Debunked: The Rossendale Fairies by John Hyatt [Midges]

[Mick West]

These photographs purport to show "real" fairies.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/...att_n_5093880.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000022

But in fact just show a type of tiny insect called a midge:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blo...ic-tale-of-small-proportions?fromGateway=true

Here are some more examples:
https://flic.kr/p/a2epkg

 

[WeedWhacker]

Oh, man!!

This made it to the HuffPost? An 'April's Fool' joke?

No, and oh dear...a 'Professor' posted these? Ah, well....the HuffPost article includes comments that debunks already (?). Still, there exist some people who will grab at this, and run.

Maybe that is what 'Professor' John Hyatt intended? If so, shame on him.

 

[Mick West]

It's quite surprising how many people believe that fairies exist. Although perhaps not that surprising if you consider how many people believe angels exist.

It's not clear if this is an April Fools joke, a batty professor, or just some kind of "get people thinking" art project - the Manchester Evening News story came out on April 2nd.

 

[NoParty]

I just love that the very name is an homage to the well-known Cottingley Fairy hoax.

It's like calling your controversial archeological find "Piltdown II."

 

[Soulfly]

I wonder if they fill your empty heart containers!

 

[Chew]

It's like calling your controversial archeological find "Piltdown II.

There already was a Piltdown II.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piltdown_Man#Sheffield_Park_find

 

[Svartbjørn]

I wonder if they fill your empty heart containers!

Bad bad bad lol

 

[Pete Tar]

I wonder if they fill your empty heart containers!

Yay I get that reference!

 

[Jason]

It's quite surprising how many people believe that fairies exist. Although perhaps not that surprising if you consider how many people believe angels exist.

It's not clear if this is an April Fools joke, a batty professor, or just some kind of "get people thinking" art project - the Manchester Evening News story came out on April 2nd.

Well my 5 year old daughters believes in fairies, so they must exist.. I could swear I saw Tinker Bell in that photo

 

[Soulfly]

Well my 5 year old daughters believes in fairies, so they must exist.. I could swear I saw Tinker Bell in that photo

This video is about teaching kids to think critically. At 4:55 he talks about how he used fairies as an analogy with his daughter.

 

[deirdre]

This video is about teaching kids to think critically. At 4:55 he talks about how he used fairies as an analogy with his daughter.

re: fairy part. lol. and she learns at an early age how just to shut men up and tell them what they want to hear.

 

[deirdre]

p.s just because her saying "but you can't prove fairies don't exist" concerns me. what does that sound like? anyone we know?

so don't tell your young girls fairies don't exist! some things you gotta let kids figure out on their own or they'll go the other way just to spite ya. ; )

 

[Soulfly]

p.s just because her saying "but you can't prove fairies don't exist" concerns me. what does that sound like? anyone we know?

so don't tell your young girls fairies don't exist! some things you gotta let kids figure out on their own or they'll go the other way just to spite ya. ; )

Not sure I understand you. He says she knows it is not possible to disprove fairies and that she knows they don't really exist, even though she wishes they did.

 

[Jason]

so don't tell your young girls fairies don't exist! some things you gotta let kids figure out on their own or they'll go the other way just to spite ya. ; )

That goes for Santa and the Tooth Fairy too! I wonder where the Tooth fairy came from and just how desperate that first mom or dad was to make something like that up to help their kids deal with losing their first tooth. But for it to stick all these years, its quite amazing

 

[Soulfly]

That goes for Santa and the Tooth Fairy too! I wonder where the Tooth fairy came from and just how desperate that first mom or dad was to make something like that up to help their kids deal with losing their first tooth. But for it to stick all these years, its quite amazing

Some parent made it up to not feel guilty about bribing the tooth out of their kid.

 

[deirdre]

Not sure I understand you. He says she knows it is not possible to disprove fairies and that she knows they don't really exist, even though she wishes they did.

I don't understand why an engine needs oil. but I still check it.

 

[Jason]

Does anyone know where all this fairy business comes from or when it started? Was it a big part of ancient society, or was it created in the minds of non fiction writers like in Peter Pan.

 

[WeedWhacker]

Does anyone know where all this fairy business comes from or when it started? Was it a big part of ancient society, or was it created in the minds of non fiction writers like in Peter Pan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu//celt/tfm/index.htm

(I just Googled, out of curiosity, since you brought it up....)

 

[deirdre]

Does anyone know where all this fairy business comes from or when it started? Was it a big part of ancient society, or was it created in the minds of non fiction writers like in Peter Pan.

lightning bugs? midges?

 

[WeedWhacker]

lightning bugs? midges?

VERY plausible.

But, doesn't explain mythologies surrounding Leprechauns, Chupacabra, etc. ( Talk about going off on tangents!! )

I suggest the amazing Human imagination, and the history of lore, prior to the invention of writing (??)

 

[WeedWhacker]

>> GROAN!! <<

That might grind somebody's gears!

 

[Soulfly]

VERY plausible.

But, doesn't explain mythologies surrounding Leprechauns, Chupacabra, etc. ( Talk about going off on tangents!! )

I suggest the amazing Human imagination, and the history of lore, prior to the invention of writing (??)

Didn't you hear? Bubba found Chupacabra!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/03/living-chupacabra-capture_n_5085942.html

 

[deirdre]

VERY plausible.

But, doesn't explain mythologies surrounding Leprechauns, Chupacabra, etc. ( Talk about going off on tangents!! )

I suggest the amazing Human imagination, and the history of lore, prior to the invention of writing (??)

most myth I think evolved to explain something. like Zeus and lightning, bad things happening (angry gods). Cattle mutilations/aliens. when weird things happen to me I call them minions (and now so do a lot of other people who have picked up my terminology) but fiaries works too as explanation. you know like I moved something but forgot I moved it so its in a different place then I thought etc.

 

[deirdre]

Didn't you hear? Bubba found Chupacabra!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/03/living-chupacabra-capture_n_5085942.html

aw he's cute.

 

[WeedWhacker]

"I will name him 'George', and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him and....."....

 

[George B]

Hmmmm, fairies are a stretch for me but angels seem more to my cultural upbringing. Seems if one is to believe in something unprovable, why not make them benevolent, beautiful and capable of almost anything.

 

[deirdre]

Hmmmm, fairies are a stretch for me but angels seem more to my cultural upbringing. Seems if one is to believe in something unprovable, why not make them benevolent, beautiful and capable of almost anything.

cause mischievous is fun. ?

 

[Soulfly]

 

[WeedWhacker]

Hmmmm, fairies are a stretch for me but angels seem more to my cultural upbringing. Seems if one is to believe in something unprovable, why not make them benevolent, beautiful and capable of almost anything.

Did you ever see this movie?:

Dogma

 

[deirdre]

 

[Jason]

View attachment 6824

Sorry, but that one almost made me fall out of my chair...

 

[WeedWhacker]

OK, some of our ancestors were superstitious, ignorant, knuckle-dragging troglodytes, but fortunately we live in an "enlightened" age where only the best and brightest preside in governments and provide guidance and....uh-oh....

...hmmmm.....maybe I spoke too soon.

 

[Jason]

Don't mean to get all boring, but I was amazed that Wikipedia even had a link for fairies; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy. And then I was even more amazed to learn that there was a Fairy Investigation Society. LOL To my amazement the wiki page about fairies is quite extensive and goes on for several pages. I had no idea how popular fairies are or that they persisted (in thought) throughout many cultures and religions..

 

[deirdre]

Don't mean to get all boring, but I was amazed that Wikipedia even had a link for fairies; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy. And then I was even more amazed to learn that there was a Fairy Investigation Society. LOL

fairies are big business. plus if you live in a woodsy area (esp. England) its easy to 'believe' in fairies, like how the NE believes in witches more easily. ambiance, dude. ; )

 

[George B]

Did you ever see this movie?:

Dogma

Yes, I think I have.

 

[George B]

cause mischievous is fun. ?

Depends on who is getting messed with.

 

[WeedWhacker]

Depends on who is getting messed with.

Hmmm......seems you might not be as "extinct" as would be indicated under your avatar.....(cue the pinky finger held to the mouth in an evil gesture!):

I will hold this post ransom for......"One HUNDRED dollars!"

Bwahahaha!!!