House Hippo Commercial
Why Hacker News recommends it
Used as a joking reference when threads discuss fake news, hoaxes and gullibility.
What it is
A one-minute Canadian public-service spot about a house hippo, a hoax that makes the point that you should not believe everything you see on television.
Recommended by 0 HN commenters across 0 different months, 2018 to 2023.
What Hacker News said
Cites Kibae · 2022-09 · on “I fooled millions into thinking chocolate helps weight loss (2015)”
I remember growing up in Canada, there were commercials about "house hippos" [1] and the first time I saw the commercial, I actually believed what was being presented. Thinking back, I think the campaign actually worked on me because it made me realize how obviously fake things can be made to seem real if it's presented by a seemingly authoritative figure. [1] [this video]