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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

#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

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Joe Publique
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

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Joe Publique
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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.

Ace
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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
12 months ago DotsCreated 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
12 months ago DotsCreated 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
12 months ago DotsCreated 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
12 months ago (edited) DotsCreated 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.

Nilsen
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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
12 months ago DotsCreated 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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steven mayes
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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.

Social Media
Community Member
12 months ago (edited) DotsCreated 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).

keyboardtek
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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
12 months ago DotsCreated 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
12 months ago DotsCreated 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)

Corinne Wheeler
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Struck off " in the U.K.....thought we'd seen the end of it, but no.

Debby Keir
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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
12 months ago DotsCreated 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
12 months ago DotsCreated 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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Cari Owens
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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
10 months ago DotsCreated 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
11 months ago DotsCreated 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
11 months ago DotsCreated 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
11 months ago DotsCreated 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

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John
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

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Joe Publique
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

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Michael Largey
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

#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

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Zaach
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

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Beth H
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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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#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

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Louise B
Community Member
12 months ago (edited) DotsCreated 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

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Nonna_SoF
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

#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

#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

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Fynne
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
12 months ago (edited) DotsCreated 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

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axisgaymtf
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

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Fynne
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

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Fynne
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

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Ace
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

#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

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Sonja
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

#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

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Fakeus nameus
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

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AtMostTheFabulist
Community Member
Premium
12 months ago DotsCreated 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

#30

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

hbsboak , Lisa Fotios Report

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SlightlyTarnished
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated 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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