With "fact-checking" a clear meme of this election, I am left with the strong feeling that it is just another side-show in the circus. It seemed like it just gave each side a chance to "keep score" in one more pointless way: "your side had 5 lies in the debate and my side only had 3... we win!"

So what do you think: did this massive emphasis on "fact-checking" serve any real purpose? Did it change anyone's mind (did anyone change their mind because their candidate was caught in a lie?) Did it keep the politicians all that honest?

Or was it just another depressing act of competition that turn elections into soundbite sports-events for the masses, distracting from the inability of sides to compromise? [now, that's not a loaded question at all, is it?]