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
Make us preferred on Google

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

Kids lined up in white shoes
@TheFigen_/X

Little Kid Goes Viral For His Clever Way To Get Around School's Dress Code—And We're Applauding

School dress codes tend to be incredibily strict, causing students to receive detention or even be sent home when they don't meet the requirements.

Some schools even go so far as to dictate the style and color of shoes that a student can wear, which can be difficult if they can't find their size or afford them.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pete Hegseth
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Pete Hegseth Just Issued A Mandate To Treat Male Soldiers For Testosterone Deficiencies—And Everyone Is Making The Same Point

Critics fired back with the same point after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that service members age 30 and older will now be screened annually for testosterone deficiency in a bid to improve military readiness.

The decision to screen active-duty service members for testosterone levels and offering testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) when appropriate is part of an effort to keep U.S. troops on the "leading edge of lethality," Hegseth said in a video posted to X captioned "The High-T Department of War."

Keep ReadingShow less
KTLA Reporter Rachel Menitoff
KTLA 5 Morning News/X

Reporter's Calm Reaction To Flying Cockroach Crawling On Her Chest In The Middle Of Segment Has Fans Impressed

"Stay calm" and "Keep your head in the game" are worthy goals, but they are easier said than done, especially when faced with what is many people's greatest fear: bugs.

But KTLA reporter Rachel Menitoff kept it together during her evening segment when a flying cockroach joined her for the live broadcast.

Keep ReadingShow less
A woman is eating banana sushi rolls and salmon maki sushi rolls in Athens, Greece.

Warning Notice About Calorie Count For 'Average Adult' At All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Restaurant Raises Eyebrows

Going to an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant usually means focusing on getting your money's worth—not being told you've hit 2,000 calories.

That's why a screenshot shared by Reddit user @Theblindsource caught so much attention online. The user posted an image to Reddit's r/MildlyInfuriating community showing an unexpected pop-up that appeared while ordering at an all-you-can-eat restaurant.

Keep ReadingShow less
TikToker @cinecultured; Jay Taj
@jaytaj/Instagram

Pacific Islander Slams Movie Reviewer For Saying Live-Action 'Moana' Didn't Need To 'Exist' In Epic Takedown

The live-action remake of Moana has received critical initial reviews, with many critics calling it "unnecessary," "soulless," and poorly made.

TikToker @cinecultured, who uses her platform to review movies and discuss cultural issues, said that it was her "least favorite movie of the year" and went so far as to say that it "didn't need to exist."

Keep ReadingShow less