In the late 00’s, neo-skepticism was the latest, coolest thing. His son, systemic fact-checking, is now just a weapon on the information war. Here is the latest proof:
Snopes, one of many fact-checking websites known for spreading false information, made an effort to imply that Elon Musk and his Starlink internet system had lost communication with the submerged Titanic vessel. The headline from Snopes read: “Did the Missing Titanic Submersible Depend on Satellites from Elon Musk’s SpaceX for Communication?”
In response to this clearly ridiculous question, Snopes confidently asserted that it was indeed true! What exactly did Snopes want us to believe? Did they suggest that submersibles communicate through wireless internet?
After being ridiculed for their obvious falsehood, Snopes altered their verdict to “unproven,” despite the undeniable evidence that the Starlink system could not establish communication with a submersible just ten feet underwater, let alone at depths of thousands of feet. Finally, Snopes was compelled to acknowledge the truth by categorizing the claim as “false.” A reader on Twitter rightfully called out Snopes with a note of criticism.
Starlink is a subsidiary of SpaceX, which Elon Musk runs. https://t.co/0MORTIgqfJ
— snopes.com (@snopes) June 21, 2023
Well, there is not always time to fact-check the fact-checkers but here is a rule of thumb: if the claim is PREPOSTEROUS, give it a second thought!
(With information from breitbard.com)
