WHAT IT IS
The story is packaged to scare or enrage you first and inform you second — dramatic music, sinister framing, worst-case language.
WHY IT WORKS
Strong emotion narrows attention and speeds up judgment. Scared or angry brains share first and verify later — which is exactly the point.
HOW TO SPOT IT
- Superlatives: 'destroyed', 'terrifying', 'they don't want you to know'
- A threat with no numbers attached to it
- You feel your pulse before you've learned a single fact
HOW TO DEFUSE IT
Name the feeling ('this is making me angry') — labeling an emotion loosens its grip. Then re-read for what's actually claimed.
ASK YOURSELF
If this were written calmly, would there be anything left?