There so many myths that are quoted in given circumstances and perceived as true by those who say them and those who nod in agreement, never questioning their accuracy.

Here are three examples and how they came about.

People slip and fall on banana peels. Now seriously, in real life have you ever seen someone actually slip on a banana peel? Actually, loose grapes on the floor of a supermarket are far more dangerous.

This myth was started by the BCSSA ( Big City Street Sweepers Association) at the turn of the 20th Century. Banana peels, especially after a rainstorm, are very difficult to sweep up off the street. They are mushy, fall apart and stick to a broom. Annoyed by litterbugs in general and banana peels in particular, the BCSSA staged fake falls including fake broken arms and legs in a nationwide campaign to scare people about the potential dangers of banana peel littering. They also lobbied film studios to include falls due to banana peels in slapstick comedy. The myth took hold and persists to this day.

Don’t Squash a Stinkbug, they smell horrible. First of all, their popular name itself perpetuates the myth. The bug comes from Asia and is actually a Halyomorpha. They are overtaking the planet thanks to the AFTPOSB (Association for the Propagation of Stink Bugs).

Have you ever squashed a Stink Bug? Of course not, out of FEAR of the smelly consequences. What a brilliant piece of propaganda. Stink Bugs: Live long and prosper.

Snow is in the forecast. Rush out and buy bread, milk and eggs!

WHY? This gem is the result of collusion and hefty sums paid to weather forecasters by the BMEC (Bread, Milk and Eggs Cartel) to obviously boost their sales.

These participating forecasts start a week before the possible storm may arrive. The constant updates carry a tone of foreboding disaster, especially as the days pass. People get whipped up into a frenzy as they rush to their local stores and denude the shelves of bread, milk and eggs creating widespread panic. “OMG, a snow emergency is coming. Get to the store and buy bread, milk and eggs before they run out!”

In many cases, the storm fizzles out and whatever does fall is cleared off the roads in a few hours. So, what’s for dinner?
French Toast.

Don’t believe everything you hear, especially from me. I’m not 100% sure about the Stink Bug conspiracy.