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Post #8 - Accidental Avian Bowel Movements

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Post #8 - Accidental Avian Bowel Movements

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There is a superstition in the western world that states that being pooped on by a bird is considered good luck. Similar to owning a lucky rabbit's foot, or hanging a horseshoe in your house, or having a lady bug landing on you, having the unfortunate event of an avian friend accidentally or purposefully emptying their bowels onto your head, is considered good luck.

This may be associated closely to the pseudoscience red flag of confirmation bias as we tend to believe this superstition based off of street gossip without further looking into the causes or truths behind them. This is due to the fact that it may be statistically harder for this event to happen. But is there any discernible proof that pigeon poop will actually bring you good luck?

The evidence say no.

Many people have shared stories about having birds vacate their contents onto their heads but there has been no evidence to say that it has brought them any luck. If anything, it brings the dry cleaner's luck as it forces pedestrians into their businesses. There is a belief in certain horoscopes that birds symbolize goals and aspirations in life. Because we view birds in such a way, bird poop is suggested to represent the trials and tribulations that we may face in order to achieve our aspirations. So next time bird poop may land on your head, let it slide down so you can achieve all of your goals.

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Beginners luck is one of the more common superstitions because it is used as an expression by people that do not have to belief in superstitions.

It is hard to tell the origin of the saying; when do research there was no sure origin of the expression.

This superstition most closely related to confirmation biases because it is more likely that people remember the events that fit into their ideals of being good rather than remembering the times they ended up in last place. If you won over an experienced player as a beginner it is easy for that experienced player to label is beginners luck to avoid admitting to actual defeat in a game they are supposed to be good at.

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This post is based on the ideal that a rabbit foot contains magical and lucky properties. Some websites claim that the rabbit is said to have magical properties because of its connection to the return of spring, Easter and the resurrection of Jesus, african hoodoo beliefs about the rabbit being a trickster/ having to do with their reproductive habits or the celts belief that because rabits lived underground they could communicate with the spirits of the underworld.

This superstition can be connected with Agenticity and Ideology as well as Ancient Wisdom and Mystical Energy.
It applies to Agenticity and Ideology because it is believed to be connect to Jesus Christ's resurrection but this is flawed because there is no connection or references of any kind in the scripture surrounding the death or resurrection of Jesus.
This superstition is implied to be Ancient Wisdom or Mystical Energy because of its connection with African slaves brought over to the United States with hoodoo rituals or stemming from the Celts belief that rabits could communicate with the underworld.

It is almost impossible to narrow down the origin of this superstition because of the varied responses and how old this actual belief is.

The belief is flawed just because there is no scientific proof that this superstitions brings luck or fertility to anyone that is carrying a rabbits foot.

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This website goes on to explain the reasoning behind why the majority of people have become accustomed to saying "bless you" when some sneezes and not when someone coughs, burps, gasses wind etc.
This article states that the origin of "Good bless you" is already from Pope Gregory the Great during the bubonic plague epidemic when sneezing was a symptom of the plague.  This website also states that every country has their own way of wishing a person sneezing well and the majority of those wishes originate from ancient superstitions. One common belief is that a sneeze can cause the soul to escape the body through the nose and saying bless you or god bless you, would stop the devil from going near that soul and taking it.

This superstition belief is very much related to agenticity and ideology because it has a religious origin.

The flaw with this superstition is that we know that sneezing is an involuntary reflex action and can be directly to allergies and having a viral sickness; so it is completely illogical to believe the devil can steal a soul using a normal bodily action.

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Many people have become accustomed to saying "bless you" or "gesundheit" when someone sneezes. No one says anything when someone coughs, blows their nose or burps, so why do sneezes get special treatment? What do those phrases actually mean, anyway?

Wishing someone well after they sneeze probably originated thousands of years ago. The Romans would say "Jupiter preserve you" or "Salve," which meant "good health to you," and the Greeks would wish each other "long life." The phrase "God bless you" is attributed to Pope Gregory the Great, who uttered it in the sixth century during a bubonic plague epidemic (sneezing is an obvious symptom of one form of the plague).

The exchangeable term "gesundheit" comes from Germany, and it literally means "health." The idea is that a sneeze typically precedes illness. It entered the English language in the early part of the 20th century, brought to the United States by German-speaking immigrants.

Virtually every country around the globe has its own way of wishing sneezers well. People in Arabic countries say, "Alhamdulillah," which means, "praise be to God." Hindus say, "Live!" or "Live well!" Some countries have special sneezing responses for children. In Russia, after children are given the traditional response, "bud zdorov" ("be healthy"), they are also told "rosti bolshoi" ("grow big"). When a child sneezes in China, he or she will hear "bai sui," which means, "may you live 100 years."

For the most part, the various sneeze responses originated from ancient superstitions. Some people believed that a sneeze causes the soul to escape the body through the nose. Saying "bless you" would stop the devil from claiming the person's freed soul. Others believed the opposite: that evil spirits use the sneeze as an opportunity to enter a person's body. There was also the misconception that the heart momentarily stops during a sneeze (it doesn't), and that saying "bless you" was a way of welcoming the person back to life.

We now know that sneezing is a reflex action and is most often the sign of something relatively benign, such as a cold or allergy. A sneeze also can be provoked by being outside in the sunlight or from smelling a strong odor. Still, we persist in the custom of saying "bless you" or "gesundheit," mainly out of habit and common courtesy.

For more information on sneezing and related topics, check out the next page.

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Why do we say 'bless you' or 'gesundheit' when people sneeze?

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Many people have become accustomed to saying "bless you" or "gesundheit" when someone sneezes. No one says anything when someone coughs, blows their nose or burps, so why do sneezes get special treatment? What do those phrases actually mean, anyway? Wishing someone well after they sneeze probably originated thousands of years ago.

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This video really sums up the multiple reasons that Friday the 13th is viewed as unlikely; it is actually referred to as "Paraskevidekatriaphobia," which is the fear of the number 13 and the fear of Fridays.

The reason for belief most appropriate for this superstition is perception and observation; because the majority of people already know Friday the 13th as being unlucky, it is easy for them to attribute any misfortune that they have had Friday the 13th to this superstition instead of just coincidence or random occurrences that happen ALL the time. The video has a good point when it says that "If you are looking for bad luck on Friday the 13th, you are bound to find it."

Some pseudoscience red flags that is associated with Paraskevidekatriaphobia is confirmation bias, confusion of correlation with causation and ideological support.

I can identify this superstition as having to do with confirmation bias and confusion of correlation with causation because of the fact that on Friday the 13th, people identify any misfortune as being directly related to the date instead of it being a mere coincidence or unrelated event. For example, many sailors of the past refused to set sail on Fridays; because of this in the 18th century, the British Navy commissioned a ship called the HMS Friday to quell the superstition. This ship's crew was selected on a Friday, the ship launched on a Friday and even had a captain named James Friday; but because the ship eventually disappeared it was directly related to the superstition instead of the fact that sailing back than was extremely dangerous.

The superstition relates to ideological support because this superstitions origin is Christian theology based. It was believed that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit on a Friday, Noah's ark set sail on a friday, during the last supper Judas was the 13th to arrive and Jesus was crucified on a Friday; because of all of these beliefs Christians in the past would not begin any projects or trips on Fridays.

The flaw with this superstition has to do with the fact that all of these beliefs are based on past beliefs (thousands of years ago) with no actual present day evidence either than mere coincidences or confirmation biases.

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Why Is Friday The 13th Considered Unlucky?

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In countries like the United States, people have a superstitious fear of one particular date: Friday the 13th. But why? In this episode, Cristen discusses the two main fears that have fueled the Friday the 13th superstitions, as well as their origins.

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Post #5 - Image: Michael Jordan's College Basketball Shorts

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Post #5 - Image: Michael Jordan's College Basketball Shorts

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The image represents a sports superstition that Michael Jordan practiced while playing in the NBA. Michael Jordan wore his college basketball shorts underneath his NBA uniform during every game for good luck.
A pseudoscience red flag that is associated with this superstition is confirmation bias. Michael Jordan probably continued the superstition because he remembered the times that his team won while he was wearing his college shorts and forgetting the times that the team actually lost.
A reason for belief that is associated with Michael Jordan's sports superstition is emotional connection. Michael Jordan has had an emotional connection to his college shorts since he he attended college because he had success in his college basketball career. Michael Jordan has carried forth his previous success and emotional attachment to those successes by continuing to wear his college shorts while in the NBA.
Emotional attachment is a flaw of this superstition because Michael Jordan lets his emotional attachment impede his rational thinking in regards to success in games. Bias is another flaw/limitation associated with Michael Jordan's superstition. His biased opinion of his success in college basketball has influenced him to believe that he will experience success in every game by wearing his college team shorts.

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Post #2 - Video: Weird Superstitions from Around the World

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Post #2 - Video: Weird Superstitions from Around the World

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The video discusses strange superstitions from various countries. In Brazil, it is considered bad luck to let a purse touch the floor; in Denmark, it is considered good luck to break dishes on a friend's doorstep on New Year's day; in Spain, eating 12 grapes on New Year's (one grape per clock chime at midnight) will bring good luck; lastly, in Ireland, an itchy nose means you will be in a fight.
A reason for belief that is associated with the video is ideology. The superstitions from around the world are part of a cultural ideology. The cultures in the countries listed in the video practice the superstitions as part of a tradition.
A pseudoscience red flag that is associated with the video is confusion of correlation without causation. While there may be some sort of correlation between the superstitous act and a future occurrence, the superstitious act does not CAUSE the future outcome or occurrence. Example: An Irish man may have an itchy nose and may get into a fight, but the itchy nose is not what causes the fight.
Some of the limitations and flaws about the superstitions in the video are that the superstitions do not have evidence to prove that they are real and the superstitions are related to emotion. There is no actual proof that links a superstitious act and the perceived outcome. Also, superstitions are fueled by emotion; people believe that they will encounter positive experiences by dedicating time and effort into superstitious acts.

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Post #3 - Image: Black Cat Superstitions

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Post #3 - Image: Black Cat Superstitions

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The image posted refers to the superstition that having a black cat crossing one's path will bring that person bad luck. Black cats have been associated with witches and are sometimes referred to as demons in disguise.
A pseudoscience red flag that is associated with the black cat superstition is ancient wisdom. It was believed that encountering black cats was an omen for bad luck and tragedy, when in fact there were no proven incidences of black cats causing bad luck. The superstition of a black cat crossing one's path causing bad luck is also related to the red flag confusion of correlation with causation. A black cat can cross a person's path, and that same person may experience some unfortunate events; however, the black cat does not cause the unfortunate events. A reason for belief that is associated with this superstition is agenticity. Black cats were believed to be agents of bad luck, misfortune, and evil; as such, people went out of their way to avoid black cats and some even went as far as exterminating black cats in order to prevent misfortunes from occurring.
Limitations and flaws that are associated with the black cat superstition are lack of evidence and assumptions that black cats represent negativity. There is no evidence that an encounter with a black cat represents bad luck. In history, people always related black cats with witches and assumed that black cats were evil based on that association.

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Post #4 - Website: Touching or Knocking on Wood

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Post #4 - Website: Touching or Knocking on Wood

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The site discusses the superstition of touching or knocking on wood and why people are influenced into practicing the superstition.
A reason for belief that is associated with knocking on wood is simplicity. The simple explanation that people choose to believe is that knocking on wood will protect from and prevent bad things from occurring one one's life. The scientific explanation is that events (positive or negative) will occur as a result of coincidence and are not related to the act of knocking on wood or forgetting to knock on wood.
A red flag that is associated with knocking on wood is confusion of correlation without causation. A person may touch or knock on wood, and that same person may experience positive occurrences in his or her life; however, positive outcomes and experiences are not CAUSED by knocking on wood.
The flaws and limitations associated with knocking on wood are: lack of evidence and emotions. There is no evidence to support the practice of knocking on woods as being influential in positive outcomes. Also, superstitions are based on emotional connection and this connection impairs the ability to think rationally.

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The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry promotes science and scientific inquiry, critical thinking, science education, and the use of reason in examining important issues. It encourages the critical investigation of controversial or extraordinary claims from a responsible, scientific point of view and disseminates factual information about the results of such inquiries to the scientific community, the media, and the public.

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Post #1: A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere - by Roseanne Loken, Jullian Lopez, and Katy Otter

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Post #1: A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere - by Roseanne Loken, Jullian Lopez, and Katy Otter