What common sense facts aren't.
January 9, 2011 8:16 AM Subscribe
I'm looking to compile a list of "common sense" assumptions which in fact are not true. That is to say, conclusions you could quite rightly arrive at using common sense, but which are incorrect or logically inconsistent. Help me put together an awesome list?
Previously, on AskMe
This post was deleted for the following reason: this has pretty much been done recently. -- jessamyn
Looking at the recent MeFi thread on popular misconceptions would be a good start.
posted by lukemeister at 8:25 AM on January 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by lukemeister at 8:25 AM on January 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Weird, didn't see that one on the search at all. :-\
posted by dougrayrankin at 8:32 AM on January 9, 2011
posted by dougrayrankin at 8:32 AM on January 9, 2011
It used to be common sense that bacteria could not live in stomachs and that ulcers were caused only by stress and/or spicy food. Enter Helicobactor pylori.
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:55 AM on January 9, 2011
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:55 AM on January 9, 2011
"Don't go out in the cold without a hat -- you'll get pneumonia!"
posted by keener_sounds at 9:12 AM on January 9, 2011
posted by keener_sounds at 9:12 AM on January 9, 2011
Anger is relieved by "letting it out." Similar misconception can be found in the book 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology.
Also, seconding lukemeister's suggestion of looking at the wiki pages for cognitive biases.
Judging from one of the previous threads about this topic you mention and some of the responses already, it seems some people will use this kind of thread to reinforce their biases and opinions, so please take everything with a grain of salt. I think the most useful thing you can get from a thread like that is a list of more rigorous resources which to pursue. What is the use of having a list of one liners, many of which are taken out of context, and true in particular circumstances, anyways? This is excluding the first two items you mention in your first response, which are pretty blatant examples and were only misconceptions about 400 years ago.
posted by adahn at 9:20 AM on January 9, 2011
Also, seconding lukemeister's suggestion of looking at the wiki pages for cognitive biases.
Judging from one of the previous threads about this topic you mention and some of the responses already, it seems some people will use this kind of thread to reinforce their biases and opinions, so please take everything with a grain of salt. I think the most useful thing you can get from a thread like that is a list of more rigorous resources which to pursue. What is the use of having a list of one liners, many of which are taken out of context, and true in particular circumstances, anyways? This is excluding the first two items you mention in your first response, which are pretty blatant examples and were only misconceptions about 400 years ago.
posted by adahn at 9:20 AM on January 9, 2011
This is - more or less - the raison d'être of the BBC tv program QI.
posted by rongorongo at 9:57 AM on January 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by rongorongo at 9:57 AM on January 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
The Sun and Moon go round the Earth.
The Earth is flat
Lead, being heavier than feathers, will fall faster
posted by dougrayrankin at 8:20 AM on January 9, 2011