Riverman's post is found here (if you haven't read it yet, please do so before reading any more of my post):

http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,27195,27195#msg-27195


Alan Osmond (of the famous Osmond clan) has picked up the story and posted a much-truncated version of it on his site at:

http://thefamily.com/2010/10/sad-story/


The question is therefore raised as to whether this (very funny, thank you, Riverman!) joke was originally a legitimate news story, altered for comic effect, or if Osmond (or his website administrator) was somehow led to believe that PART of the story was true and went ahead and published it as such. After a little bit of Googling around, I have come to the conclusion that poor Alan was duped!

First of all, the story on Alan Osmond's site has a date of October 24, 2010--less than two weeks ago, yet a Google News search for the "AP" article brings back absolutely no hits:

http://www.google.com/search?q=A+seven-year+old+boy+was+at+the+center+of+a+SALT+LAKE+County+courtroom+drama+yesterday+when+he+challenged+a+court+ruling&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=9dU&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=A+seven-year+old+boy+was+at+the+center+of+a+SALT+LAKE+County+courtroom+drama+yesterday+when+he+challenged+a+court+ruling&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=nws:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=wn&fp=3f29b94b1f95a215


However, a Google search of regular web sites brings back several pages featuring the story. I have looked at most of them and they all appear to end with the "BYU Cougars" (or similar) punchline--the notable exception being Alan Osmond's take on the story:

http://www.google.com/search?q=A+seven-year+old+boy+was+at+the+center+of+a+SALT+LAKE+County+courtroom+drama+yesterday+when+he+challenged+a+court+ruling&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=VfU&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=%22A+seven-year+old+boy+was+at+the+center+of+a+SALT+LAKE+County+courtroom+drama+yesterday+when+he+challenged+a+court+ruling%22&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=nw&fp=6e8733203d1b4e27


And at least a couple of the sites had the joke-story posted a FULL YEAR ago, including the second one below, which ends with the UTAH JAZZ as the butt of the punchline!

http://deepshadesofblue.com/why-11-2-now-feels-so-different/

http://www.utahjazz360.com/earl-stevens/well-know-on-thursday/


I actually feel kind of bad for people who are so gullible that they will pass ANYTHING along that fits their agenda. And if you don't think Alan Osmond has an agenda--HOLY COW!--take a few minutes to read up (FAIR WARNING: be prepared for some painful eye-rolling and severe nausea!):

http://thefamily.com/


Oh, and if any of you feel so inclined to help spare Alan and his famous family further embarrassment, you may wish to let him know what's going on by dropping him a message at:

http://thefamily.com/contact-us/



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2010 01:32PM by Fetal Deity.

but my comment is still "awaiting moderation" LOL

I wonder if they will ever be able to admit to themselves that they have been HAD! As of a few minutes ago, it's still there ...

It's still there.

It's still there.

Oh... dear! :o))

... in order to protect families and individuals from the potential dangers that are present online."

http://thefamily.com/2008/09/a-post-with-everything-in-it/


Would one of those "potential dangers" include the unchecked and unverified dissemination of FALSE information--I guess not, as long as it promotes one's agenda: “Some things that are true are not very useful.” (BKKKP)