• n2burns@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    We’ll no longer comment on hearsay, unsubstantiated claims, or baseless accusations from The Verge. We’ll be in touch as corrections are needed.

    Setting aside the ridiculousness of this position, the statement also doesn’t make sense at face value, right? I think I understand what they’re trying to say, but aren’t those two sentences in conflict? Isn’t getting “in touch as corrections are needed” literally making “comment on hearsay, unsubstantiated claims, or baseless accusations”?

    • Scooter411@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      This is their “gotcha” move - if they don’t comment, it’s unsubstantiated hearsay. If they do comment it’s because it’s wrong.

      • NoTime@lemmy.one
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        1 year ago

        It’s just a gotcha to them. If I read an article from The Verge and Reddit hasn’t commented on it, I’m not even going to remember that quote, let alone make that connection that the article must be unsubstantiated hearsay.

        It must make them feel better saying it though.

        • Scooter411@lemmy.ml
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          1 year ago

          Yes. It’s a horrible way to deal with the media and falls apart with even a little bit of scrutiny, but I never said it was a good strategy.

    • bionicjoey@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      “We will not tolerate any lies being told about us. If we hear any, we’ll let you know.”

      • Joncash2@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Right, but essentially that reads that everything is true and they couldn’t find anything wrong. Since they didn’t contact the Verge. It’s confusing because at least to me this is them rolling over and giving up.

    • Gestrid@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      What I took from that is that I can assume everything that The Verge is saying about Reddit is true unless Reddit says otherwise. And they haven’t.

      To be honest, though, given that Reddit has been caught lying on multiple occasions recently, I wouldn’t be inclined to believe their “corrections”, anyway.

    • TwinTurbo@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I also don’t understand how not commenting is supposed to discredit Verge. And what does the Verge guy mean when he says “so we’ll just print this statement every time”? How is that going to help them?

      • Epic2112@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Not commenting = not providing The Verge with any information, so The Verge doesn’t have anything that comes directly from reddit that could reflect negatively on them.

        Reddit only reaching out when a correction is needed is done in bad faith. The hope is that, by saying “you got this wrong, which is not surprising because none of the information you’re getting is coming directly from reddit,” the reader comes to the conclusion that The Verge isn’t reliable and nothing they publish about this topic should be trusted.

        By printing that statement, The Verge is undercutting reddit’s attempt to discredit them. It basically tells the reader: “If we got something wrong it’s because reddit has decided that it’s more important to hope we make a mistake (that they will try to make into a big deal), rather than communicate clearly to make sure the true story gets published accurately.” In other words, reddit hopes The Verge screws up, so they can spin things and convince people to believe reddit instead of believing The Verge. The Verge is saying "we see the game you’re playing and we’re not gonna play it. And we’re telling everyone that you’re trying to play this stupid game.

    • Gestrid@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      What I took from that is that I can assume everything that The Verge is saying about Reddit is true unless Reddit says otherwise. And they haven’t.

      To be honest, though, given that Reddit has been caught lying on multiple occasions recently, I wouldn’t be inclined to believe their “corrections”, anyway.