It’s amazing how many times my mum comes out with something that I look up and it’s an old wives tale that has half the data right but exaggerates the consequences to an insane degree. The other day it was because she was moaning at my old man about puttin half full tins back in the fridge to finish the next day. She was convinced metal can oxidise and leech into the food, which is true, if you leave the can in there open for about a year, lol.
As someone who remembers the days before the internet, that’s 1000x better than our method of just believing whoever seemed the most sure. We weren’t running down to the library 10 times a day to find quality sources for information, we just didn’t know things. When did that person die? Who knows. Is it safe to mix these chemicals? Try it and see.
Old wives tales and superstition were responsible for at least 60% of all decision making.
NuPNuA@lemm.ee 1 year ago
ultratiem@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
I don’t know about this. Not knowing is better than knowing wrong things imo. The internet has made too many idiots, not smarter, but just more sure of their idiocy.
jimbolauski@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Stupid people still believe in stupid things, that’s not changed, the difference now is there is a sea of reputable sources for smart people.