Thread: False Myths

The myth doesn't even seem to have any proper definition. Do only 10% of neurons in the brain ever fire? Or does it mean that at any given moment, only 10% are firing? Or is it 'parts' of the brain? What's a 'part'?

The only purpose of this statement is just to be a meaningless aphorism for New Agers trying to impress people. Neither they nor anybody else could tell you what it actually means.

Originally Posted by Xei

Myth: opposites attract.

The correct idiom is in fact 'birds of a feather flock together'.

Similar personality types are more attracted to one another and their relationships are more likely to last for a long time.

Unless you're talking about pheromones in which case we are attracted to people with the most different immune system.

Opposites already ruins the other idiom though. When it comes to personality types, the fuck is an opposite? The reality is not that opposites attract but that differences attract. And even then, only to a certain degree. If they are too different then there won't be enough compatibility. So while birds of a feather flock together, within that feather-grouping they're still looking for the most variation compared to the others in that feather grouping. Especially regarding pheromones, obviously regarding personality types and physical appearance the details are far too complex to ascertain any proper trends.

There's also the matter to be considered of general superiority vs acceptable compromise. For example most women are attracted to strong men. Being muscular generally appears to being a superior trait in the dating game when it comes males. There's no attraction of differences here, a woman simply looks for the most superior male she can find in intelligence, strength, etc... and if she finds one who's superior in some traits but not others, then it becomes a matter of acceptable compromise, or finding a well rounded guy. And if she's ugly, her level of acceptable compromise is much lower. So figuratively speaking, ugly people don't get together because they're birds of a feather, they get together because their self-esteem or general inferiority disables them from finding a better partner.

Myth: Your eyesight gets damaged if you read in bad light or use glasses that are not adjusted for you.

Not true because I read it somewhere and I rarely forget facts I read.

Oh, and you don't also pee your pants if you play with fire.

*EDIT* Forgot to add something I've been wondering about and I'm sure I can google it but for this thread's sake I'll ask it in here instead. My mom's always told me since I started spending more time indoors instead of outdoors that the body needs fresh air, like as if the air's somehow defect indoors. I guess it might contain more carbon dioxide and less oxygen if it's not very ventilated, and you get the sunshine which makes you smile when you're feeling blue. But it can't really matter much can it?

The real question is.... would you love yourself forever if you could be two separate people (think a clone of yourself, but possibly the opposite sex. This only works as a hypothetical). Getting at the root of, if you're EXACTLY the same as your partner, would that be good or bad?

Originally Posted by Artelis

The real question is.... would you love yourself forever if you could be two separate people (think a clone of yourself, but possibly the opposite sex. This only works as a hypothetical). Getting at the root of, if you're EXACTLY the same as your partner, would that be good or bad?

Actually no, there's a sweet spot, like a range of dissimilarity. Someone too similar is less attractive than someone slightly different, but someone too different is less attractive than someone more similar. It's also been theorized that we look for traits which, combined with our own, would produce offspring of a generally superior order. For example a hook nose would be more attracted to a ski jump nose because the offspring would land right in the middle and have a perfectly shaped nose. However, this theory predates most modern conceptions of evolution.

Originally Posted by Matte87

Myth: Your eyesight gets damaged if you read in bad light or use glasses that are not adjusted for you.

Not true because I read it somewhere and I rarely forget facts I read.

Oh, and you don't also pee your pants if you play with fire.

*EDIT* Forgot to add something I've been wondering about and I'm sure I can google it but for this thread's sake I'll ask it in here instead. My mom's always told me since I started spending more time indoors instead of outdoors that the body needs fresh air, like as if the air's somehow defect indoors. I guess it might contain more carbon dioxide and less oxygen if it's not very ventilated, and you get the sunshine which makes you smile when you're feeling blue. But it can't really matter much can it?

Fresh air itself is doubtfully a necessity, the lungs only collect a fraction of oxygen when they breathe so as long as the room is well ventilated you won't have a problem with carbon dioxide. 90% of the air is nitrogen anyways. However there are studies showing living an active life decreases your chances at cancer, heart disease, diabetes and that whole range of illness. Also breathing deeply is better for you than shallow breaths, and sitting down all day is terrible for your body.

Originally Posted by Xei

Introduction to Psychology | Yale Video Course

I watched all of these in a couple of days last term when I should have been studying maths. Definitely recommend.

Thank you for the link. I'm on the second now and have never watched something educational that I find so entertaining. It makes me miss school a bit.

Oh, and I remembered another important one (to me).

Myth: Cracking your knuckles is bad for you.
Is Popping Your Knuckles/Back Bad For You?

I crack my knuckles, maybe a few times a day, and am sick of hearing people tell me it's bad for me, that I'll get arthritus, etc.

Homosexuals are both nurtured and nature. Nature: I have no other memory than that of being attracted to females, even as young as 2 years of age. I never even considered it an oddity. Nurture: I have known many individuals who were sexually molested resulting in homosexuality that was before hand not existent.

Spiders can also be consumed while eating.
FDA Approved: The Maximum Amount Of Defects Allowed In Your Food (PHOTOS)

Myth: Abraham Lincoln was a vampire hunter.

Originally Posted by Dianeva

Myth: Cracking your knuckles is bad for you.
Is Popping Your Knuckles/Back Bad For You?

There is a link between having a weaker grip and habitual knuckle cracking, but not arthritis.

Originally Posted by Shaelyn

Homosexuals are both nurtured and nature. Nature: I have no other memory than that of being attracted to females, even as young as 2 years of age. I never even considered it an oddity. Nurture: I have known many individuals who were sexually molested resulting in homosexuality that was before hand not existent.

I think the real myth is that we understand the first thing about the cause of homosexuality. So far I think we've only ruled out possible causes. Homosexuality is tricky though, we know it's not a choice, but all the evidence also opposes a genetic trait (namely that the genetic offspring of homosexuals show no greater chance of being homosexual than the offspring of straight couples). So how can something be nature based but not genetic? That's not say nurture is choice based either, obviously. Being molested into a conditioned sexual orientation is hardly a choice, after all. But we know molestation is a comparatively rare cause, and it's doubtful there's anything particularly noteworthy taking place in the womb. The myth is that homosexuality is anything other than a complete mystery. I think Satan did it.

Originally Posted by Artelis

The real question is.... would you love yourself forever if you could be two separate people (think a clone of yourself, but possibly the opposite sex. This only works as a hypothetical). Getting at the root of, if you're EXACTLY the same as your partner, would that be good or bad?

I know it wouldn't work our for me, but that's because I'm difficult to get along with and not willing to put up with difficult people.

Myth: Daddy long legs are spiders

Unless you live in Australia where they have a different, actual spider they call daddy long legs, the daddy long leg spider (harvestman for specifics) belongs to the arachnid class but not the spider family. The Araneae family is what we call spiders but the daddy long leg is part of the opiliones family. For more clarification:

Mr. Rogers was a sniper in the marines. He wore long sleeves on the show to cover up all the bad ass tats he had. The guy who played Paul in 'The Wonder Years' ultimately became Marylyn Manson.

Auron is white.

Originally Posted by Burke

Myth: Daddy long legs are spiders

Unless you live in Australia where they have a different, actual spider they call daddy long legs, the daddy long leg spider (harvestman for specifics) belongs to the arachnid class but not the spider family.

I happened to look this up last week and concluded the same thing, except harvestmen are everywhere, not just Australia. In the video he mentions the 'cellar spider' in Australia which is an actual spider.

Originally Posted by Artelis

The real question is.... would you love yourself forever if you could be two separate people (think a clone of yourself, but possibly the opposite sex. This only works as a hypothetical). Getting at the root of, if you're EXACTLY the same as your partner, would that be good or bad?

If the day you're born determines your base character, that would mean if I managed to find another person born on the same day as me, we would find ourselves rather similar. I managed to find a person born on the same day and month as me, but he's exactly a year older. It's too awkward talking to him. Probably we're already half-expecting each other's respond to anything that was said.

Myth: Long feet equal long......

I'd rather not tell you how I know that

Because you have size 16 shoes?

By the way this is a good page

List of common misconceptions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here are some of my favorites

"The left side of the brain control logic and organization, the right side controls creativity and emotion"

"You stop developing brain cells when you turn 21"

"Vaccines cause autism"

"Thomas Edison invented the light-bulb"

"Al Gore claimed he invented the internet"

"George Washington had wooden teeth"

Curse you, Omnis I've been reading that site for almost 30 minutes and forgot to record my dreams before getting sucked in .

In all seriousness, thanks for the link. Awesome information!

Originally Posted by Carrot

If the day you're born determines your base character, that would mean if I managed to find another person born on the same day as me, we would find ourselves rather similar. I managed to find a person born on the same day and month as me, but he's exactly a year older. It's too awkward talking to him. Probably we're already half-expecting each other's respond to anything that was said.

Really? I've met people born on the same day as me. Same year, too. We were nothing alike. The time you're born might shape your cultural viewpoint, but also the region you're born into, the socio-economic class you're born into, the state of your parents (are they nice, abusive, etc), the friends you cultivate early in life, your relationships with teachers, whether or not you were introduced to a pet at a young age... I could keep going forever. The TIME you were born barely has any actual impact on your personality as it is only one factor out of many that shapes you.

THANK YOU!

"Sugar does not cause hyperactivity in children.[248][249] Double-blind trials have shown no difference in behavior between children given sugar-full or sugar-free diets, even in studies specifically looking at children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or those considered sensitive to sugar.[250]"

My kids never acted insane around me after they had sugar. I plainly told them at a young age that it is an excuse to ACT wild. And if they acted that way around me, I simply wouldn't give them any more sweets.
When they acted up for other people (babysitters, relatives) though, those people often blamed sugar. It used to drive me bonkers lol

I have a Buddhist friend who said Buddha was a God.

>_>

There are different strains of Buddhism.

>_>

<_<

V - ^

(>^_^)>