flavivsaetivs
98717
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I woke up this morning to find out the Ghost of Kyiv story was apparently started by a War Thunder youtuber grifting for views.
EDIT: Link from Know Your Meme tracking the origin: https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/2317279-ghost-of-kyiv
It was started by War Thunder Youtuber sc0ttishkoala: https://www.youtube.com/thescottishkoala
I apologize for misinforming everyone. Here are links to donate to charities to help the Ukraine:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/s6g5un/want_to_support_ukraine_heres_a_list_of_charities/
https://www.timeout.com/news/8-ways-you-can-help-the-people-of-ukraine-right-now-022422
https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/
Phixik
Oh he's real. Wink*
HenryGant
I believe!
TALLIFitClicker
It's ok, many keep posting it and I've already seen "Ghost of Kyiv," merchandise.
frozenpnx
The Ghost doesn't have to be real to lift spirits. The Ghost is a symbol to rally around.
FrijolesTheGreat
Much respect to you sir.
mymustachecallstheshots
Fuck that, every Ukrainian soilder is the Ghost of Kyiv. That is good propoganda.
FrolickingFrolicking
I think OP and IMGUR need to have a talk about psy warfare against invader. It’s not the normal “truth not falsehood” rule in play
nygreenguy
As another imgurian pointed out, it's the fog of war. It's why I don't bother with any of the stories.
SigynRose
They are all the Ghost of Kiev. Every pilot is the ghost
DocWino
You corrected an innocent mistake. Good on you. I prefer to believe he is flying at this moment.
voltus
Imgur while not a news site has a good community and thankyou for doing due diligence I hope others see this
Krashtestdummy
Reorder
everyone wants to believe the cool hero story man, no fault there.
TheCaptain00
Maga wants to believe in their cool hero story man. Ignoring truth and critical thought is how they ended up where they are.
ICampOntheFirstDate
As a rule, everything I read on social sites, imgur included, comes with heavy seeds of doubt. If it interests me I'll investigate further.
TheeKingsWit
Thank you for correcting it dude. That was cool of you.
tomatoboy
You really should include the link to how you found out.
flavivsaetivs
Tried editing the OP but can't figure out how to save it, only gives me "View in Gallery." But it was started by a YTer named Sc0ttishkoala.
flavivsaetivs
A friend told me and KYM has a breakdown: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/ghost-of-kyiv
Stuckinaboxthere
Let this be a reminder to us all, that the misinformation machine is in full swing, QUESTION EVERYTHING YOU SEE POSTED, good or bad
DontTazeMeBrah
TheSecondPiewackit
I genuinely don't care. I want the Russians to think he's real.
wombatula
The Russians have geofenced their internet, they can't hear you. This is a circle jerk for internet points by people with no connection.
TheSecondPiewackit
The Russians soldiers get their rumors from the Private News Network just like every Army for 17,000 years. Way to show me you didn't know.
wombatula
Ever army for 17000 years gets their news from a mass media structure that has not existed for more than maybe 100 years? K.
TheSecondPiewackit
Again, you clearly have no idea how information passes /within/ an Army because you clearly have no experience with what I'm talking about.
TheSecondPiewackit
What, you think that information just passes from commanders lips, and that's all that troops talk about? You serious?
wombatula
You are just creating a strawman and putting words in my mouth for the sake of arguing, goodbye.
Ninjab33z
I thought so. i wanted to believe but 6 already was a bit much
NKato
Do not feel bad about it. The Ghost of Kyiv should exist in fictional media, regardless, as a source of inspiration, like Captain America.
NKato
However, fuck the youtuber for the grift. Do not buy anything from him.
followmeiknowtheway
Yeah but like…we don’t have to tell the Russians
TheCaptain00
You really think they fell for it?
TalkingSnake
Confirmed fakes https://gizmodo.com/10-photos-and-videos-from-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-t-1848586587
V0rch4
Yep, gizmodo is the source we all trust in /s
LeviathAileron
It's still real to us. Support Ukraine.
TheSecondPiewackit
Now, is this referring to a specific video being fake, or is the entire story fabricated? Because that distinction is incredibly important.
Feralkyn
That's what I want to know, because I saw a *few* sources claiming one pilot had shot down a few planes. I know the vids were faked.
flavivsaetivs
Entire story was fabricated. Check the source in the description.
TheSecondPiewackit
I'm literally seeing nothing that said the entire story was fabricated.
TheSecondPiewackit
Which one? The KYM says the footage was fake, The youtube channel hasnt had a video in 2 weeks, and the others just have charities.
Flash82
Good on you of putting this out there! ... saw and read the story here too, thx for correcting the fake news!
SterlingArcherSecretAgent
Well, at least your intentions were good.
spacecowboyein
Spread of misinformation often comes out of good intentions. It's still a big problem regardless.
SterlingArcherSecretAgent
I know, but still, this is better than people deliberately doing it, since they are often the source and must be stopped.
TheCaptain00
The path to Hell is paved with good intentions.
SterlingArcherSecretAgent
Right, let's never try to do something good. Just to be sure never to do anything bad...
TheCaptain00
Trying isn't the issue, not thinking ahead is. You don't give a heart attack victim a Heimlich maneuver, you assess and act accordingly.
Rahava
I'm proud of you for making this post. It's one thing to realize you had spread misinformation it's a whole other thing to apologize for it.
aflarge
The number of people here who are openly pro-misinformation as long as it makes them happy is very disconcerting.
Rahava
People just don't understand how this damages telling facts in the future. We should strive for accuracy & truth not feelings & lies.
TheCaptain00
Our heroic tales and their evil lies, seems to be a genuine belief.
PirateRubberDuck
If they are both just as real, then where do we stand?
TheCaptain00
In an ocean of lies.
[deleted]
[deleted]
flavivsaetivs
I did.
AlcoholicsAnonymousBYO
As a journo, I salute you sir/ma'am
Snooj
You're going to delete the misinformed post to stop the spread, right?
wombatula
It's too late, and people are willfully engaged in spreading what they know is false info because Russia Bad.
flavivsaetivs
I did.
TheNextCapacitor
...Right? (°_°)
flavivsaetivs
Already did.
IMPICKLERICK
He may not be real, but he is real in our heart.
ObsidianLake
Right. They don't need to be real. That is why there is multiple "tomb of the unknown solider". Their deeds echo today
OneTimeInBandCamp
No. Fake news is not OK just because it amplifies a metaphor. No.
followmeiknowtheway
ryanmackenzie0
Saw it on the inter webs, it must be real. Fuck it I believe he is real and that's all that matters to me.
DontTazeMeBrah
AnAverageBoxEnthusiast
TheSecondPiewackit
We all know the videos were fake. No one beleived that. The question is whether the story itself is real. NO ONE would get it on camera.
Globalgoat
Every Ukranian pilot is the Ghost of Kiev.
Headfullofpetrol
This^ If the legend creates even one hero, then it's not a legend anymore.
Exyr
Stories like this are often created to boost the morale of the underdogs. Dont care that it was fake if it made people believe in themselve
DarkHourse
Also fake stories like this can be created by aggressors then revealed as false to undermine morale of the victims.
Exyr
Never thought of it that way.
smellsmiketeenspirit
That's a very very slippery slope.
astinus
Wear better boots
Exyr
It is. But it wasn't a smear. It didn't name names.
epicnGamePilot
I am unaware if this is a real tweet or or not so I'd advise checking but he mentioned making merch for it
GrimFinn
Fake news are not "good when they're on our side". Thinking like that is the entire root of the misinformation problem.
Locarthemanbeast
Also known as propaganda
TheCaptain00
I'm gonna go ahead and Ad-Hitlerum. The nazi party used fanciful lies, public sentiment, and pride to rally and rebuild a nation.
TheCaptain00
They did this all while being hailed internationally as an underdog champion, a fallen power regaining it's unity and national bearing.
IMGURN3WB
I understand where you're coming from, but I'm also sure MAGA feels like they're the underdogs too.
dblaikie
While there's a lot of subtlety, it doesn't seem like this issue is the same as the kind of misinfo maga or Putin peddle.
dblaikie
What sort of negative outcomes do you see coming from this fake news? Compared to antivax, Putin's "denazi" framing, etc
DrArsMoriendi
But I don't want to be lied to, we're not babies. Life's shit sometimes, that's why we need to know the truth so we can work on it
Tumescentpie
We are babies. 2 years into a pandemic that could have been over inside of a month, we are children
Goryofa
I think some lies are needed to make it through a war. You don't need to be baby to get sucked down by that he'll.
PirateRubberDuck
If the positive stuff turns out to be fake then some will not believe the real positive stuff.
Goryofa
It doesn't matter. People are trying to get through today, a day they likely won't see the end of. Whatever boosts them today is good.