April 1, 2009

Local news website makes bad April Fool's joke

I posted a story here earlier meant as an April Fool's joke involving former Mayor Becker and the upcoming primary election. A Milwaukee TV station picked up the story as legitimate and it ended up being a lot more confusing than intended. Apologies to readers and thanks for the quick response on a bad joke gone awry. -Dustin

22 comments:

  1. Seriously, this IS an April Fool's joke right?

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  2. Gary, you're a nice enough guy and many of us have forgiven you but please don't humiliate yourself by doing this. Go take care of your family. You had your chance. Racine wants something better than your years of service gave us. Peace be with you, but stay away from City Hall.

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  3. April Fool's Joke - in very poor taste.

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  4. Dustin, I admire you and what you're doing with the Racine Post but this is seriously not funny. Becker left a broken family behind that needs a break from this crap.

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  5. Extremely poor taste. I am no longer interested in visiting this web site.

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  6. If this is a joke, it made it to www.wisn.com, that is where I just found it.

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  7. Wisn.com just has a link to Racinepost. I am pretty sure this is a bad April Fool's joke!!!

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  8. I'd write in Becker before I would write in Smith!

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  9. Yeah, bad April Fool's Joke. Sorry. I'm taking it down.

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  10. Dustin

    I was under the impression that you were attempting to develop the "Racine Post," into a viable and preferential alternative to other news sources. Your April Fool's joke regarding former Mayor Becker has significantly hampered your efforts in establishing your site as a fact base resource. Your apology should extend to the former Mayor and his family.

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  11. Dustin - Here are a couple of suggestions for (somewhat) less offensive election-related April Fool’s headlines:

    - “Kim ‘Carpet Bagger’ Plache vows to actually move her family into crappy, inner-city flat she rented to qualify to run for Mayor”
    - “Karas: Drill Here, Drill Now, Darn-it all!”

    - “Dickert takes vow to be ‘not so pretty’ in interest of becoming ‘more Racine.’”

    - “Bob Turner Changes Legal Name to ‘Bob T: a wholly owned subsidiary of Jim Smith.’”

    - “QA Shakoor Admits to Not Having Actually Invented Kringle or the Wheel (maintains that he is still VERY ‘pro-wheel’ but refuses to join the wheel party.)”

    - “Jim S. Clarifies Position on Uptown Development: “Well, it doesn’t have to actually be a Piggly Wiggly, it could be a, you know, like I was saying, maybe we could examine… like and then we working together purple cheese plan.”

    - “HELDING ARTRESTED! – Mayoral candidate Greg Helding was arrested on Jacato Drive last evening for possession of high explosives…”

    - “Jody Harding nude photo scandal!”

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  12. Dustin, it is your paper and you should be able to do whatever you want! If a TV station picks this up without checking facts ON APRIL FOOLS' DAY, that's their problem. Besides, there are quite a few stories and situations around here that are more ridiculous - and disgusting in their waste of taxpayer money - than this "story".

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  13. . . . and why you should be apologizing to Becker's family is way beyond me, and unlike many peopl in SE Wisconsin, I think I actually have manners . . .

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  14. I just called the local TV stations to tell them that Martians have landed in Grover's Mill, NJ. Stay tuned for more details!

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  15. Dustan
    No worries. Sometimes things just do not go as planed

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  16. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  17. Yeah Dustin screw these idiots who can't take a joke!

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  18. 'First class site, all the way', he states laughing hysterically.

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  19. Wow. Any writer working at any paper would get fired on the spot for something like this.
    Unfortunately, as evidenced by this example, TV reporting is not held to the same level of scrutiny.
    I know the Post is quick to jump on a negative story about the JT when it comes to light, but, if it ever did fold, 95 percent of the quality work in reporting the county goes with it.

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  20. People - get a grip.

    Did anyone catch the BBC news: Pole vaulter streaks in Paris - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7973713.stm

    Also did anyone see that Harley launched a new Eco-scooter (Pete, maybe this might be up your alley) - http://onmilwaukee.com/market/articles/harleyscooter.html

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  21. Anon, 8:31:
    Don't believe everything you see: That picture is of a Lambretta!

    Vespas have had built-in espresso makers for 40 years.

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  22. I love it and enjoy the Racine Post!
    Keep doing what your doing!

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