Fake news of Belgium's split causes outrage

[charlie and algernon]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16203917/?GT1=8816

Station's 'misplaced joke' shows flag-waving crowds, says king fled country


BRUSSELS - A fake news bulletin that Belgium was to split sparked outrage in both halves of the country on Thursday, although the television station responsible provoked a debate about the nation’s future.

“Irresponsible,” “questionable” and “regrettable” were among the reactions from Belgium’s political mainstream in both French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders after a fictional report that Flanders had declared independence.

Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt’s office described the program as a “misplaced joke.”





well, i see we've been replaced as the most gullible nation.

[huskerlaw]

1. My friend in Belgium says

that the entire thing was totally hyped up. It's not even water-cooler fodder, but their news is making it sound like everyone freaked. They didn't.

The people watching the broadcast (the French part of Belgium mostly) thought it was true becuase there was no disclaimer or anything...but the country didn't freak out. It's more a matter of the other news outlets making a big deal of it than anything.

[charlie and algernon]

2. haha, so the joke's on us then

making US think it was a big deal. hahaha

[rug]

3. Luxembourg was ready to move in and take advantage.