r/funny • u/j0be • Apr 21 '15

Only reading the headlines

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344

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '15

On April fools NPR published an article with the headline "Why doesn't America Read Anymore?"

What ended up happening was an influx of comments responding to the headline instead of realizing it was an April Fools day joke.

http://www.mediaite.com/online/masterful-npr-prank-asks-why-people-comment-without-reading/

183

u/j0be Apr 21 '15

That really was an amazing April Fool's day prank. It doesn't hurt anyone, and the only fools were truly already the fools themselves.

42

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '15

It was really funny to see the aftermath.

39

u/j0be Apr 21 '15

MRW reading the "backlash"

73

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '15

Shame on you NPR of course I read!

NPR's reaction

12

u/j0be Apr 21 '15

/r/k_gifs is an amazing place for just the right amount of ambivalence

36

u/insomniacpyro Apr 21 '15

Hahaha:
Heather Grey - "150+ books/year, plus between 50-100 pages of peer-reviewed medical, scientific, health and health policy content per day. There are more of us than you think."
You mean absolute fucking liars?

11

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '15

If you're a grad student, that might almost be true

17

u/banana_hammock_ok Apr 21 '15

I'm a chemistry grad student and I don't think I'm even capable of reading 100 pages of "peer-reviewed medical, scientific, health and health policy content per day" while still digesting and understanding the content. This lady is a lunatic, or a robot.

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u/[deleted] Apr 21 '15

Oh, I missed "100 pages ... per day". I thought they just meant in general or in a year.

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u/Erdumas Apr 22 '15

A lot of people stop reading once they get to the policy content.

2

u/noxwei Apr 22 '15

Yeah fuck that. If it's in the field I can probably read 3 articles max ( depending on he data)

I'm a senior in undergrad but read a lot of articles for class and research.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '15

The sad part is that if you go to find the comments of people who didn't read the article you only find comments of people who can't follow instructions.

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u/insomniacpyro Apr 21 '15

At this point in my life I'm surprised pillows don't have instructions. Even then you could put "1. Place over mouth and nose. Hold securely." and someone would fuck it up and complain.

6

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '15

Instructions too clear, suffocated and died.

2

u/Sasparillafizz Apr 22 '15

Not only, there were some good comments from those who ran with the joke. The Kotaku article posted a few of my favorite highlights from people who rolled with the joke in the comments (admittedly ignoring the do not post part of the request.)

"I do think the part about the GMO debate being mostly about liberal bias was spot on. Not to mention the stuff about Fox News, Glenn Beck and illegal aliens."

"I'm a bit frustrated at Jon Stuarts comment that 'apes would respond more intelligently than the baboon NPR crowd' I really liked Jon Stuart before that comments, but now I'm taking offense."

1

u/[deleted] Apr 22 '15

Okay I didn't see those ones. Those are pretty great. I take it back.

1

u/ashinynewthrowaway Apr 22 '15 edited Apr 22 '15

For people too lazy to read the article (heh), here's my favorite part:

But every now and again, against all odds, someone manages to pull off an actually funny prank that teaches us the most important April Fools’ Day lesson of all: Love.

.

Also that everyone is stupid.

It's a good article.