Iran duped by Onion Poll

[davidmash]

Iranian news agency duped by Onion story on Obama poll

Iran's leading news agency published a mock poll that claimed rural whites in the U.S. favored Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over president Barack Obama.

The mock poll was originally published on a popular U.S. media site, The Onion.

The FARS news agency—which touts itself as Iran's leading independent news agency while others note its ties to government—published much of the made-up poll that first appeared in the U.S. parody website.

I think this lends a little more credence to the notion that the folks in the ME have absolutely no idea how the US functions. They do not seem to be able to comprehend that anyone can publish pretty much anything with no repercussions. They do not seem to grasp the idea that web sites or print media can print things with out the OK of the government.

I suspect that we have misunderstandings of their culture as well but I believe their understanding is far more skewed than ours.

[tbomachines]

I don't know, The Onion has been used as a "credible source" by some on here before

[davidmash]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

I don't know, The Onion has been used as a "credible source" by some on here before

Yes, but 'they' were special.

[cullennewsom]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

I don't know, The Onion has been used as a "credible source" by some on here before

Come on man sometimes it's hard to tell!

[tbomachines]

Originally Posted by davidmash

Yes, but 'they' were special.

That episode still gives me a great laugh

[Can't Know]

I like the The Onion's final poke:

For more on this story: Please visit our Iranian subsidiary organization, Fars.

The reality, though is that such things are expected when there is no truly independent media and you can't have that when you have a theocratic government of crazies that reject democracy and free speech. I'd bet that Fars would love to be as independent as NASA.

[Jim B.]

Iranans are *NOT* acclaimed for their sense of humor.

Never have been and never will be.

[tbomachines]

[Hatterasguy]

Yeah pretty much. They are so spoon fed media wise over their the people don't know what to beleive about the west.

[Jorn]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Iranans are *NOT* acclaimed for their sense of humor.

Never have been and never will be.

I know many Iranians here in LA; they are serious people but all have a great sense of humor. Great people.

[tbomachines]

The fact that this is rippletits makes it a much better image

[alamostation]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Iranans are *NOT* acclaimed for their sense of humor.

Never have been and never will be.

Back in the Shah days, there were maybe 200 Iranian students at the university I attended. They were really a fun bunch. They were very Westernized and could enjoy the Three Stooges, and Wild, Wild West.

My daughter had an Iranian roomate two years ago. The roomate was very friendly and taught my daughter Farsi. My daughter is stationed in the Mideast now.

She and her friends went to a Persian restaraunt a couple of months ago and my daughter ordered in Farsi and then told the owner a joke in Farsi. The meal was free.

Iranian people are very generous and fun loving. Unfortunately for them, their government is not.

[The Swede]

Originally Posted by Jorn

I know many Iranians here in LA; they are serious people but all have a great sense of humor. Great people.

Agreed. My brother married a Persian woman from LA, wedding was at The Londoner. Nice people and the younger Persian women were hot.

[Ara T.]

+1. Jim B's talking out of his ass again.

[kerry]

The Iranians I have known have been nice people. Humor is hard to translate across cultures.