Hype and Misleading Information

What’s the Real Story Behind the Hype and Headlines?

Now more then ever, we are inundated with a never-ending barrage of things that try to grab our attention for one reason or another. Whether online or offline, products and services as well as ideas and political agendas are being promoted.

The main point of this post is that when something catches your interest, it is a good idea to find out more about it rather than just going by your first impression of the hype or the headline. This is especially true with anything related to a home-based business.

By the way, hype is not always a negative thing. It’s a catch phrase that includes things like ads, publicity, and excitement.

I am going to use three outrageous examples that clearly illustrate how your first impression might be changed once you know the real story.

Example 1:
Only 50 Percent Chance the Sun Will Ever Shine Again!

A headline such as this might lead you to believe that the doomsday predictors could be right after all!

Yes, this example is a real stretch of the imagination, but some promoters will use twisted logic to try and convince you that something is real. In this case, a quick-tongued slickster will say that something will either happen or it won’t happen and with only two possible outcomes, it has a 50-50 chance of going either way.

The sun has been shining for thousands of years (maybe even much longer, depending on which theory you believe) and the thought of the sun never shining again is totally absurd.

There really are people who use twisted logic or improbable scenarios to influence you in some way. So, take the time to check things out for yourself and be careful about believing everything you hear and read.

Example 2:
Angry Wife Uses Scissors on Naked Husband!

What do you think runs through people’s minds if they see a headline like this? Well, I can assure you that the real story is not at all what the headline might suggest.

Every single word of that headline is true and it happened to me!

The real story is this: Years ago, my wife would occasionally cut my hair at home. She had a good set of clippers and she could cut my hair as well as the regular barbershop I frequented. One day, as I was preparing to take a shower, my wife suddenly realized that one area of my hair was not evenly trimmed. She was upset that the haircut from the day before was not on par with her usual perfection. So, she grabbed the scissors and with a couple of quick snips, she was able to blend it in to her satisfaction.

My wife was angry (with herself), I was naked, and she used scissors on me – exactly as stated in the headline. However, the impression the headline gives is far different than the real story. Headlines that are true but also misleading is a tactic commonly used by the tabloids.

Example 3:
All Credit Applications Will Be Accepted!

Suppose your credit rating wasn’t the best and you saw or heard a statement that said ALL credit applications would be accepted at a certain car dealership or a furniture store. Wow, you start thinking that you can get a better car or nicer furnishings for your home.

That statement is another good example of something that is true, but misleading.

You see, it is true that all credit application will be accepted. However, nothing is said about the chances of the application being approved! Many people don’t realize the difference right away and get excited only to have their happy bubble burst.

Such a statement is a common way to get people to visit the store. Then the salespeople have a chance to sell them something. Often, when credit is approved, it’s at a higher interest rate than the customer had hoped for and the store feels justified because it’s based on the customer’s past credit history.

Some ads or promotions can be very misleading even though the truth is stated. Many people will understand something different than what is actually said.

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I hope these examples have made the point that the real story is not always what the hype or headline might lead you to believe.

As much as I love the home business world, it is an area with a lot of hype, exaggeration, and outright lies. We need to be careful.

Whether you’re looking for a business opportunity that’s right for you or a way to market and promote a home biz, I urge you to go beyond the headlines and hype and do your due diligence.

In other words, check things out and get the real story before getting involved.