# "Mysteries" that really arent **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 23, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159 "2020-07-23T21:12:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/41 "2020-07-25T21:09:03Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Why don’t the bad guys that capture James Bond just shoot him instead of telling him the details of their evil plan and showing him where the big red button labeled SELF DESTRUCT is? The interview that begins at :15 or so explores some of the issues. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FRLE8t1rfA8/maxresdefault.jpg "SNL Presents James Bond Sketches") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRLE8t1rfA8) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/42 "2020-07-25T21:17:12Z")
I tired of hearing about D.B. Cooper. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/43 "2020-07-26T00:41:13Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I’d like to see the Kennedy “conspiracies” put to bed. A great man was taken down by a broke, little weirdo with a mail-order rifle. It doesn’t seem fair, or logical, but it’s what happened. Make your peace with it. I would, except for Jack Ruby. He was not the type of person to avenge the killing of a president. That’s where the real mystery is. Given that he had ties to organized crime, that’s my conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/44 "2020-07-26T01:00:46Z")
Except that, at the time they were planning to transfer Oswald, Ruby wasn’t in the building. Oswald himself asked for a sweater, delaying the transfer so Ruby – who had entered the area no more than a minute or two before Oswald was there — could do it. (Ruby also had earlier chances – Oswald passed him in the hallway when they were in the police station the day before). What kind of conspiracy would not have its assassin in place at the time the target was supposed to be available? ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/45 "2020-07-26T01:01:43Z")
you know the only known mystery that i’ve ever seen solved ? the nazi gold hidden in the i think it was a swiss lake allegedly for operation Odessa , it took like 60 years to find it and they needed sophisticated equipment to find it … only reason i knew about is the guy who made “in search of” made a big deal of it … ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/46 "2020-07-26T01:09:33Z")
I don’t think Ruby was planning to shoot Oswald. I think it was a spontaneous act. He had his dogs with him, and left them in his car, where they remained after he was arrested, and were left for a very long time. They survived by dint of luck only, and the fact that even in Texas it can get cold at that time of year. I just can’t believe that if there were a plan to kill Oswald, he would have brought his dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/47 "2020-07-26T01:22:50Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > you know the only known mystery that i’ve ever seen solved ? the nazi gold hidden in the i think it was a swiss lake allegedly for operation Odessa , it took like 60 years to find it and they needed sophisticated equipment to find it … only reason i knew about is the guy who made “in search of” made a big deal of it … Do you mean [Operation Bernhard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bernhard), a plan to destabilize the UK economy with massive amounts of forged paper currency? When the war ended much of the currency was dumped in a lake. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/48 "2020-07-26T01:27:26Z")
That is NOT a short story, it’s a good-length novel. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/49 "2020-07-26T01:31:35Z")
When it comes to James Bond, here’s another couple (VERY tongue-in-cheek): How has his liver not exploded yet, given his alcohol intake? How does he not have a dozen or more kids running around, plus a collection of STDs not otherwise known to medical science? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/50 "2020-07-26T02:21:19Z")
Yeah, but it wasnt gold. It was forged 5 pound notes, and the plates to make them. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/51 "2020-07-26T03:11:44Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > WTF, Diego Garcia? That is a US military base _only_ , unless it was part of soem US super secret spy shit, they wouldn’t let a civilian plane land there unless there was a serious emergency. Oh, yes, [Diego Garcia](https://www.france24.com/en/20141218-dugain-malaysia-airlines-mh370-disappearance-diego-garcia-cover-up). There was even [a petition on Change.org](https://www.change.org/p/u-s-armed-forces-return-missing-persons-of-malaysian-airlines-flight-mh370-from-the-us-military-base-on-diego-garcia) asking the US to return the passengers. (Not many signers, mind you, but a lot of speculation in the odder corners of the internet.) Theories range from “the cargo had some super secret spy shit the CIA wanted” to “somebody hijacked the plane and flew towards Diego Garcia, where the US shot it down to prevent a September 11-style attack.” ---
**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:** [July 26, 2020, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/52 "2020-07-26T06:49:39Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > Oh, yes, [Diego Garcia](https://www.france24.com/en/20141218-dugain-malaysia-airlines-mh370-disappearance-diego-garcia-cover-up). There was even [a petition on Change.org](https://www.change.org/p/u-s-armed-forces-return-missing-persons-of-malaysian-airlines-flight-mh370-from-the-us-military-base-on-diego-garcia) asking the US to return the passengers. (Not many signers, mind you, but a lot of speculation in the odder corners of the internet.) Theories range from “the cargo had some super secret spy shit the CIA wanted” to “somebody hijacked the plane and flew towards Diego Garcia, where the US shot it down to prevent a September 11-style attack. I had a buddy in the Navy who was stationed on Diego … they don’t even allow dependents there! Though apparently the diving on weekends is fantastic =) Conspiracy theorists are insane, some of hte things they come up with is totally stupid, offensive or silly. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/53 "2020-07-26T07:35:32Z")
Forget the liver, Bond was accustomed to 70 unfiltered smokes a day, according to Casino Royale. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/54 "2020-07-26T09:11:56Z")
The disappearance of Roanoke colony. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/55 "2020-07-26T09:30:32Z")
**Johnny LA** said, “The Wife and I watch _Expedition Unknown_ . Every time, I have to note ‘He’s not going to find it. That’s his schtick. He _never_ finds what he’s looking for!’” [Sorry for the weirdly-formatted quote; I guess I’m still learning about quoting.] I love _Expedition Unknown_. You’re correct, Josh Gates never finds what he’s looking for, but the way he fails is quite entertaining. He samples the local cuisine, takes in a little local culture, speaks with experts about what he’s looking for, goes to try to find it, and fails to find it, yet again. But Josh takes it in stride, and never lets up with the “friendly, personable host” patter. However, by the end of the show, you the viewer have learned a little about a part of the world you likely never thought about before, a little about a topic you may not have known existed, dishes to try should you ever visit (or go to a restaurant of that country’s cuisine), and so much more. It’s entertaining, and should Josh ever find anything, so much the better. But even if not, I’ll continue to enjoy, and learn from, his failures. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/56 "2020-07-26T19:01:55Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > But Josh takes it in stride, and never lets up with the “friendly, personable host” patter. Well said. We love watching Josh although he has only found one item so far. If I am watching and the wife is in another room she might call out, “What are you watching?” “Josh.” “Did he find anything?” But then she comes to watch also. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/57 "2020-07-30T05:02:21Z")
Hmmm. It didn’t take long to define a search area off the west coast of Australia. The investigation also had access to the Captain’s home flight simulator quickly as well. My memory is that pilot suicide was a very strong theory with good supporting evidence soon after the disappearance. Conspiracy theories such as it flying to the military base were fringe only. ---
**Author:** ![SharltoCopley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sharltocopley/32/12309_2.png) [@SharltoCopley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharltoCopley)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/58 "2020-07-30T09:09:07Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > It didn’t take long to define a search area off the west coast of Australia ‘Long’ by which standards? I don’t think that there’s ever been an airplane crash investigation that took so long to determine a reasonable search area. In the case of Air France 447, it took them two or three days to reach the crash site and find debris, while in the case of MH370, it took five days for INMARSAT data to come in, showing the plane had in fact been flying for seven hours after disappearing from radar. Between 11 and 13 March, people were actually looking at Kazakhstan and central Asia as potential crash sites, and it wasn’t until 15 March that the search moved to focus on the southern Indian Ocean. The homes of everyone involved were searched, as would be the case with any similar investigation, and the captain’s flight simulator was deemed innocent at the beginning. It wasn’t until July 2016 that they’d found a suspicious ‘route’ in the flight simulator, and it took a couple of years after that for this route to be adequately squared into a fitting narrative explaining what happened, which is around the time Najib Razzak (former Malaysian PM) lost the election to Mahathir Mohamad, showing that the Malaysian government was one of the reasons none of this came to light earlier. So my point is: some people may have guessed and speculated and touted ideas, but this was far from being a widely accepted version of the events, and it sure as hell wasn’t supported by any evidence back then. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/59 "2020-07-30T09:40:45Z")
> [@SharltoCopley](#): > > So my point is: some people may have guessed and speculated and touted ideas, but this was far from being a widely accepted version of the events, and it sure as hell wasn’t supported by any evidence back then. Ok. There is still no official cause of the accident. To the extent that we accept the “pilot suicide” theory, the evidence is no stronger now than it was back in 2015/16. If you think we were guessing back then, then that is what we are still doing. If you think we know it was pilot suicidal now then we knew it years ago. It is a strong theory and always was. The landing at a military base and hiding passengers there was never a strong theory. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159/60 "2020-07-30T12:20:06Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Anyone got more? There’s a set of “mysteries” that are predicated on the absurd idea that there’s no such thing as a straight line, perfect sphere or right angle in nature. Even when people should know better. Examples include the Bimini “Road”, Yonaguni “Monument” and the Klerksdorp spheres, [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysteries-that-really-arent/916159.md?page=4)