Badger's Law

[[File:Badger's Law.jpg|thumb|165px|Badger badger badger badger badger badger badger badger badger badger badger badger badger, mushroom mushroom.<ref>{{wpa|Badgers (animation)|''Badgers''}}</ref>]]
{{internet}}
'''Badger's Law''' states that the content of any website which contains the word "truth" in its name or URL contains anything but that. The law states:

{{cquote|Websites with the word "Truth" in the URL have none in the posted content.}}

In practice, this means that websites with this word in their name and/or URL can be considered [[webshites]]. Citing such webshites as a credible source is in turn a violation of [[Scopie's Law]]. [[WorldTruth.TV]] is a prime example of this.

Badger's Law can less-reliably be applied to book and film titles; for example, yes to the book ''[[The Truth About Hillary]]'' and yes to [[Alex Jones]]' film ''The 9/11 Chronicles Part One: Truth Rising'',<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9060362/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_8_dr The 9/11 Chronicles Part One: Truth Rising] ''IMDb''.</ref> but no to the film ''[[An Inconvenient Truth]]'' and no to the book ''Truth: A Brief History of Total Bullsh*t''.<ref>''Truth: A Brief History of Total Bullsh*t'' by Tom Phillips (2020) Wildfire. 1472263200.</ref>

==Origins==
The law was named for a badger [[meme]] that was posted in April 2016 on [[Facebook]] by the admin of the page "Genetically Modified Humans for Monsanto"<ref>[https://archive.is/sfET2 Genetically Modified Humans for Monsanto]. Archived from Facebook, 30 April 2016.</ref> and has since quickly been taken over by other pro-science pages.<ref>[https://archive.is/QQkiH The Credible Hulk]. Archived from Facebook, 30 April 2016.</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/E4j6I You.keep.using]. Archived from Facebook, 30 April 2016.</ref>

==Extension==
Badger's Law also seems to apply in the cases of certain other words: 
* Variations and derivations of the word "truth", as in [[Rick Wiles]]' [http://www.trunews.com TRUNEWS.com], or the Latin "Veritas", for example in [[Project Veritas]]. 
* "[[Appeal to nature|Natural]]", as in [[NaturalNews.com]].
* "Freedom", "[[patriot]]", and "[[liberty]]", as in the [[American Freedom Coalition]], [[Patriot Mobile]], or [[Liberty Counsel]], [[Alliance Defending Freedom]], or [[Moms for Liberty]].

==Prevalence in the clogosphere==
{{Cquote|"Truth" is often added as part of the names of things, including websites and activist movements, and in written and spoken sentences so as to add greater emphasis much [[Law of exclamation|like exclamation marks are used]]. For example, the Truth Movement knows the Truth about Truth, including how all said in the mainstream media about it is lies. Think for yourself, and you'll agree. The Truth has been concealed but will be revealed by the Truth People, who include the authors of this article. Keep in mind, though, that the [[CIA]] will [[Nineteen Eighty-Four|try to convince you that lies are truth and truth is lies]], so be very careful. You'll know the Truth by its power when you find it, because nothing is like the Truth. Truth.|||How truth is used|[[Illogicopedia]]<ref>[https://en.illogicopedia.org/wiki/Truth Truth], Illogicopedia</ref>}}

{{Cquote|<nowiki>if $username =~ m/truth|justice|freedom|neutrality/i</nowiki>, then the account should probably be blocked preemptively, because nothing constructive will ever come from it.|||The Cynic's Guide To Wikipedia<ref>{{wpl|User:MastCell#The_Cynic's_Guide_to_Wikipedia}}</ref>}}
A scan of the questionable sources presented at [[Media Bias/Fact Check]] reveals many examples of Badger's Law. These webshites are all noted for extremist viewpoints and employ a full range of tactics typical of [[extremism]]: [[clickbait]] headlines, [[hate speech]], lack of transparency, [[pseudoscience]], political [[propaganda]], [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]], and [[fake news]]. Examples include:

*'''American Truth Today''': A hyper-partisan extreme right conservative webshite that completely lacks transparency. Appears to be a personal blog run by someone named Jim Hayek.<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/american-truth-today/ American Truth Today], 
 Media Bias Fact Check, 23 February 2020.</ref>

*'''[[Americans for Truth About Homosexuality]]''': A far-right extremist webshite that "seeks to apply the same single-minded determination to [[Homophobia|opposing]] [[Homosexual agenda|the radical homosexual agenda]] and standing for God-ordained sexuality and the [[Family values|natural family]] as countless homosexual groups do in promoting their harmful agenda."<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/americans-for-truth-aftah/ Americans for Truth (AFTAH)], Media Bias Fact Check, 4 February 2020.</ref>

*'''Blunt Force Truth''': A blog hosted by long-time game show host Chuck Woolery. Extreme far-right bias, promotion of [[propaganda]] and conspiracy theories, republishes news from other hyper-partisan conservative sources.<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/blunt-force-truth/ Blunt Force Truth], Media Bias Fact Check, 8 June 2021.</ref>

*'''Grain of Truth''': A far-right conservative news and opinion blog based somewhere in Canada. This webshite completely lacks transparency, as there isn’t an about page, authors are not named, and ownership is not disclosed.<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/grain-of-truth/ Grain of Truth], Media Bias Fact Check, 5 October 2020.</ref>

*'''Gozilla of Truth''': An extremist pro-[[Trump]] radio show featuring Trump talk and lots of commercials for [[Vitamin and mineral supplements|supplements]], [[woo]], and [[Patriot Mobile|junk cell phone service]], targeting [[paranoid]] right-wingers.<ref>[https://www.johnfredericksradio.com/ John Fredericks Radio Show], polluting the airwaves of the United States for over a month!</ref>

*'''Stone Cold Truth''': [[Roger Stone]]'s personal blog. Content is poorly sourced, marginally factual, and oozes [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]].<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/stone-cold-truth/ Stone Cold Truth], Media Bias Fact Check, 21 August 2020.</ref> Clearly, it is the brain-faeces of a [[paranoid]] moron.

*'''The Truth Voice''': An extreme-right [[Islamophobia|anti-Islam]] webshite, part of a network of webshites that all publish negative stories about Islam and attempt to paint a picture of Muslims as murderous and violent.<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-truth-voice/ The Truth Voice], Media Bias Fact Check, 19 May 2021.</ref>

*'''Truth and Action''': An extreme right wing webshite that caters content to preppers, [[gun nuts]], and [[Survivalism|survivalists]] with healthy doses of conspiracy theories and pseudoscience.<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/truth-and-action/ Truth and Action], Media Bias Fact Check, 26 September 2020.</ref>

*'''Truth Examiner''': A far-left sensationalized "news" and opinion webshite full of clickbait headlines and poorly sourced information. Now offline.<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/truth-examiner/ Truth Examiner], Media Bias Fact Check, 16 November 2020.</ref>

*'''Truth in Media''': A webshite owned by American television personality Benjamin Swann, that specializes in pseudoscience and conspiracy theories. Promoted the [[Sandy Hook massacre|Sandy Hook]] and [[Pizzagate]] conspiracies, and spread false information related to the [[COVID-19]] pandemic.<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/truth-in-media/ Truth In Media], Media Bias Fact Check, 22 April 2021.</ref>

*'''[[Truth Social]]''': The [[social media]] site by [[Donald Trump]] that crumbled badly when it  launched in February 2022.<ref>Drew Harwell, [https://archive.fo/7aAjL Trump’s Truth Social’s disastrous launch raises doubts about its long-term viability]. [[The Washington Post]], 22 February 2022.</ref> If it ends up anything like ''every single thing Donald Trump has ever done'', it's safe to say that it won't contain much truth.

*'''Truth Uncensored''': An extreme far-right webshite featuring clickbait headlines, propaganda, and regurgitating crap from other questionable sources. Earned a misleading claim from [[Snopes]].<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/truth-uncensored/ Truth Uncensored], Media Bias Fact Check, 16 November 2020.</ref>

*'''GrokAI''' (originally '''TruthGPT'''): A [[ChatGPT]] competitor dreamt up and later created by [[Elon Musk]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230221070918/https://truthgpt.one/ THE $TRUTH HAS BEEN REVEALED…] ''TruthGPD'' (archived from February 21, 2023).</ref> that was originally meant to "understand the universe", which he mentioned after criticising the perceived "[[Woke|wokeness]]" of AI chatbots like ChatGPT.<ref>[https://archive.is/0siUv Sawyer Merritt]. Twitter, 17 April 2023. {{quotebox|NEWS: @elonmusk says he is creating a maximum truth seeking AI chatbot called “TruthGPT” that tries to understand the nature of the universe.}}</ref> Given the basic nature of GPT in general as a type of [[large language model]], Musk's description was nonsensical [[technobabble]], as an LLM has no mind, no agency, and no concept of truth vs. falsehood.
:As of 2023, the website has a mascot that could be described as vaguely looking like a robo-badger,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230628175015/https://truthgpt.one/ TruthGPT] (archived from June 28, 2023).</ref> and seems to be built primarily around trading [[cryptocurrency]] (including "$TRUTH") and [[NFTs]], rather than providing information (truthful or otherwise).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230712183914/https://truthgpt.gitbook.io/truthgpt-whitepaper/overview/introduction Introduction] ''TruthGPT'' (archived from July 12, 2023).</ref>

Examples of Badger's Law have a big presence in alternative media. One can easily spin the dial of a [[shortwave]] radio and come across such examples as:

*'''Beacon of Truth''': Evangelistic religious organization with a large footprint on shortwave radio.<ref>[https://botmi.org/radio-broadcast-schedule/ Radio broadcast schedule], Beacon of Truth Ministries International.</ref>

*'''Beautiful Truth''': A [[9/11]] [[truther]] that spent hours on end babbling about [[9/11]] conspiracy theories.

*'''Herald of Truth''': Thinly veiled [[white supremacy]] screeds [[Christian Identity|masquerading as Christian religious content]].<ref>[https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/kingdom-identity-ministries Kingdom Identity Minsitries], Southern Poverty Law Center.</ref>

*'''Radio Free Truth''': A pretentious blowhard foisting his [[fundamentalist]] viewpoints onto the airwaves.<ref>[http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld6081.txt Glenn Hauser's DX Listening Digest], 6-081, June 1, 2006.</ref>

*'''Stairway Truth''': An obscure preacher from [[Tennessee]].

*'''Table of Truth''': "Brother Ben" presents a weird take on oddball religious fundamentalism. Seems to be weirdly fixated on [[Brother Stair]].<ref>[http://www.thenetteam.net/tableoftruth.html Table of Truth Ministries, Brother Ben]. thenetteam.net.</ref>

*'''Truth, Light, and Life''': An "international" ministry using radio to bore the hell out of people.<ref>[https://tllmi.org/about/ About], Truth, Light & Life Ministries International.</ref>

There's even a radio station called "Truth FM" in rural western [[Maryland]] that spews all kinds of hate speech and incoherent Christian evangelism from an obscure sect called Calvary Chapel.<ref>[https://www.calvarycumberland.com/Listen-on-line Truth FM 97.1]. Calvary Chapel Cumberland Valley.</ref>

==Possible exceptions==
Note that Badger's Law has exceptions; in particular, it does not apply recursively (for example, "example.com/blog/my-experience-with-foobartruth-dot-org" is probably an acceptable primary source about "foobartruth.org"). It applies less strongly when the URL is in the form of a question ("example.com/blog/is-frank-telling-the-truth-about-his-encounter-with-mr-badger"), as many such cases fall under the scope of [[Betteridge's law]].

==See also==
{{collist|2|
*[[Post-truth]]
*[[Pravda.ru]]
*[[Fake news#RealTrueNews|RealTrueNews]]
*[[Donald Trump|<big>Tru</big><small><small>mp</small></small>]]
*[[TrueOrigin]]
*[[TruNews]]
*[[The Truth About Hillary: What She Knew, When She Knew It, and How Far She'll Go to Become President]]
*[[Truther]] (9/11)
*[[Truther.org]]
*[[Truthiness]]
*[[Truth in Science]]
*[[Truthism.com]]
*[[Truth Frequency Radio]]
*[[Truth Never Sleeps]]
*[[Truth News Australia]]
*[[Truthstream Media]]
*[[TruthWiki]]
}}

==Exceptions to the rule==
[[File:Tumbleweed.gif]]

More seriously, there are actually some exceptions to the rule.

* [http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/ The Truth About Guns] ([[Inverse stopped clock|except their pro-gun position]]).<ref>https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-truth-about-guns/</ref>
* [https://www.exposingtruth.com/ Exposing the Truth] (in spite of their silly name).<ref>https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/exposing-the-truth/</ref>
* [https://www.elkharttruth.com/ The Elkhart Truth].<ref>https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-elkhart-truth/</ref>
* [https://citizentruth.org/ Citizen Truth].<ref>https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/citizen-truth/</ref>
* [https://www.truthdig.com/ Truthdig].<ref>https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/truthdig/</ref>
* [https://truthinitiative.org/ Truth Initiative] (U.S. anti-tobacco advocacy charity) ({{wpl|Truth Initiative}})

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{Eponymous laws}}

[[Category:Badger's Law| ]]
[[Category:Language]]

Categories: Badger's Law, Language