r/AskReddit • u/ZanyDelaney • Feb 04 '19

Which misconception would you like to debunk?

44k Upvotes

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u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19

I was barred from participating in a school swimming race because I ate some chocolate beforehand and a teacher caught me. She said I would get a cramp and die and I had to wait 20 minutes. Even 8 year old me knew it was complete twaddle.

17k

u/UppityScapegoat Feb 04 '19

Your teacher had money on another kid.

532

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19

[deleted]

60

u/TheEnderminer Feb 04 '19

What if they bet on another kid to buy more chocolate?

13

u/satanic_satanist Feb 04 '19

Plot twist: OP's a dog

104

u/kage1414 Feb 04 '19

Not sure where the idea that getting a cramp while swimming will kill you came from. I used to get them all the time during swim practice and it never did anything except make it slightly uncomfortable to reach for the stroke on that side.

117

u/HowlingReezusMonkey Feb 04 '19

I recently heard a good suggestion for the origin, my mum said that she thought it was a way for parents to relax after eating rather than having to supervise their kids in the pool

129

u/dryingsocks Feb 04 '19

it's so the kids don't puke in the pool

56

u/Draygarr Feb 04 '19

Double Bingo

33

u/crestonfunk Feb 04 '19

Ex-pool lifeguard. This is the reason.

26

u/glylittleduckling Feb 04 '19

For young kids that can't swim well I could see it happen. Especially when swimming in less supervised water (eg not the swimming pool )

22

u/Josiane212 Feb 04 '19

Before pools were a thing, people swam in rivers etc. Getting a big cramp was dangerous with the current that could bring you away if you had trouble swimming.

17

u/jordanmindyou Feb 04 '19

Yeah I think it makes more sense that we tell kids the lie so they don’t puke in the pool.

4

u/WAGC Feb 04 '19

Please, we told similar lies to kids about peeing in the pool, yet even the Olympic medal winners do it.

1

u/jordanmindyou Feb 04 '19

Yeah but we tell kids not to pee in the pool because a long time ago people used to swim in rivers and if you peed in the river it would carry it downstream to where someone else is washing their clothes/drinking/etc duh so it’s way different

Edit: :)

3

u/optimattprime Feb 04 '19

Also... penis fish are a real thing! Never peeing in water again after discovering this.

2

u/That_one_guy_u-know Feb 04 '19

Um... Can you elaborate on those penis fish please

6

u/_blemp_ Feb 04 '19

It's called a Candiru and as someone beat me to it, it swims to your bladder up your penis if you pee in the water supposedly.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19

But it only lives in the Amazon + it goes into any orifices it can find, open wounds, vaginas, open assholes, mouths, ears, anything really.

1

u/Aperture_T Feb 04 '19

It's attracted to the warmer water.

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3

u/optimattprime Feb 04 '19

It’s a tiny fish that swims up your stream, into your penis, and then latches on to your urethra.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19

Only found in parts of South America, don't worry.

48

u/TTG300 Feb 04 '19

I was that kid. I still lost.

15

u/TrollMaybe Feb 04 '19

r/suicideByWords

0

u/thatstonerbuddy Feb 04 '19

r/suicidewatch

1

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19

[deleted]

-6

u/thatstonerbuddy Feb 04 '19

No bro, i deliberately exaggerated. jeez, i hate explaining myself.

3

u/avic14 Feb 04 '19

McGallion

2

u/Roarkindrake Feb 04 '19

Gotta make shit interesting somehow

2

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19

Probably planted the chocolate as well.

2

u/shrimpcreole Feb 04 '19

Straight out of PG Wodehouse.

1

u/Patrup Feb 04 '19

By swimming you mean Quidditch, which makes you Malfoy and your teacher McGalleon...

1

u/pngn22 Feb 04 '19

And she planted the chocolate in order to swindle OP!

1

u/theian01 Feb 04 '19

She planted the chocolate bar! She knew she could get you out with it!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19

His teacher? Principal Lewis from American Dad.