Editing 1283: Headlines
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
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− | + | This comic satirizes the sensationalist language used in Internet headlines. Many websites generate ad revenue for getting visitors ("getting more clicks"), so some unscrupulous editors seek to manipulate their readers using tantalizing yet formulaic and crass headlines, designed to attract readers rather than summarize the article's contents. You might recognize this technique from those ridiculous text advertisements — "local mom discovers 1 weird tip to reduce belly fat." The numbers shown at the headline are also often wrong and not covered by the article. | |
− | + | Signs of a dishonest headline include giving undue weight to trivial topics, or appealing to readers' emotions or needs (fear, outrage, pity, lust, laziness) instead of offering serious information. In severe cases, it may be a {{w|bait-and-switch}}, claiming to offer something it isn't. By failing to give a useful summary of the story, whilst attempting to force the reader to click on every story on the off-chance that it's interesting, they are intentionally deceptive and can be viewed as a form of spam. | |
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+ | Randall parodies the formula in this comic with such trivializing headlines for important historical events: | ||
*1905 - How a shocking new theory, discovered by a dad, proves scientists are wrong about ''everything!'' | *1905 - How a shocking new theory, discovered by a dad, proves scientists are wrong about ''everything!'' | ||
:{{w|Albert Einstein}} published his {{w|Annus Mirabilis papers}}, which changed views on space, time, mass, and energy, and laid the groundwork for much of modern physics. They included his papers on {{w|special relativity}} and on {{w|mass–energy equivalence}} ("E = mc<sup>2</sup>"). He had an infant son in 1905 (born May 1904). | :{{w|Albert Einstein}} published his {{w|Annus Mirabilis papers}}, which changed views on space, time, mass, and energy, and laid the groundwork for much of modern physics. They included his papers on {{w|special relativity}} and on {{w|mass–energy equivalence}} ("E = mc<sup>2</sup>"). He had an infant son in 1905 (born May 1904). | ||
− | :The use of the term "dad" helps readers tune in emotionally. "Proving scientists wrong about everything" is obviously an inflation of Einstein's achievements | + | :The use of the term "dad" helps readers tune in emotionally. "Proving scientists wrong about everything" is obviously an inflation of Einstein's achievements. Einstein was awarded the {{w|Nobel Prize}} in 1921 for his work on the {{w|photoelectric effect}}, his work on relativity was still not accepted by many physicists at that tme. |
*1912 - 6 ''Titanic'' survivors who should have died | *1912 - 6 ''Titanic'' survivors who should have died | ||
− | :{{w|Sinking of the RMS Titanic}}. | + | :{{w|Sinking of the RMS Titanic}}. |
+ | *1916: 'Physicist dad' turns his attention to gravity, and you won't believe what he finds. [PICS] [NSFW] | ||
+ | :Einstein published his theory of {{w|General relativity}}, which is a vast generalization of the theory of {{w|Special relativity}} from 1905 and provides a model for gravity. In 1916 Einstein had two sons who lived in Zurich while he lived in Berlin. | ||
+ | :[NSFW] is "Not Safe for Work" - a tag to identify explicit images. Here it is used to trick readers hoping to find pornography. | ||
+ | :[PICS] tells the potential viewer that there are images embedded | ||
*1920 - 17 things that will be outlawed now that women can vote | *1920 - 17 things that will be outlawed now that women can vote | ||
− | :The {{w|Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution}} was passed, guaranteeing voting rights for women in all US states | + | :The {{w|Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution}} was passed, guaranteeing voting rights for women in all US states. |
*1928 - This one weird mold kills all germs | *1928 - This one weird mold kills all germs | ||
− | :{{w|Penicillin}} was discovered | + | :{{w|Penicillin}} was discovered. |
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*1929 - Most embarrassing reactions to the stock market crash [GIFS] | *1929 - Most embarrassing reactions to the stock market crash [GIFS] | ||
− | :This is a reference to the {{w|Wall Street Crash of 1929}}, the most devastating stock market crash in history and the beginning of the Great Depression | + | :This is a reference to the {{w|Wall Street Crash of 1929}}, the most devastating stock market crash in history and the beginning of the Great Depression. |
− | :[GIFS] indicates that the post will contain animated GIF | + | :[GIFS] indicates that the post will contain an animated GIF image - a crude form of short video |
*1945 - These 9 Nazi atrocities will make you lose faith in humanity | *1945 - These 9 Nazi atrocities will make you lose faith in humanity | ||
− | :1945 is the year that World War | + | :1945 is the year that World War 2 ended. It's also the year that many war crimes committed by Nazi Germany were discovered or declassified. |
*1948 - 5 insane plans for feeding West Berlin you won't believe are real | *1948 - 5 insane plans for feeding West Berlin you won't believe are real | ||
− | :1948 is when the Soviet Union established the {{w|Berlin Blockade}}, preventing food and other critical supplies from reaching occupied Berlin. In response, Western forces organized the {{w|Berlin Airlift}} | + | :1948 is when the Soviet Union established the {{w|Berlin Blockade}}, preventing food and other critical supplies from reaching occupied Berlin. In response, Western forces organized the {{w|Berlin Airlift}}. |
*1955 - Avoid polio with this one weird trick | *1955 - Avoid polio with this one weird trick | ||
− | :The {{w|polio vaccine}} was developed. | + | :The {{w|polio vaccine}} was developed. See [http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/07/how_one_weird_trick_conquered_the_internet_what_happens_when_you_click_on.html ''Prepare to Be Shocked! What happens when you actually click on one of those “One Weird Trick” ads?''] |
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*1957 - 12 nip slips potentially visible to Sputnik | *1957 - 12 nip slips potentially visible to Sputnik | ||
:The Soviet Union launched {{w|Sputnik 1}}, the world's first artificial satellite. A ''nip slip'' is when a woman unintentionally exposes all or part of one or both of her nipples; in the context of the internet, it generally refers to a photograph capturing such a moment. | :The Soviet Union launched {{w|Sputnik 1}}, the world's first artificial satellite. A ''nip slip'' is when a woman unintentionally exposes all or part of one or both of her nipples; in the context of the internet, it generally refers to a photograph capturing such a moment. | ||
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*1968 - This year's assassinations ranked from most to least tragic | *1968 - This year's assassinations ranked from most to least tragic | ||
− | :{{w|Martin Luther King Jr.}} and {{w|Robert F. Kennedy}} | + | :{{w|Martin Luther King Jr.}} and {{w|Robert F. Kennedy}} were both assassinated in 1968. |
− | :Assassinations are rare and | + | :Assassinations are rare and tragic, so "ranking" them trivializes the political and emotional depth of the events. |
*1969 - This is the most important photo of an astronaut you'll see all day | *1969 - This is the most important photo of an astronaut you'll see all day | ||
:{{w|Apollo 11}} performed the first manned lunar landing. During this historic trip newspapers printed as many pictures of astronauts as they could. | :{{w|Apollo 11}} performed the first manned lunar landing. During this historic trip newspapers printed as many pictures of astronauts as they could. | ||
*1986 - This video of a terminally ill child watching the ''Challenger'' launch will break your heart | *1986 - This video of a terminally ill child watching the ''Challenger'' launch will break your heart | ||
− | :Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight. See {{w|Space Shuttle Challenger disaster}} for details. This was the first shuttle mission that included a teacher on board as part of the crew ({{w|Christa McAuliffe}}, ''{{w|Teacher in Space Project}}''), so there were many children | + | :Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight. See {{w|Space Shuttle Challenger disaster}} for details. This was the first shuttle mission that included a teacher on board as part of the crew ({{w|Christa McAuliffe}}, ''{{w|Teacher in Space Project}}''), so there were many children watching this particular launch as teachers around the country had TV sets in their classrooms showing the fated launch to their classrooms in real time. But the launch was not shown on the most major mainstream TV stations. |
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*1989 - You won't ''believe'' what these people did to the Berlin wall! [video] | *1989 - You won't ''believe'' what these people did to the Berlin wall! [video] | ||
:{{w|Fall of the Berlin Wall}}. | :{{w|Fall of the Berlin Wall}}. | ||
− | :[video] indicates a link to a video | + | :[video] indicates a link to a video |
*Jan 1, 1990 - 500 signs you're a 90s kid | *Jan 1, 1990 - 500 signs you're a 90s kid | ||
− | :A | + | :A 90's kid is someone born in the late 80's or early 90's (and spent most their childhood in the 1990s). Headlines like [http://www.buzzfeed.com/melismashable/25-ways-to-tell-youre-a-kid-of-the-9 this one from BuzzFeed] toy with their readers' sense of nostalgia. The parody headline is funny because it starts precisely on the first day of the 1990's, appealing to the nostalgia of...newborns? |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | : | + | :20th Century Headlines |
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:Rewritten to get more clicks | :Rewritten to get more clicks | ||
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:1905 - How a shocking new theory, discovered by a dad, proves scientists are wrong about ''everything!'' | :1905 - How a shocking new theory, discovered by a dad, proves scientists are wrong about ''everything!'' | ||
:1912 - 6 ''Titanic'' survivors who should have died | :1912 - 6 ''Titanic'' survivors who should have died | ||
:1920 - 17 things that will be outlawed now that women can vote | :1920 - 17 things that will be outlawed now that women can vote | ||
:1928 - This one weird mold kills all germs | :1928 - This one weird mold kills all germs | ||
− | :1929 - Most embarrassing reactions to the stock market crash [ | + | :1929 - Most embarrassing reactions to the stock market crash [GIFS] |
:1945 - These 9 Nazi atrocities will make you lose faith in humanity | :1945 - These 9 Nazi atrocities will make you lose faith in humanity | ||
:1948 - 5 insane plans for feeding West Berlin you won't believe are real | :1948 - 5 insane plans for feeding West Berlin you won't believe are real | ||
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:1969 - This is the most important photo of an astronaut you'll see all day | :1969 - This is the most important photo of an astronaut you'll see all day | ||
:1986 - This video of a terminally ill child watching the ''Challenger'' launch will break your heart | :1986 - This video of a terminally ill child watching the ''Challenger'' launch will break your heart | ||
− | :1989 - You won't ''believe'' what these people did to the Berlin wall! [ | + | :1989 - You won't ''believe'' what these people did to the Berlin wall! [video] |
:Jan 1, 1990 - 500 signs you're a 90s kid | :Jan 1, 1990 - 500 signs you're a 90s kid | ||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Language]] | [[Category:Language]] | ||
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