this post was submitted on 31 May 2024
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politics

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[–] RestrictedAccount@lemmy.world 37 points 5 months ago (3 children)

Why did they say “false statement” when “lie” is much more efficient?

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 34 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

To call something a lie, the media outlet has to know, 100%, that the speaker knows it's a lie. It's difficult to impossible to meet that threshold in pretty much all cases.

A false statement is an untruth — a lie that could have resulted from an honest mistake, poor fact-checking, negligence, or just plain bad luck / stupidity.

People may say something that is known to them as the truth, but is not necessarily the objective truth as known by others. In that case, they would be making unwitting false claims. i.e. "it's not a lie if you believe it"

Basically it comes down to liability. If a media outlet directly calls something someone says a lie, they're going to get sued.
And Cheeto is a walking SLAAP lawsuit.

[–] barsquid@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

He won't sue. If he sues they can subpoena and reveal that in private communications he admits the truth.

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 6 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

I mean, a smart person (or a dumb person who at least listened to the advice of their lawyers) wouldn't sue in that scenario. But this is Trump we're talking about, lol, so I'm less convinced.

[–] RestrictedAccount@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

Yes, but that would sink him if he did.

I would throw a few bucks in for their defense fund.

[–] MagicShel@programming.dev 1 points 5 months ago

I don't know what the law says, but it seems to me you can tell a lie without lying. If I hear a lie and then repeat it, transitive property, baby.

[–] mozz@mbin.grits.dev 9 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Honestly even that much is a big step for the New York Times. I’m a little surprised they’re not trying to “both sides” it.

[–] ares35@kbin.social 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

the news on regular tv last night was totally lopsided. tons of 'reaction' from the right and far-right, hardly anything from anyone else.

[–] mozz@mbin.grits.dev 11 points 5 months ago

The news on regular TV is almost all bought and paid for by Sinclair / Fox / whatever other explicit propaganda outlet. The people reading that bullshit may hate it a lot more than you do, but they may be contractually obligated to go up and say it. It's real fucked up.

[–] RestrictedAccount@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

True dat.

I am surprised they didn’t get a jab about Biden’s age in there.

[–] blargerer@kbin.social 5 points 5 months ago

Best guess? Just avoiding being sued. Something being a false statement is a matter of fact that's easily proven. Something being a lie requires proving state of mind. In the US I can't imagine actually winning such a suit, but its still safer to cover asses.