Yesterday, we published a story fact checking the false claims of an anti-mask group. Since then, I have been bombarded with hate email, often demanding to do things to myself which, strictly speaking, are not anatomically possible. (Thread, and warning for offensive language)
Unsurprisingly, most of these messages accuse the paper of being part of an international plot to destroy freedom through the use of masks at the grocery store during a pandemic. They will also insist they are not conspiracy theories, but also insist the "pandemic" is not real.
These non-conspiracy theories insist that COVID-19 is fake, or the pandemic itself was created by the new world Illuminati types.
Over at the "Hugs over masks" Niagara Facebook page, this is a common level of response.
And then there is this guy, who straight-up wrote in (again, warning for offensive language) to tell our staff they should kill themselves.
All part of covering the pandemic in the era of social media. #partylikeajournalist
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