Off Topic: Do PF Posts ever go Viral or make Local/State/National News

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The discussion explores whether posts on Physics Forums (PF) have ever gone viral or made it to local, state, or national news. Participants recall a few instances, including a notable story that originated from the MacRumors Forum and quickly gained national attention. There is concern about the type of notoriety PF might receive, especially regarding negative or embarrassing content. The conversation highlights the rapid spread of gossip news and serves as a cautionary tale for users about the potential consequences of sharing sensitive information online. Overall, the thread emphasizes the impact and reach of online discussions in the media landscape.
rhody
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The title pretty much asks the question. Does anyone here know if what I just asked has happened, if so, then when, and more important, why.

DISCUSS ! (Feeling Pengy like this morning, sorry Peng...)

Rhody...
 
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rhody said:
The title pretty much asks the question. Does anyone here know if what I just asked has happened, if so, then when, and more important, why.

DISCUSS ! (Feeling Pengy like this morning, sorry Peng...)

Rhody...

I can think of a couple, but none very recently. Let's make a few! :D
 
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rhody said:
Here is a perfect https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=3572048&postcount=49" that started on MacRumors Forum :redface: and the next day, boom, it hit the national news...

I posted about it in another thread. It is a beauty too, the story that is.

Rhody...
That's not exactly a story for which I'd want PF to receive notoriety.
 
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Astronuc said:
That's not exactly a story for which I'd want PF to receive notoriety.
I agree Astro, this is an example of how quickly "gossip" news can travel. Greg said he had a few examples, hopefully uplifting ones. Perhaps my story will serve as a warning to young people not to post potentially embarrassing things that could affect them in a negative way in the future.

Rhody...
 
I want to thank those members who interacted with me a couple of years ago in two Optics Forum threads. They were @Drakkith, @hutchphd, @Gleb1964, and @KAHR-Alpha. I had something I wanted the scientific community to know and slipped a new idea in against the rules. Thank you also to @berkeman for suggesting paths to meet with academia. Anyway, I finally got a paper on the same matter as discussed in those forum threads, the fat lens model, got it peer-reviewed, and IJRAP...
About 20 years ago, in my mid-30s (and with a BA in economics and a master's in business), I started taking night classes in physics hoping to eventually earn the science degree I'd always wanted but never pursued. I found physics forums and used it to ask questions I was unable to get answered from my textbooks or class lectures. Unfortunately, work and life got in the way and I never got further the freshman courses. Well, here it is 20 years later. I'm in my mid-50s now, and in a...

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