Abstract
Excerpt: The spread of the AptiQuant (2011) hoax was a testament to how neurotic humans are about measuring up. To be alive is to compare ourselves to others, endlessly, in an infinite number of categories—wealth, appearance, cholesterol, lawn care, and, in this case, intelligence. News consumers need yardsticks; news organizations know it. And, surprise, journalists use them, too—comparing themselves with their competitors in terms of speed if not accuracy.