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212

What's your favourite story from history that is actually false or exaggerated? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

105 comments fedilink hide all child comments

My favourite is the story that there was mass panic over a radio broadcast of War of the Worlds where everyone thought a real alien invasion was happening. I heard this story as a kid and really thought this was a cruel prank played by the radio station.

In reality, they made it clear at the beginning of the broadcast, and twice during, that it was fictional. Not that many people were listening and most of the people who were, were aware it wasn't real. A few idiots freaked out and it somehow turned into a story of mass panic. It was propaganda by newspapers to discredit radio.

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[–] bort@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I like the story of guy in medival Münster who founded a classless christian society. When the army of his local loard came knocking, knew God was in his side, so he charged them alone. The army then cut him into pieces and nailed his balls to to towns gate.

Today there are 3 cages on the church of münster, containing the bones of the co-conspirtors

I probably got some details wrong, here are some sources:

https://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardcore-history-48-prophets-of-doom/

https://www.amusingplanet.com/2020/03/the-hanging-cages-of-st-lamberts-church.html

[–] bort@sopuli.xyz 6 points 1 day ago

hm... actually I think that story only sounds excagerated, but is actually 100% true.