We are so inclined to believe what we read, especially when that article was written. I can see how it took years for the public to accept it was not real. The power of the pen.
Thank you, Lori, for bringing this unforgettable episode to light. The 1874 Central Park menagerie hoax is a powerful reminder of how frightening and how fragile our trust in what we read can be.
Psychologists have referred to this phenomenon as the Illusory Truth Effect. The more we see a claim, even a false one, the more likely we are to believe it simply because it feels familiar. Another factor is proportionality bias. When people hear about something shocking, they instinctively assign it a dramatic cause, even if one does not exist.
In today’s age of fake news, it is even more crucial to pause and ask: Is this true, or is it just a gripping story that feeds our emotions? Your post takes us back to a time when reality and fiction blurred with devastating effect. It is something we would do well to remember now more than ever.
Thanks, @Peter. One of the things I love about telling old stories is nudging people toward the understanding of their relevance. And you hit this story’s relevance and message on the head. In the Margin Notes that will show up in a couple weeks, I reference Chicken Little, as well 😉
What a stellar example of how gullible we humans are in the face of sensational news that stokes our basest fears and how loathe some of us are to admit that we have been fooled. Thanks for a great and timely story, Lori!
You got me Lori! It didn’t occur to me that this was not true. I feel quite disappointed in myself for being so gullible. Looking forward to more about this
Brava! The Central Park newspaper story is a great example of "bunk." It reminds me of Kevin Young's book, BUNK: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News (2017, Graywolf Press).
How gullible we humans can be! Is there something about the human psyche that tends to draw people to the sensational and make them want to believe in the outrageous? I would hope we can all be a bit more discerning in the age of misinformation we currently live in.
Wow, I’d never heard any of this! 😳 it’s hard to believe the Orson Wells radio adaptation of War of the Worlds as a drama went ahead with this as history. Incredible.
We are so inclined to believe what we read, especially when that article was written. I can see how it took years for the public to accept it was not real. The power of the pen.
Thank you, Lori, for bringing this unforgettable episode to light. The 1874 Central Park menagerie hoax is a powerful reminder of how frightening and how fragile our trust in what we read can be.
Psychologists have referred to this phenomenon as the Illusory Truth Effect. The more we see a claim, even a false one, the more likely we are to believe it simply because it feels familiar. Another factor is proportionality bias. When people hear about something shocking, they instinctively assign it a dramatic cause, even if one does not exist.
In today’s age of fake news, it is even more crucial to pause and ask: Is this true, or is it just a gripping story that feeds our emotions? Your post takes us back to a time when reality and fiction blurred with devastating effect. It is something we would do well to remember now more than ever.
Thanks, @Peter. One of the things I love about telling old stories is nudging people toward the understanding of their relevance. And you hit this story’s relevance and message on the head. In the Margin Notes that will show up in a couple weeks, I reference Chicken Little, as well 😉
Like War of the Worlds.
A willing suspension of disbelief came over me as I envisioned the babies ripped apart by the lion. Now do Murderous Mary in Erwin, Tennessee.
Totally, Lori! The operative phrase is “if we care to listen.”
What a stellar example of how gullible we humans are in the face of sensational news that stokes our basest fears and how loathe some of us are to admit that we have been fooled. Thanks for a great and timely story, Lori!
Thanks, @Ruth. History is a great teacher if we care to listen, right?
You got me Lori! It didn’t occur to me that this was not true. I feel quite disappointed in myself for being so gullible. Looking forward to more about this
Brava! The Central Park newspaper story is a great example of "bunk." It reminds me of Kevin Young's book, BUNK: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News (2017, Graywolf Press).
I had heard about a hoax involving escaped Central Park zoo animals but did not know the details or the actual newspaper account. Great reading!
Thanks, @Lisa, I’d never heard of it bit knew I had to write about it when I found it!
How gullible we humans can be! Is there something about the human psyche that tends to draw people to the sensational and make them want to believe in the outrageous? I would hope we can all be a bit more discerning in the age of misinformation we currently live in.
Wow, I’d never heard any of this! 😳 it’s hard to believe the Orson Wells radio adaptation of War of the Worlds as a drama went ahead with this as history. Incredible.
It definitely laid the groundwork for that sort of large-scale social hoax, and I'm glad it was a "new" old story for you!