In an interesting twist to the Wikipedia phenomenon, I present Hoaxipedia. Your one stop resource for urban legends, pranks, scams, and tall tales.
As they recommend, it’s fun just to click the “random page” link and see what info pops up. For instance, I found this list of Medieval End of the World hoaxes, such as the Toledo letter, and the panic of 1524, when mass hysteria gripped Europe. Or the Case of the Miraculous Bullet. Apparently, this Civil War story documented how a bullet passed through a boy’s testicle and then lodged within a girl’s abdomen, impregnating her while she remained a virgin. Medical journals repeated this story as true until as late as 1959.
You can also look up specific categories, like Crime, Death, and even Hoaxes that aren’t Hoaxes. See what kind of twisted truths, lies and ridiculous accounts the world has believed in over the years. Maybe you’ll find something in there that you once thought was truth. Let me know if you discover any favorites.
I see that smile.
Delightful. I came across this blog searching Hoaxipedia, and I was pulled in by the title of your blog (I first came across that in Nabokov’s Pale Fire). Your website also led to some interesting (and highly useful) links.
On a far more related note, Hoaxipedia finally confirmed my sneaking suspicion that Bonsai Kittens were nothing but a lie, and relieved some small amount of guilt about asking my PETA friends for one of them for Christmas as a terribly morbid joke.
Delightful blog,
Cheers,
Alyssa
Glad you dropped by, Alyssa. I think that’s the first time anyone has found me through that link. Good thing the site was able to relieve you of some guilt. See? It’s useful!