False Jobs illness rumor was posted by 18 year old kid

Apple's stock got hammered on Oct. 3 after Silicon Valley Insider ran some blog post from CNN 's iReport like it might be news. Now the SEC has tracked down the original poster: it's an 18-year-old kid with no obvious motive.

From Bloomberg:

CNN spokeswoman Jennifer Martin said the cable news channel wasn't aware of the age or identity of the person behind the iReport post. CNN doesn't plan to review its procedures for placing content on iReport, Martin said, declining to comment further. ... The article, posted under the name ``Johntw,'' claimed Jobs was rushed to an emergency room after suffering a ``major heart attack.''

``I have an insider who tells me that paramedics were called after Steve claimed to be suffering from severe chest pains and shortness of breath,'' the author wrote. ``My source has opted to remain anonymous, but he is quite reliable.''

Among the top stories this morning at iReport: Obama Is Too Soft For America and I Hope McCain Didn't Make One Of His Supporter Do This.

Jobs Said to Be Targeted by Teen in Heart-Attack Tale [via Apple Insider]

[#1 posted by CraziestGadgetsdotcom , October 24, 2008 9:18 AM]

well his obvious motive was to be a troll.

[#2 posted by agraham999 , October 24, 2008 9:24 AM]

I'm not sure who to be pissed at more...this idiot...or the idiots who in a panic sold off all their shares and caused me to lose a lot of money.

Apple isn't going to vanish if Jobs passes away...and if anything they are about the healthiest and leanest company out there with zero debt, sophisticated inventory systems, hot products, and $25 billion in cash.

I've never understood the absolute stupidity of analysts who bash Apple or the investors who believe them...and I've been an Apple investor for over 10 years.