Headline Hoaxes by EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:11
From Big Foot to UFO sightings, from fake bloggers to celebrity pretences - here are some of the biggest cover-ups, hoaxes and false alarms that hit the headlines in the recent times
From Big Foot to UFO sightings, from fake bloggers to celebrity pretences - here are some of the biggest cover-ups, hoaxes and false alarms that hit the headlines in the recent times
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:11
Big Foot howling
In January 2012, two videos of howling noises were recorded in Canada, leading some to believe it may be a big foot, or yeti.The Huffington Post reported the first video was posted on January 13 and it recorded strange sounds in a remote forest north-east of Edmonton. The noises, which sound like they may be just an elaborate hoax, have racked up more than 500,000 video views online.
Big Foot howling
In January 2012, two videos of howling noises were recorded in Canada, leading some to believe it may be a big foot, or yeti.The Huffington Post reported the first video was posted on January 13 and it recorded strange sounds in a remote forest north-east of Edmonton. The noises, which sound like they may be just an elaborate hoax, have racked up more than 500,000 video views online.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:13
Alien in the woods
In October 2011, a bizarre video emerged from the Amazonian rainforest showing what appeared to be a small 'alien creature' standing next to a flash of light. The footage showed the creature standing just a few metres from the orb of light. Paranormal writer Michael Cohen said the footage may be among the best proof that aliens exist but critics are not convinced.
Alien in the woods
In October 2011, a bizarre video emerged from the Amazonian rainforest showing what appeared to be a small 'alien creature' standing next to a flash of light. The footage showed the creature standing just a few metres from the orb of light. Paranormal writer Michael Cohen said the footage may be among the best proof that aliens exist but critics are not convinced.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:14
'UFO' found on ocean floor
In July 2011, an ocean exploration team led by Swedish researcher Peter Lindberg found what some suggested was a crashed flying saucer. Lindberg explained to local media that his crew discovered, on the 300-foot-deep ocean floor between Finland and Sweden, "a large circle, about 60 feet in diameter". It's not clear what to make of this report, or the video of the sonar scan that shows the object, but Swedish tabloids and Internet UFO buffs had a field day. It might be a natural feature formation, or possibly a sunken, round man-made object.
'UFO' found on ocean floor
In July 2011, an ocean exploration team led by Swedish researcher Peter Lindberg found what some suggested was a crashed flying saucer. Lindberg explained to local media that his crew discovered, on the 300-foot-deep ocean floor between Finland and Sweden, "a large circle, about 60 feet in diameter". It's not clear what to make of this report, or the video of the sonar scan that shows the object, but Swedish tabloids and Internet UFO buffs had a field day. It might be a natural feature formation, or possibly a sunken, round man-made object.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:15
'Bownessie' is a tyre?
A mythical beast rumoured to be lurking under UKs Lake Windermere was in 2011 found to be nothing but a floating old tyre. The spoiler came in March, a month after the giant four-humped Bownessie was purportedly photographed emerging from the depths of Lake Windermere near Bowness in Cumbria. The grainy photo, taken by 24-year-old kayaker Tom Pickles, had become a worldwide sensation and was called the most conclusive proof of the existence of the monster. However, the Daily Mail reported that a family holidaying by the lake found something which cast suspicions on the beast theory. John Phillips, 46, who was at Windermere with his wife and three daughters, spotted a large tyre cut open which when floating on water looks a lot like the four-humped creature in Pickles photo.
'Bownessie' is a tyre?
A mythical beast rumoured to be lurking under UKs Lake Windermere was in 2011 found to be nothing but a floating old tyre. The spoiler came in March, a month after the giant four-humped Bownessie was purportedly photographed emerging from the depths of Lake Windermere near Bowness in Cumbria. The grainy photo, taken by 24-year-old kayaker Tom Pickles, had become a worldwide sensation and was called the most conclusive proof of the existence of the monster. However, the Daily Mail reported that a family holidaying by the lake found something which cast suspicions on the beast theory. John Phillips, 46, who was at Windermere with his wife and three daughters, spotted a large tyre cut open which when floating on water looks a lot like the four-humped creature in Pickles photo.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:16
It's a bird, it's a plane... it's a failed missile
A failed test missile launch was the real cause of what many believed was a UFO in the skies over Norway in 2009. Leading Russian defence analyst Pavel Felgenhauer described the incident as a major embarrassment for the military.
It's a bird, it's a plane... it's a failed missile
A failed test missile launch was the real cause of what many believed was a UFO in the skies over Norway in 2009. Leading Russian defence analyst Pavel Felgenhauer described the incident as a major embarrassment for the military.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:17
Close encounters of the 'Big Foot' kind
In March 2011, American Thomas Byers claimed he took a footage of Big Foot (Or Knobby, as he's apparently known). Byers claimed he was driving along the highway with a friend when they "observed a large, upright, brown, furry animal between six and seven feet tall come up out of the field beside the road and then it ran across the road in front of the pick up truck we were in." Critics of the video have been quick to point out that it shows little more than a blurry silhouette; and the creature's 'snarl', sounds suspiciously like a man yelling from within a bear suit.
Close encounters of the 'Big Foot' kind
In March 2011, American Thomas Byers claimed he took a footage of Big Foot (Or Knobby, as he's apparently known). Byers claimed he was driving along the highway with a friend when they "observed a large, upright, brown, furry animal between six and seven feet tall come up out of the field beside the road and then it ran across the road in front of the pick up truck we were in." Critics of the video have been quick to point out that it shows little more than a blurry silhouette; and the creature's 'snarl', sounds suspiciously like a man yelling from within a bear suit.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:21
A gay girl who was actually a straight man
In 2011, a mysterious blog titled A Gay Girl in Damascus took the Internet by storm. It was purportedly being written by a young Arab lesbian blogger who was kidnapped in Syria. However, it was later revealed as a hoax. The blogs were written not by a gay girl in Damascus, but a middle-aged American man based in Scotland who later posted an apology to the blog.
A gay girl who was actually a straight man
In 2011, a mysterious blog titled A Gay Girl in Damascus took the Internet by storm. It was purportedly being written by a young Arab lesbian blogger who was kidnapped in Syria. However, it was later revealed as a hoax. The blogs were written not by a gay girl in Damascus, but a middle-aged American man based in Scotland who later posted an apology to the blog.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:22
Steve Jobs dead...not!
On September 11, 2011, broadcaster CBS tweeted from its What's Trending account: "Reports say that Steve Jobs has passed away. Stay tuned for more updates." The tweet sparked a frenzy on the web with tech bloggers rushing to get to the bottom of the rumour. However, CBS later retracted the tweet saying "Apologies- reports of Steve Job's death completely unconfirmed. Live on." CBS News has now severed its relationship with the organisation responsible for publishing the tweets.
Steve Jobs dead...not!
On September 11, 2011, broadcaster CBS tweeted from its What's Trending account: "Reports say that Steve Jobs has passed away. Stay tuned for more updates." The tweet sparked a frenzy on the web with tech bloggers rushing to get to the bottom of the rumour. However, CBS later retracted the tweet saying "Apologies- reports of Steve Job's death completely unconfirmed. Live on." CBS News has now severed its relationship with the organisation responsible for publishing the tweets.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:23
9/11 again
September 11, 2011 also saw false tweets from major news organisations about a plane crash at New York's Ground Zero, causing widespread online chatter and even piquing the interest of the FBI. The NBC News Twitter feed - which has more than130,000 followers - was hacked by a group that claimed a hijacked plane, in a fresh attack, had crashed into the site where New York's twin towers were destroyed in September 11 attacks 10 years ago.
9/11 again
September 11, 2011 also saw false tweets from major news organisations about a plane crash at New York's Ground Zero, causing widespread online chatter and even piquing the interest of the FBI. The NBC News Twitter feed - which has more than130,000 followers - was hacked by a group that claimed a hijacked plane, in a fresh attack, had crashed into the site where New York's twin towers were destroyed in September 11 attacks 10 years ago.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:24
The rise and fall of Phoenix
In one of the most elaborate celebrity cover-ups of all time, Joaquin Phoenix unexpectedly announced in late 2008 that he had retired from acting to pursue a rapping career, and that the forthcoming 'Two Lovers' would be his last film. Appearing on the David Letterman show in 2009, he seemed incoherent and was unresponsive towards Letterman's questions about the film and his career plans. But Phoenix appeared on Late Show again on September 22, 2010 and revealed that his "retirement" and eccentric behaviour were hoxes - for the benefit of a mockumentary 'I'm Still Here'.
The rise and fall of Phoenix
In one of the most elaborate celebrity cover-ups of all time, Joaquin Phoenix unexpectedly announced in late 2008 that he had retired from acting to pursue a rapping career, and that the forthcoming 'Two Lovers' would be his last film. Appearing on the David Letterman show in 2009, he seemed incoherent and was unresponsive towards Letterman's questions about the film and his career plans. But Phoenix appeared on Late Show again on September 22, 2010 and revealed that his "retirement" and eccentric behaviour were hoxes - for the benefit of a mockumentary 'I'm Still Here'.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:26
Lynx sued for lack of sex appeal
A story about Lynx deodorant smelt a bit fishy back in 2009. Reports emerged that an Indian man was taking the company to court because he had used their products for seven years but had failed to attract the opposite sex as their ads suggested.The story was picked up by news agencies across the globe until it was found to be a complete hoax fabricated by an Indian website called 'Faking News'.
Lynx sued for lack of sex appeal
A story about Lynx deodorant smelt a bit fishy back in 2009. Reports emerged that an Indian man was taking the company to court because he had used their products for seven years but had failed to attract the opposite sex as their ads suggested.The story was picked up by news agencies across the globe until it was found to be a complete hoax fabricated by an Indian website called 'Faking News'.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:28
Pauline's nude photo scandal
The media was in overdrive in 2009 when alleged photos of a young half-naked Pauline Hanson hit the news. The raunchy pictures made world headlines, with coverage in Britain, New Zealand, Asia and South Africa. The former One Nation leader slammed the pictures as complete fakes and vowed to sue for defamation. The media debated the legitimacy of the photos while News Ltd papers, who broke the story, stood by their original source. The photos were later proven to be fake and Ms Hanson successfully settled her defamation case on confidential terms.
Pauline's nude photo scandal
The media was in overdrive in 2009 when alleged photos of a young half-naked Pauline Hanson hit the news. The raunchy pictures made world headlines, with coverage in Britain, New Zealand, Asia and South Africa. The former One Nation leader slammed the pictures as complete fakes and vowed to sue for defamation. The media debated the legitimacy of the photos while News Ltd papers, who broke the story, stood by their original source. The photos were later proven to be fake and Ms Hanson successfully settled her defamation case on confidential terms.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:29
Beyonce's bumpgate
Not a hoax in the traditional sense, Beyonce's pregnant belly managed to give birth to a roaring controversy nonetheless. The Queen B appeared on Molly Meldrum's Sunday Night program where the cameras appeared to show her bump squishing and moving as she sat down, sparking rumours it was a prosthetic. However, Beyonce slammed the report and a detailed report by Channel 7 put the rumours to rest.
Beyonce's bumpgate
Not a hoax in the traditional sense, Beyonce's pregnant belly managed to give birth to a roaring controversy nonetheless. The Queen B appeared on Molly Meldrum's Sunday Night program where the cameras appeared to show her bump squishing and moving as she sat down, sparking rumours it was a prosthetic. However, Beyonce slammed the report and a detailed report by Channel 7 put the rumours to rest.
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:30
Denton tests media's gullibility
A survey about the gullibility of Australians was a media hit a few years back with newspapers and tv current affairs shows running the story across various outlets. When the article was later proven to be an elaborate hoax created by Andrew Denton's production 'Hungry Beast' the media hit back, slamming their actions as 'cheap and mischievous.'
Denton tests media's gullibility
A survey about the gullibility of Australians was a media hit a few years back with newspapers and tv current affairs shows running the story across various outlets. When the article was later proven to be an elaborate hoax created by Andrew Denton's production 'Hungry Beast' the media hit back, slamming their actions as 'cheap and mischievous.'
EloraM23 2012/02/05 02:31
Does anyone else have any other headline hoaxes they'd like to share?
What are your thoughts?
Does anyone else have any other headline hoaxes they'd like to share?
What are your thoughts?
Princepioneer 2012/02/05 02:50
All these points to the fact that it is better to be convinced than then confuse the populace with supersticious believes.
All these points to the fact that it is better to be convinced than then confuse the populace with supersticious believes.
Lelsi 2012/02/05 12:55
I've heard of most of them, it's funny how people believe in everything you tell them.
I've heard of most of them, it's funny how people believe in everything you tell them.
Replies: 22
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