The bastion of fair and balanced reporting, The New York Post, is running with this scandalous story with vague references to unnamed sources "representing OWS".
The title:
Occupy ‘ball’ street Rush for STD tests
The opening statement:
It’s the Autumn of Love!
Occupy Wall Street protesters are flocking to nearby health clinics for STD and HIV testing after getting their freak on in ’60s-style hookups with crusty strangers, sources told The Post yesterday.
“Last week was free love,” said a medical professional at a clinic located a short walk from Zuccotti Park, referring to the number of people who organizers have referred for sexually transmitted disease testing.
A volunteer at the park admitted concern among protesters about STDs.
Of course everything the NYPost has printed is true. Journalists know how to frame questions when they are on the hunt for a story.
Imagine the NYPost question that could have been asked in order to glean the above information:
POST: Are protesters concerned about STDS?
Unnamed Protester: Well, sure.
There you have it.
Conclusion:
Protesters are concerned about STDS. But then again, how else could that question be answered?
Again from the article:
“We give directions to clinics if people ask for information regarding STDs,” said the volunteer, who identified himself only as “Captain” and added that pregnancy tests are also a hot item.
Again, absolutely truthful reporting by the team of three NYPost journalists, if the question was "What do you do if someone asks about STD testing".
To add validity to the article, a Dr. Lisa Oldson provides a professional message. Dr. Oldson is located in Chicago.
In my opinion, this article feels like a stretch to frame #OWS as a Free Love Hippie Party with no concerns for safe sex. The accusation of irresponsibility is strong.
To help the NYPost along, here is another idea for a similar expose' of OWS.
The OWS Diarrhea Problem. A rough draft of a proposed article below:
OK, this is a bit snarky, but the point the diary is making is that any journalist worth their salt knows how to frame questions in order to get the result they may be looking for. I think that is what the NYPost STD story is all about. A desperate effort to smear OWS.
So here's the suggested story that could be run to convince others to stay away from OWS.
Title: Shitty Time for #OWS
It’s the Autumn of Loose Stools!
Occupy Wall Street protesters are flocking to nearby health clinics for diarrhea testing after getting their freak on in ’60s-style hookups with crusty strangers, sources told The Post yesterday.
“Last week was free food week,” said a medical professional at a clinic located a short walk from Zuccotti Park, referring to the number of people who organizers have referred for diarrhea testing.
A volunteer at the park admitted concern among protesters about diarrhea.
“We give directions to clinics if people ask for information regarding diarrhea,” said the volunteer, who identified himself only as “Captain” and added that urine tests are also a hot item.
Well, you get the gist.
It took a team of three (3) journalists from NYPost to create the STD story that is now being twittered fast and furiously tonight.
Here's some random negative tweets:
#OWS protesters getting tested for STDs -- might I recommend that everyone practice safe tweets?
#OWS protestors have been getting checked for stds because they've been getting their freak on in zuccoti park #youarenotthe99%
I heard the #OWS movement is a breeding ground for both Socialism and STDs. Both are very, very bad
And if you don't get raped at #OWS you'll catch some crusties' STDs. Now will you all fugg off home? #MadeUpNews http://twitpic.com
So now STDs and crimes are running rampid at @OccupyWallSt? Does anyone know the central message/cause yet? #Ows
#OWS goons being advised to get tested for STDs. Apparently free love in the tents comes with a price! nyp.st/uUwVHL
#OWS has turned into Occupy Ball Street-STDs being spread like crazy, watch out @Occupy_Boston the future Occupy Ball-ston #waytostayontask
Well, you get the gist. Good grief.
TWITTER ACTION ITEM:
There is a TWITTER WAR for hashtag #OWS. The Right Wing machine is working really, really hard to Occupy the Hashtag. So, if you have time and tweet, will you try to find time to at least retweet 5 tweets a day?
You can go to the Daily Kos Occupy Group and tweet some diaries each day.
If you are brave enough, you can even rebut the buttheads. Three stars for those who do, but keep it respectful. Just give them a link to the TRUTH news to offset the LIES. or not.
Peace
Always Classy
Daily Kos Team Occupy