Superstitions Exposed

Before we get started, lets take a look at some various examples via the internet. The following is a list of some good reference sites listing many superstitions and some of the history that surrounds them.

• As an excellent reference for a list of superstitions in alphabetic order, see the Unusual Trivia Collection Superstitions: old wives tales, folklore, bizarre beliefs, taboos, omens, lucky & unlucky things found here.
• You'll find a fairly similar list on the superstitions page of the Urban Legends & Superstitions site.
• For a very extensive list, subdivided into categories, see Superstitions.
• Another list of Common Superstitions can be found here.
• Wikipedia has a pretty good article about superstitions too.
• Now for the self proclaimed largest list of superstitions on the web see, Old Superstitions.
• You'll find an interesting group of articles on the topic of various superstitions, both ancient and modern, indexed at this Crystalinks Superstition Index Page.
• You can find an interesting article about pigeons in captivity developing superstitious connections in: "Superstition: In The Pigeon by B. F. Skinner. This article reveals that even pigeons demonstrate the kind of magical thinking emblematic of making incorrect cause and effect connections as typified by superstitions. The pigeon test subjects were observed to become convinced that specific body motions were associated with causing a feeding bin to appear, when in reality the bin was set on a clock that presented it at specific timed intervals. Their body motions could be equated to a sort of rain dance, or in their case a food dance. That's it, now hop three times on your left foot, while patting your right hand on your head, and juniper berries will magically appear.

1. Example of Discarding Magical Thinking

   Allow me to give an example in which I almost resorted to magical thinking, but rather persisted with experimentation and discovered the real cause and effect. A few years back, I obtained a wireless door chime system for my home. When it came time to install the unit for the front door, I had two choices. Using adhesive pads, I could attach the unit to the brick wall next to the door, or I could attach it to the metal frame of the storm security door. My first instinct guided me to attach it to the brick wall, but then I noticed the mortar gap, which I thought would waste much of the adhesive surface. There was just enough room to adhere the button unit to the storm door frame. I had tested the unit several times before putting it in place, but after attaching it to the door frame, it didn't function. I went back into the house and brought the chime unit to the door. Holding the chime just inside the door, I pushed the button. Nothing happened. Then I stepped outside and pushed the button several times, the chime in my hand worked sometimes, but rather intermittently. I was baffled. I then proceeded to remove the button unit from the door frame, thinking it would be my luck that as sure as I removed this thing from the door, it would probably start working again. As predicted, it did.
   
   Had I given up at that point, I probably would have left this unfinished task convinced that I'd been the victim of some particularly perverse poltergeist. But I wasn't satisfied with that explanation. I continued to examine the situation in order to know more about what was happening. I tested the button and chime further. Holding the button unit against the brick wall where my initial instinct told me to put it in the first place, I found that it worked fine. But when I placed the unit against the metal door frame again, it still failed to function. Then I realized the answer to the puzzle. The metal door frame itself was a barrier to the radio signal going from the button unit to the chime unit. It was really very simple, this metal door frame blocked the button unit's wireless signal. There were no poltergeists involved in this instance. I came to know that my door chime button unit was best placed, according to my first instinct, regardless of the mortar gap, on the brick wall next to my door.

2. Broken Mirrors

   I have broken mirrors and did not have seven years of bad luck. I'd say the only thing bad about such an event was being without that particular mirror, and having to clean up the broken shards.

3. Salt of the Earth

   I've spilled salt, and did not subsequently throw a pinch of it over my shoulder, which would have accomplished nothing more than to make the mess worse.

4. Black Cats lame

   I've allowed black cats to cross my path, and suffered no ill affect.

5. Friday the 13th Unmasked

   I have compared the events of a Friday the 13th to other Fridays, and have noted no statistical difference in terms of luck, good or bad.

6. Ladders not bad

   I've walked under a ladder and have found my fate none the worse than if I'd walked around it.

7. Watermelon stomach

   I got quite a laugh when I read this one, "A watermelon will grow in your stomach if you swallow a watermelon seed." Well, I have on more than one occasion inadvertently swallowed watermelon seeds, and low and behold I did not have this particular fate befall me. I guess my stomach is just not fertile ground for watermelon growth.

8. Knock on Wood

   I have boldly spoken of good things in my life, and did not follow up by knocking on wood. There was no measurable difference from those occasions contrasted with the times I did knock on wood.

9. Hand in front of your mouth when sneezing

   The old wives tale goes, "Place a hand in front of your mouth when sneezing. Your soul may escape otherwise." When in the presence of other, I do most often cover my mouth when I sneeze, but there have been times when I've failed to do so, especially when I'm alone. And you know, thus far my soul has yet to escape, on those occasions. I get the feeling it's unlikely to do so.

10. Astrological Ambiguity

    I've even had friends read to me the astrological readings of the day from several different signs without telling me which one was actually suppose to apply to me, and found that typically more than half of them applied regardless of the sign for which they were written. In fact, more often the readings, which allegedly applied to my sign, did not bear any pertinence to me. But don't get me wrong, I do enjoy reading my Horoscope purely for entertainment purposes. With that said, it remains true that except on rare occasions it just doesn't seem to apply to me in any viable way. Those rare occasions are well within the statistical average. Of course, those who continue to maintain a belief in astrology would likely say that I'm being a typically "stubborn" Taurus.

11. Stepping on Cracks

    I have even stepped on cracks and will wonders never cease, it did not break my Mother's back.

12. Cricket in the house

    It didn't seem to me that having a cricket in the house brought me good luck, for it's chirping kept me up all night. Based on my experience, I'd say that was more bad than good.

13. Starting a Trip on Friday

    I've started plenty of trips on Friday, and did not meet misfortune in spite of what the old wives tale says, "You should never start a trip on Friday or you will meet misfortune." In fact, I've probably started the majority of my vacations on Fridays.

14. New Moon, Bad Luck?

    Now here's one that totally make no sense, as if any of them could. "It is bad luck to see the new moon for the first time through glass. Upon seeing the new moon you should turn whatever silver you have in your pockets or handbag, and thus ensure prosperity for a month." Am I missing something here? You can't see the new moon! The whole point of a new moon, is that it isn't visible. So, how could anyone actually see a new moon? Needless to say, I haven't seen a new moon, nor have I turned my silver in either my pocket or any handbags, and it's made no difference in my prosperity or lack thereof for a month or any other period of time.

By virtue of the fact that I have done, or in some cases haven't done these things, and did not befall any misfortune from them, I've thus proven that such superstitions are false. Simple observation and even experimentation reveals the truth. What it shows is that there are no cause and effect connections between reality and these types of baseless superstitions.