WHAT IT IS
Real-looking facts, chosen carefully: one study, one quote, one chart window — with everything that cuts the other way left out.
WHY IT WORKS
Each piece checks out, so the whole feels true. But truth lives in the full picture, and you're only being shown the corner of it that sells.
HOW TO SPOT IT
- One dramatic statistic with no baseline or comparison
- A quote or clip that starts mid-thought
- Claims that can't be checked even in principle
HOW TO DEFUSE IT
Ask what the rest of the data looks like. If a claim can't possibly be proven wrong, it isn't carrying information.
ASK YOURSELF
What would I see if I could zoom out from this exact frame?