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About the Museum
The Museum of Hoaxes is dedicated to promoting knowledge about hoaxes. (Click here for opening hours, etc.) On our blog we post about dubious- sounding claims, and whatever else strikes our fancy. The site is also home to the Hoaxipedia (the museum's online encyclopedia of hoaxes), the Hoax Forum, and the Top 100 April Fools' Day Hoaxes.
The museum was created in 1997 by Alex Boese. He's assisted by a staff of deputy curators and docents. Alex is the author of three books, most recently Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments (which has nothing to do with hoaxes). Check out the list of the Top 20 Most Bizarre Experiments of All Time for a preview.
The Museum of Hoaxes is dedicated to promoting knowledge about hoaxes. (Click here for opening hours, etc.) On our blog we post about dubious- sounding claims, and whatever else strikes our fancy. The site is also home to the Hoaxipedia (the museum's online encyclopedia of hoaxes), the Hoax Forum, and the Top 100 April Fools' Day Hoaxes.
The museum was created in 1997 by Alex Boese. He's assisted by a staff of deputy curators and docents. Alex is the author of three books, most recently Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments (which has nothing to do with hoaxes). Check out the list of the Top 20 Most Bizarre Experiments of All Time for a preview.Prankplace.com
THE TOILET MONSTERYour wife will never yell at you about leaving the seat up again! The Toilet Monster attaches to the inside of the toilet bowl by suction cups. As the unsuspecting person goes to use the bathroom, they'll scream as they lift the lid and are greeted by the Toilet Monster! Not recommended for the elderly or those with a weak heart.
REMOTE CONTROL FART MACHINEThe Brand New Fart Machine has “BoomBox” Technology, which allows more vibrant, natural sounding farts. Simply hide the little speaker, then from up to 100 feet away, press the included remote, and the hidden speaker lets out one of 15 disgusting fart sounds. Place under your co-workers desk, and let the laughter begin.
Punishing linkbaiters?
Status: Media Hoax
On May 9, money.co.uk published a story alleging that a 13-year-old kid in Texas had stolen his dad's credit card and used it to rent a motel room and some prostitutes. The cute/quirky part of the story was that the kids simply played Xbox with the "$1,000 a night girls." The story quickly spread throughout the media, appearing in The Sun, The Daily Telegraph, and Fox News, among others. But a few days later it was exposed as a hoax, since the police had no record of such an incident. David B posted about it here in the forum. Online marketer Lyndon Antcliff admitted he had posted the story on the website of his client, money.co.uk, as an experiment in "linkbait." He said, "It's been a lesson in the power of social media and the power of people suspending their disbelief. [Traditional news organizations] are always banging about how inaccurate blogs are, but in this case, it was the opposite."
The story of the hoax and its exposure now has got a second wind, and is doing the rounds again, on account of some suggestion that google may punish linkbaiters by lowering their page rank. This doesn't sound like a good plan to me. Linkbait (or, more simply, hoaxes) may have publicity as a motive, but can also serve other, more socially useful purposes (i.e. exposing the pompous and gullible). Plus, once hoaxes are exposed, they become genuine news stories. So why try to artificially suppress their visibility?
However, Google hasn't actually said it will punish linkbait, but Wired's article about the hoax suggests the possibility. They write, "We didn't get an official response from Google about how the search engine might treat fake content that's used as a marketing tool, but search quality guru Matt Cutts implied that the company frowns upon this sort of practice." (Thanks, Joe)
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
Page 1 of 1 pages
So, Wired is publishing linkbait about Google punishing linkbaiters? 
Posted by cindik in Joliet, IL on Sat May 24, 2008 at 05:55 AMShows you how the more sensational story is remembered, not to 'correction' followup. I remember the story, but never heard it was a hoax.
Shows how easy it is to fool I guess.
Posted by AussieBruce on Sun May 25, 2008 at 07:23 AMShows how easy it is to fool I guess.
i remember this story, i found it hard to belive that some prositutes would go with some kids on threat of being sued for discrimination, so itook it with a grain of salt
Posted by JoOdd on Sun May 25, 2008 at 01:05 PMMaybe Google could punish slack-a*sed journalists who don't bother to check the facts in their question for 'sensational' news stories...
Posted by Hugo on Sun May 25, 2008 at 04:26 PMThe day Google and the mass media start banning hoaxes, I'm out of a hobby.
Fortunately, there's zero chance it will happen.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy on Sun May 25, 2008 at 11:20 PMFortunately, there's zero chance it will happen.
P.S. So far this year, I have 15 radio interviews and numerous blog entries under my belt for a hoax I haven't 'fessed up to yet.
God bless lazy media people!
Posted by Cranky Media Guy on Sun May 25, 2008 at 11:22 PMGod bless lazy media people!
Sweet, CMG. See if you can get a movie deal out of it?
Posted by Robin Bobcat in Californian Wierdo on Mon May 26, 2008 at 03:18 AMaw, damn... I read the thread title again... I thot it was about Art Linkletter in Hell... kids say the gdamndest things
Posted by Hairy Houdini on Mon May 26, 2008 at 01:25 PMHmm, I don't know if this particular thing lends itself to a movie treatment, but maybe my "body of work" might. (Yes, I'm laughing at the phrase "body of work" to describe my legacy of silliness.)
Posted by Cranky Media Guy on Mon May 26, 2008 at 04:03 PM"Legacy of Silliness"
There's your title right there.
Posted by cindik in Joliet, IL on Tue May 27, 2008 at 02:39 AMThere's your title right there.
I like that, cindik.
The title I've contemplated for my theoretical autobiography is "The President's Right-Hand Man."
From February '95 to February '98, I worked outside the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. dressed like George Washington (semi-long story).
A few feet away from where I stood, Jay, a Middle-Eastern man, had life-size photo cutouts of Bill and Hillary Clinton which tourists posed with for souvenir pictures.
Occasionally, if there was a crowd watching, Jay would ask me to come over. I would crouch behind the tourist(s), reach up and put my right hand on their shoulder, making it look as if Bill Clinton had his arm around them. It looked great in the photos and always got a laugh from the crowd. I was literally the President's right hand.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy on Tue May 27, 2008 at 11:59 PMThe title I've contemplated for my theoretical autobiography is "The President's Right-Hand Man."
From February '95 to February '98, I worked outside the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. dressed like George Washington (semi-long story).
A few feet away from where I stood, Jay, a Middle-Eastern man, had life-size photo cutouts of Bill and Hillary Clinton which tourists posed with for souvenir pictures.
Occasionally, if there was a crowd watching, Jay would ask me to come over. I would crouch behind the tourist(s), reach up and put my right hand on their shoulder, making it look as if Bill Clinton had his arm around them. It looked great in the photos and always got a laugh from the crowd. I was literally the President's right hand.
(Sorry, Cranky, I just can't resist) You were Bill Clinton's right hand? Too bad you weren't busier, cuz then he wouldn't have needed (all together now) Monika Lewinsky... chortle chuckle snicker
Posted by Hairy Houdini on Wed May 28, 2008 at 04:51 AMClinton is left-handed. I was merely a witness to his "other-handed" activities.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:52 PMC,mon, CMG. Give us the goods. Spit it out.
Posted by Hairy Houdini on Thu May 29, 2008 at 06:16 AMSorry, Hairy. Hands never tell.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 04:55 PMPage 1 of 1 pages