This Week in the Mercury

I Love Television™

Columns

I Love Television™

Into the Donkey Abyss


Geek Out

Film

Geek Out

3D Done Right



  |  

Monday, October 19, 2009

News America Will Never Trust Again

Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 10:50 AM

As mentioned in Good Morning News, via Reuters:

The bizarre flight of a home-made helium balloon, thought to have a 6-year-old boy aboard, was a hoax and publicity stunt, a Colorado sheriff said on Sunday.

"It has been determined that this is a hoax, that it was a publicity stunt and we believe we have evidence at this point to indicate that this was a publicity stunt in hopes to better market themselves for a reality show," Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden told reporters at a press conference. He said the family faced several charges.

So, what do you think... does the fact that it was a hoax make this family more or less marketable to reality-show producers?

 

Comments (4) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
The News media, the public, the networks, all get what they deserve. The story says much more about how the country finds trite events fascinating, and important ones (going to war,) dull.

Strangely, I found myself occupied with a job during this saga, so I didn't actually waste one second of my life following the story during its occurrence, something I'm rather proud of (but obviously wasting it away now posting here.)
Posted by NIG GER on October 19, 2009 at 11:47 AM · Report
2
Not having a TV, I missed a lot of it too. I did think it was odd that they seemed to be spending all their time on the news, it seems like the sort of thing that you'd make a statement, "We are glad that he is okay and we'd like to thank everyone that helped us look for him" and then go on with your life. But given that I'm not an aspiring reality TV star, maybe I just don't know how to do this sort of thing...
Posted by Matthew D on October 19, 2009 at 1:49 PM · Report
3


Who really cares....
Posted by blaggh on October 19, 2009 at 7:10 PM · Report
4
It occurs to me that they could have gotten a lot more media attention if they'd killed him and left his body in the brush downwind of their house. Not to mention they wouldn't have him spoiling it for them afterwards...

But maybe I'm just cynical.
Posted by Matthew D on October 20, 2009 at 4:58 PM · Report

Add a comment

Our Friends

Our Enemies

/images/adoftheweek.gif

ad of the day

The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.go


post an ad

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC

115 SW Ash St. Suite 600
Portland, OR 97204

Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Production Guidelines | Terms of Use