No, it’s not real. Photo thevancouverglass.com
Have you seen the image circulating around social media over the past week that shows a City of Vancouver Parking meter with a tip option? It's fake. Of course it's fake.
Launched a little over a year ago by a fellow named John, The Vancouver Glass is a Vancouver-centric satire website. John is the one who created the image which went along with an article about how and why the City had apparently introduced the meters.
It went viral, with many - including some media - initially believing it to be real. Feeding into that was the fact that some people tweeted the image out with no context.
Some online reactions to the fake parking meter tip story. Photo supplied
Much like The Beaverton and the mostly-defunct Syrup Trap before it, the site shares "fake" news stories. Satire, meant for a laugh.
Founded by an anonymous dude who goes by the name "John Swift", last year our colleagues at the Courier interviewed him. He noted that he has no experience in journalism, publishing or photography, though he does have some background in comedy.
Not shying away from controversy and seemingly leaving no subject out of his sights, some of John's satirical stories he publishes are borderline poor-shaming, and they [cringe] make light of the opioid crisis.
Follow The Vancouver Glass Facebook Page if you're looking for a laugh at the city's expense (or in this case, the City's), or if you simply don't want to be duped next time!
