• Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    Betteridge’s law of headlines is an adage that states:

    “Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no.”

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      That’s a cute way of avoiding reading the article, but the answer to that question is far more complex than a simple yes or no, as the article itself will tell you. I found it enlightening.

      • Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        that question is far more complex than a simple yes or no

        But the headline does not reflect this…

        It is a good way to avoid wasting time on bullshit headlines. If the article is good, and they come up with a headline like that, sorry they have lost me.

        • no banana@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Betteridges law doesn’t specify that a headline ending with a question mark should be answered with a no. Only that they can be.

          • Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            Are you unaware of the origin of that phrase?

            It came into use because many dime store novels were sold with lurid covers that had nothing to do with the actula story within.

            Kind of like what I am talking about…

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              So you’re saying the actual story within might be worth reading despite what is described on the outside? So kind of like what I’m talking about?

        • DessertStorms@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          If the article is good, and they come up with a headline like that, sorry they have lost me.

          what if I told you that the vast vast majority of headlines aren’t written by the person who wrote the article, but by one of a any number of editors and/or layout designers?
          Would that stop you from doubling down further, or are you in too deep now to admit you chose the wrong example for your snarky remark?

          • Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            what if I told you that the vast vast majority of headlines aren’t written by the person who wrote the article, but by one of a any number of editors and/or layout designers?

            I would say that I have known that for decades…

            Would that stop you from doubling down further, or are you in too deep now to admit you chose the wrong example for your snarky remark?

            If my post was not here, would you have commented at all?

            • DessertStorms@kbin.social
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              1 year ago

              Lmfao, doubling down further it is!
              Gotta make sure to protect that fragile fragile ego, eh? As you were, don’t let me get in the way of your pathetic display… 🤣🤣🤣