There have been many lies told throughout history, but these are some of the biggest and most impactful. Whether specific events, or harmful propaganda, these falsehoods are some of the most fantastic fibs ever flubbed, as shared by those on AskReddit.
1
If we give tax breaks to the wealthy, the wealth will trickle down!
2
Climate change is YOUR fault. YOU need to change the way YOU do things. Not the corporate conglomerate that's pumping a billion tons a year.
3
You can achieve anything you want in your life if you work hard enough.
4
Plastic is easily recyclable so long as the public does their duty to sort it and bring it to its designated waste area.
5
I have read and agree to the terms of use.
6
That the Trojan Horse was just a wooden horse.
7
The 1964 Surgeon General’s report concluded that smoking cigarettes causes death and disease. However, in a 1971 television interview, the president of Philip Morris denied the health risks that pregnant women and their babies face.
8
Corporations should have the same rights as people.
9
Getting good grades secures you an easy life.
10
“Everyone’s a winner” or “Everyone is special and gets a gold star” mentality. I understand the goal to build up kids, but it makes adult life and real loss so much tougher on them when they’ve always been told they should get everything they ever want and will always win. There’s barely any resilience built with this mentality. Might be explaining this poorly but it’s hard to word without sounding like I want to smash the happiness of children into the ground because I don’t think everyone is a winner and should get a gold star
11
That fat is more of the problem than sugar.
12
Nuclear is more dangerous than continued reliance on fossil fuels.
13
The first few days of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
14
The idea we need to keep purchasing new clothes to stay in style.
15
That humans have dominion over everything on the planet.
16
The idea that we are separate and disconnected from each other and our environment.
17
The government works for your best interest.
20
NFTs are the next big thing!
21
A specific historical example: In 1843, a man called Hong Xiuquan claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus. This led to him starting the Taiping Rebellion, which caused the deaths of between 20 million and 70 million people. Then again, he probably believed it, so it might not count as a lie.
22
That babies need to 'cry it out' instead of getting attention.
23
That vape pens help you quit smoking.
24
The lead in this gasoline is perfectly safe!
25
Your work will set you free.
26
Thomas Midgley and General Motors lying that exposure to tetra-ethyl lead is harmless. Tetra-ethyl lead was a gasoline additive present in all gasoline sold in the US until it was banned in the 70s. Almost every child growing up from 1920 to 1970 had lead poisoning to some degree. Entire generations grew up with their minds being poisoned, unable to reach their potentials because of him. Not to mention the secondary effects, lead exposure is associated with criminal behaviors.
