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One of the most low-value words in a headline or statement is "some". If you take any scenario and ask a large enough group of people their opinions, there's g
by KoftaBob 6y ago
One of the most low-value words in a headline or statement is "some".
If you take any scenario and ask a large enough group of people their opinions, there's going to inevitably be an arbitrary number (that can then be qualified as some) that will have the reactionary view that makes for an eye catching headline.
Put simply, "some" is just vague enough to allow these article writers to get a clickbait headline from a statement that only a handful of people have made. It's lazy and disingenuous, which are two words I've found myself using to describe the journalism industry as a whole lately.
- mLuby 6y agoExactly right. Similar is "over 30% of group says or does controversial thing" (meaning the significant majority don't). Also not a fan of practice of quoting a controversial phrase in the headline to get both the shock value and editorial deniability. > Apple charged of 'anti-competitive' app policies > World's glaciers melting at 'accelerating rate' > Man Utd fans 'disgusted' by ESL plans They literally found one person to say the words.