We live in an era of fake news.
It's gotten so bad that you can't really tell what or who to trust. Fake news shows up everywhere, and then people like Donald Trump name the real news "fake news," and it's just a huge mess.
Some "facts" that come from the world we live in today are just incorrect. Not many, but enough. And it's scary.
u/booowser asked:
What widely accepted "facts" are actually incorrect?
Here were some of the answers.
They Know Who You Are
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"Goldfish have a 3-second memory."
Mythbusters proved this to be very wrong- their memory spans months!
While we're talking about goldfish: it's a misconception that they have a short lifespan. A healthy goldfish will generally outlive a healthy dog. It's just that people keep them in lethal conditions.
Taxes Are Messed Up
Earning slightly less in order to remain in a lower bracket actually means you pay less taxes overall.
It's a graduated system, it just means the extra money you didn't earn doesn't get taxed at that higher rate.
IT's not like it's actually taught in schools. Most people get a crash course at thier first job. Which means how to fill out a w-2 is often explain by a fast food/retail ast. manager or manager who's explanation probably came in a similar fashion a few years or depending on turn over a few months before. Assuming you went to an office job first, chances aren't much better. HR people aren't really the most informative in many cases. They have a quick listen once because I'm not saying it again spiel.
Hortense, Eat Your Heart Out
Ostriches don't stick their heads in the sand.
A Fledgling Learns By Mistakes
That if you handle a baby bird, the mother will smell your scent in its feathers and stop feeding it. That is an old myth and not at all true. If you come across a baby bird that has fallen out of its nest, it is perfectly okay to pick it up and place it back in the nest. If you come across a fledgling that is on the ground, though, leave it be because it is learning how to fly and its parents are more than likely close by. The way you can tell the difference is by size, feathers, and movement. Baby birds are small, don't have a lot of feathers, and will just sit still, while fledglings are slightly bigger, have all their feathers, and can hop around.
Keratine Had Nothing To Do With It
Carrots are good for your eyesight - the British Air Force made this up during World War Two because they did not want the general public to know about the new radar system. They just said that the pilots ate carrots and that's what helped them see at night.
MYOB
All allergies/intolerances have crazy reactions. People all have different degrees of reactions and different symptoms and even these can vary within a person due to stress, age, and levels of whatever they ate.
I have Celiac disease and the number of people who try to backseat doctor me and police my eating is insane. Not only are there different amounts and qualities of gluten in different foods, some being within the PPM recommended by actual medical organizations, different people have different degrees of reactions to everything.
And to all those saying I'm damaging my body if I eat any gluten, well you're doing the same whenever you eat sugar or drink alcohol or too much caffeine or smoke or fail to get in exercise during a week or fail to put sunscreen on.
Water Water Water Water Water
The idea that everyone has to drink 8 glass of water a day, and only pure water counts. No, everyone has different hydration requirements. The human body can extract water from coffee, tea, and soup just fine. Drink when you feel thirsty and you'll be fine.
A Pore Explanation
That washing your face with hot water opens the skin pores and cold water closes the pores, it's a misconception
The truth, as I understand it, is that pores can't open and close because they would each need To be controlled by tiny muscles to do so, but they aren't.
However, like many oils sebum gets thinner when warmer which may cause it to be removed more easily from the skin, and that might be why some people feel like their skin is cleaner or their pores less visible after cleaning with warm water or steaming. It could also just be a sort of placebo effect because people are primed to believe it.
Blame It On The Alcohol
That the alcohol culture in the US is horrible because we can't drink until we're 21.
In reality, countries like in Europe (which has a lax alcohol culture regarding teen consumption) has some of the highest rates of alcohol deaths in the world. 1 in 5 Europeans 15 and older report heavy alcoholic drinking (5 or more drinks in one sitting) at least once a week.
Straight People Talking About Gay Rights
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How the slippery slope logical fallacy works.
Most of the time on Reddit at least, people use the term completely wrong. Most recent example, I said something about being okay with sterilization of anyone who definitely shouldn't have kids. (We all know people that shouldnt be allowed to breed)
Immediate response "that's a slippery slope because who decides who shouldn't have kids and it will end up being used to wipe out certain races"
That's not how the term slippery slope works. The assumption that it would suddenly be used to block certain races from having kids is the slippery slope. My statement itself isn't a slippery slope because that's not how it works.
Technical definition "When a relatively insignificant first event is suggested to lead to a more significant event, which in turn leads to a more significant event, and so on, until some ultimate, significant event is reached, where the connection of each event is not only unwarranted but with each step it becomes more and more improbable. Many events are usually present in this fallacy, but only two are actually required -- usually connected by "the next thing you know...""
Not all pet owners have the same relationship with their pets.
While anyone who decides to become a pet owner, or pet parent as some say, love their pets equally, some never ever let them leave their side.
Taking their pet with them to work, running errands, even on vacations.
Many pet parents even allow their pets to share their bed with them when going to sleep.
For others though, this is where a line is finally drawn.
Redditor Piggythelavasurfer was curious to hear whether pet owners allowed their pets to share their bed with them, as well as the reasons why they do/don't, leading them to ask:
"Do you let your pet sleep in your bed? Why/why not?"
The Tiny Issue Of Water...
"Absolutely not."
"I have fish."- Senior-Meal3649
Everyone Gets Lonely Eventually...
"I adopted an eleven year old cat the day before Halloween."
"She has mostly lived in my closet since I got her, and she hasn’t been too interested in coming out."
"Last night, she came out of my closet and jumped up on my bed, and crawled under my covers and curled up by my feet to sleep."
"I was so happy!"- YellowBeastJeep
The Comforting Reminder That You're Not Alone...
"I recently lost my Greyhound but I used to let him sleep on my bed with me."
"The company was nice and he was no trouble to have on my bed."- HoodedMenace3
Hungry Cookie GIF by De Graafschap Dierenartsen
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What Do You Mean Allow?
"I have no choice."
"She is a cat, cats do whatever they want."- Small_cat1412
"He lets me sleep in my bed."- Poorly-Drawn-Beagle
Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
"I carry my old boy upstairs to bed every night."- worst_in_show
Hug GIF by The BarkPost
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Who Needs An Alarm Clock?
"I let my two cats sleep with me."
"They're so full of love and just want cuddles all the time."
"And so do I."
"We've all developed a lil routine."
"Get to bed, oldest sleeps on my feet to keep them warm, youngest lies in my arm while I lie on my side (she the little spoon), then when I snooze my alarm for work in the morning the youngest paws at my face and meeps loudly to wake me up."- GhostofaFlea_
Whose Bed Is It Anyway?
"Yes."
"They're also kind enough to let me squeeze into whatever space they've left for me."
"Although I do get a few dirty looks off them."- Therealkaylor
"I found this tiny kitten screaming her head off under a car."
"Would not come out."
"Got some food and some water in dishes."
"I stood by the tire so she couldn't see my feet."
"She got curious about the food and water and started gobbling it down."
"I thought she would bolt when I squatted down."
"She was too busy eating."
"I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and all four legs went straight out and she tried to scratch me to death."
"I got her in the door and tossed her toward the couch."
"She ricocheted off the couch as if she was a ping pong off a table and I lost sight of her."
"I put out food and water and a sandbox and did not see that kitten for three days."
"On the third day, I came home and she was on my bed pillow."
"I thought she would bolt when I came near, but she didn't."
"I wanted to sleep so I tried to scoot her little butt off my pillow."
"She would not go."
"I put my head down to sleep and that is the way it was from then on."
"She ran the roost."- Logical_Cherry_7588
sleepy kitten GIF
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Sleeping Is A Prerequisite...
"No, he's a cat and he cannot keep still during the night."
"He walks across the headboard, opens the closet doors, jumps into the windows and rustles the blinds, etc."
"If he would sleep he could stay, but alas, he's a ramblin' man."- Spong_Durnflungle
Saying No Just Isn't An Option...
"'Let'."
"Lol."
"It's a cat's world and I'm happy to be on her good side."- milaren
Felines Only!
"The cat does, the dog doesn't and the horse certainly does not either."- Xcrowzz
Angry Tom And Jerry GIF by Boomerang Official
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Is That My Hair On That Pillow?
"My dog is perfect."
"She comes up, cuddles til we start to fall asleep, then gets down to sleep on her bed so she doesn't get too hot."
"Jumps back up in the early morning for wake up cuddles."
"The hair everywhere is the only downside but she is so cozy, what can you do."- HoodieWinchester
It is easy to understand how some people are able to fall asleep more easily knowing their friend and protector is there, in bed, with them.
Though we can't blame others who don't want to run the risk of being scratched or bitten in the middle of the night either...
