# What flat-out fiction presented as history have you encountered lately? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 15, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923 "2026-06-15T23:45:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2026, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/21 "2026-06-20T17:46:28Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > The idea of precolumbian sub-saharan African contact with the americas comes from [an actual historical account](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_voyage_of_the_predecessor_of_Mansa_Musa) That is very doubtful, and thousands of ships? Mind you, the “historical account” never mentions getting to America, it mentions > Yes, O Sultan, we traveled for a long time until there appeared in the open sea [as it were] a river with a powerful current. Mine was the last of those ships. Which was- if this occurred at all- the Canary Current. Mind you- ships getting lost and ending up in America certainly could happen. But with the exception of the Norse, no one ever came back and reported on the voyage until Columbus. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/22 "2026-06-20T21:11:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That is very doubtful, and thousands of ships? Mind you, the “historical account” never mentions getting to America, it mentions All true. But that’s not “flat out fiction”. A doubtful historical account is not fiction ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/23 "2026-06-20T23:05:17Z")
Similar: Vikings visited the interior of Minnesota (no, not the football team, but it is the inspiration for their name). The rural town of Alexandria, a few hours west of Minneapolis, is home to the Kensington Runestone, which was “found” by a farmer plowing a field in 1898. It has mysterious etchings claiming that Norsemen were in the area in the year 1362. There’s a city museum that features the stone, along with the various interpretations of it. And there’s a 28-foot statue “Big Ole” of a Viking in the town. But that whole story was fabricated by the farmer, and for years was promoted as validation of Nordic heritage. Years ago, _Skeptical Inquirer_ magazine had a very good description of the ruse (gawd, I miss that magazine). > **[The Legend of Big Ole - Belt Magazine](https://beltmag.com/big-ole-alexandria-minnesota-whiteness/)** > > How one monument came to be at the center of Minnesota’s imagined white past. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/24 "2026-06-20T23:21:17Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > But that whole story was fabricated by the farmer, and for years was promoted as validation of Nordic heritage. > > Years ago, _Skeptical Inquirer_ magazine had a very good description of the ruse (gawd, I miss that magazine). Altho the “Runestone” is doubtful (mostly based upon location), the idea that the thing was fabricated by the farmer is mere conjecture. One thing I do find that sways me into the “Maybe? probably not” side is that a later find in old document from Sweden is that a Bishop and the King ordered just such an expedition in like 1350 or so to sail to Greenland- and beyond- to find missing parishioners. Olof- the farmer in question- could not have known about that expedition. Odd coincidence, eh? And various experts disagree on fake or real. > **[Kensington Runestone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensington_Runestone)** > > 8 : göter : ok : 22 : norrmen : po : > ...o : opþagelsefärd : fro : > vinland : of : vest : vi : > hade : läger : ved : 2 : skLär : en : > dags : rise : norr : fro : þeno : sten : > vi : var : ok : fiske : en : dagh : äptir : > vi : kom : hem : fan : 10 : man : röde : > af : blod : og : ded : AVM : > frälse : äf : illü. > här : (10) : mans : ve : havet : at : se : > äptir : vore : skip : 14 : dagh : rise : > The Kensington Runestone is a slab of greywacke stone covered in runes that was discovered in Western Minne... Mind you- _Minnesota_?!? If that thing was found in Maine or Newfoundland or something, it would be much more believable. I rate this as “possible hoax”, but certainty is not here. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/25 "2026-06-20T23:53:08Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > > [@madmonk28](#): > > > > That the civil war was about state’s rights, that the intent of erecting statues of Confederates was not racist, etc. etc. > > Oh, you’ve got to be careful with that particular fiction. It’s an antique that’s been around since 1865. Yeah, you wouldn’t want to chip it!/s > [@HeyHomie](#): > > I’ve seen Facebook posts, presumably from bots, stating that the Knicks have turned down You Know Who’s invitation to the Oval Office. That is, in fact, demonstrably false. Would that they would, though. Does anybody else hope that maybe next year teams will start throwing championships to avoid an invitation? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/26 "2026-06-21T01:17:34Z")
It’s annoying when a story or article about the wonders of the ancient world includes fanciful woodcuts or etching of some medieval artist who had no idea what they looked like. I’ve seen depictions of ships sailing between the Colossus of Rhode’s legs recently. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/27 "2026-06-21T19:16:21Z")
Recently I saw an AI video someone shared as real about Gary Sinese opening and owning a hospital where veterans can be treated for free. Gary Sinese has done a lot of charity work for veterans but he in no way owns a hospital. I’m not sure what is the purpose of making that video. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Would that they would, though. > > Does anybody else hope that maybe next year teams will start throwing championships to avoid an invitation? No one is forcing individuals to go but until we have team owners that don’t like Trump there won’t be outright refusals. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/28 "2026-06-21T19:19:43Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > No one is forcing individuals to go but until we have team owners that don’t like Trump there won’t be outright refusals. Green Bay? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/29 "2026-06-23T13:46:30Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Years ago, _Skeptical Inquirer_ magazine had a very good description of the ruse (gawd, I miss that magazine). No need to miss it – it’s still being published. I’m a subscriber. > **[Home | Skeptical Inquirer](https://skepticalinquirer.org/)** ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/30 "2026-06-23T14:10:29Z")
Does it say how many issues you get with a year’s subscription? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/31 "2026-06-23T19:05:15Z")
I looked it up- six. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/32 "2026-06-23T19:10:39Z")
The Romans didn’t salt the earth at Carthage - waste of good farmland. Roman Africa - the province covering formerly Punic territory was the Roman empire’s best farmland - not an area rendered barren ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/33 "2026-06-23T19:11:31Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > The Romans didn’t salt the earth at Carthage - waste of good farmland. Right, that story has been told a lot , but it seems to be false. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923/34 "2026-06-23T19:18:28Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Right, that story has been told a lot , but it seems to be false. Woulda taken a helluva lot of salt and manpower to do, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flat-out-fiction-presented-as-history-have-you-encountered-lately/1030923.md?page=1)