# What Urban Myths seem to hold on for years or decades even when disproven **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 12, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852 "2026-06-12T19:02:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/441 "2026-07-15T22:53:21Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > [NASA's 'Astronaut Pen' | Snopes.com](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-write-stuff/) > > Can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to tell people this isn’t true. Please tell Firaxis. Civilization VI perpetuated it in their tech quotes. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/442 "2026-07-15T23:04:28Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > leaving an electric fan running in a closed room while you sleep can lead to suffocation, hypothermia, and death One hot summer day, I did this when I was a teenager. I woke up shivering with cold despite the heat in the room. > [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Germans have a similar thing for open windows in a vehicle Many Europeans rely on public transportation. Back in the day, few trains, buses or trams were equipped with AC. I was boiling with anger every time someone opposed my attempts to open the windows in a hot car. Nowadays I realize it was because of drafts. Drafts can cause problems for people with inflamed sinuses or teeth. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/443 "2026-07-15T23:05:30Z")
A common myth is that the jury that found the police officers not guilty of beating Rodney King was all white. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992\_Los\_Angeles\_riots#Charges\_and\_trial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots#Charges_and_trial) > The jury had no members who were entirely African American.[[43]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots#cite_note-44) The jury was composed of nine white Americans (three women, six men), one biracial man,[[44]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots#cite_note-laist_20120428-45) one Latin American woman, and one [Asian-American](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_American "Asian American") woman.[[45]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots#cite_note-NYT_19920506-46) ---
**Author:** ![Xocomil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xocomil/32/14927_2.png) [@Xocomil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xocomil)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/444 "2026-07-16T01:19:37Z")
The vast majority of those are from undercooked or raw food or cross-contamination. I imagine that it’s vanishingly rare for properly cooked foods to be dangerous before they spoil. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/445 "2026-07-16T01:26:27Z")
In the winter I occasionally leave foods in my car to cool down because it is usually COLDER outside than in my refrigerator ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/446 "2026-07-16T01:30:53Z")
You try leaving food out in a restaurant or food store situation or not at a correct storage temperature. You get closed by food inspectors. It doesn’t have to be spoiled. The scientific evidence is that bacteria begin to multiply at an increasing rate below 140 deg F. One popular organism is Clostridium perfringens: Known as the “cafeteria germ” because it multiplies quickly in large batches of food left at room temperature. It thrives in stews, gravies, and meat dishes. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/447 "2026-07-16T01:32:01Z")
Or above 40 degrees. Worked in restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/448 "2026-07-16T02:32:15Z")
Several posts have mentioned condensation on the lid of containers. Why is that a concern? Condensation is basically pure water, right? Why does it matter if a little water from the food migrates to the inside of the container’s lid? ---
**Author:** ![Xocomil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xocomil/32/14927_2.png) [@Xocomil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xocomil)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/449 "2026-07-16T03:01:13Z")
That particular pathogen causes about 26 deaths a year. Like I said, you’re vanishingly unlikely to suffer severe consequences from leaving properly cooked food out for a few hours. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating for anyone to leave food out at room temperature. I’m just saying that doing it at home isn’t that big of a deal. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/450 "2026-07-16T03:52:05Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Why does it matter if a little water from the food migrates to the inside of the container’s lid? It’s not so much about the lid itself. It’s that the condensation is more than a little bit so a fair amount of water ends up back on the food but as big drops this time around. Some places are really, really humid ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/451 "2026-07-16T04:23:18Z")
You’re saying that if I put a bowl of chili in the fridge, but I sprinkle a few drops of water on it, it will go bad faster than if I hadn’t added the water? What if I stir it after adding the water? I’m really not following this reasoning at all. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/452 "2026-07-16T18:53:37Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > the recurring myth that drunk drivers are more likely to survive car accidents That idea was left over from the days of oxcart crashes. Not our modern speeding metal death traps. There’s something to it, in that when a drunk takes a tumble off an oxcart, having all the muscles relaxed lets the force of impact pass through the flesh instead of getting stopped by it. That doesn’t help on modern roads, though. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/453 "2026-07-16T19:06:02Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > You’re saying that if I put a bowl of chili in the fridge, but I sprinkle a few drops of water on it, it will go bad faster than if I hadn’t added the water? What if I stir it after adding the water? I’m really not following this reasoning at all. What? Why chili? And what does that have to do with going bad? It’s about food getting wet, not about going bad. Say you have a piece of hot, freshly cooked chicken. Or something with breading. Put that in the fridge when hot and water is going to condense all over it, making it soggy and disgusting to eat later. If you also happen to cover it, the condensation also gets on whatever you use to cover it and can also drip on the food. That might be ok (or at least not bad) if water doesn’t matter so much, like soup or something. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/454 "2026-07-16T19:07:30Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > when a drunk takes a tumble off an oxcart, having all the muscles relaxed lets the force of impact pass through the flesh instead of getting stopped by it. Hence the expression “off the wagon.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/455 "2026-07-16T19:23:49Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > > [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > > > the recurring myth that drunk drivers are more likely to survive car accidents > > That idea was left over from the days of oxcart crashes. Not our modern speeding metal death traps. There’s something to it, in that when a drunk takes a tumble off an oxcart, having all the muscles relaxed lets the force of impact pass through the flesh instead of getting stopped by it. That doesn’t help on modern roads, though. There’s the more general German saying that “drunks and little children always have a guardian angel” that’s bullshit, too, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2026, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/456 "2026-07-17T17:14:37Z")
_Drunks, fools, children and starships called “Enterprise”_ (We have the same “Guardian Angel” saying in Argentina, probably inherited from Spain or Italy) ---
**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:** [July 18, 2026, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/457 "2026-07-18T11:36:00Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > FWIW, if you went to England and asked who the King of England was, I suspect you’d get most people saying Charles III. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2A3HLWtHYWA/maxresdefault.jpg "There is no Queen of England") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A3HLWtHYWA) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852/458 "2026-07-19T12:50:18Z")
Two for one: - Walt Disney’s corpse was cryogenically frozen. - Disney released a movie called “Frozen” to make it harder to find the aforementioned urban legend by searching online for “Walt Disney frozen.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-urban-myths-seem-to-hold-on-for-years-or-decades-even-when-disproven/1030852.md?page=22)