Here's a post that I never got around to publishing last year. You might find some of the links interesting.
I present these "myths" with a caveat: While myths often have only a grain of truth, sometimes something that's actually mostly true is presented and labeled a "myth" in order to make the author's proposition sound more interesting or provocative than it really is. Another trick often used on the internet is to title an article as if it's assuming something is obviously a myth, then arguing--in the actual article itself--that it's not a myth, in hopes of drawing the reader into hearing out a pitch that he would not have otherwise wasted his time entertaining. Finally, some authors merely label an opposite view as a "myth" simply to give the appearance of more credibility to their own opposing opinion. You'll often find this in advertising that masquerades as "news".
With this caveat, here are some modern myths. A few of these so-called myths might end up being true--but that's the risk we incur whenever we call something a "myth".
1. "Lower taxes for the rich create jobs"
2. "Obama's profligate spending caused our national debt to balloon out of control"
3. Obamacare:
a) People who are most upset about Obamacare are the ones who need it the least.
b) If Obamacare passes, you will get a microchip (the mark of the Beast) implanted in your body
c) Socialized medicine as exemplified by Medicare is not as efficient as private health insurance.
d) 5 more myths.
4. The end of the world in Dec 2012.
5. VP candidate Paul Ryan's proposed budget
6. U.S. foreign aid
7. Banks
8. Independendent, objective media outlets
9. Multi-tasking
10. Financial austerity
11. Industrial Agriculture
12. Product Development
13. Online learning
14. Energy independence
15. The great financial meltdown
16. Genetically modified seeds
17. Big R&D Budgets (I'm not too sure about China not passing us, though)
18. Job Creation
19. Pink Slime
20. Darwinism
21. Innovation
22. Social Media
23. Sustainability
24. The liberal media
25. Decline of Japan
26. Perpetual Growth
27. The science of management
28. Biofuels
I present these "myths" with a caveat: While myths often have only a grain of truth, sometimes something that's actually mostly true is presented and labeled a "myth" in order to make the author's proposition sound more interesting or provocative than it really is. Another trick often used on the internet is to title an article as if it's assuming something is obviously a myth, then arguing--in the actual article itself--that it's not a myth, in hopes of drawing the reader into hearing out a pitch that he would not have otherwise wasted his time entertaining. Finally, some authors merely label an opposite view as a "myth" simply to give the appearance of more credibility to their own opposing opinion. You'll often find this in advertising that masquerades as "news".
With this caveat, here are some modern myths. A few of these so-called myths might end up being true--but that's the risk we incur whenever we call something a "myth".
1. "Lower taxes for the rich create jobs"
2. "Obama's profligate spending caused our national debt to balloon out of control"
3. Obamacare:
a) People who are most upset about Obamacare are the ones who need it the least.
b) If Obamacare passes, you will get a microchip (the mark of the Beast) implanted in your body
c) Socialized medicine as exemplified by Medicare is not as efficient as private health insurance.
d) 5 more myths.
4. The end of the world in Dec 2012.
5. VP candidate Paul Ryan's proposed budget
6. U.S. foreign aid
7. Banks
8. Independendent, objective media outlets
9. Multi-tasking
10. Financial austerity
11. Industrial Agriculture
12. Product Development
13. Online learning
14. Energy independence
15. The great financial meltdown
16. Genetically modified seeds
17. Big R&D Budgets (I'm not too sure about China not passing us, though)
18. Job Creation
19. Pink Slime
20. Darwinism
21. Innovation
22. Social Media
23. Sustainability
24. The liberal media
25. Decline of Japan
26. Perpetual Growth
27. The science of management
28. Biofuels
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