Is a myth always false or is that conception a myth?

Question

Myth seems to be a hip word these days. It has taken the place of "lie". A myth almost always bears an element of truth. So even if the 3 bears are a myth 3 bears do make a family.
Mother Hubbard did not live in a regular size shoe. But she could have had so many children she didn't know what to do. Honies know that feeling.
sant does not deliver presents to every good kid in the world. But if they think he will they mind their p's and q's.
So if you say something is a myth you probably are agreeing with me.

Answer 1

im a bit confused by the question, but to replace the word lie with the word myth is a mistake on our part. Myth seems to have a connotation of fantasy, or legend, such as the nursery rhymes etc. that you described.

Answer 2

Well, I think I know where you get the idea of a myth being a lie, or that it might be hip--because of the show "Mythbusters". Tho they debunk a lot of myths, they actually prove that some are not myths, but actually possible.

Although your examples are thought provoking, they aren't myths. Some are nursery rhymes, such as "The Old Woman in a Shoe" based on what was going on in England, hundreds of years ago--believe it or not, and some are tales of convenience.

i. e. If kids think they are good they will get presents--whether it be from Santa, Kris Kringle or Father Christmas. But, the myth buster here is the child who was good--and got nothing for Christmas. And when they get older they find out there's no Santa! But it continues to be perpetuated.

So, bottom line--you're wrong! Know you won't choose my answer, but that's OK--I know the difference between a myth and a fairy tale--I was brought up on Grimm's Fairy Tales and Aesop's Fables!

Answer 3

Every point you made as a description of myth is actually under the heading of a nursery rhyme or folktale. You can look up each word in your dictionary and so will I (and we'd better look up "lie" too), and we'll reach our conclusions based on that.

Still, whether folktale or myth, it concerns me that you think of these simple stories as lies. If the words myth and folktale are used incorrectly, then lies can be told in their name... in fact I guess a lie will try to hide under any name, huh?

But in answer to your question, no, I do not in any way agree that a myth is always false... they are most often wondrous tales of ancient heroes, gods and the like, full of action and description. Some are just fiction stories, but not lies. Same with nursery rhymes or folktales... some fiction, which I appreciate, but not lies, which I never appreciate.

That's my take on the matter. Hope yours can loosen up a bit on the myth thing. Oh, and I never did hear myth used as a 'hip' word. I guess I'm behind times again!

Answer 4

Stop putting fairy tales into the myth category. A myth is something handed down by word of mouth that tells of some incident that captures the imagination and then was lost in history. There are some truths in myths. Dragons did exist, perhaps not as depicted but certainly dinosaur like.
Spartawo...

Answer 5

the true meaning of "myth" is a story which explains the reason or/and origin of something. it is a sacred, rather than profane story. one good definition, i forget from who, 'myth is encapsulated truth'. i believe the meaning of the word should be the meaning used by those who know most about it........ ie. Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, Mircea Eliade

Answer 6

Almost any mith is based on something real . And the conception is wrong

Answer 7

Semantics, semantics, semantics.

Answer 8

wtf??