Pro-Life Group Says “Every Sperm Cell is a Life”-Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
A pro-life group of protestors has taken “the abortion debate to the next level” by arguing that every sperm cell is a life, and “ejaculation is murder.”
The Truth:
This was a satirical news story that has been widely mistaken for a factual news story.
The story was published by the website Straight Stoned on May 6th under the headline, “Pro-Lifers Declare ‘Ejaculation Is Murder: Every Sperm Cell Is a Life.” According to the report:
The pro-life movement in the United States has long advocated their stance that human life begins at conception and that the human fetus is a person and therefore has a right to live. However, a new argument has taken flight over the last month that is taking the abortion debate to the next level. The variety in opinion on the issue of abortion is reflected in the diverse views of religious groups, but now pro-lifers are declaring “ejaculation is murder” and they want strict laws against the practice.
“Life begins BEFORE conception. This is why the Catholics do not believe in birth control,” said Rachel Stratt, pro-life activist. “God made men’s semen for a purpose, and you can just “waste” that purpose by gratifying yourself whenever you want to. Every time you do, you are literally killing thousands of babies! Ejaculation is murder and every sperm cell is a life!”
Within a week of being published, the story had been shared more than 150,000 times on Facebook. Taken out of context, many readers missed that Straight Stoned slyly identifies itself as a satirical (or fake) news website in its About page:
Straight Stoned was founded by our forefathers on a dark and stormy day during the Civil War. Gradually, Straight Stoned has grown to be one of the most iconic brands in the known Universe. We report on news that occurs lightyears away and bring it to you directly, faster than light speed. You are sitting there and asking yourself, “How is this possible? Is Straight Stoned that great of a news source?” The answer is yes. We are the greatest of all time and will continue revolutionizing universal news for the next 7 trillion years – until the dark and chaotic environment of the universe rips us a part in it’s final moments. Even then, we’ll still report it – if anyone is still on the internet..
Most importantly, if you believe any of this, you are dumb as rocks. Welcome to the lovely satirical world of Straight Stoned.
And if that wasn’t enough, a photo that accompanied the Straight Stoned story shows a group of abortion protestors outside an abortion clinic in 2014 — and they weren’t arguing that “ejaculation is murder.”