If you’ve read a story here and wondered whether it really happened, you’re in the right place.
I built Stories in the Static around strange events, crime, and mysteries that make me want to look closer. Here are answers to a few questions about what you’ll find here and how I approach it.
About the Stories
Are the stories on Stories in the Static real?
Articles published under Strange True Stories, Real Mysteries, and True Crime cover actual events or cases. They may discuss disputed accounts or theories, but those should be identified as such.
Original Fiction is for invented stories. Fiction will be labeled near the beginning, and the ending author area will also identify whether an article is factual or fictional.
Does “real mystery” mean the explanation is proven?
No. An event can be documented while its cause, meaning, or the people responsible remain uncertain.
For example, the Max Headroom television intrusion happened. That does not make every claim about the person behind it true.
Do you make stories more dramatic by adding details?
Factual articles should not contain invented conversations, private thoughts, or scenes presented as documented events.
I want the writing to be interesting, but the details need to come from evidence. When the record leaves a gap, I’d rather acknowledge it than fill it with something that merely sounds believable.
Why do some stories sound impossible?
Sometimes the missing explanation is what makes an event sound impossible.
The story of Lake Peigneur draining into an underground mine is a good example. Understanding the salt mine and the expanding opening makes a startling event easier to follow.
Sources and Personal Commentary
Where does the information come from?
Depending on the article, sources may include contemporary reporting, court decisions, official statements, technical research, and archival material.
I look for sources connected to the event rather than relying entirely on later summaries. Articles should identify the evidence behind their important claims.
Why do you include your own thoughts?
I enjoy working through the details with the reader. Sometimes that means explaining which part surprises me, why a theory seems persuasive, or what makes me question a familiar version of a story.
Personal interpretation is not additional evidence. It should be clear when I’m discussing a documented fact and when I’m offering my reading of it.
Did you personally witness the events you write about?
Not unless the article explicitly says so.
First-person commentary does not mean I was present, interviewed the people involved, or conducted an original investigation. I won’t claim those experiences without a factual basis.
Why do sources sometimes disagree?
Early reporting can be incomplete. Witnesses may have different views of an event, and later accounts may repeat details that were never firmly established.
When a disagreement affects the story, the article should explain it. Repeating a claim often does not make it more reliable.
Updates and Corrections
Do you cover breaking news?
Occasionally, when an event fits the site and raises a question worth examining.
Developing coverage should include a reporting date or cutoff. That helps you understand which information was available when the account was written.
Will an article always have the latest information?
Not necessarily. Check the publication date, update date, and any reporting cutoff before treating an article as a current status report.
Older articles may describe what was known at a particular time. If a later development changes the central facts, the account needs an update.
What should I do if I find an error?
Use the contact page to send the article link, explain the issue, and include a reliable supporting source if you have one.
A specific correction is much easier to review than a message saying an entire article is wrong. Broken source links are worth reporting, too.
Story Suggestions and Contact
Can I suggest a story?
Yes. I welcome suggestions that fit the site, especially lesser-known events with records or other evidence available.
Send a brief overview, your connection to the story, and where the supporting information can be found. A suggestion does not guarantee publication.
Can I ask to be featured?
Yes, if you have a relevant story or firsthand information to share.
Please start with a short description. Do not send confidential documents or sensitive personal information before we have discussed how the material would be handled.
Can you investigate a case or answer my personal questions?
I’m not able to offer investigations on request, personal research, or individual legal advice.
The contact page is focused on corrections, relevant sources, and story or feature suggestions.
Advertising and the Site
Do you earn money from the website?
The site may earn money through advertising, affiliate links, or clearly disclosed sponsored content.
An affiliate link can generate a commission when a reader makes a qualifying purchase. Sponsored coverage should be identified where it appears.
Does a product mention mean you tested it?
No. A mention may be based on research or published information.
If I personally used or tested something, the article should say so clearly. A product link alone is not a claim of firsthand experience.
Who started Stories in the Static?
I’m Dax. The name began with my YouTube channel covering unusual deaths, true crime, and mysteries.
This website gives me more room to examine those stories, explain the evidence, and share the details that make them worth thinking about.