Editorial Standards

dumb.today publishes original, long-form articles about the strange and underreported. We take that work seriously, even when the subject matter is, by design, a little silly. This page documents how we source, write, fact-check, and correct our articles, and the principles we hold ourselves to.

Sourcing

Every article on dumb.today is written from primary or well-established secondary sources: peer-reviewed papers, museum and library archives, government and court records, official record holders (such as Guinness World Records), and reputable encyclopedic references. Where a claim originates from a single uncorroborated viral post, we either trace it back to a primary source or we do not publish it.

We prefer multiple independent sources for any non-trivial claim. Where reputable sources disagree, we say so in the article rather than silently picking one side.

Fact-checking

Drafts are reviewed by a second editor before publication, with particular attention to numbers, dates, names, and any claim attributed to a specific person or institution. We re-verify long-standing "fun facts" against current sources rather than assuming they are still accurate.

Corrections

If you spot an error, email corrections@dumb.today. Substantive corrections are made in the article and noted at the top with the date of the change. Minor typos are fixed silently.

Use of AI

AI tools are used at dumb.today only for non-editorial tasks: spell checking, copy-editing suggestions, and occasional research assistance. No article is published as raw AI output. Every article is written, edited, and fact-checked by a human.

Advertising and sponsorship

dumb.today is supported by display advertising delivered through Google AdSense. Ads are clearly distinguished from editorial content and have no influence on what we cover or how we cover it. We do not currently publish sponsored articles, affiliate links, or paid placements. If that ever changes, sponsored content will be clearly labeled as "Sponsored" at the top of the page.

Anonymous sources

Most of what we cover is a matter of public record, so anonymous sourcing is rare. When we do grant anonymity, it is because the source would face a credible risk by being named, and the information they provide is verified independently before publication.

Diversity of perspective

We actively look for stories outside the usual Anglophone canon of "weird facts," and we try to credit the original cultures, researchers, and record-holders whose work makes these stories possible.

Contact

Editorial questions: editor@dumb.today. General inquiries: hello@dumb.today. Full contact information is on the contact page.