A Canadian radio show's report that a "47-car train goes missing" is a satirical story aimed at poking fun at the National Canadian Rail, although it appears a lot of Canadians don't get the joke.
Lead Stories' Trendolizer identified the story as trending on social networks Friday, September 18, 2015 -- a day after it aired on CBC Radio's "This Is That," which is billed as "a current affairs program that doesn't just talk about the issues, it fabricates them."
The website version of the story is titled: "Canadian rail company has no explanation after 47-car train goes missing"
"Three days ago, National Canadian Rail announced that a train leaving Thunder Bay for Winnipeg completely vanished without a trace," the story said.
It quoted a purported spokesman for National Canadian Rail saying "You'd think all we'd have to do is follow the track, but it is not that easy."
The rail company official supposedly to the CBC Radio host that the company has "looked everywhere" and they "just can't find it."
Why are they picking on Canadians? They are such nice people.
Is this a joke? Super weird! #wheresthetrain Canadian rail company has no explanation after 47-car train goes missing http://t.co/5QXSeknpji
-- Naomi Seaborg (@SeaborgNaomi) September 18, 2015
But apparently some Americans were fooled, too.
US political columnist tweets @CBCThisIsThat bit to her 301K followers. Doesn't say it's satire. pic.twitter.com/Y4mBnSqRCU
-- Paul Bae (@MrPaulBae) September 18, 2015
Lead Stories' Trendolizer can take a joke. In fact, it scours social nets globally for satires that people don't seem to realize are just attempts at humor. Scroll down to see the latest.
