30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In

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.

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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

Final score:

260points

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axisgaymtf 12 months ago

FACTS!!

42points

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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

Final score:

250points

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Joe Publique 12 months ago

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

111points

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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

Final score:

232points

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Joe Publique 12 months ago

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.

27points

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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

Final score:

230points

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John 12 months ago

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

53points

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

frenziedkoalabuddy , WoodysMedia Report

Final score:

192points

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Joe Publique 12 months ago

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

87points

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

Pfffft.

Lutiskilea Report

Final score:

180points

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Michael Largey 12 months ago

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.

11points

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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

Final score:

170points

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Disappointed Optimist 12 months ago

Those scams 😩

32points

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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

Final score:

147points

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Zaach 12 months ago

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

30points

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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

Final score:

144points

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Beth H 12 months ago

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

47points

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#10

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

toastyavocadoes , Douglas Muth Report

Final score:

132points

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TheBlueBitterfly 12 months ago

I loves me some MSG!

41points

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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

Final score:

129points

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Louise B 12 months ago (edited)

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 🤔)

42points

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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

Final score:

129points

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Nonna_SoF 12 months ago

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

87points

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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

Final score:

126points

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Hphizzle 12 months ago

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

150points

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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

Final score:

124points

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Enlee Jones 12 months ago

The reward for hard work is more work.

55points

Black Cat 12 months ago

And higher expectations on you.

6points

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Jenn Olges 12 months ago

BS. I've worked almost every year since I was old enough to. Went to school full time while working full time while raising a family with disabled family members in it as a single parent. I know what work is. I know what planning and scheduling it like. I just got the biggest single raise of my life - and only earn $30K a year. I have a bachelor's in accounting, and can't even get hired to sweep their floors because I did what I had to do to raise my family. I will forever be poor and struggling because I had a family and no one gives a rats behind that I effectively held 4 full time jobs at one time (some non-conventional, I understand) and still haven't gone down. I will die at my desk and my debts will get handed to my kids - which sucks.

4points

EarthGrowl 12 months ago

They are going by the accumulation of wealth. A weekly paycheck spent wisely will eventually add up. That worked in the 50's and 60's when there were less consumer goods and less utilities that required a chunk of your paycheck. If you make $100,000 a year, in 10 years you will have earn a million.

3points

i love hawaiian margarita pizz 12 months ago

harder you work, the more exploited you'll be.

2points

Surenu 12 months ago

I mean, someone will be rich, chances are it won't be you tho

2points

keyboardtek 12 months ago

But first you have to inherit millions from your parents.

1point

Almost sunny 12 months ago

Don't work hard, work smart

1point

Nikole 12 months ago

Who would believe this?

1point

Jeff White 12 months ago

I never really hear that comment. I have heard "Work hard and you'll be better off" but have heard you'll get rich.

1point

Ja R 11 months ago

work steady invest consistently save for what you want and shop values not flashy and designer goods are usually junk. don't mortgage the house for a vacation you might not get rich but you can live well and have money to retire

0points

marianne eliza 11 months ago

Nature evenly distributes talent but not opportunities.

0points

Skywitness 12 months ago

Work hard and be born to rich parents and then you can make it.

0points

kath morgan 12 months ago

lol lol

0points

Douglas Tucker 12 months ago

Try to work smarter not harder seems to work for many.

0points

L. Murphy 12 months ago

Sometimes you work hard and get nothing.

0points

Joe Publique 12 months ago

Checkmate, poor people! Just work harder. Or as someone said in another thread 'why don't poor people just invest and watch their money grow?' *rolleyes...

0points

Danielle Lee 12 months ago

I have 2 jobs, I make well over minimum wage and I still live paycheck to paycheck 🙃

0points

Bobbie Burke 12 months ago

I spent my health working as hard as I possibly could.....Now I am disabled....and NOT AT ALL RICH...

0points

Michael Largey 12 months ago

Wealth is always the result of hard work - other people's hard work, usually.

0points

John Harrison 12 months ago

Well, that and saving WILL make you well-off.

0points

Jared Robinson 12 months ago

invent something everyone thinks they need.

0points

Leanne Hailes 12 months ago

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 etc × a bazillion!!

0points

John Swallow 12 months ago

That may be true if you keep the government out of the equation.

-3points

Six sighs per hour 12 months ago

Yes, cast your fate upon the tender mercies of private industry, they will never do anything to harm you. Regulations aren't needed, we're all one big family here. Now get back to work you lazy people.

1point

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#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

Final score:

118points

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RosenCranzLives 12 months ago

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

23points

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#16

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

Happy_Bullfrog_5379 , Luis Quintero Report

Final score:

117points

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Mav Mav 12 months ago

They only make the Pharaohs rich.

51points

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#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

Final score:

116points

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Fynne 12 months ago

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

55points

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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

Final score:

116points

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 12 months ago (edited)

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.

71points

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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

Final score:

103points

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axisgaymtf 12 months ago

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

25points

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#20

30 Biggest Hoaxes That Some People Still Believe In The food pyramid.

Scurvy-Banana , Rachael Moore Report

Final score:

90points

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Sue Denham 12 months ago

Toblerone.

76points

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#21

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

WarpedMathematician , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

89points

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Fynne 12 months ago

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.

26points

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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

Final score:

89points

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Fynne 12 months ago

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

82points

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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

Final score:

87points

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Ace 12 months ago

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.

24points

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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

Final score:

82points

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TheBlueBitterfly 12 months ago

And now there's INFANT chiropractors!? No, just.. no.

53points

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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

Final score:

70points

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Sonja 12 months ago

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.

15points

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#26

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

FreshStartRetry , Dương Nhân Report

Final score:

62points

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Puppy Dancing! 12 months ago

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

34points

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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

Final score:

61points

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Fakeus nameus 12 months ago

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

19points

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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

Final score:

54points

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AtMostTheFabulist Premium 12 months ago

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.

34points

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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

Final score:

44points

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Puppy Dancing! 12 months ago

Rickets is almost eliminated in countries with mIlk consumption.

45points

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#30

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

hbsboak , Lisa Fotios Report

Final score:

23points

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SlightlyTarnished 12 months ago

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.

101points

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