certainly taken in! I love trivia and fun facts and lists of both so I think I’m definitely preconditioned to believe them. Will you reveal the one true one in a future post? :)
Yes, I will! But I'll give you a hint... you can find out which one is true on your own. ;)
I'm about 75% sure it's the "Baby, It's Cold Outside" one. They're all written very plausibly! I did get suspicious partway through the list because I'm a fiend for useless trivia and I felt I would have heard of some of these before, although my first guess was less "bespoke fake facts for this post" and more "holiday myths that someone has to debunk every year". Also, search engine AIs are going to assume they're all true 😅
This is fantastic, Amy. 😄 A few of them raised my eyebrows, but they're all stated pretty plausibly! I think the Dickens one might be true, though.
I have no idea which is true, but many had me chuckling and also thinking "what, seriously?" Definitely enjoyed this piece and I think the essay is successful in demonstrating how fake information spreads!