42 Myths People Believe to Be True Even Though They Have Been Debunked Long Ago

This article was originally published on Travellergazette.com

Have you ever met someone who believes in a myth that made you facepalm? Maybe you have a friend who swears by the five-second rule or a co-worker who thinks holding your breath makes you immune to nasty odors. People took to the Internet to talk about the most ridiculous myths that are still surprisingly prevalent. We hate to burst your bubble, but if you still believe some of these myths to be true, you have come to the right (or the wrong) place.

#1: There’s a Reason…

Oh boy, do I have an opinion on this one! I mean, lie detectors? Seriously? The only thing I trust less than a machine that claims to know when someone is lying is an ex. And that’s saying something. I get it; the idea of being able to tell when someone is lying sounds pretty cool, but it isn’t a reality…

But let’s be real here; lie detectors are about as reliable as my grandma’s hearing aid. Have you seen those things? They’re like a cross between a giant mechanical spider and a medieval torture device. No, thank you. I’ll stick to good old-fashioned detective work over lie detectors.

#2: That’s Just Wrong

Ah, the classic lightning myth. It’s amazing how something completely false can still be widely believed. I mean, I guess it’s kind of like the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny. It’s a nice idea, but it’s just not based on reality. The truth is lightning can and does strike the same place twice or even a million times.

In fact, some buildings and landmarks are hit by lightning so often that they practically have their own zip codes. But don’t worry—just because lightning strikes the same place multiple times doesn’t mean you’ll get zapped every time you walk by—unless you’re made of metal. In that case, you should invest in rubber shoes.

#3: Everyone Can Have a Copy

Okay, this one might just take the cake for the dumbest myth I’ve ever heard. I mean, seriously, can you imagine how awkward that would be? “And to my beloved son, I leave my collection of commemorative spoons. To my daughter, I leave my vast assortment of unused gift cards.” 

The truth is, there’s no such thing as an official “reading of the will” ceremony. In fact, most wills are read by the executor in private, and the family is simply notified of the contents. Sorry to disappoint, folks, but estate planning is about as exciting as watching paint dry.

#4: Don’t Trust the Underdog

As much as I hate to burst everyone’s bubble, underdogs aren’t always the people we think they are. Sure, we all love a good underdog story. It’s like watching a Disney movie come to life. But let’s not forget that plenty of underdogs out there are just plain bad.

Someone might have started this myth as a way to make people feel better about being the underdog. “Sure, you might be terrible at playing the tuba, but at least you’re the underdog! That means you’re automatically awesome!” Sorry to say, folks, but that’s not how this thing called life works.