You can’t trust everything you hear. But people sometimes talk with such confidence that it’s hard not to believe them. Not that they’re necessarily trying to mislead anyone—although, in certain cases, they might be—but most of us simply don’t have the time to double-check every claim we come across. And that’s exactly why some myths keep circulating for years even after they’re debunked. Recently, Reddit user Quiet-Grief asked everyone on the platform to share false “facts” that many still repeat as if they’re common knowledge. The answers that came in highlight just how slippery the “truth” can be.
#1
The president of the US is the “Leader of the Free World”. No one in the “Free World” calls him that.
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94points
#2
That freedom of speech means you can say whatever you want anytime, anywhere. Whenever someone says that they know their rights, it's a red flag that they don't. People should read.
89points
#3
Vaccines cause autism!
Sleepy-Kodiak-Bear:
It's wild how if you trace back the origins of the movement, it was created by a British charlatan who wanted to sell a vaccine competitor and was exposed for blatantly lying in his studies.
Yet for some reason these types just believe him, based on vibes, I guess.
Sleepy-Kodiak-Bear:
It's wild how if you trace back the origins of the movement, it was created by a British charlatan who wanted to sell a vaccine competitor and was exposed for blatantly lying in his studies.
Yet for some reason these types just believe him, based on vibes, I guess.
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86points
#4
“Survival of the fittest” has something to do with strength. Wrong, it’s survival of the most adaptive.
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84points
#6
MSG is unhealthy. It actually is less unhealthy than salt, and the prejudice comes from racism against Chinese restaurants.
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70points
#7
I think the most dangerous wrong “fact” is that you need to wait for someone to be missing for 48 hours before you can submit a missing person’s report. That is **not** true, and *especially* for minors! You can submit a report when your punctual friend is 5 minutes late for brunch. And the *second* you suspect a child is in trouble, you file a report! .
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69points
#8
That there is an alpha in a wolf pack. The original author of the study for this debunked it himself years later after doing more research.
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59points
#9
“Bottom of the totem pole” is a term that is often used to describe something of low value, importance, or seniority. That isn’t actually how the icons on totem poles are arranged. Generally, the MOST important images are placed on the bottom, as foundational icons.
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59points
#10
“We only use 10% of our brains.” Apparently that’s not true at all …where did that myth even come from?
oppernaR:
It's like saying you're only using 10% of your car if you're not stepping on every pedal, opening and closing all the windows and doors and using every light, windshield wiper and indicator at once.
oppernaR:
It's like saying you're only using 10% of your car if you're not stepping on every pedal, opening and closing all the windows and doors and using every light, windshield wiper and indicator at once.
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56points
#12
Daddy long legs is the most poisonous spider but it's fangs just can't penetrate human skin which is why it seems harmless. First of all, it would be venomous, not poisonous. Second of all, they're not spiders, they're harvestmen. Thirdly, that's just incorrect.
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54points
#14
You need to drink 8 glasses of water every day. There is no support for that. Your body doesn't care if the water comes from a liquid or food, and a soda, liquor, coffee, or ice cream all have the same water. The amount each person needs varies with h the person and with day-to-day activities.
50points
#16
That being in the cold (esp with wet hair) will make you sick… when its actually just that more people are indoors sharing germs in close proximity during winter.
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47points
#17
Don't go swimming for 30 minutes after you eat.
DrunkenMcSlurpee:
It's a nice way of saying "Give Mommy a minute to clean up after just feeding you"
DrunkenMcSlurpee:
It's a nice way of saying "Give Mommy a minute to clean up after just feeding you"
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45points
#18
Breakfast being the most important meal of the day.
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37points
#19
"you can't use soap to wash an iron skillet pan"
Apparently that was when lye was in soap. Modern day soap is fine.
(Still don't soak your pan and always season it after washing).
Apparently that was when lye was in soap. Modern day soap is fine.
(Still don't soak your pan and always season it after washing).
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35points
