Mistakes happen all the time in the world of reporting news. That’s what you get when dealing with humans telling you stories. It’s one thing to make a mistake, though, and another to completely make shit up.
Yet that’s exactly what happened earlier this week when British tabloid The Daily Mail quoted a Mr. Robert Hart-Fletcher as having said:
Gaming is a phenomenon that’s been around quite a while. Now we are starting to see the effects in behaviour of young people.
In the past people had genuine relationships with empathy and compassion which has been replaced by this virtual relationship where they are not necessarily having to show empathy or compassion. That’s starting perhaps to change the way they interact on a day to day basis.
It made for good reading, so much so that the BBC jumped on the story and used the quotes as well. Problem being Hart-Fletcher refutes ever having said that stuff, and has the audio recording of the interview to prove it. He goes so far as to accuse The Daily Mail of “completely fabricating” the story.
While the BBC has since updated its story to reflect this, The Daily Mail’s piece remains unchanged.
thejiveman
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:19 PMUnfortunately this sort of reporting will never go away. Lets leave the daily mail be read by the gullible and make up our own mind.
James Mac
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:57 PMI don’t know about anyone else… but when I’m in the UK, I read The Daily Mail for the boobs.
Toolboy
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 9:03 PMWait!
I was in London just last week…why couldn’t you have posted this information a week ago?
*sad face*
N0NEoftheAB0VE
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 9:31 PMClearly that guy in the photo was looking at the same page
Gleno
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 9:09 AMthat guy is none other than Wayne Rooney, who actually probably doesn’t experience empathy or compassion :p
Adam
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 8:50 AMYou’re thinking of The Sun. No boobs in the Daily Mail.
El Kapitan
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 9:29 AMAu contraire, I believe the guy who fabricated the article is totally a boob.
Benny
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:19 PMIn the past people had genuine relationships with empathy and compassion which has been replaced by this virtual relationship where they are not necessarily having to show empathy or compassion. That’s starting perhaps to change the way they interact on a day to day basis.
This is one of the stupidest quotes I have ever read.
Braaains
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 5:10 PMIs it still a quote if the person being quoted never actually said it?
Trjn
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 5:34 PMWell, somebody said it. It was just the person doing the attributing instead of the person who was attributed.
PiratePete1911
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 6:48 PM“Don’t believe everything you read on the internet” – George Washington
Toolboy
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 9:06 PM*Giggles uncontrollably*
michael xion
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 1:24 PMActually, I think you’ll find that quote is attributed to Abraham Lincoln.
James Mac
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 5:11 PMGames aren’t the only cause surely?
I mean, they used to have national service, parents who disciplined their children, community centres that have been closed, multiple parent families, stay at home mums… there are a number of things that have changed between generations.
FRIENDLYUNIT
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:27 PMIn the past people had genuine articles with factual and accurate information which has been replaced by this fabrication where they are not necessarily having to show credibility or ethical behaviour. Then they took an arrow to the knee.
maaaaaat daaaaaamon
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:45 PMI found it amusing until the last bit. Now I hate you for it.
bazuden
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 5:10 PMTook an arrow IN the knee
PuppyLicks
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:47 PMSo can we expect to see that story on the Herald Sun’s front page tomorrow?
I think so.
Femto
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 5:30 PMYou took the words out of my mouth!
mount-eerie
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:50 PMNo great surprise here. The DM is known for its terrible lack of professionalism.
Average
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:54 PMUpon reading “NNNNNNGGGGGG….So…..much…..conjecture….”
Debs
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 5:00 PMLol! I liken UK tabloids to the Onion… except not as funny, and they’re trying to pass as true.
Reign
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 6:33 PMTo be fair, it’s the Daily Mail – which everyone over there recognises as crap.
jellyarrow
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 7:53 PMDifference between being crap, which could be used to describe a lot of media outlets, and making up complete lies.
Tom
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 7:14 PMWait…Since when did the Daily Mail have words??!?
Thermal Ions
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 10:39 PMThat’s what that black squiggly stuff you see before you turn the first page. Oh and there’s some more after the next page (assuming it got turned of course).
Captain Pajama Shark
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:02 PMFirst two sentences…. Interesting.
Rest… Bulldust.
“Gaming is a phenomenon that’s been around quite a while”
For me, gaming isn’t so much of a phenomenon, as it is a natural progression of our instincts to compete and be rewarded.
“Now we are starting to see the effects in behaviour of young people”
I Like this, so much to think about.
DarthDVD_AU
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 3:34 AMThe Daily Mail… The “FOX NEWS” of newspapers.