Yes? It’s a rhetorical technique, you don’t need to correct something everyone already knows is an exaggeration for effect. It’s socially inept comic book guy behaviour that is ridiculed in so many different ways.
You don’t need to correct something everyone already knows is an exaggeration (and I agree it doesn’t seem very socially aware to do so) but this is a political discussion on the internet, so
- Everyone does not know the original figure is an exaggeration, especially by how much
- Providing the actual information ads value to the conversation and in this context this is more important than whether the commenter comes off as smarmy or socially inept
What if they said “Hey I know you’re being hyperbolic, but for anyone who’s interested, here’s the number estimated by experts…”?
The only difference here is tone.
I’m not sure why they only shared numbers for minke whales, as these don’t seem to be hunted anymore in Iceland in contrast to fin whales, whom the article was about.
Global fin whale population was estimated in 2018 by IUCN to have been around 100000.
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/2478/50349982#population
Outside of this Internet Melee, I’ve (WELL ACTUALLY) been struggling with this same dilemma with my youngest kid. We’re both autistic so this is an extremely fun topic!
Where do we draw line between doing a bit, sincerity, and just lying for fun?
Caveat: We’ve both been awake for two whole days right now. (Thanks, heritable sleep disorders!)
I don’t remember what question I wanted to ask here, or how it related to this discussion. I’m just stream of consciousness typing words while I attempt to explain to another kid why Zack Snyder’s Watchmen is worth watching, with the explicit understanding that 0.00% of the characters are good people, let alone HEROES.
Anyway, America sucks and Palestine deserves freedom. Okay Google, press the REPLY button.
