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From Santa (sorry…) to Bigfoot, there are hoaxes, lies, and old stories that don’t seem to die off, despite most people not believing them. Maybe they are comforting, interesting or so ingrained that a small portion of the population still clings on to these beliefs. 

Someone asked, “What is the biggest hoax that people still believe?” and people shared all the delusions they had encountered. So get ready to possibly have your worldview shattered, make sure you are comfortable as you read through and upvote your favorite examples. Comment your thoughts and arguments below. 

#1

30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In All that detox health science bs. Your body already has a detox system. It's called your liver. 

EnvironmentLow9075 , Angela Roma Report

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    #2

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In The privatized American “healthcare” system. It takes billions of American taxpayer money to “operate” while *also* charging Americans billions on insurance premiums and fees. Americans should either pay taxes that cover universal healthcare *or* pay insurance premiums and/or fees, NOT BOTH.

    racoon-fountain , Pixabay Report

    Joe Publique
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lol. How do you make 50% of Americans lose their minds? Prefix any word with 'social'.

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    #3

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In The Wakefield Paper. A deliberate hoax commissioned by a crooked law firm seeing to profit from legal judgments based upon the entirely falsified “results” of the “study”. This single act of entirely knowing and intentional fraud precipitated the greatest public health catastrophe of the antibiotic era: the modern antivaxx movement.

    OHRunAndFun , Ivan Radic Report

    Joe Publique
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Personally, I love anti-vaxxers because they remind me that no matter how bad my day gets I’ll never be that selfish, stupid, or misinformed.

    SadieCat17 (she/her)
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I personally would too if anti-vaxxers didn't come with child abuse.

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    Ace
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Hoax" isn't really a strong enough word here - implies it was some sort of harmless joke.

    axisgaymtf
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    those people are also the people to inject themselves with bleach cause of trump :/

    Linden
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So damn offensive to our autistic community too. (There's currently a group of lawyers on the grift trying to claim that paracetamol/acetaminophen/Tylenol use in pregnancy has caused children to be autistic.)

    Joe Publique
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My brother is a research scientist and he's on the spectrum. He claims that many of his colleagues are too. Therefore, he says (jokingly) that rather than vaccines causing autism, autism causes vaccines.

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    Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just got my fifth COVID booster today. Gonna be sick as hell tomorrow. It happens every time but at least I'm safe from the real disease.

    Groaver Andout
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, if you get COVID it should be milder.

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    Nilsen
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He interviewed a small selection of mothers of children (only boys?) who had been diagnosed with autism about 2 years old. The interviews were done a couple of years after the diagnoses, and he asked leading questions about how long after the MMR vaccination the first symptoms had been observed etc. The vast majority of the children had been vaccinated at 18 months, and child autism is normally not diagnosed until that age or later. The children were already autistic, bit not yet diagnosed. And at least one of the children were unvaccinated but still autistic

    Not-a-Clue (she/her)
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to (24 years ago) work for a family whose child was included in the study. Mum was a pharmacist and dad a surgeon. They were both completely convinced by Wakefield at the time. I'm not sure if their views have changed since all the real results came out.

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    Aqsa Azam
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How do these people sleep at night

    Joe Reaves
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    On a big pile of money just like all successful grifters.

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    steven mayes
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wakefield is scum that frightened so many people in the UK (me included) for his own monetary gains, costing people their lives. Unfortunately so many politicians still work in this same exact way.

    Roger9er
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Add up the stupidity of people and there you go

    Social Media
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At least they a gave warning to stay away from them (both for not being vaccinated, and for being crazy).

    L. Murphy
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These idiots do not remember polio.

    keyboardtek
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Choice: millions of people have died from this new virus. I may be next. Versus, millions have taken this new vaccine with no deaths from the vaccine. He chooses to chance it and dance with death.

    Annymoose
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    * not recently vaccinated. These people lol had their childhood shots but woah, hold the cognitive dissonance. Their kids are suffering, tho.

    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    child of antivax parents here, less than 6 months until i can finally get my first flu shot! (and others, of course)

    Debby Keir
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have told this 'story' before. I used to vaccinate ambulance staff (UK) There was a local measles outbreak, and as some older people had never been jabbed, they were offered MMR - free etc. One 'lady' who was an EMT, declined saying that she didn't want to get autism at her age (50's).... Unbelievable.

    Kira Okah
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Law firm? Not heard that one. Wakefield had shares in a company selling separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines, so his paper targeted the combined MMR to drive sales to the separate jabs and line his pocket with moolah. At least, the last that I looked it up.

    Tim Fawcett
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The original paper linking autism to vaccination was funded by a firm of lawyers who wanted to make a killing using that paper as evidence to sue the vaccine producers for damages

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    El Dee
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    'NOT educated, NOT vaccinated..'

    Cari Owens
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Wakefield Paper has been debunked at least half a dozen times but people still treat it as Gospel. I hope "Doctor" Wakefield thinks that $670,000 was worth his licence. As for the anti-vaxxers, I'd bet they'll change their tune when polio or diphtheria makes a comeback.

    Mat Hall
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ironically Andrew Wakefield wasn't anti-vax - he actually wanted people to have *more* vaccinations, but because anti-vaxxers are the only people who'll give him the time of day he's now their poster child.

    Celtic Pirate Queen
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And let's not forget the blond bimbo who insisted her son's Autism was caused by vaccines. I mean, shouldn't we All get our medical research & scientific information from former Playboy Bunnies? (BTW - the syndrome her son suffers from is NOT Autism).

    Jayeff Vee
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a friend who didn't get vaccinated. He got polio. It was the 1950's. Vaccines are tested and work.

    Laura Williams
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My mom is now activax thankfully we are all grown and got ours. I don't get it I am vaccinated, my kids are vaccinated. She doesn't even know anyone who has had a problem with vaccinations. Like I said I myself and siblings are all good. I guess chalk it up to old age.

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    #4

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In "Be loyal to your company and they'll reward you" Bull f*****g s**t... Only thing they'll do is exploit you more.

    RaptureRising , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

    John
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Company loyalty is to itself first and last. You'll be cut as soon as they don't need you

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    #5

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In That wealth trickles down

    frenziedkoalabuddy , WoodysMedia Report

    Joe Publique
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yup. Let's try 'trickle-up' economics. Poor people spend their money. Wealthy people hoard it.

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    #6

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In That cutting taxes for the rich is good for workers. Pfffft.

    Lutiskilea Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cutting taxes on the rich gives them cash to buy out their competition, merge the companies, and then lay workers off. We've only seen that happen a couple of thousand times.

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    #7

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In “You can lose 25 pounds in three weeks and never feel hungry while eating all the delicious foods you want. Just call this 800 number…”

    Gorf_the_Magnificent , Andres Ayrton Report

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    #8

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Homeopathy >Germany, the birthplace of this movement, still allows people to study ‘MD Homeopathy’ despite the EU largely being opposed to it. In India one can get certified as a “Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery”. Most countries, while not recognising homeopathy doctors as legitimate, still allow sale of their “remedies” because they don’t see the harm in what are essentially sugar tablets and diluted alcohol.

    dscchn , Nataliya Vaitkevich Report

    Zaach
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Recently, homeopathic eye drops have caused blindness so not so harmless

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    #9

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In I've met more than one person who turned down a raise because they thought they'd end up making less money because of taxes. Nahhhh, son. Nah.

    freestyle43 , Monstera Production Report

    Beth H
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My brain refuses to believe this but my heart knows people are this stupid

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    #10

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In The stigma around MSG.

    toastyavocadoes , Douglas Muth Report

    David
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For those who need to hear it - MSG does not taste "salty". My ignorance - but for years I thought it was just a more potent alternative to salt. Probably due to sodium being it's middle name and me equating that to sodium chloride (common table salt). Then I watched a video on the origins of MSG and what it really is and a few months ago I bought a bag at my local Asian grocery and have been enjoying it in some dishes. I have cooked before with kombu (a type of kelp that adds some umami). When I touched my finger to some MGS and ate a couple of crystals I was surprised at how much it tastes like kombu. Which is the point. MSG is a super easy way to add some umami. If you are Asian or otherwise already knew this then have a laugh at my expense. But if you didn't know - now you do. Either way - you're welcome. LOL

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    #11

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In that blood is blue when inside your body. I remember getting into it with a gym teacher he insisted “blood is blue inside your body but turns red when it’s exposed to the oxygen in the air like when you get a cut” but bloods whole purpose is to carry oxygen INSIDE the body, therefore it’s always red, and not turned red because the oxygen in the air. apparently i’m still heated about that lmao

    Stupid-ForYou , Karolina Grabowska Report

    Louise B
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be fair, gym teachers aren't exactly on the A squad when it comes to academics. (That wasn't fair, I'm still bitter about my experiences at school my PE teacher was a vicious cow - and she took waaaay to much interest in the red-heads showering 🤔)

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    #12

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Healing Crystals. "Oh, if I put this inert rock next to my wrist, it'll help with my arthritis?"

    sloopieone , Alina Vilchenko Report

    Nonna_SoF
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Crystals are however an essential part of lasers, and lasers are cool.

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    #13

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Alkaline water is pseudoscience, any chemist or doctor will confirm this

    secularJ , unknown Report

    Hphizzle
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I always like to add a little lemon to my alkaline water. /s

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    #14

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In All you have to do is work hard and you’ll get rich.

    WWDB , Andrea Piacquadio Report

    #15

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Humans only use 10% of their brain (well lately I guess some do)

    DrummerBob10 , RF._.studio Report

    RosenCranzLives
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You use about 83% of it just to go to the washroom.

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    #16

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Pyramid schemes.

    Happy_Bullfrog_5379 , Luis Quintero Report

    #17

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Im a police officer, and Ive had people tell me that ALL police officers MUST by law say they are cops if/when they are asked, including cops that are undercover. I tried to explain this would defeat the purpose of being undercover because the criminals would just simply ask "Are you a cop?" to everyone they were committing crimes with and invest is over. There is no such law but i can never win the argument.

    actionjaxn411 , cottonbro studio Report

    Fynne
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I know nothing about this, but it sounds like this myth could’ve been started by police forces, so that idiot criminals will believe it

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    #18

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In The hysteria over GMO food. It is demonstrably fine. We have been genetically modifying food in an uncontrolled way since before the written word. The idea that it's *more* haphazard and dangerous when done with precision by scientists with advanced technology is completely absurd. Also, trees and plants can't run away from predators, they have to protect themselves with chemistry. Pesticides are naturally occuring and omnipresent. In fact, food we consider inedible is mostly that due to the presence of said pesticides, compounds in them which make them unpalatable or dangerous for us to eat.

    DeadFyre , David Prasad Report

    Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People are mostly freaked out about TRANSGENIC food that has other genes from other species inserted. First the majority of GMO foods are simply bred that way. Gene insertion has also been rigorously tested by FDA and USDA. BTW, my degree is in FOOD SCIENCE. These modified foods allow us to grow hardier crops that need less pesticide and fungicide and keep people from STARVING TO DEATH.

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    #19

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In One big lie that some people still believe is that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis. It's been debunked, but it's amazing how many still believe it!

    blandsiding , Eren Li Report

    axisgaymtf
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    its just air that has been built up is all,it dosnt harm you or anything

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    #21

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Shaving making hair grow in thicker.

    WarpedMathematician , cottonbro studio Report

    Fynne
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It does in a way. The hair is thicker near the base, so when you cut the thin top and it grows a little, it will feel and look a little thicker.

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    #22

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In The common cold is caused by being cold.

    BubbhaJebus , Andre Furtado Report

    Fynne
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Being cold can, however weaken the immune system causing you to be more prone to colds

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    #23

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In I think the amount of people that continue to fall for hustle culture and the snake oil salesmen push it. There is huge emphasis in modern society on not only being rich but being rich young by the simplest/fast means necessary. Its honestly depressing how many people continue to purchase master classes/work shops that all filled with surface level near useless information.

    reddit.com , Ron Lach Report

    Ace
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If someone's peddling their 'get rich quick' scheme through books, classes or workshops you are actually a contributing part of their scheme. If they genuinely had all the answers they'd already be rich and wouldn't need or want to pass their secrets on to anyone else.

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    #24

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Chiropractic adjustments, getting your vertabrae popped and ground on a frequent basis is good for you.

    mywifesoldestchild , Cojanu Alexandru Report

    David
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A GOOD chiropractor can actually help a lot. And most (??) these days use those point specific 'thunkers' instead of the old school 'smash and twist your back" method. I don't have room here but both me and a good friend have gotten help / relief from some specific issues. But I do agree with OP about "on a frequent basis". It is something I did when I needed it, not a routine thing I do.

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    #25

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Drinking 8 glasses of water a day. Gluten being bad for you if you don’t have celiacs.

    Joel22222 , Maurício Mascaro Report

    Sonja
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The problem is the lack of education on food in general and not knowing about food safety in combination with companies cutting corners left and right with cheap mass production. Humans can't properly digest raw flour. If you try it, you'll get horrible stomach pains. From badly cooked yeast you'll get bloated and gassy. But companies nowaday bake cheap bread on roll through ovens. The flour and yeast doesn't cook completely through. So if you have problems after eating wheat bread, try toasting the bread before eating. If that helps, you have neither celiac disease nor gluten intolerance. Either change the brand of bread you buy or keep toasting it if you can't afford different bread. Now, I'm sure now some people will whine: BuT iF I EaT GlUtEn FrEe I dOn'T hAvE pRoBleMs... Yes, of course, that's because most gluten free alternatives either don't have wheat or the gluten is removed and you only eat the starch which means that the wheat was processed and often has no yeast.

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    #26

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Don’t go swimming after eating

    FreshStartRetry , Dương Nhân Report

    Puppy Dancing!
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This was invented by pool owners to reduce puke in the pool.

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    #27

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Carrots improve your eyesight. This was English propaganda during WW2. They didn't want Germany to know that they had radar which spotted their bombers. It was those sharp eyes of Brit's pilots.

    om54 , Ron Lach Report

    Fakeus nameus
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cheerio mate, fancy a spot of carrots so we can spot them German jets? I’ll go right ahead and fetch them old chap.

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    #28

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In That going to sleep with or going out with wet hair causes a cold.

    geordiesteve520 , Polina Kovaleva Report

    AtMostTheFabulist
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to walk to school with wet hair in the winter. Which would freeze. I would be brushing ice out of my hair for a half hour. Never got sick.

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    #29

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Milk for strong bones. Dairy industry advertising campaign that isn't supported by evidence and in fact we have a good amount of evidence to the contrary.

    Thatweasel , samer daboul Report

    Puppy Dancing!
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Rickets is almost eliminated in countries with mIlk consumption.

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    #30

    30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In Recycling is saving the environment

    hbsboak , Lisa Fotios Report

    SlightlyTarnished
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've never heard anyone say "recycling is saving the environment". Recycling makes sense, reduces some raw material requirements, and is beneficial to the environment, though "saving", nope.

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