Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Share Debunked Myths That Everyone Still Believes Today

People Share Debunked Myths That Everyone Still Believes Today
Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash

People believe some really ridiculous stuff, don't they?

When I was younger, it seemed every adult believed that you couldn't swim for several hours after eating. Why did they all believe this? I fought them on this all the time, by the way.

I shouldn't have had to, just because I'd eaten some barbecue during a pool party.

Guess what, though? That belief is unfounded.

People told us more about the myths that annoy them after Redditor SugoiSuu asked the online community,

"What are the myths that got debunked multiple times but still believed by people?"

"That you get warts from frogs. Warts come from the human papillomavirus and come from contact with the virus through broken skin. It is a human-specific virus and cannot be spread through different species."

mtn_cat

Why do people believe this crap?

Do they still think you can kiss a frog and turn him into a prince, too?

"Popping your knuckles is actually harmless and the "study" that claimed it caused arthritis was heavily flawed. Studies now show that it has nothing to do with causing arthritis."

l-e-mon

I believed this... when I was a kid. I eventually learned. But the adults who still believe this? What's up with that?

"Many people still believe..."

"Many people still believe hymens are like plastic food seals that cover up the hole and get popped when you have sex for the first time, and if a girl doesn't bleed she's not a virgin."

[deleted]

The myths surrounding women's bodies are just ridiculous thing, aren't they?

Here's an idea: SEX ED!

"That if you get too close..."

"That if you get too close to a baby bird, the mother will smell human on the baby and abandon the nest. You probably should still avoid touching baby birds for other reasons like disease or risking injury to the animal though."

NawlSideNative

THE REJECTION!

But yeah, this doesn't happen. So farfetched.

"That fish only have a 5-second memory. My fish are fed automatically on a timer and they know dinner time better than my goddamn cat."

Osr0

I bet they do. Animals are much smarter than we give them credit for.

"That one thing..."

"That one thing about swallowing like 7 spiders a year in your sleep. Why the hell did anyone ever think that was a thing?"

ReaperSCP

Because people are gullible.

Sooooo gullible.

It hurts.

"That your hair..."

"That your hair and fingernails still grow after you die. It's mainly an optical illusion. Your skin decays and shrinks, causing hair and fingernails to look like they've grown."

CasinoKitten

I grew up hearing this. There are entire generations of people who believe this.

"That certain animal parts..."

"That certain animal 'parts' have healing/magical properties. Like tiger whiskers protect the wearer or rhino horn cures impotence and hangovers."

storm-in-a-teapot

Sorry to disappoint, guys, but animals are not "magic" and here for your personal amusement and woo-woo.

"That you have to wait..."

"That you have to wait 24 hours before filing a missing person report."

popthetab

We can definitely pin some of the blame on movies for this one. "Oh, you know for certain your daughter was kidnapped and might possibly be murdered? Looks like you'll have to take matters into your own hands and pursue some good old fashioned vigilante justice, sorry."

"No amount of reasoning..."

"That cats kill babies."

"I've run into this so many times since having kids. And it's not the older grandmas making these statements."

"I've had 20-year-olds tell me that you can't have cats if you plan to have babies because "they'll steal their breath" or some other variation. No amount of reasoning or rationale will dissuade them of this belief."

anothertimesometime

Cats are wonderful creatures. It's a shame that people believe such nonsense about them.

Here's some advice...

Google is your friend. It's very easy to debunk this stuff. I remember being taught that the tongue had taste zones––we even had to fill out a worksheet labeling the tongue's different zones. That's totally wrong, in case you haven't figured it out.

Know some myths that annoy you? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Robin Wright
Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images

'House Of Cards' Star Robin Wright Explains Why She's Leaving The U.S.: 'America Is A Sh*tshow'

From Ellen DeGeneres to Rosie O'Donnell to Olympian diver Greg Louganis, it seems like celebrities leaving the United States, largely because of President Donald Trump, is becoming the latest hot trend.

Now, House of Cards and The Princess Bride actress Robin Wright has announced that she'll be moving, but this time, people are feeling a little more jaded about another privileged celebrity jumping ship.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Who Woke Up From A Coma Describe What It Really Felt Like

Anytime a character on a TV show or movie goes into a coma, it's generally because of an extreme accident or health concern. Monitoring that person, anticipating their waking up, and the waking process is always highly suspenseful and a major plot point.

But for those who have experienced a coma in real life state that being in a coma is much quieter and more surreal than on-screen portrayals would suggest.

Keep ReadingShow less
A Frito-Lay truck plunged into a Crescent City canyon along State Route 199.
Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images

Frito-Lay truck crash sparks jokes!

Crescent City is famous for coastal views, historic lighthouses, and now—apparently—a Frito-Lay truck that tried to audition for The Fast and the Furious: Snack Drift.

Last week in California, a truck loaded with chips yeeted itself more than 100 feet into a creek along the Smith River in Crescent City on State Route 199—the notoriously dramatic highway between Crescent City and Grants Pass, Oregon—known for hairpin turns, cliffs with no chill, and canyon drops that look like Mario Kart designed them after three Red Bulls.

Keep ReadingShow less
Luigi Mangione
Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images

Shein uses Luigi Mangione's likeness

Marketing mishap or “oops, our bad”? Either way, Shein just pulled off one of the strangest face swaps in fast fashion history.

The Chinese e-commerce giant recently uploaded an ad featuring a model in a $9.99 floral button-down shirt who—unfortunately—looked more like a suspect headed to arraignment than a fashion model.

Keep ReadingShow less
Abby Lee Miller; Jimmy Fallon
John Sciulli/Getty Images for Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald; Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

'Dance Moms' Star Abby Lee Miller Leaves Hilariously Bizarre Comment Under Jimmy Fallon's Sweet Family Photo

Some comments on celebrities' social media posts really should have been personal, inside thoughts—and definitely not shared with the rest of the world.

This was the case with former Dance Moms trainer Abby Lee Miller, who recently commented on an Instagram post by comedian and late night host Jimmy Fallon, utterly baffling people who saw what she wrote.

Keep ReadingShow less