Hey there! I’m Elliott, and welcome to Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, we’re going to clear up some common misconceptions you might have come across on the Internet. Let’s dive in!
There’s a rumor that if you’re being robbed at an ATM, you can type your PIN backward to alert the police. Unfortunately, that’s not true. Although Illinois once considered this idea, it wasn’t put into action. Plus, the Federal Trade Commission warns that it might put you in more danger, and the police might not arrive in time. Also, some people have PINs that are the same forwards and backward!
You might have heard that New Zealand wanted to fine people for farting in public. In reality, the government proposed a tax on livestock farmers in 2003 to address emissions from animals, especially methane from burps. This tax aimed to fund research on greenhouse gases but didn’t pass.
Some say there are twice as many kangaroos as people in Australia. While the Australian Government’s Department of Environment estimates over 34 million kangaroos, the actual number could be higher since they don’t count the entire continent. With about 23 million people in Australia, the numbers are closer than you might think.
It’s often claimed that men take twice as many selfies as women. This idea comes from a 2013 survey by Samsung, which found that 17% of men and 10% of women admitted to taking selfies. That’s not twice as many, and it doesn’t reflect the total number of selfies taken.
There’s a belief that smoking can make your nipples fall off. This idea started when a plastic surgeon mentioned that smokers undergoing breast lifts might risk losing their nipples. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons advises quitting smoking before surgery, but generally, your nipples are safe.
Some claim cigarettes contain whale vomit, known as ambergris. However, ambergris has been illegal in the U.S. since the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
It’s said that more people are alive today than have ever lived. In 2007, a demographer estimated that over 106 billion people have been born throughout history. With about 7 billion people alive now, we’re only about 6% of all humans who have ever lived.
There’s a claim that women speak 7,000 words a day compared to men’s 2,000. A 2007 study by Arizona State University found that both men and women speak around 16,000 words daily, with no significant difference between genders.
In 2011, a study suggested that Internet Explorer users have lower IQs. This turned out to be a hoax created by a web developer, despite being reported by major news outlets.
Some believe Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were assassinated as part of the same conspiracy due to similarities in their lives. However, Lincoln didn’t have a secretary named Kennedy, and the birth years of their assassins don’t match the theory.
While some families in Nigeria claim royal status, their royal powers were removed in 1963 when Nigeria became a republic.
Thanks for tuning in to Misconceptions on Mental Floss on YouTube. If you have ideas for future episodes, drop them in the comments. See you next time!
Research one of the misconceptions mentioned in the article. Find credible sources to confirm or debunk the myth further. Present your findings to the class in a short presentation. Make sure to explain why the misconception might have started and how it spread.
Choose a misconception from the article and design a poster that explains the truth behind it. Use images, facts, and creative design to make your poster engaging. Display your poster in the classroom to educate your peers.
Form two groups and choose a misconception from the article. One group will argue why people might believe the misconception, and the other will present the facts that debunk it. After the debate, discuss what makes a source credible and how to identify misinformation.
Write a short article that addresses one of the misconceptions from the article. Include evidence and examples to support your claims. Share your article with your classmates and discuss how writing can help combat misinformation.
Work in pairs to fact-check a list of statements related to the misconceptions in the article. Use reliable sources to verify the information. Present your findings to the class and discuss the importance of fact-checking in the digital age.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m Elliott. This is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, I’m going to talk about some misconceptions that you may have learned from the Internet.
**Misconception #1:** Putting your Personal Identification Number (PIN) in reverse is a universal distress signal.
There’s a persistent Internet rumor that if you are being robbed at an ATM, you can just enter your PIN in reverse, and the police will be alerted. That’s not true. Illinois passed a law regarding this, but it was not effectively implemented. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission has stated that this could put the person in danger and doubted that the police would arrive in time. Some people even have PINs that are the same forwards and backwards.
**Misconception #2:** The government of New Zealand tried to introduce a “fart tax” to fine people for farting publicly.
The government of New Zealand did propose a “fart tax,” but it wasn’t to fine individuals. In 2003, they proposed an agricultural emissions research levy, which would have taxed livestock farmers for emissions from their animals. The government was mainly concerned with methane’s contribution to greenhouse gases, which comes from animal burps. The tax would have generated over $8 million for research on greenhouse gases, but it did not pass.
**Misconception #3:** Australia has two times more kangaroos than people.
In fact, we don’t know the exact number of kangaroos in Australia. The Australian Government’s Department of Environment reports over 34 million kangaroos, but the actual number could be much higher since they don’t survey the entire continent. The current population of Australia is about 23 million, so people are catching up to kangaroos.
**Misconception #4:** Men take twice as many selfies as women.
This might be true for some individuals, but this statistic seems to stem from a 2013 survey conducted by Samsung, which found that 17% of men admitted to taking selfies compared to 10% of women. That’s not twice as many, and it doesn’t reflect the actual number of selfies taken.
**Misconception #5:** Smoking makes your nipples fall off.
In 2011, a plastic surgeon made headlines for saying that smokers who undergo breast lifts are at risk of losing their nipples. Over time, this statement was simplified to suggest that all smokers should be concerned about their nipples. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends quitting smoking before plastic surgery, but your nipples are generally safe.
**Bonus Misconception:** Cigarettes do not contain whale vomit, despite claims on the Internet.
The substance referred to, ambergris, has been illegal in the U.S. since the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
**Misconception #6:** There are more people alive now than have ever lived before.
A demographer estimated in 2007 that over 106 billion people have been born since the beginning of humanity. Our world population is around 7 billion, meaning we are only about 6% of all the humans that have ever lived.
**Misconception #7:** Women speak 7,000 words a day to men’s 2,000 words.
There are many variations of this claim. A study conducted by Arizona State University in 2007 found that both men and women speak approximately 16,000 words a day, with no statistically significant difference between the two genders.
**Misconception #8:** Internet Explorer users have lower IQs.
In 2011, a study claimed this phenomenon, reported by sources like CNN and BBC. However, it turned out to be a hoax orchestrated by a web developer.
**Misconception #9:** Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were both assassinated as part of the same conspiracy.
This theory points out similarities between the two presidents, such as their secretaries’ names and the years of their assassins’ births. However, Lincoln did not have a secretary named Kennedy, and while Lee Harvey Oswald was born in 1939, John Wilkes Booth was born in 1838.
**Misconception #10:** Nigeria has a prince.
There are families in Nigeria claiming royal status, but their royal powers were stripped in 1963 when Nigeria became a republic.
Thank you for watching Misconceptions on Mental Floss on YouTube, made with the help of many wonderful people. If you have a topic for an upcoming episode, leave it in the comments. I’ll see you next week!
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This version maintains the original content while removing any potentially sensitive or inappropriate language.
Misconception – A mistaken belief or idea that is not based on correct information or understanding. – Many students have the misconception that all acids are dangerous, but some are safe enough to eat, like citric acid in oranges.
Internet – A global network of computers that allows people to access and share information from anywhere in the world. – The internet is a valuable tool for conducting scientific research and accessing the latest studies and data.
Kangaroo – A large marsupial native to Australia, known for its powerful hind legs and ability to jump great distances. – Scientists study the kangaroo’s unique locomotion to develop better prosthetic limbs for humans.
Smoking – The act of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco or other substances, which can have harmful effects on health. – Research has shown that smoking can lead to serious health issues, including lung cancer and heart disease.
Tax – A compulsory financial charge imposed by a government to fund various public expenditures. – Some governments impose a carbon tax to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
People – Human beings in general or considered collectively. – People play a crucial role in scientific advancements by participating in research studies and experiments.
Research – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. – Conducting thorough research is essential for developing new technologies and medical treatments.
Emissions – The act of releasing substances, especially gases, into the atmosphere. – Reducing vehicle emissions is important for improving air quality and protecting the environment.
Statistics – The practice or science of collecting and analyzing numerical data in large quantities. – Statistics help scientists understand trends and patterns in data, such as the spread of diseases.
IQ – A measure of a person’s intelligence as indicated by an intelligence test. – While IQ tests can provide insights into cognitive abilities, they do not measure creativity or emotional intelligence.
