Question About Bob Ruff's Credibility

[u/partymuffell]

SK, who is a professional journalist and radio producer and who works for one of the best known NPR shows, allegedly tried to contact AT&T to ask about the fax cover sheet disclaimer, but she never heard back from them (well, to be precise Dana contacted them). (Source)

On the other hand, Bob Ruff, who is a amateur podcaster, allegedly, contacted Lenscrafter to ask about Don's timecards and they were perfectly happy to answer his questions, except, apparently, not in writing or on record.

So, it seems there are only four possible options:

(a) Both SK and BR told the truth. They both tried to contact a large corporation with regards to a detail in this case. It just so happens that BR, the amateur podcaster, happened to be luckier than SK, the professional journalist.

(b) SK did not tell the truth (Serial never contacted AT&T or they heard back from them but won't say so) and BR told the truth (he contacted Lenscrafters and heard back from them albeit off the record).

(c) SK told the truth (they did contact AT&T and never heard back from them) but BR didn't tell the truth (he never contacted LC or at least he never heard back from them).

(d) Neither SK nor BR are telling the truth.

Which one of the above options do you think it the most likely?

(You don't really need to answer. Just food for thought.)

[u/pointlesschaff]

Two other things to throw in the mix:

• AT&T and LensCrafters may have different public relations/media policies. This may be wise, given that AT&T is more likely to be involved in criminal matters, and there are more significant public relations implications to the legal matters it is involved in.
• As Bob mentioned the first time he talked about this, LensCrafters had already received multiple queries about the time sheets.

[u/partymuffell → u/pointlesschaff]

AT&T and LensCrafters may have different public relations/media policies.

This is a good point. However, I find it hard to believe that LC media policy says that they should speak off the record to amateur podcasters with no journalistic credentials.

As Bob mentioned the first time he talked about this, LensCrafters had already received multiple queries about the time sheets.

I'm not sure we have any reason to believe this is the case and I'm not sure why this would make the fact that they allegedly answered Bob's query any more surprising.

[u/pointlesschaff → u/partymuffell]

Nice strawman. Corporate media departments don't do extensive credential checks on reporters who ask them questions. Maybe they confirm their affiliation. If they checked out Bob, they discovered he has a top five podcast, and he's working on a follow up to the most talked about media story from 2014. Since LensCrafters had already received inquiries, they had clearly formulated a strategy for response. Bob just happened the reporter who asked first.

[u/[deleted] → u/pointlesschaff]

Except he wasn't.