Print
Most of us know that when America's favorite news source, The Onion says something, it’s a joke. Not so with the US Capitol police, who are investigating a tweet sent by The Onion this morning. "BREAKING: Witnesses reporting screams and gunfire heard inside Capitol building," the tweet read.
The Onion had a story up today about Congress taking schoolchildren hostage, and demanding $12 trillion for their safe release. Funny, right? But the tweet referencing that story was alarming to many users and the Capitol police are treating this matter seriously. Without context, and after being retweeted, it’s alarming indeed.
It’s hard to say if the cops will realize this is the Onion, and let things go, or press on. Even as a joke it’s in bad taste, but does this rise to the level of a criminal matter? It's also worth noting this tweet is still up.
Comments are closed on this article
jnwoll
September 30, 2011 at 6:56am
It's how the world is now. Onion makes their tweet. Okay, fine. Police have to follow up on it because that's their job. Okay, fine.
The problem is, someone (media) picks up on it and make the big issue out of it. Otherwise it's really a non-story.
warptek2010
September 29, 2011 at 11:38pm
If this was bad taste then we need more bad taste. I'm sick of the politicall correct bs and American citizens having to behave like sheeple to authority. Congresses authority is US not them and it's time they get it (well some do).
wolf17
September 29, 2011 at 3:59pm
Is it illegal? I don't know, but it certainly is in bad taste. I suppose I don't know the whole story behind it, so what's funny about it?
Danthrax66
September 29, 2011 at 4:39pm
It was a tweet that was also a link a reference to a satiricle article about congress taking school children hostage. I guess the whole issue here is that the government has too much money so it has to spend some of it investigating a tweet/being internet police. Oh wait...
I Jedi
September 29, 2011 at 3:39pm
I thought the joke was funny as hell, and I entirely got why they tweeted it. Oh, shit, am I going to get the police here because I actually supported something that didn't seem "appropriate," as well as threatening to non-existent children in this fictious tweet? See some of you in the Gulag!
P.S. I know some of you will pull the old, "You just can't say some things!" Explain why with supporting details and arguments. Now, I'm not so naive, as to believe we have freedom of speech without restraint. You can see my argument here for that: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/internet_troll_jailed_hurling_insults_deceased_teens
Neufeldt2002
September 29, 2011 at 4:06pm
I thought it was funny too. Especially the 12 Trillion part. Bad taste? maybe, but I still chuckled.
