Mailwatch(ed) Forum

Apparently there are genuine fears that thanks to AI, general Improvements in photo and sound editing, and resulting public cynicism, the idea of "photographic proof" or "caught on tape" as the gold standard of evidence may not be long for our world.

Which of course would suit Nargle Fargle down to the ground. See also : "My account was hacked", "Before I was in politics", "locker-room banter" ,"the dog ate my homework".

'The tape is a cut and spliced forgery' has been around as a mitigation since the 60s.

Andy McDandy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2026 7:14 am Apparently there are genuine fears that thanks to AI, general Improvements in photo and sound editing, and resulting public cynicism, the idea of "photographic proof" or "caught on tape" as the gold standard of evidence may not be long for our world.

I agree, but all is not lost. it's just that at least two different cameras would be needed for "gotcha'd"s. Or two different microphones. And ideally from sources independent of each other.

At least with AI, clips are either AI or they aren't. The answer is factual. It's a straight 50-50 unlike "fake news" when the integrity or biases of the imparter of the news can be called into question, and nuance or context overlooked. I'm surprised there's not already infallible 100% AI detection software. Google AI tells me there isn't anyway, but maybe that's what it wants us to think.....

Youngian wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2026 9:17 am 'The tape is a cut and spliced forgery' has been around as a mitigation since the 60s.

It has, but anybody with a good pair of ears who knew what they were listening for could hear those edits (especially on cans). It was easy to disprove.

A little treat for cryptic crossword fans.

Primarily, Farage acted somewhat callously in school, teacher describing him thus. (7)

The claim on social media is that this appeared as a clue in the i newspaper but I can't find any confirmation of that. Unlikely as

* The i is a Daily Mail title
* The image on social media lacks a [number] across or down next to the clue
* You'd have heard Nigel's complaints from space

Also, must be some error as I got - T-O-T-A-L C-U- and I’ve already used all 7 letters?

Youngian wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2026 9:17 am 'The tape is a cut and spliced forgery' has been around as a mitigation since the 60s.

Don't forget "out of context" which has been around forever, sometimes justifiably, sometimes not.

soulboy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2026 11:37 am A little treat for cryptic crossword fans.

Primarily, Farage acted somewhat callously in school, teacher describing him thus. (7)

The claim on social media is that this appeared as a clue in the i newspaper but I can't find any confirmation of that. Unlikely as

* The i is a Daily Mail title
* The image on social media lacks a [number] across or down next to the clue
* You'd have heard Nigel's complaints from space

Onanist?

Could be, given it turns out Hitlery isn’t a word.

For those needing a little help

In crossword puzzles, the word "primarily" is a classic indicator that you need to extract only the first letters of the subsequent words in the clue. It is a directive for an acrostic...

Tom's agent hides posh accent, picks up a hundred - just like Fargle (4).

Boiler wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2026 2:19 pm

soulboy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2026 11:37 am A little treat for cryptic crossword fans.

Primarily, Farage acted somewhat callously in school, teacher describing him thus. (7)

The claim on social media is that this appeared as a clue in the i newspaper but I can't find any confirmation of that. Unlikely as

* The i is a Daily Mail title
* The image on social media lacks a [number] across or down next to the clue
* You'd have heard Nigel's complaints from space

Onanist?

Got it!!!!!!!!

A journalist has just tweeted pointing out that Farage has not held a proper press conference in the last 50 days. Surely a man who likes to say it how it is should be holding press conferences on a daily basis.

satnav wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 7:29 pm A journalist has just tweeted pointing out that Farage has not held a proper press conference in the last 50 days. Surely a man who likes to say it how it is should be holding press conferences on a daily basis.

When you get as much press as he does you don't need a conference.

I'm not sure about that. Last Summer when parliament was in recess Farage held a press conference every week. Sky News broadcast the news conferences in full but rarely broadcast any Q&As at the end of the news conferences. This really helped Reform to set the news agenda over the Summer especially as many of the tabloids reported on the news conferences. He ensured that small boats and asylum seekers being accommodated in hotels dominated the news.

Farage is definitely running scared of the media, a press conference now would be suicidal for him as all he'd get asked about is his bent finances and Kenyon's misogyny.

davidjay wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 7:38 pm

satnav wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 7:29 pm A journalist has just tweeted pointing out that Farage has not held a proper press conference in the last 50 days. Surely a man who likes to say it how it is should be holding press conferences on a daily basis.

When you get as much press as he does you don't need a conference.

"Have you anything to say to a grateful nation, Mr. Farage?"