It is really a little more complex than that, so let me see if this article explains it better.
Headlines
Law: Betteridge’s law of headlines
Betteridge’s law—sometimes referred to as Davis’s law, or the “journalistic principle” from Murphy’s law—states that “any headline which ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no.” The adage, named after British tech journalist Ian Betteridge (though he wasn’t the first to make note of it), displays a cynicism over headlines that attempt to lure readers into an often outlandish and unproven story. Headlines like “will the world end tomorrow?” and “have scientists cured cancer?” are pretty obviously answered in the negative.
The next time you run across a newspaper headline that asks a question (more specifically, a yes-or-no question), try to answer “no.” Most often, you’ll find that you’re right—Betteridge’s law makes note of the fact that this type of headline is a lazy, sometimes fear-mongering way of drawing a reader in.
I got this article from Listverse, where they have some other strange Laws you can rean about. Pretty interesting stuff!
Coffee in the kitchen this morning, if that's alright.
Do all newspapers and TV news tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
ReplyDeleteFinding lots of this on the internet these days. So I just don't even bother with it. It will show the thing your interested in and then never find it.
ReplyDeleteHey Phyllis...
ReplyDeleteSadly, no. We hear a lot today about false news, so it must be a bigger problem than we ever thought.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Hey Jo...
Yeah...the internet is loaded with false news now days. Hard to find a good reliable news source online.
Thanks, sweetie, for dropping by today!
Speaking of headlines, I really miss Jay Leno....
ReplyDeleteThose headlines are false advertising, but they do draw people in. I guess they figure you got to get their attention before they will read your article. Does that work with blog titles???
ReplyDeleteHey Rob...
ReplyDeleteNo one did the headlines like Leno!
Thanks for coming by today!
Hey Dizzy...
Guess the drawing folks in was the whole point.
Thanks for the visit today!
Hey Robrt...
Thanks, I appreciate that!
Thanks for stopping by today!