This American Life retracts it's Apple Story from January.

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This American Life retracts it's Apple Story from January. · 6

insomniasexx · 4712 days ago

They fact checked in the original piece and came up with a few fabrications but I think that is what happens when you tell a brilliant story. Daisey isn't a journalist, he is an entertainer. He tells storys on stage and makes the audience feel something. I figured he took quite a few creative liberties in order to keep the audience engaged and have a greater impact.

I don't understand why they retracted the story when their (the TAL team) journalism and investigation into the facts was thorough the first time through. Furthermore, the story Daisey tells is still true, even though every detail may not be factually correct.

“A thing may happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer than the truth.” - Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried

Original link (now without audio) http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/454/m...

I'll upload the file I downloaded in January if I can find it when I get on wifi.

*edit: I can't find the audio on my phone or computer. I don't know where it went because I know I had it downloaded. If anyone finds the original audio rehosted, please share.

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mk · 4712 days ago · link ·

I listened to most of the of the Marketplace story about it. They spoke to his interpreter, and there didn't seem to be much there that wasn't fiction.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/life/ieconomy/acclaimed-ap...

I can understand why they retracted it. The way it was presented gave the impression that these were actual experiences, when they just weren't. If it came with a disclaimer, it would have been better, but IMHO it needed a strong disclaimer.

+discuss+discuss

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insomniasexx · 4711 days ago · link ·

I suppose it could've used a stronger disclaimer. I listened to it as an entertaining story but I can see how it could've been interpreted as journalism. Regardless, Daisey is an amazing storyteller.

Also, after listening to the marketplace story there are a lot more errors than I originally thought.

+discuss+discuss

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mk · 4711 days ago · link ·

Also, after listening to the marketplace story there are a lot more errors than I originally thought.

Yeah, I was surprised too. It makes for a good story. However, it did upset a lot of people that took it for truth.

+discuss+discuss

ecib · 4710 days ago · link ·

I find Daisy loathsome personally. He lied, disguised his lies as journalism, and lied to the journalists that were attempting to fact check him in order to prevent them from finding this out. His lies were cited in many major stories on the topic where he continued the charade. I'm personally sick of agenda journalism that manipulates its listeners instead of informing them. People like Diasy or the late Andrew Breitbart and their more polished corporate kin like Fox News and MSNBC do a massive disservice to the truth, and in turn to us all. He is not to be lauded.

+discuss+discuss

lessismore · 4711 days ago · link ·

Instead of helping the cause, idiots like Daisey make the situation worse. Going forward, those placed in tough situations will have a much harder time telling their story. Detractors will point to stories like these and say conditions are not really that bad and that authors often fabricate and embellish the facts to sell a story. :(

+discuss+discuss

insomniasexx · 4711 days ago · link ·

Another great article on the incident: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/mar/...

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion: Big Lie.

"OMG, your [homely] baby is beautiful!": small social lie.

And then, there is the highly debatable third category: lies in service of the greater truth.