Overhype

Overhype

by Mike Masnick





Sex, Bluetooth, Made Up Fads... And The Lack Of Journalistic Inquiry

from the hmmm... dept

About a year ago, we first wrote about the practice of "toothing", noting that it sounded very much like a made-up fad, or (at best) something a few geeks were hoping would actually become a fad. It involved using Bluetooth on your phones to anonymously hookup with other commuters for sex. If it sounded ridiculous, that's because it was. As more news sources picked up on the story, we expressed more skepticism of the idea, noting that no one seemed to confirm any of this. The story died out, but was brought back to life today by someone asking whatever happened to toothing. A little attention from Slashdot, and the person who created it admitted that it was entirely a hoax. Of course, we weren't the only ones who thought so. Others posted similar things noting that the whole story seemed unlikely (have you ever gotten Bluetooth to work on your phone?) and extremely weakly supported. Yet, Wired, the BBC and Reuters all ran stories on it, because it was too good of a story to bother fact check even remotely. Meanwhile we keep hearing stories about how bloggers can't be journalists because they don't have the same standards?

9 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 

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  1. No Subject Given

    by Anonymous Coward - Apr 4th, 2005 @ 7:20pm

    why the have you ever got bluetooth working on your phone comment? Bluetooth works great on my phone, not had a problem at all.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Be careful what you wish for

    by dorpus - Apr 4th, 2005 @ 9:57pm

    Asides from issues of credibility, there is lots of news out there that is either unreported, or not widely reported, because it talks about things people don't want to hear. If there are no ethical constraints, it may not create a desirable situation. As irresponsible as mainstream media is, there are levels of fear-mongering they will not stoop to.



    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. hi

    by fahtot - Jan 10th, 2008 @ 6:08pm

    hi send me viedo pic plaese

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. yo

    by WHATS SUE WOOING WORLD - Jan 30th, 2008 @ 11:08am

    who made it up the geeks?or what?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. by Anonymous Coward - Mar 1st, 2008 @ 5:01am

    thanksssssss

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. FAD SUCKS

    by jnsdjahsbuvfvc - Jun 25th, 2008 @ 6:10pm

    ANYONE THAT FOLLOWS A FAD MUST DIE

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. Re: FAD SUCKS

    by Anonymous Coward - Nov 16th, 2008 @ 10:59am

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. sex

    by khaled - Dec 2nd, 2008 @ 2:31pm

    I want to bowl format phone films

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  9. by Anonymous Coward - Feb 22nd, 2009 @ 10:04pm

    بدون تنسيق في الكلام ومقدمات ليس لها اي لزمه
    ابغى التعارف الجادr0533351203@hotmail.com

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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