How the online bullshit machine works: The BS Case of El Salvador being safer than Sweden.

[IrishBubbaLiberal]

https://bsky.app/profile/chrchristensen.bsky.social/post/3lniuult3os2t

How the online bullshit machine works: The Case of El Salvador being safer than Sweden.

This Sweden-El Salvador story is a classic case of taking some "facts," eliminating context, adding some bullshit, stirring...then letting social media take over.

So, let's have a look.


2) Let's start with 2024.

El Salvador (pop. 6.34m) had 114 murders, which is 1.80 murders per 100,000 citizens.

Sweden (pop 10.61m) had 92 murders, which is 0.87 murders per 100,000 citizens (source: BRÅ)

So, in 2024, El Salvador's murder rate was more than double Sweden's.


3) Ah...but we're told Sweden has had 32 murders in the first 4 months of 2025 vs. just 20 in El Salvador. Let's ignore the fact none of these numbers are official and assume they are accurate. All is not quite what it seems. Context often exposes bullshit. Let's look more.

4) First? Basic math.

El Salvador? 6.34m people, Sweden? 10.61m.

32 murders in Sweden in 1st quarter = 121 for year. So, 1.21 murders per 100,000.

20 murders in El Salvador in 1st quarter = 80 for year. So, 1.26 per 100,000. Higher than Sweden.

There's more context...

5) Have there been 19 firearm homicides in Sweden in 2025? Yes. But, one detail was conveniently omitted: 10 of those gun murders were the mass murder in February, seriously skewing murder stats. Without it, Sweden's per capita murder rate would actually be 0.83. Again...context.

6) Now, what about the claim that half of Swedes want to "flee" the country because if violence? Was there a study? Yes. Did half say they wanted to leave? Yes. Was gang violence mentioned? Yes. Was anything omitted that may make things sound different? Yes. Let’s look at the actual study…

7) Since many readers can't read Swedish...what did it say? "A better climate with more sun and warmth is absolutely the most common reason for wanting to spend time abroad." Then says other reasons given incl lower cost of living, experience other cultures, avoiding gang crime.

8) Back to the headline, as it attracts attention. No matter what numbers used, Sweden's "rate" is not higher & "rate" was heavily skewed by once-in-a-century mass murder. Headline suggests this is leading to old people "fleeing" multicultural hellhole Sweden…when weather cited as main reason.

9) And, a few facts about "safe" El Salvador vs “dangerous”
Sweden left out of the story? Tens of thousands in El Salvador have been detained without charge and denied basic civil rights, including 3,000+ children. 350 prisoners died in jail. That's as many as are murdered in Sweden in 3-4 years.

10) The story is classic bullshit: it takes some facts (shooting deaths, survey of old people), then repackages those facts without any context or other accompanying facts (about Sweden and El Salvador), giving an entirely skewed version of reality. That's how the xenophobic bullshit machine works.

https://bsky.app/profile/chrchristensen.bsky.social/post/3lniuult3os2t

[Redleg]

1. Typical of the right-wing bullshit factory

Most of them don't have the qualification to 1) conduct social and behavioral research or 2) understand such research unless it is translated into Moron by the likes of Fox News.

[Scrivener7]

2. Why do they always pick on Sweden?

[BlueSpot]

3. Probably because it's where Greta Thunberg is from

But that's just a hunch.