Shenanigans

Okay, I was wrong. I fell for the acting. I thought the media was trying to make more of a story of this than there was. So arrest me.

The Balloon Boy Incident was a hoax.

A planned show to launch a media circus and build some momentum for a reality show.

GAWKER paid for a story that helps to confirm the father's nature.

(How much did GAWKER pay...?)

The sheriff admitted that he initially told the press that they didn't think there was a hoax involved as a way to conceal their investigation into the family and gain the family's trust.

This does kinda make it a bigger story. A chance for the media to wag a finger, both at itself and the state of the country. Fodder for the talking head shows for at least a few days.

Media coverage is one thing. Who cares, it's bullshit. The media covers bullshit all the time. But a huge recovery effort was made when this hoax was perpetrated. Time and money spent by emergency workers for what turned out to be a publicity stunt.

Wonder how long it'll take LAW & ORDER to whip up its shitty version of this.