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While it is true that the human nature represents a compilation of feelings, thoughts and characteristics all humans share, it is equally correct that accurately defining all of the above has been the oldest and most crucial quest of the Western philosophy. Even though thinkers have provided various answers to these fundamental questions, one thing remains constant, namely that human nature primes over the sum of norms established in different cultures and societies.

Interestingly enough, instead of going hand in hand, the social norms and our way of being are conflicting quite often. In fact, it is safe to state that at one point or another in your life you will come to agree with Alexander Woolcott’s famous quote “all the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal or fattening”. In the following article we will explore the most common misconceptions about human nature people believe today.

1. The eternal fascination with the “Barbie look”

The appeal of the long, beautiful hair, blue eyes, a wasp waist and big breasts has not really emerged with Marilyn Monroe and in fact, it dates from approximately two millennia ago. The answer to this one is actually quite simply: women who boast these characteristics are perceived as younger, healthier and hence, they promote reproduction and the survival of the specie. However, ironically these things are not applicable in the modern society, where wigs, contact lens and the magic of cosmetic surgery is all it takes to reach the ideal female beauty.

2. We’re genetically programmed for polygamy

According to anthropologists, the simple fact that men are taller than women is a criterion that proves humans are essentially programmed for polygamy. Essentially, the male fitness factor plays a great role in finding more mating opportunities. Furthermore, a tall and strong man gives women a sense of financial and social security, sometimes to the point where women prefer to share the wealth of a single man than mate with a poor one. While in certain parts of the globe polygamy is still practiced, in Western society and industrialized countries this no longer applies because for modern man wealth is more consistent across the board, at least by comparison with their ancestors.

3. Couples who have at least one son are less likely to end up in divorce

In spite of the fact that the modern world promotes gender equality, apparently the men’s instinct to do anything in their power to ensure the continuation of the wealth, name and status is still lingering in the subconscious. While all the things a man has to offer can be inherited by his son, there is very little he can do to maintain his daughter’s beauty and youthfulness. It is true that this behavior is mostly noticeable in affluent families, but sociologists suggest that statistically couples who have sons are less likely to end up in divorce.

4. The middle-life crisis

Some call the middle-life crisis a myth and others are living it, or they think they do especially since they invested all their savings in a brand new car and a luxury home near the beach. This occurrence is linked to women reaching menopause. To put it simply, when the husband realizes that the reproduction cycle of his wife is close to an end, his anxiety levels will go through the roof and he will start spending a lot of cash in a subconscious attempt to attract younger women.

5. Male politicians are prone to risk everything for an affair

Granted, in the Western civilization monogamy reigned supreme, especially in times when the Roman Catholic Church held most of the power. On the other hand, that didn’t stop any wealthy man with a high status from having concubines, mistresses or female slaves for that matter. If you are curious as to why a male politician would risk it all, the answer might surprise you: some men strive for more power in order to expand their mating options.

From the start, it is necessary to point out that most of the myths that will be presented in the following article are mainly enforced by parents to protect their children from the potentially dangerous consequences of the activities. On the other hand, other misconceptions have earned their “absolute truth” moniker by repetition and some of these white lies are simply more convenient explanations for facts of life that our kids are not yet ready to hear.

Nevertheless, all parents want what is best for their children. In this case, teaching them the ability to dissociate between actually proven facts and misconceptions that stem from “common knowledge” from an early age is the right thing to do. Let’s try to debunk the prevalent ones.

1. Coffee and caffeinated beverages stunt growth

The main reason why parents are not comfortable with their children drinking caffeine based beverages and particularly energy drinks or coffee stems from the inevitable burst of energy and hyperactivity. As of such, they will try to employ the kids’ fear of being short for the rest of their life in order to deter them from these drinks, sometimes utilizing pseudo-scientific explanations like “coffee burns calcium and your bones will not develop properly, so you will not grow up tall”. Now, without denying that children need a healthy dose of calcium and coffee is not exactly the best way to achieve it, at this point no study has determined a direct correlation between height and caffeine in kids.

2. You will develop acne if you eat chocolate

This myth stems from the idea that fatty aliments promote the secretion of sebum, which blocks the skin pores and eventually causes acne. Truth be told, refraining from excessively eating chocolate is not actually bad for the health, especially since child obesity is a global problem at this point, but then again, no research has linked chocolate and acne so far. Children are more likely to experience acne during adolescence when hormonal changes kick in, particularly if they have an oily skin complexion.

3. Sneezing with your eyes open will cause them to pop out

Leaving aside the fact that it is virtually impossible to keep your eyes open during a sneeze, there is a ton of reason why this outcome is impossible. First of all, the number of muscles that attach the eyes to the socket would not allow your sight organs to become dislodged, irrespective of how strong the sneeze is. Secondly, we all know that the only person who can sneeze with his eyes open is Chuck Norris. Lastly, the Black Plague has been eradicated since the Dark Ages.

4. You can become cross eyed simply by crossing the eyes too often

Since no child wants to develop a “deformity” that would brand them as an outcast among his peers, parents tell them this popular myth in order to stop them from making weird faces in public. True, it can be embarrassing for you as a parent to have your kid squinting and grimacing at strangers, but there is no evidence to support this theory. When the strain on the eyes’ muscle becomes too great, they simply revert to the original position. You can keep your eyes crossed as long as you like and it will not become the second nature to your visual organs.

5. Going outdoors with wet hair is a surefire way to catch a cold

Here is an interesting statistic revealed by surveys: in excess of 40 percent of the interviewed parents genuinely believe that you stand to catch a cold if you go outdoors before your hair has been fully dried. Moreover, they are enforcing this belief on their children. Fortunately, the combination of wet hair and cold weather is actually harmless, because contracting a cold requires exposure to the actual virus. Furthermore, cold weather is only a factor in less than 0.5% of cases, since only 1 in 200 forms of the virus is more likely to thrive if the temperature outside dries the nostrils. By all accounts, you are more likely to catch a cold in winter by sharing the space with an infected person.

Because AIDS and the HIV virus are regarded as taboo subject, many of us are unfamiliar with the details of the condition. At the same time, numerous media sources intoxicate the viewers with ill-conceived ideas and plant the seeds of false beliefs, willingly or voluntarily.

While the following guide will attempt to summarize and debunk some of the most frequently encountered fallacies regarding AIDS, the readers should also keep in mind that there are many more out there. It suffices to say that before you take anything for granted, research the matter in order to find out whether or not there is clinical evidence supporting the theory. Let’s find out more.

1. The HIV virus spreads via air and touch

It’s only normal to be cautious and maybe just a bit paranoid when dealing with deadly conditions such as AIDS, but some people take it one step too far. Several “authorities” have emitted claims that HIV is airborne or that it can reside on the inanimate objects touched by a person who is infected with the virus. False, the condition spreads exclusively via blood, semen, the milk of a nursing mother or the vaginal fluids. Furthermore, tests revealed that not even tears, saliva or sweat make good carriers for the HIV virus. Therefore, you can safely shake hands with an HIV positive patient and you can definitely share the same exercise equipment at your local gym.

2. Modern medicine can protect me against HIV even if I don’t take precautions

Ah yes, the belief that modern medicine is equipped to deal with any condition that comes from the latest breakthroughs in antiretroviral drugs. There is some truth to it in the sense that medication can extend a patient’s life and improve his health, but it has yet to find an actual cure to AIDS. Because new strains develop all the time and they grow more and more resilient to medication, finding a permanent solution is going to be challenging even for the brilliant minds who have access to state of the art technology.

3. Mosquitoes can transmit the HIV virus

This is a logical fallacy which draws from the true premise that HIV is transmitted via blood. To put it simply, because mosquitoes are bloodsuckers, some are lead to believe that they can also act as carriers. However, the flaw of this theory is that during the bite, the mosquito will not actually transfer the blood that it has ingested from the previous victim. At the same time, these insects make lousy hosts for the viral strain and it’s lifespan in the mosquito’s system is extremely short.

4. Being diagnosed with AIDS is the end of the world

Without denying the fact that AIDS is a serious condition which will have an important impact on your life, keep in mind that modern medicine has made some progress. The antiretroviral drugs mentioned earlier will actually improve longevity and the quality of HIV positive/AIDS patients significantly. At the same time, you will be forced to make certain changes in your life in order to protect yourself and your loved ones. However, don’t be so quick to give up just yet.

5. The HIV virus was a genetically engineered biological weapon

The impending resource depletion combined with the constant increase of Earth’s population has made conspiracy theorists believe that AIDS is a biological weapon designed to kill minorities. The main reason for this misconception resides in the predominance of the HIV virus (30% of the known number of infected patients) in the Latino and African-American communities. However, the real reasons for higher infection rates actually reside in the prevalence of poverty and poor access to health care/sexual education proprietary to minorities.

Over the years, numerous myths and false notions concerning drugs – both prescribed and non-prescribed – have become more and more imbedded in people’s minds. Whether as a result of the advertisement campaigns in the social media or their integration within popular culture, most of us take drug issues too lightly and we are not always familiar with the risks and the negative side effects involved. However, knowing exactly what dangers you are exposed to is the best way to prevent accidents with harmful and sometimes even deadly consequences. Here is a quick debunking of the top 10 myths surrounding medication and drugs.

1. Becoming addicted to a certain drug is deliberate

It is true that in the initial stages of the drug use, the person will utilize it voluntarily because he enjoys the effects. However, constant usage of a certain substance will, over the course of time, modify the chemical composition of the brain significantly. Therefore, the compulsive necessity of taking that drug in order to maintain the balance of the brain and organism chemistry appears. In other words, you cannot help becoming addicted to a drug and it is bound to happen sooner or later.

2. Legal drugs are 100% safe, illegal drugs are the risky ones

Just because your physician has prescribed you a drug treatment that does not make it 100% percent safe when you exceed the recommended dosage or fail to respect the specifications of the substance. To put it simply, it doesn’t matter if it’s a mild sleeping pill or cocaine, virtually all drugs can be abused and the consequences can become highly unpleasant, even health threatening.

3. Smoking marijuana has no negative effects

Marijuana supporters have always emphasized on the curative properties and hazard-free nature of this substance. The opinions of the medical community concerning marijuana are mixed, but new test results stating that there is a strong chance smoking pot could determine the development of carcinoma have been recently made public. This hypothesis is supported by the presence of several carcinogens and co-carcinogens similar to tobacco in the smoke. Combine that with immune system dysfunctions, poor limb coordination and memory-loss issues and the theory of the harmless drug becomes unsustainable.

4. You can safely mix different drugs and substances

Unless you have a degree in chemistry and you are familiar with all the components of the drugs as well as their concentration, it is highly recommended to abstain from this practice. Not only would you risk exceeding the maximum dosage of a certain substance by combining drugs with similar compositions, but there are also negative interactions between them to consider. On a side note, the same applies for combining drugs – both prescription and illegal ones – with alcohol.

5. Once you are addicted, recovery is impossible

The difficulty of the addict’s road to recovery cannot be denied or understated, that’s a given. However, in most unsuccessful attempts, the problem comes from the DIY approach or the wrong recovery program, as well as the low willpower. On the bright side, there are numerous specialized clinics that have experienced notable successes with numerous patients, so don’t give up hope.

The term ‘superstitions’ is used to describe those beliefs that are not rational and have been passed on from generation to generation.

1. Friday the 13^th

Almost everybody believes this superstition- that Friday the 13^th of any month means bad luck. This superstition is so common that a number of hotels are known to have been built without the 13^th floor and airlines don’t give tickets for the 13^th row. It has been believed that the 13^th guest during the Last Supper was Judas and Friday was the day that Christ got crucified. Basically- quite an unlucky day all in all.

2. An Itchy Palm

It is believed that if your left palm itches, it means that you will lose money but if your right one does, you will earn, inherit or receive money. However, you must let it itch because if you go ahead and scratch it, you may end up countering the effect.

3. Walking Under a Ladder

Most rational people don’t walk under ladders lying about because they feel that something may fall on their heads and leave them unconscious. However, those who like to go along with the herd believe that walking under a ladder is equal to bad luck. The “logic” behind this belief is that you will end up awakening evil spirits when you walk through the triangle that the ladder makes with the wall.

4. Breaking a Mirror

This superstition hardly needs an explanation. Basically, if you break a mirror, bad luck will get attached to you for seven years. In the past, it was believed that a mirror reflects the person’s soul and if you smash it, the soul will get hampered as well. In case you break a mirror, you can take the broken mirror outside, dig a hole and throw the pieces inside. Don’t forget to cover it with mud or the bad luck will come after you for sure!

5. Finding a Horseshoe

If you find a horseshoe in an open field- you should consider yourself to be extremely lucky. When you find it, you are required to use your right hand to pick it up, cover one end with your spit, wish for something spectacular and then throw it over your shoulder- make sure it is the left one because otherwise, all that activity will bear no fruit.

Even in the present times, there is still the lingering concern for the failure of the Western World in properly understanding Islam. There are still significant number of westerners who mistakenly associate the faith with polygamy, fatalism, violence and fanaticism. This article is a list of the top 10 false notions about Islam in the Western World.

1. Most terrorists are Muslims

This is by far the most erroneous notion about Muslims and Islam. Muslims are unfairly being typecast by many as plain terrorists. It is very disturbing that we label as hate crime those violent attacks perpetrated by non-Muslims. However, if the violence involves a Muslim suspect, it is immediately defined as terrorist attack.

2. The Islam faith proliferated by the edge of the sword

There is no proof or any record in our history that can support these claims of forced conversion to Islam during the ancient times. What we can observe is the setting up of synagogues and private churches in non-Muslim communities which led to the conversion of erstwhile non-Muslims because of the positive treatment that they received from Muslims.

3. Unfair treatment of women by Islam

While there are some Islamic states that implement harsh treatments and injustices to their women, these are not supported by any teachings of Islam. In fact, most of these abuses are born out of cultural diversities and are, in most cases, run counter to the teachings and doctrines of Islam.

4. Muslims are barbaric and savage when they engage in war

This is far from the truth and Muslims adhere to strict and acceptable conventions of modern warfare. In fact, they observe 10 tenets of modern engagement that reflect their concern for human life and respect for human dignity.

5. Prophet Muhammad practice pedophilia

Marrying at an early age was the norm during the time of Prophet Muhammad and this practice was not an invention of Islam. Historical records will show that the marrying age of girl is during puberty and such practice does not make one pedophile as it is an accepted practice during ancient times not by their religion but by tradition.

There are probably millions of these misconceptions associated with the Catholic Church if we are going to document all of them. In this article, we are presenting the top 10 false notions about Catholicism which include the widely written and common misconceptions about the Catholics and the Church.

1. The Papacy is a mere creation of man during the medieval times

The strong evidences that establishes the falsity of this common belief are the passages in the Bible and in other Christian documents that prove that Jesus appointed Peter as the “rock” from which the “Church is built.” Peter is considered as the first Catholic Bishop of Rome and has assumed the position until he died in 64 AD.

2. The Catholic Church added their own writings to the Bible

This notion was mainly due to the disparate versions of the Catholic and the Protestant Bible. The Old Testament in Catholic version has seven more books than the one used by the Protestants. In reality, these 7 books in question are included in the official list of books that are recognized by all Christians and these were actually removed by Martin Luther  during the period of reformation of Protestants.

3. All Catholic priests are unmarried

Priests of the Eastern Catholic are allowed to marry but once married; these priests can no longer qualify to become bishops. There are also precedents where married pastors from other churches become priest when they convert to the Catholic faith and still retain their married status.

4. The Catholic Church was created by Emperor Constantine in 325 AD

The imposition of the Edict of Milan in 313 AD by Emperor Constantine paved the way for the removal of all prohibition in the practice of the Catholic Faith. This misconception was due to the mistaken allusion to the creation of Council of Nicaea in 325 AD which was thought to have created the Catholic Church.

5. Sins can be forgiven with indulgences

This misconception was due to the abuses committed by bishops where they have used fake indulgences in order to extract money and material wealth from those seeking redemption and forgiveness for their eternal sins.


 

Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases affecting man. It is one major challenge whose treatment and medical solution has eluded experts and practitioners for many years now. Cancer easily leads the kind of diseases that are dreaded by most of us. It is essential that we slay all the myths and misconceptions that are associated with cancer. Here is our list of the top 10 wrong notions about cancer.

1. There is already a cure but medical science is still deferring its release

This is just one of those conspiracy theories that abound in our society today. This legend is all pure crap as this will definitely run counter to the Hippocratic Oath of medical practitioners and that is to save lives. Further, if there is indeed a cure for cancer, would it not be illogical for a pharmaceutical company to defer the release of a sure fire cash cow.

2. Cancer cases is on the rise

In its absolute terms, the statement is correct. However, we have to qualify this assumption by taking into account several variables that define the overall profile of modern society. It is essential that we look at the prevalence of cancer cases with the context of increasing population and life expectancy. Further, with the advent of modern technology, we are now witnessing the transfer and sharing of ideas and information. This leads to heightened awareness on the latest events and developments related to cancer.

3. Breast cancer only affects women

Not true. Both male and female can have breast cancer although the incidence is much higher in women while cases in male are stilled considered rare. It is estimated that 2000 American men are afflicted by breast cancer annually.

4. Surgery will lead to the spread of cancer in the other parts of the body

This is a medical myth and it is amazing that a lot still believes that such modality can do more harm than good for the cancer patient. This misconception may be traced back during those past times where medical practitioners could do no more than diagnose the disease and of which surgeries are entirely exploratory.

5. A positive attitude and outlook are the only things that you need to beat cancer

A positive attitude is indeed essential in the overall management of the disease. It is the reason why medical practitioners and staff maintain a pleasant and light demeanor when dealing with their cancer patients. However, it is just one element of the overall treatment approach.