A pseudofact is a piece of information that, despite being completely false, is far more interesting than the equivalent correct information. Because pseudofacts are more interesting, they are more likely to
get repeated. This results in
people who believe them because it's what their friends and
family has always told them. This belief is often strong enough to ward off solid evidence of the contrary.
Priest: Masturbation will make you
go blind.
John: That's a pseudofact. I've been doing it for years, and I can see just fine.
Doctor: You should drink eight, eight-ounce glasses of water a
day.
Patient: Bull, that's a pseudofact. We get almost all the water we need in the food we eat.
Kristen: That moon has phases because it's partially behind the
earth's
shadow. That's what my teacher taught me.
Eric: No, that's a pseudofact. The moon has phases because of the angle between it, us, and the sun.
Republican: Obama's health care bill will create Death Panels.
Democrat: That's a pseudofact. The bill would just pay for discussions with doctors about things like living wills.
Any urban legend is a pseudofact.
