Who's Right?

There are many common misconceptions, and lists of them surface in books and articles from time to time.  I’ve selected a few fun ones below, from the many that we learned as children. 


Einstein Failed Math

Nope - He failed an entrance exam for a school, but he still excelled in math.


Humans & Dinosaurs

Despite 41% of adults thinking that dinosaurs and humans coexisted, we actually missed each other by 63 million years.  (think Jurassic Park:)


Missing Persons Report

Police don’t demand a 24-hour period before accepting a missing persons report.


5 Senses

Actually we have close to 20, including balance, pain, movement, hunger, thirst


Sugar = Hyperactivity

Studies have disproved this.  ADHD and poor behaviors still occur in children with sugar-free diets.


Oil and Stuck Together Pasta

No, oil won’t stop pasta from sticking together, but it can stop the water foaming or boiling over.


Bulls hate Red

Bulls are color blind.  They actually react to motions of the bull fighter’s cloth as a perceived threat.


Marie Antoinette and “Let Them Eat Cake”

The phrase appeared in Rousseau’s “Confessions” when she was only 10 years old.


The Great Chicago Fire of 1871  was not caused by Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicking over a lantern. A newspaper reporter invented the story to make colorful copy


I’ve been noticing lately that people, in general, speak with such authority.  Whether it is a news commentator or a tv personality or friends and family members.  Definitive and absolute seem to be the most common styles of communication.

In thinking about writing this blog, and doing the research on common misconceptions, I was reminded just how ingrained some of our past thinking is from our early years.  So much of what we base our current views on has a foundation of learning from our youth.

It was interesting for me to note about myself, that while I know I have read many of these before, my past learning is so strong, that each one seemed a surprise again. (and my memory is just fine, for any of you wondering:)

What’s most important about this is that we often remember ‘inaccurate facts’ about life in general, and about other people.  "Facts" change and evolve over time.  


So I encourage each of us to consider the next time we get in an argument and think very strongly that ‘we are right’, that just maybe, our foundational data could be wrong.  Information and studies continue to prove previously held “facts” to be wrong every day.  

Be open to the possibility of new information and new interpretations.  Words we choose to communicate can have great impact.  


Choose your relationship with the person over ‘being right’.  You will be much happier, if you do:)


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