# Another "Common Knowledge or Fascinating Anecdotes... that unfortunately aren't true" Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225 "2009-11-11T20:24:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/81 "2009-11-13T01:57:41Z")
There’s a legend in Montreal that Rue de la Montagne, which English speakers commonly refer to as Mountain Street, was actually not named for Mount Royal (which it ascends) but after one of the two Anglican bishops of Montreal named Mountain (and therefore that calling it Rue de la Montagne is a nasty anglo-suppressing plot by the evil séparatisses, etc., etc.) Trouble is, it’s identified on a map as _Chemin des sauvages de la Montagne_ in 1761, when the elder Bishop Mountain was 12, and as _Chemin de la Montagne_ in 1788, before he ever set foot in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/82 "2009-11-13T02:06:10Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Honey bees do no tell other bees where there is food by dancing. It is true that they “dance” but it is purely coincidental and other bees do not read the dances. **holds shaky gun to your head** Take it _back_, you filthy liar! Please tell me you are wrong about this. I will click on that PDF, but please just tell me that the bees do read the dances. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/83 "2009-11-13T02:35:56Z")
The guy who was stabbed to death by a member of the Hells Angels at the Altamont concert of the Rolling Stones was a crazed man under the influence of methamphetamines who was waving a loaded gun around at the audience. He was not some innocent hippie who was just trying to have a good time or something. People always talk (and write) about this incident like it’s some big huge symbolic “end of the 60s” and how the Angels represented some kind of evil fascist force that came and killed everyone’s buzz and ruined the peaceful, happy “summer of love.” The truth is, Meredith Hunter was stabbed in self-defense, and if the Angels hadn’t acted, he probably would have shot somebody. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/84 "2009-11-13T11:14:44Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > The guy who was stabbed to death by a member of the Hells Angels at the Altamont concert of the Rolling Stones was a crazed man under the influence of methamphetamines who was waving a loaded gun around at the audience. He was not some innocent hippie who was just trying to have a good time or something. > > People always talk (and write) about this incident like it’s some big huge symbolic “end of the 60s” and how the Angels represented some kind of evil fascist force that came and killed everyone’s buzz and ruined the peaceful, happy “summer of love.” The truth is, Meredith Hunter was stabbed in self-defense, and if the Angels hadn’t acted, he probably would have shot somebody. I got to ask cite on this one, I have seen the footage of the concert, and I never saw a gun being waved around. It did look like he tipped into a bike and knocked it over, to me. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/85 "2009-11-13T11:32:34Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > What’s not true about that? It is in Hamlet–are people saying it’s not? I’ve seen and heard it being attributed to the Bible. The irony is that it’s not even particularly sage advice; Polonius was a burbling fool full of cod wisdom. ETA, on another subject: I’m assuming “daddy long legs” is a reference to the [Harvestman](http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/harvestmen.htm) (which is not actually a spider, despite the resemblance). In the UK “daddy long legs” is the nickname for crane flies, and IIRC in Australia it means some other critter entirely. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/86 "2009-11-13T11:43:22Z")
Actually, I’m taking my own post back. If Wikipedia is to believed it’s the “other critter” to which the myth refers, the [cellar spider](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pholcidae) (which _is_ a spider). I’m dispelling my own ignorance today. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/87 "2009-11-13T11:52:53Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Here is a [PDF which details an experiment](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=5&ved=0CBYQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biolbull.org%2Fcgi%2Freprint%2F144%2F1%2F107.pdf&ei=UBr8SvaQD5PgtgPk4qWEAQ&usg=AFQjCNE9sBnQO4xDDNxunsP1DVbL9lPiCQ&sig2=6DP14yyGZXgmJCych8sMeg) that says that new bee recruits find food most by odors. > > The PDF is about 25 pages long. Not to hijack, but what’s the dance for, then? I mean, it does indicate how far food’s away, and in which direction – right? Why go through all that trouble? And is there any compelling reason why bees couldn’t use both methods (I don’t have time to read the PDF right now)? I mean, flowers do emit some rather strong scents, along with having flashy colours, so that that’s a way for bees to identify food sources probably shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/88 "2009-11-13T12:44:05Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I got to ask cite on this one, I have seen the footage of the concert, and I never saw a gun being waved around. It did look like he tipped into a bike and knocked it over, to me. ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9Hrc3EdLCZg/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/9Hrc3EdLCZg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/89 "2009-11-13T13:30:02Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I just remembered a new variation on an old chestnut that I heard a couple weeks ago: you know how “[a duck’s quack doesn’t echo](http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/acoustics_info/duck/)”? Do I know it? A couple weeks ago I wrote a [poem](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11701321&postcount=2) about it. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/90 "2009-11-13T13:44:18Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’ve seen and heard it being attributed to the Bible. The irony is that it’s not even particularly sage advice; Polonius was a burbling fool full of cod wisdom. It is in Shakespeare, but the saying predates him. I regret my typing skills. Polonius was a fool, but wise fools populate much of the Bard’s works. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/91 "2009-11-13T15:17:17Z")
> [@bup](#): > > True. > > > [@](#): > > > > “God helps those who help themselves” is someplace in the Bible. > > False. But I saw it written on the subway wall, it has to be from a Prophet! ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/92 "2009-11-13T15:22:44Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > But I saw it written on the subway wall, it has to be from a Prophet! Check the tenement halls and get back to me. ---
**Author:** ![Heckity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Heckity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckity)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/93 "2009-11-13T15:23:45Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I read this sentence and thought, “Geez! **Sampiro** ’s older than I thought!” Me too! ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/94 "2009-11-13T16:20:47Z")
Whenever people talk about frivilous lawsuits, someone always brings up the McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit. When you read the [facts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald's_Restaurants), it’s not as frivilous as it sounds. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/95 "2009-11-13T16:22:42Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’ve seen and heard it being attributed to the Bible. The irony is that it’s not even particularly sage advice; Polonius was a burbling fool full of cod wisdom. I figured that was the point? I mean, the way I first learned it in school was in Hamlet as an example of how Polonius would say all this stuff and it was kind of BS (like a super long speech punctuated with “Brevity is the soul of wit”). So I guess I just hear it and automatically think of Polonius being a blowhard. Well to be technical the first time I heard the speech was on that Gilligan’s Island version of Hamlet the musical…but I try not to tell anyone that…:o ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/96 "2009-11-13T16:41:10Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Well to be technical the first time I heard the speech was on that Gilligan’s Island version of Hamlet the musical…but I try not to tell anyone that…:o Me too! Every time I see that phrase, I hear it to the tune of the Toreador Song: Neither a borrower nor a lender be, Do not forget! Stay out of debt! Think twice, and take this good advice from me… Yet another piece of crap taking up the space in my brain where something useful should be. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/97 "2009-11-13T16:52:40Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I figured that was the point? I mean, the way I first learned it in school was in Hamlet as an example of how Polonius would say all this stuff and it was kind of BS (like a super long speech punctuated with “Brevity is the soul of wit”). Well, that’s true, but I guess **Paul in Qatar** ’s point was that Shakespeare is not the author of the phrase “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” any more than Sherwood Schwartz is. I get it now. Both of his quotes were “common knowledge” attributions that are false. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/98 "2009-11-13T17:07:12Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > But I saw it written on the subway wall, it has to be from a Prophet! Concert hall! ---
**Author:** ![StoutHearted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@StoutHearted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StoutHearted)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/99 "2009-11-13T17:08:26Z")
I think the idea that lemmings commit suicide by following each other off a cliff came from a documentary that showed this very phenomena. However, it later came out that the reason the lemmings jumped was because the camera crew chased them off the cliff. And to think of all those hours I wasted on that _Lemmings_ video game! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225/100 "2009-11-13T17:23:57Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Also, one I’ve actually heard here: The Internet was invented in America, not the UK, and it was invented by Vint Cerf and Leonard Kleinrock and others, not Tim Berners-Lee. Sir TimBL invented the World Wide Web in the late 1980s, which was, at the time, one of a few competing hypertext systems that all used the pre-existing Internet as their common low-level communications protocol. > > (I can give citations for all of this on request.) I thought it was pretty well established that Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, rather than the Internet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-common-knowledge-or-fascinating-anecdotes-that-unfortunately-arent-true-thread/517225.md?page=6)