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The term 'fake news' has been everywhere - especially on, well, the news. While platforms like Facebook are being forced to take steps to prevent the spread of false information, this does not prevent lazy people from being tricked by satire organizations like 'The Onion.'

'The Onion' is a satirical 'media outlet' that was created by Scott Dikkers in the late 1980s. In a speech at Marquette University in his home state of Wisconsin, Dikkers clarified that satire articles and fake news are completely different. "It's satire. It's totally different from fake news, and it bothers me when those fake news organizations are basically out there printing lies or propaganda label themselves satire." Fake or not the following list of people who allowed themselves to be misinformed by 'The Onion' shows just how little research people do when it comes to their news sources. "If 'The Onion' ever wrote a story that fooled people, that was an accident, and that was because they didn't know better," Dikkers said. Scroll down to see the stories that people somehow bought and their funny comments together. Don't forget to upvote your favs!

How does did a small-town satire newspaper grow into an online media presence that caused the lawyer of the U.S president to write an angry letter telling them to remove one of their fake articles? The company was founded by a group of University of Wisconsin students Tim Keck, Christopher Johnson, Scot Dikkers and Peter Haise 1988. "People always ask questions about where the name The Onion came from", said former President Sean Mills in an interview with Wikinews; "and, when I recently asked (co-founder) Tim Keck, who was one of the founders, he told me...literally that his uncle said he should call it The Onion when he saw him and Chris Johnson eating an onion sandwich. They had literally just cut up the onion and put it on bread." 

When The Onion was in its early days it was just a popular publication among the universities in the area, primarily made-up of cartoons by Dikkers. They remained a small print publication until 1996 when one of their funny stories titled "Clinton Deploys Vowels to Bosnia" began circulating around the internet but without any attribution. Thus The Onion's official website the onion.com was born (largely so they could get Internet credit for their work).

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In 1996 the owners of the publication got their first taste of celebrity when Janet Jackson threatened them with a lawsuit for an article titled "Dying Boy Gets Wish: To Pork Janet Jackson." This could have been the end for the white lies rag but as we know they have gone on to receive plenty more threats.

The Onion website won its first Webby Award for "humor" in 1999 and in fall of 2000 the company had grown large enough to move its offices from Madison, Wisconsin to the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, NYC. The company has continued to evolve and now is full on production company with video content.

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Chancey
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one actually made me laugh out loud in the doctor's office and people turned around and looked at me!

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Daria B
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Errr... The Bible teaches Jesus resurrected, actually... And flew away back to his planet. We can be with him only if we pass the test. Then we will be granted a visa to his kingdom.

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Pungent Sauce
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When debunking things as “Completely ridiculous”, I find King James’s Big Book of Fairy Tales to be an -excellent- reference tool....

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Bettye McKee
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bored Panda, get your stuff together. When I post a reply, you add it all through the comments. Then when I delete them, it looks like I've withdrawn a comment!

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Master Markus
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, yeah, in the mythology, angels AREN'T dead people, despite popular opinion, but they still don't exist just... on principle. It's weird when you have to correct Christians on their own mythology, so at least some of them know it.

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Dora Bedpan
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nowhere does the Bible say you're allowed to go to the bathroom: I guess we're all born to sin...

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Bored Fox
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5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

here in Finland we have one Christian group who think that watching TV and movies is a sin because TV and movies are not mentioned in the Bible. But they still think that smoking tobacco is OK and those people smoke very much because alcohol and other drugs are not allowed for them. :D And they know that tobacco is not mentioned in the Bible.

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Kirsten Lockwood
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Idk what y’all are talking about. When we die, we go to heaven. No test has to be taken, we just go. That’s if your a good person...

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Kylee Alligood
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are right about no test, but God will judge you based on if you gave your heart to him or not. Good deeds will not save you.

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Hillary Bowden
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it really necessary to mock people's beliefs? You may not believe, fine and dandy. But enough is enough, really. Ar you aware of how many Christians have been slaughtered by Muslims in Nigeria this past month? No? I thought not.

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Blue Cicada
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not as many Christians as Muslims have been slaughtered by Muslims. It is very sad to know that there are some people who only care about a life if it's a Christian life. The vast majority of targets of Muslims are other Muslims. That is why we are calling the contemporary slaughter the Muslim Crusades. Just like the Crusaders who tortured and killed other Christians and non-Christians during the Crusades, modern Muslim extremists are people with little actual religious knowledge, and no regard for human life. As during the Crusades, they are twisting and manipulating religion for power, persecution, and control.

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Christina Sersif
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5 years ago

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Jesus told me that if we quit taking all medicine and going to the doctor and just pray really really loud he'll heal us and make us immortal.

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Alexandru Bucur
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't give Beijing any ideas... they might just make that a public holiday... XD

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Paul K. Johnson
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe it wasn't a hot iron but tattoo needles. Some horses are into that kind of thing. Read 50 Shades of Neigh.

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Symbole Simple
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does hating dumb people who believe this group exists is a requirement enough to be part of the group !? I wanna join!

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Symbole Simple
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How would you like to be a local and not being able to enjoy rides because of too many people !?

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Barkleaf
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5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thousands of donkeys rampaged through Iowa later that night. Destroying crops and homes.

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