Everything about this initial story stunk from the first time it was being recited by a mainstream media hoping to keep dragging Toyota through the mud and milk the broken-Toyota story for all it was worth.
Washington Post — Prius driver’s frantic 911 call
Associated Press — Prius driver tells harrowing tale
Associated Press — Pedal problems, suits accelerate for Toyota
CNN — Driver: My Prius took me for a ride
USA Today — Could runaway Prius case become Toyota’s crisis turning point?
ABC News — Toyota With ‘Stuck’ Accelerator Hits 94 MPH, Driver Rescued by California Highway Patrol
Okay, so you get the idea. It sounds like a good story.
There already was an evil corporation to pounce on, and now another hapless victim. However, the actual art of reporting was sorely lacking as very few media outlets decided to perform Journalism 1.01: verify. One outlet did and really made the case this was yet another example of a look-at-me type and a media that was easily suckered.
Toyota Hybrid Horror Hoax
“On the very day Toyota was making a high-profile defense of its cars, one of them was speeding out of control,” said CBS News–and a vast number of other media outlets worldwide. The driver of a 2008 Toyota Prius, James Sikes, called 911 to say his accelerator was stuck, he was zooming faster than 90 miles per hour and absolutely couldn’t slow down.In fact, almost none of this was true. Virtually every aspect of Sikes’s story as told to reporters makes no sense.
The lack of skepticism from the beginning was stunning. I combed through haystacks of articles without producing such needles as the words “alleges” or “claims.”
And now, it’s cover-your-ass mode with the media….
It only makes one wonder how many other frantic calls (from shysters) we hear replayed in the media are real, or ones they were either too lazy or agenda-driven to get to the bottom of the story… which is their job.
The dangers of submitting to prejudice, real or contrived, no matter how well-intentioned. This is definitely something worth remembering.
I’ll grant you that both sides failed to objectively report the event.
There are two issues to be considered here. First, is the event involving the Prius and its operator. Second, is the event involving competing interests in the media.
In the first, the timing of the event and operator involved are both suspicious. It deserves a full investigation by two independent parties or two competing interests to determine the cause of the claimed anomalous event.
The second is emblematic of the consequences derived from the confrontation between competing interests in our society at large. This is not a new phonomenon, but it has never more clearly defined and distinguished between the people and groups involved.
I wonder how much longer people will remain patient.
The Scientific Method is officially dead and buried, I guess.
* The reporter is “testing” using a vehicle that is functioning properly. *
If said UUT (Unit Under Test) is functioning as it should, any “test” done to see whether or not the controls function as designed is already invalidated.
* The first consideration by any valid investigator would be to find out both by studying the design and by empirical methods, how to *create* the reported fault — if possible.
Since the vehicle in the video was *not* in the reported malfunction mode, the entire thing is stupid.
The lack of skepticism from the beginning…
has become commonplace and should be expected. The media were waiting for just such a break (pun intended).
Toyota Slams ABC Report on Pedals
Yup, the journalists without integrity serve their masters very well.
Anybody care to hazard a guess as to what’s so funny?
Are your referring to the video? Can you give us a hint? Is it related to “neutral”?
oh cool! you found some FOX 40 news video, nicely done. that’s my local affiliate. didn’t think you’d use FOX 40 video
Journalism majors should not be trying to do technical demonstrations.
As an engineer, I’m laughing out loud.
Anybody care to hazard a guess as to what’s so funny?