Lies, Myths and Downright Stupidity : Stossel's List of Popularly Reported Misconceptions

ABCNEWS ^ | 1/23/2004 | John Stossel

[ZGuy]

Stossel's special is tonight 10 PM on ABC

[Peach]

mark

[Tempest]

Sorry, but I still believe that money CAN buy happiness and anyone who disagrees with me should send me a couple of thousand dollars. Including Mr. Stossel :^D

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

I see Myths #10 through #2 listed... but no Myth #1. What the heck...??? :)

[VadeRetro]

Being cold has nothing to do with it.

Being exposed to cold for a long time is a big stress on your body. Stress degrades your immune system. Yes, viruses give you colds, but you get exposed to viruses all the time. Exposure to virus + weakened immune function = higher risk of cold.

I thought everyone knew that by now.

[onehipdad]

Hey, thanks for the heads-up!

[ShadowDancer]

There is no #1. It's just a myth.

[Poohbah]

Sorry, but I still believe that money CAN buy happiness and anyone who disagrees with me should send me a couple of thousand dollars.

Money can't BUY happiness, but it can rent a reasonable facsimile of same.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Read the whole article. Stossel says you have to watch the special to hear Myth #1.

Any guesses? My vote: Myth #1 is that George W. Bush is stupid. That's easy to refute.

[Sloth]

I see Myths #10 through #2 listed... but no Myth #1. What the heck...??? :)

That's so you'll watch the show.

BTW, in my opinion #1 should be the fear of nuclear power.

[lelio]

I didn't want the van with the cloth seats and the no entertainment system.

I'm sure she didn't mean to have a double negative in there and instead it should read "and the Noh entertainment system" which can get pretty expensive:

[Capriole]

I know that money can't buy happiness, but as Mae West said, "I've been rich and I've been poor, and believe me, rich is better." At least if you're rich you can suffer in comfort, or pay shrinks to help you figure out why you're being unhappy.

My own philosophy is that of R. L. Stevenson: "The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings."

[Jerry Attrick]

Yep....I don't want to be rich and unhappy or even poor and happy.....just well-off and moody! :)

[Billthedrill]

One lottery winner told us she was very happy for several days, then the thrill wore off.

Probably so. I mean, after new seat covers for the pickup, what else is there?

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Here's my list of popularly reported lies and myths. I'll reveal Myth No. 1 during my special tonight at 10 p.m. ET.

Please see the second line of the original article.

[RJCogburn]

Myth No. 6 — Republicans Shrink the Government

[Steve Eisenberg]

Sorry, but I still believe that money CAN buy happiness and anyone who disagrees with me should send me a couple of thousand dollars.

I was surprised that he puts that in the same class as the others. He should know that, up to a point, the belief that money buys happiness is of great social utility in getting people to work hard. Plus, what's this with blaming the myth/belief on TV and the movies? What about human nature?

I think that UNEARNED money doesn't buy happiness. Earned money buys a little.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I think it was Little Orphan Annie who said,

"Whether you're rich or poor, it's always nice to have plenty of money."

[Dog Gone]

The number #1 myth is that if you get married, you'll have more sex.

[Fizzie]

Myth #1 has got to be "Howard Dean is a rock star."