Halloween is fertile ground for scary stories, many of which rely on thrill-seekers’ imaginations and willingness to suspend disbelief to thrive.
Here are a few such tales from our archives. Continue reading at your own risk 💀 (THREAD):
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“Scarelore" is a type of urban legend that intends to frighten audiences, often prompting them to share such stories without questioning them.
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The dress is made from 80% viscose and 20% nylon, and according to the manufacturer's website, it goes from beige to pink under sunlight.
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Putting words in the mouths of celebrities who didn't say them seems to be a popular pastime these days.
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Expect inflation to stay high regardless of which political party is in control of the U.S. House and Senate after Election Day, according to this economics expert.
— The Conversation
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When asked why she carried out the 1979 shooting, Brenda Ann Spencer reportedly said: "I just don't like Mondays. Do you like Mondays? I did this because it's a way to cheer up the day. Nobody likes Mondays."
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As users posted photos from the "New Profile Pic" app, a piece of mobile software that uses artificial intelligence to create profile pics, messages started circulating on social media claiming that this app was some sort of Russian malware scam.
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According to the rumor, the 2022 Kentucky Derby winner, Sonny Leon, turned down an invitation to the White House, saying, “If I wanted to see a horse’s ass, I would have finished second.”
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The full quote reads, "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."
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Many practices associated with Halloween have origins in the pre-Christian, or pagan, religion of the Celts, writes this scholar of myth and religion.
— The Conversation
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Among the spectral figures allegedly spotted wandering the rooms and corridors of the Executive Mansion are past presidents, first ladies, their children, and various other ghastly, long-dead personages.
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You unlock this door with the key of imagination...
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The fabric's naming committee tinkered with "No Run" until it landed on "Nylon."
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This false rumor was amplified by Elon Musk in a since-deleted tweet.
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In short, using bleach on pumpkins doesn’t create a death trap for wildlife. And using vinegar is not dangerous — but it’s also an ineffective choice.
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NASA and other scientists nicknamed the nebula (i.e. clouds of gas or dust in interstellar space) the "Cosmic Bat."
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✅ True. These are real articles from as far back as 1894 showing people expressing variations of the phrase, “Nobody wants to work anymore.”
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Halloween used to be kid stuff. To quit dressing up was an important rite of passage. It meant you were one step closer to becoming an adult.
Not anymore.
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Although fentanyl has real-world lethality, it’s also sometimes the subject of moral panic-driven misinformation.
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Years ago, a Christian group campaigned to replace Halloween with “JesusWeen.”
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Scary films are a dime a dozen.
But what initially drew the public’s interest to the original version of "The Amityville Horror" was the claim that it was based on real events.
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❌ No, "Nightmare on Elm Street" character Freddy Krueger wasn't based on a real serial murderer.
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Yet another death hoax found its way into our email inbox. 👇
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This gruesome tale claims a black-masked reveler killed seven people with a kitchen knife at a costume party on Halloween night in 1962.
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✅ True. In the original “Jurassic Park” movie, the pattern on the tank top worn by character Lex Murphy inexplicably changes. See for yourself:
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❌ The most common price of U.S. gas was not "over $5" when Joe Biden took office.
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The subject of the cartoon was a so-called “Super Patriot” who loves his country “while hating 93% of the people who live in it.”
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"Breaks and lunches will no longer be allowed to be taken in your vehicles. Approved areas are the breakroom and picnic area out front," the alleged sign read.
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Entertainer Ed McMahon never worked for Publishers Clearing House. This is an example of a false memory, known as the “Mandela Effect.”
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Soon after news broke that the FBI had executed a search warrant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property, this quote spread like wildfire on social media.
But did the former president really say it? Here's what we found. 👇
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✅ It's true. Placing luggage in a hotel room's bathtub has a legitimate purpose.
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✅ Comedian George Carlin once said: “Rights aren’t rights if someone can take them away. They’re privileges. That’s all we’ve ever had in this country is a bill of temporary privileges.”
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