Fake News Du Jour: Missing Canadian Fireman ‘Found’

 I love these   stories about the “mysterious” disappearance of a person from one place to another, usually far away.  Or rather, I would love them if only they weren’t so expensive and such a waste of precious resources.   The latest fake story comes from a ski resort in upstate New York. 

Worst of all is the way such stories are reported in the media.  With utter gullibility, expecting the same from you.  As if everyone’s taken stupid pills just before reading it in the media.   Or has chronic cognitive-dissonance.

The latest b.s. story of its type (though I’m linking to a Fox News story, it’s been reported wall-to-wall in every kind of media ) concerns Toronto ‘fireman’ Danny Fillippidis, age 49, who supposedly disappeared from New York’s White Face Mountain on a cross-country skiing trip. 

The first stories did not mention Danny was on a cross-country skiing trip where it’s almost impossible to get lost or have a tragic accident especially when you’re with a large number of your firemen buddies.  Okay, you could jump off a cliff if you’re on cross-country skis and, right now, sane people are wishing Danny would do just that.

Instead, he calls his wife from Sacramento CA where he’s supposedly ‘found’ wearing his ski suit and goggles.   I’ve been unable to find just  one eyewitness report of his being ‘located’ with his helmet, goggles,and ski suit on so this is likely either entirely or partially fictional.   Imagine Danny meeting the police who ‘located’ him – after hurriedly dressing in the rest room of a gas station:  “Hey, look at me officer. I’m goofy. It’s 40 degrees out here in Sacramento;  there’s no snow;  and all I can remember is a truck ride in a “big rig,” buying a new I-phone, and getting a haircut. 

Listen to me.  Danny Filippidis pulled a failed stunt, went way out on a limb and didn’t know how to get back from it.  “Hello, it’s me darling,” he says to his wife. “Guess where I’m at?”

All together now, breathe a sigh of relief that this ‘tragedy’ has had a happy ending. And yes, go on with your lives, lucky that it didn’t happen to you.

Journalistic skepticism survives in some places but it’s on life support.