Facts and myths and old wive's tales...how far from the truth are they really?
People often believe everything that they hear. Some old wives' tales are brought over from generation to generation. Our grandparents often told us things that we still remember today. I can clearly remember my grandmother used to close all the mirrors in the house with sheets when the lightning struck.
The curtains were drawn and we had to sit in the dark- away from the windows, because she was scared of the lightning. She believed that the mirrors actually attracted the lightning. We were also not allowed to eat anything while lying down. Apparently we would grow horns!
Although this sounds very far fetched, how far is it actually from the truth?
Young children often believe everything that their parents and grandparents tell them. We actually believed everything we were told when we were small, but thanks to some research, reading and thankfully the internet, we know that these were all just stories.
I still think of these stories once in a while...especially when lightning struck or if I eat a chocolate in bed.
Ever heard of these?
These are all just silly old stories that people made up. Why anyone would even believe such nonsense I really don't know.
Let us look at a few more believable stories and see how much truth is behind each tale.
1. Do not wake up a person that is sleepwalking!
This is utter nonsense. If they're asleep and they don't have any clue of what they are doing, you need to wake them up! This could prevent them from hurting themselves and possibly you too.
He's as blind as a bat!
Hmmm no...bats are in fact NOT blind at all. Just as humans and other animals they can not see in complete darkness. They hunt during the night, and uses echolocation for finding their way in the dark. They use their mouths to create sounds that bounce off objects.
Lightning never strikes the same place twice
Lightning does not remember where it struck last. Chances are that a high treetop or a building can get struck multiple times during the same lightning storm. It is a fact that the Empire state building gets struck multiple times per year.
Do hair and fingernails keep on growing after death?
For hair and fingernails to grow actual live cells need to be present. The hair and nails might appear to be longer but that is only because flesh shrinks. Whoever thought of this? What does it matter in any case? Nobody should have even checked if this was in fact true in the first place!
To pee or not to pee that is the question!
If you are stung by a jellyfish, chances are that you will be in some kind of discomfort. Peeing on yourself or letting someone else pee on you is not a good thought. Urine will in fact make it burn more. You have a better chance of relieving the pain by rinsing with plain old vinegar.
The way to a man's heart is through his stomach!
We all know that this is not true. Perhaps if you go a little bit further SOUTH you might find the right way to a man's heart. It is definitely also not through the brain....
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I was told that if I ate watermelon seeds, watermelons would grow out of my ears.....
Yes. What a terrible thing to tell a child...lol! How are you doing @countrygirl?
Other than a very painful ear.....great!!! Thanks for asking. hehehe
Ah shame you should go see a doctor!😷
or a farmer to harvest the watermelon... :)
Already following great post!
Thank you @mallorcaman checking out your posts now so perhaps you just gained a follower too!
I love the navel tree :D
Its funny how we believe such things if we are small. We were also not allowed to swallow watermelon-pips because it would grow in our stomachs...imagine that! Chewing gum could tie up our intestines....lol...how silly is that!
brrrr :D
Nice post here talking about "old wives tales". I did one a while back about wear a hat outside when it's cold or you will catch a cold.
Oh great! Sorry I didn't see that. Will check it out and follow you!
Oh gosh, how can you even think lightning only strikes a place once? It does not make sense!
Hi @playfulfoodie...not much common sense going around in the world....lol!
Hah, yes, a sad fact of which we are reminded often!
Superb post my friend
It just changed!!!
Thank you @ianstrat. I am also stuck on a 64 rep now. On steemwhales.com I am past a 65 already. Something must be wrong??? But who do we ask...just have to wait it out..
Brilliant! Well done..
The nonsense we believe sometimes. I actually heard the one that says that your nails grow after death. I'm also curious who bothered to check?
And the nonsense people think of is even worse...lol