Save the Tree Octopus 11/07/17

“Save the Tree Octopus”



Image: Wikimedia Commons

This week we covered the effects of the spreading of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and bullshit. The Tree Octopus reading was created with the intent of demonstrating the spreading of content from user to user. In the article it described a tree-inhabiting octopus and surrounded its fictitious existence with a few real octopus facts. Although the “tree octopus” is not a real thing, the author sprinkled some facts and edited pictures to fool readers into sharing the content. The point of the article although satirical, was to see if the “consumer” or reader would possess the ability to digest information with sound and informed judgement.

Misinformation, Disinformation, Fake News, or Bullshit?
Answer: A little bit of everything!
What the author did here was an artfully done precursor to the Onion. This article was a masterpiece of integrating all four descriptions in the reading.

Now the question is, does the American public have the ability to judge and discern between misinformation, disinformation, fake news, or bullshit? Only time will tell.

Source:

Comments

  1. ETNovember 10, 2017 at 11:17 AM

    I actually remember when this website came out because one of my science teachers showed it to us. She used its new popularity as a teachable moment where she taught us the important of choosing reliable sources. This was one of the prime examples that people could buy a website and not be legitimate. Everyone in the early internet days were buying domains for their names, to chat on forums, and to have websites for awareness of topics. Websites like these broke the mold.

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