The Babylon Bee is one of the most popular satire sites on the internet but for some reason, the “fact-checking” website Snopes has run multiple “fact-checks” on its clearly satirical content over the years. Now the owner Adam Ford has called out Snopes for its latest “fact-check” of a recent Babylon Bee article for being dishonest and making moral judgments.
Ford began by introducing the Snopes “fact-check” which is titled “Did a Georgia Lawmaker Claim a Chick-fil-A Employee Told Her to Go Back to Her Country?”
The “fact-check” is of a recent Babylon Bee article which satirizes the recent news coverage surrounding Georgia lawmaker Erica Thomas and her claims that she was told to go back to her country during a grocery store dispute.
The Babylon Bee's satire article is titled “Georgia Lawmaker Claims Chick-Fil-A Employee Told Her To Go Back To Her Country, Later Clarifies He Actually Said ‘My Pleasure.'”
And here is the Bee article they say they're "fact-checking": https://t.co/btfUocCdi5
/2
Ford then rebutted the main points of this “fact-check.” He started by highlighting that this “fact-check” is far from objective and makes a moral judgment.
Just in the subtitle of this "objective fact check" they've veered toward pronouncing a moral judgment, assigning motives, and presuming to dictate — to one of the most popular satire sites on the planet — what does and does not count as satire.
/4
After this, Ford showed how in the first two paragraphs of its “fact-check,” Snopes omits that Thomas had walked back some of her statements – key information that is relevant to the satire piece.
Next: The third paragraph … this paragraph! Just look at it!
An "apparent attempt to maximize the online indignation"? What a subjective and malicious statement!
This is a "fact check"?
Next Ford highlighted how Snopes had used further subjective statements in its supposedly objective “fact-check.”
Also, imagine the type of ideological bubble one must live in to think that what Chick-fil-A is "known for" is "its CEO's opposition to same-sex marriage." It's the most beloved fast-food chain in the country!
This is a "fact check"?
/8
Ford then discussed how Snopes framed this “fact-check” to make it seem like The Babylon Bee intentionally tries to fool readers, even though it clearly positions itself as a satirical site.
Onward:
Now this sentence is quite troubling. Describing the Bee article as a "ruse."
Let me define "ruse" for you: "an action intended to deceive someone."
Now that's an accusation.
Once Ford was done with the details of this “fact-check,” he went on to describe how he believes it's closer to an opinion piece or hit piece and then juxtaposed this with how Snopes uses the fear of misinformation to fundraise.
They fundraise off of fear of misinformation and sell shirts emblazoned with "#facts," "Facts on facts," "Check your sources," and "Only you can prevent fake news." https://t.co/sEsSAbaDCE
After this, Ford highlighted how Snopes treated The Onion in a much more favorable way when it “fact-checked” one of their satirical pieces.
They've ascribed dark motives to the Bee while laughing off Onion fact-checks like HAHAA GUYS, "of course" it's satire! OF COURSE! Some readers just got confused, y'know!
Next Ford talked about how Snopes and other similar “fact-checking” sites are often seen as “definitive indicators of truthfulness” and that in this instance, he believes Snopes is using its trust and influence to delegitimize and demonize The Babylon Bee.
The Bee has been "Snoped" plenty of times before (and had to endure Facebook purgatory once because of it). But what they've written this time certainly seems like an attempt to delegitimize and demonize an important satirical outlet, and that is totally unacceptable.
/16
He finishes by calling on Snopes to fix both the article and its operation.
So @snopes: I suggest you fix this article, and I suggest you fix your operation.
/End
Ford's response comes after Snopes has “fact-checked” many satirical pieces from The Babylon Bee over the last few years. Some of these “fact-checks” include “Is California Considering a Tax on Breathing?” and “Did CNN Purchase an Industrial-Sized Washing Machine to Spin News?”
These “fact-checks” of The Babylon Bee aren't the only example of Snopes' questionable “fact-checking.” The site has previously given “unproven” and “mixture” ratings to proven facts.
