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

screenshots of videos of RFK Jr. working out
@elxavipapi; @deniscepalacios/TikTok

RFK Jr. Got Roasted By Both People On Either Side Of Him After He Did A StairMaster Workout In Austin

MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. recently visited Austin, Texas. The trip at the end of February was part of his "Take Back Your Health" tour.

During the trip, RFK Jr. spoke at a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) "Eat Real Food" rally at the Brazos Center. He also visited Cunningham Elementary School to discuss the nutrition of their school food program, and ate at Terry Black's BBQ to promote his red meat-heavy dietary recommendations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tony Gonzales
Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images

MAGA Rep. Ripped For Trying To Play The Victim After Admitting To Affair With Staffer Who Died By Suicide

Texas Republican Representative Tony Gonzales, a married father of six, admitted to having an affair with a staffer who later died by setting herself on fire, claiming in remarks to TMZ that he had "asked God to forgive me, which he has."

The House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday that it will open an investigation into Gonzales following findings from the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC), a nonpartisan watchdog that concluded there is “substantial reason to believe” he engaged in a sexual relationship with a subordinate.

Keep ReadingShow less
President Donald Trump; Pokemon Pokopia
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images/Pokemon Pokopia/Nintendo

Trump's White House Just Tried To Use A Pokémon Meme To Promote 'MAGA'—And The Internet Pounced

The White House is facing criticism after its social media team attempted to capitalize on a new meme from the game Pokémon Pokopia to promote President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan, prompting almost immediate backlash from fans.

Pokemon Pokotopia was released on Thursday to stellar reviews, and it appears to already be a massive hit with fans.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jared Moskowitz; Screenshots of Donald Trump and Kristi Noem from "Apprentice" edit
Heather Diehl/Getty Images; @JaredEMoskowitz/X

Dem Rep. Shares Perfectly Edited Clip From 'The Apprentice' After Trump Fires Kristi Noem

Florida Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz joined his fellow Democrats in mocking Kristi Noem after President Donald Trump announced he will replace Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary with Oklahoma Republican Representative Markwayne Mullin—by posting a perfectly edited clip from The Apprentice.

Trump said Noem will instead take on the role of Special Envoy to the Shield of the Americas, a newly-created organization intended to foster a right-wing alliance across South America.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jenna Bush Hager (left) became emotional while discussing Savannah Guthrie's (right) returning to visit the Today show set.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Jenna Bush Hager Fights Back Tears After Savannah Guthrie Visits 'Today' Show Set For First Time Since Mom's Kidnapping

It was an emotional reunion on the set of Today when Savannah Guthrie visited Studio 1A more than a month after her mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared under circumstances authorities believe may involve kidnapping.

The 54-year-old anchor stopped by NBC’s New York studios Thursday to spend time with colleagues, including Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones. During the fourth hour of the show, Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, Bush Hager grew visibly emotional while describing the moment Guthrie returned to the set.

Keep ReadingShow less