The New York Times has a fascinating article which follows a false-news Tweet by an idiot with 40 Twitter followers that became nationwide false news which — 24 hours later — was echoed in a Tweet from Donald Trump.
The Times follows the original Tweet step-by-step as it moves through the social-media ecosystem, picking up momentum, and framed with more credibility and larger audiences at each step.
There are many aspects of this story that are infuriating — but none more than Eric Tucker, (the moron who started all this) could have phoned the bus company and checked his assumptions before pressing SEND.
When asked about this Tucker’s response was ““I’m also a very busy businessman and I don’t have time to fact-check everything that I put out there...”
Well — if he had time to take three separate photos of busses, assemble them into a single graphic, and write/send his Tweet — he can’t really be a “very busy businessman.”
The times says Mr. Tucker is a partner in a marketing company. I wonder if he is this sloppy with the facts when he provides marketing services and advice to his clients.
Message to Mr. Tucker:
If you haven’t checked the facts,
Shut.
The.
Fuck.
Up,
A-hole!
