7 Greatest Myths for Wikipedia Lies
7 Greatest Myths for Wikipedia Lies
7 Greatest Myths for Wikipedia Lies
7 Greatest Myths for Wikipedia Lies
Seeing how far a fib can travel is a game as old as time, and now there's Wikipedia to up the ante. In the 80s Stuart Maconie spread it around that Blockbusters host Bob Holness played sax on Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street. It was taken as plain fact in many circles, and the man himself saw the funny side and said it was true in interviews, albeit with a cheeky smile.
Wikipedia has provided a service by which fibbers of the highest order can perpetuate the most convincing, or far fetched untruths they can think of. That is, until a Wikipedia editor spots it or a newspaper mistakenly prints it. In honour of those who spend their time making stuff up for other people to find at an unspecified time in the future, we've gathered together the best lies perpetuated by Wikipedia, from reports that the Queen is dead, to sublimely ridiculous stories about hats made of shoes. Read on for fibs and giggles.
1. Football fans with hats made of shoes
Some members from the group B3ta were responsible for a remarkably wonky view of Cypriot footie fans. The source? This quote, about fans of the team AC Omonia: "A small but loyal group of fans are lovingly called "The Zany Ones" they like to wear hats made from discarded shoes and have a song about a little potato."
Somehow this fact made it into the football pages of the Mirror, where reporter David Anderson noted the headgear and nicknames given to AC Omonia's fans. How Anderson managed to slip this one in without a) questioning just how one might fashion a hat from discarded shoe, b) without the subs noticing, and c) missing out the funniest bit about the potato song we just don't know.
2. The composer of the Last of the Summer Wine theme tune also wrote hits for S Club 7
Ronnie Hazlehurst was a famous BBC TV Theme composer, and wrote the themes for Last of the Summer Wine, Yes Minister and Are You Being Served? When he died in 2008, a fib secreted into his Wikipedia page, which falsely stated that at the age of 72 he teamed up with Cathy Dennis to compose "Reach for the Stars" for S Club 7. Unsurprisingly, he wasn't actually hanging out with Cathy, (Dell inspiron 6400 batteries) writing songs for teenagers in crop tops at the age of 72, but it managed to make it into a worrying number of obituaries for Hazlehurst.
3. Approved employees of the Blood Authority may perform weddings
This one has managed to stick around, despite being entered by a member of the Blood Authority shoving it into the page whilst at the bar in order to win an argument in a pub, although how an argument like that started we can only begin to imagine. Nevertheless, it's survived. Take note: if you're looking for a shotgun wedding of an evening, it's probably wise to steer clear of bars near the blood bank.
4. Wanky Balls festival
The Independent newspaper got caught out by Wikipedia when it said that The Big Chill festival was previously known as the Wanky Balls festival. The paper stated casually that "The Big Chill was founded in 1994 as the Wanky Balls festival in North London. Unsurprisingly, it was never called the Wanky Balls festival, and this lie in fact originated with the Wikipedia page.
5. Vernon Kay and the Queen are dead
What do Vernon Kay and The Queen have in common? They've both been pronounced dead by Wikipedia. Vernon Kay was reported to have slipped off a yacht on the ocean off Greece, in some poor fool trying to bring his fantasies to life.
The Queen was reported dead on Wikipedia on 30 March 2005, completely erroneously. Needless to say the edit didn't last long.
Read More
Stay Clear of These Six Pack Ab Myths Fertility Facts and Myths The Most Common Myths Of Vaginismis Sublingual HCG Drops: Top Myths 3 Common Myths About the Insanity Workout Program That You Must Read Before Starting This Program! Some Common Myths Surrounding Assisted Living Human Growth Hormone Myths Myths That You Should Do Away In Moving Two Myths About What Hypnotherapists Can And Can't Do Coding and Compliance Pitfalls: Stay Away From These Deadly Myths Popular Myths Along With Misunderstandings Regarding Fibromyalgia Sea Myths and Sayings Giving Birth Myths: Believe 'em or Not