Saw on the ABC site that this week marks the 85th anniversary of Orson Welles's War of the Worlds prank. Martian war machines and terrified screams — it didn't take long for the 17th episode of The Mercury Theatre on the Air to go downhill. News flashes about strange gas explosions on Mars interrupted an orchestra performance just minutes into the broadcast, followed by an interview with an "astronomy professor".
Now would appear to be a good time for it: mass tension and hysteria, numerous unexpected wars in foreign countries, etc...
But yes, the angle could be a problem, as everything is already awful. AI on the loose? On the socials? Perhaps a bit "The Adolescence of P-1" flavoured?
Do we know for sure that Orson Welles really did intend this as a prank? Or was he just trying to do the best, most realistic radio play he could?
Seems like the latter to me
also to add an additional layer to this example there are credible scholars of history who have questioned the extent of the whole 'mass hysteria'. I realise its a Slate piece but the sources with in it refers are credible. https://slate.com/culture/2013/10/orson-welles-war-of-the-worlds-panic-myth-the-infamous-radio-broadcast-did-not-cause-a-nationwide-hysteria.html
"our systems are so broken now that I can’t quite figure out how to come at it" have you considered asking ChatGpt?
Now would appear to be a good time for it: mass tension and hysteria, numerous unexpected wars in foreign countries, etc...
But yes, the angle could be a problem, as everything is already awful. AI on the loose? On the socials? Perhaps a bit "The Adolescence of P-1" flavoured?
This was the granddaddy of Fake News.