Mythbusters Challenge: Bust Commonly Heard Myths/Urban Legends

dgiharris · Mar 19, 2010

So, in the Two cool sciency things thread the topic of Goldfish memory came up, you know the typical "Gold fish have a memory of 5 seconds" comment.

I for one never questioned it, I mean, come on, everyone knows gold fish have a memory of like 20 seconds right???

Well, apparently, they have a memory of up to 3 months

So, this got me thinking, what other Myths or Urban Legends do we just take at face value.

So, I've decided to start a P&CE Contest.

Post a commonly held belief and its debunking (links for bonus points)

Points will be awarded based on:

#1 Commonality of the belief (1 - 10pts)
#2 Geekfactor and Coolness of the myth (1 - 10pts)
#3 Disparity between the myth and the reality (1 - 10pts)
#4 Links (automatic 10pts)

For a total of 40 points.

I will judge (because it's my contest :tongue

) and at the end of this thread (when it dies out) I will declare a winner.

The winner will recieve One Thousand Dollars!!![SUP]*[/SUP].

[SUP]*[/SUP]Payment will be in Mel bucks redemmable at the Bank of Mel located in Melber, a popular province in the Colbert Nation

SO, I will give credit to the above myth to Kate and Icerose since they tag teamed it

Kateness said:
You know, I'm pretty sure that goldfish memory thing is an urban legend (but I've just woke up and I'm way too lazy to look for evidence)

icerose said:
Apparently you're right. It looks like it may be up to 3 months.

Let the games begin.

Mel...

blacbird · Mar 19, 2010

Step on a crack, you break your mother's back.

I'd love to see Adam and Jamie set up an experiment to test this one.

caw

rugcat · Mar 19, 2010

blacbird said:
Step on a crack, you break your mother's back.

I'll need to see a link and the raw data on the methodology that supposedly disproves this.

BenPanced · Mar 19, 2010

Corollary: step on a line, break your mother's spine.

Don · Mar 19, 2010

There was also "cut a fart, break your mother's heart."

I'm not convinced this is what Mel was looking for, though.

blacbird · Mar 19, 2010

rugcat said:
I'll need to see a link and the raw data on the methodology that supposedly disproves this.

The clinical trials I have conducted have been inconclusive. Perhaps we should ask ColoradoGuy. He's a physician.

caw

robeiae · Mar 19, 2010

Myth: AW is a community of writers.

Reality: AW is a community of people with too much time on their hands.

Proof: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174880

Seriously though, cool thread. I'll work on a real one.

Plot Device · Mar 19, 2010

Myth: Water swirling down a drain above the equator will swirl counter-clockwise, and below the equator it will swirl clockwise.

Fact: Total Bullshit.

Link: http://www.snopes.com/science/coriolis.asp

Plot Device · Mar 19, 2010

Myth: The surface of the human tongue, and the array of taste buds found there, is mapped out with exact zones designated for just sweet, just sour, just bitter, and just salty.

Fact: Total Bullshit.

Link: http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/weblog/comments/4007/

Bartholomew · Mar 19, 2010

dgiharris said:
So, in the Two cool sciency things thread the topic of Goldfish memory came up, you know the typical "Gold fish have a memory of 5 seconds" comment.

I for one never questioned it, I mean, come on, everyone knows gold fish have a memory of like 20 seconds right???

Well, apparently, they have a memory of up to 3 months

So, this got me thinking, what other Myths or Urban Legends do we just take at face value.

So, I've decided to start a P&CE Contest.

Post a commonly held belief and its debunking (links for bonus points)

Points will be awarded based on:

#1 Commonality of the belief (1 - 10pts)
#2 Geekfactor and Coolness of the myth (1 - 10pts)
#3 Disparity between the myth and the reality (1 - 10pts)
#4 Links (automatic 10pts)

For a total of 40 points.

I will judge (because it's my contest ) and at the end of this thread (when it dies out) I will declare a winner.

The winner will recieve One Thousand Dollars!!![SUP]*[/SUP].

[SUP]*[/SUP]Payment will be in Mel bucks redemmable at the Bank of Mel located in Melber, a popular province in the Colbert Nation

SO, I will give credit to the above myth to Kate and Icerose since they tag teamed it

Let the games begin.

Mel...

I did a little myth-busting for my college newspaper.

blacbird · Mar 19, 2010

Two wrongs never make a right.

A stitch in time saves nine.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

Cold hands, warm heart.

There is no such thing as a stupid question.

caw

Don · Mar 19, 2010

#1 - one of the most widely held beliefs among P&CE participants = 10
#2 - geekfactor definitely a 10
#3 - 100% disparity between myth and reality = 10
#4 - debunked in an extremely well-reasoned essay by one of the great abolitionists and legal theorists of the 1800s = 10

I'll let you know where to send the check.

And here's the link.

Let the pilloring begin.

Bartholomew · Mar 19, 2010

Don said:
And here's the link.

Very, very interesting.

Bartholomew · Mar 19, 2010

Don said:
#1 - one of the most widely held beliefs among P&CE participants = 10
#2 - geekfactor definitely a 10
#3 - 100% disparity between myth and reality = 10
#4 - debunked in an extremely well-reasoned essay by one of the great abolitionists and legal theorists of the 1800s = 10

I'll let you know where to send the check.

And here's the link.

Let the pilloring begin.

By his logic, no code of laws, anywhere, is valid unless the entire population agreed to those laws.

I wonder what a judge would say if this argument came up in court.

dgiharris · Mar 19, 2010

Don said:
#1 - one of the most widely held beliefs among P&CE participants = 10
#2 - geekfactor definitely a 10
#3 - 100% disparity between myth and reality = 10
#4 - debunked in an extremely well-reasoned essay by one of the great abolitionists and legal theorists of the 1800s = 10

I'll let you know where to send the check.

And here's the link.

Let the pilloring begin.

Don, you sir are a very dangerous man.

I've forwarded this to the proper authorities.

Men in black suits and dark sunglasses will be at your residence shortly. It is in your best interest to just comply with thier requests. Also, might I suggest that you put all your affairs in order, you know just because ummm... its never a bad idea to have everything in order.

That is all, have a nice day.

Mel...

Don · Mar 19, 2010

If I'm going on the run, I'll need that check fast, Mel.

Mr Flibble · Mar 19, 2010

I wish I knew what myth Don was debunking

My myth buster? One that is waaay too common on the net. Pagans are not Devil worshippers

No link, just one small fact. You need to accept that the devil exists to worship him, and for that you need to believe the bible is like true and stuff. Which pagans don't as a rule. True story.

Myth 2 - I am not Tank Girl. Picture proof upon request.

Zoombie · Mar 19, 2010

But...why would you not want to be Tank Girl, that's a bigger question!

Also, I have no myth's to bust...BUT I did give me an idea for my WIP!

Plot Device · Mar 21, 2010

I want my prize, dammit.

AMCrenshaw · Mar 21, 2010

Myth: there is a prize.

Reality: There was never a set time to the contest, therefore it could possibly go on beyond any human being's desire for the prize. Which isn't real....

AMC

poetinahat · Mar 21, 2010

Myth: Big hands, big feet...

...well, I sure ain't gonna bust this one.

Bartholomew · Mar 21, 2010

poetinahat said:
Myth: Big hands, big feet...

...well, I sure ain't gonna bust this one.

My hands and feet are both large.

Myth confirmed.

poetinahat · Mar 21, 2010

Bartholomew said:
My hands and feet are both large.

Myth confirmed.

...you mean you don't have big gloves and big shoes?

I'm crushed.

BenPanced · Mar 21, 2010

And I've never, EVER needed to shave my palms, then kew.

Bartholomew · Mar 21, 2010

poetinahat said:
...you mean you don't have big gloves and big shoes?

I'm crushed.

Well, if you get too close the aforementioned appendages, you certainly would be.

Mythbusters Challenge: Bust Commonly Heard Myths/Urban Legends

Disgruntled Scientist

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THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

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They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

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...

say it loud

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