We could do better.: Not Making This Up Disclaimer

I think the link is out of date. As in, the link was to that day's comic, back in June 15.

I guess it was supposed to lead there?

Also something could be made from these two strips. Notion of unbelievability of kung-fu monks and then said monks appearing.

edited 19th Aug '11 4:44:00 AM by Adannor

I think that the Full Frontal Nerdity one is perfect. It's got a ridicuous statement; a note from the authors explicitly stating that they are not making it up, and it's in one of the most common formats for an NMTUdisclaimer — an asterisked footnote.

The Questionable content one isn't an example; NMTUDisclaimer is specifically when someone says, in so many words, "I am not making this up!", not just when something bizarre turns out to be true.

edited 19th Aug '11 8:18:34 AM by Madrugada

There's also an earlier strip about a recent Scooby Doo cartoon that also has an example of this. Let's see if it works better.

Alright, a bit of a disclaimer: The video that I took this from is a HD show that's showing a low-def feed of a foreign show, so for anyone bitching about the quality, that's why.

edited 19th Sep '11 5:40:03 PM by Willbyr

That's... spectacular.

I'd prefer it if the caption points to the disclaimer, in case the reader might miss it.

edited 19th Sep '11 10:39:22 PM by Catalogue

That's not a disclaimer that's there because the statement is so absurd as to be unbelievable without it, it's a just a standard disclaimer that the footage hasn't been tampered with. It's not an "I am Not Making This Up disclaimer."

Yeah, a "not making this up" disclaimer would be "These captions are real. This guy actually said this."

and Ummmm, yeah, that's exactly what that bottom line is saying, just in an indirect way. "All translations independently verified by the ABC" is just a more legalese way of saying "We didn't tamper with these captions".

EDIT: Hmmm...okay, I see your point, but I think it could be argued either way.

EDIT #2: Here's the link; the vid they use runs from about 0:22 to 0:43 and the disclaimer goes away for the last few seconds. Also, the ABC is the channel Chaser's War is shown on; you can see their bug faintly near the lower right corner throughout the clip.

edited 20th Sep '11 9:54:00 AM by Willbyr

There is so much on the pictures, that it's hard to make out the disclaimer anyway.

Plus that looks like a stand up comic doing his routine. That's not something that would qualify for this trope most of the time.

Think we at least have enough for a crowner?

The Full Frontal Nerdity pic seems to be best overall...I'd be fine with that one.

Using one of the South Park Scientology screenshots is an absolute must. Preferably the Xenu one.

Eddie called that on the grounds it would seem like bashing.

edited 6th Dec '11 3:43:36 PM by DragonQuestZ

Earlier in the thread, even.

I vote the Full Frontal Nerdity one. The swine flu one is too blurry and the disclaimer doesn't really jump out.

Bump...anyone else like the FFN pic?

If we can't use the Scientology example, how about the Super Adventure Club instead (starts around 1:45)?

It doesn't really show anything ultra wacky.

I think the alien is pretty wacky.

I find it ironic that Fast Eddie vetoed South Park's Scientology clip for bashing a religion, when all the clip did was show what Scientology actually believes. (Is it still slander if it's just telling the truth about someone?)

I don't really care for the Super Adventure Club shots.

Actually, I think it is. Slander is a statement that harms the reputation of the subject of that statement. Proving that the statement is in fact true may be a defence, but not necessarily.

I don't think the scientology one is offensive. If they didn't want people knowing what they believe in, they wouldn't have it in print.

Actually proving the statement is true is an ironclad defense. That is often the defense case against charges of libel or slander, which involve false or misleading statements. [1]

Yes I don't think "it might be illegal" is part of the reasoning, it is negative criticism whether technically permissible or not :P NMTUD means "I know it sounds silly but really!"

edited 2nd Feb '12 9:46:52 AM by rodneyAnonymous

Well anything against some group's beliefs would be a problem, bashing or no.

I think the issue is more that putting that sort of disclaimer on someone's actual beliefs has an implication of "ha ha let's laugh at how ridiculous this religion is" which is something we don't want to imply, even if it is Scientology in question.