The great thing about Listverse is how accurate it is. No list of “weird laws” that don’t actually exist or that annoying email filler of “out of control” lawsuits based on urban legends. But every so often an error will crop up ranging from something only an overly pedantic type-A person (like me) would pick up on, to errors of omission, to outright skewering of the facts. [JFrater: Out of humility, I am publishing this list for all to see! In time I will make the appropriate corrections to the lists in error, but the Listverse Book is keeping me extremely busy at the moment.]
List Containing Error: The 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
Item in error: 1. Great Pyramid of Giza
“Sadly, this is the only one of the seven wonders still in existence.”
For completeness, this should indicate that there are still pieces of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus in existence at the British museum. The Pyramids are the only ancient wonder that is (except for the limestone casing) still in existence in close to its original state.
List Containing Error: 25 Examples of Body Language
Item in error: 21. Gesture: Arms crossed on chest; Meaning: Defensiveness
Or that your back hurts (crossing the arms helps to stretch it) or that you’re cold (trying to conserve body heat). More to the point, the same gesture can have multiple meanings and it is too simplifying to try to draw a one-to-one correspondence between gestures and meanings.
List Containing Error: Top 10 Tips for Great Home-cooking
Item in error: 10. Pantry Items
Included in the list of pantry items is beef stock and chicken stock.
Stock should always be homemade. It’s easy to do and you end up with stewed chicken or beef (both very versatile) as an added bonus. Freeze it (I do in baggies with 2C stock in each). The stock is easy to make, tastes tons better than store bought, and the fat that floats to the top is great in other recipes. I’ll freeze the fat separately and break off a bit to add flavor to sauces.
List Containing Error: Top 10 Casino Games
Item in error: 9. Baccarat
The rules for baccarat are incomplete. The original list says: “In Baccarat each player has three options: Player, Tie, and Banker. When all players have placed their bets, the dealer deals out two 2-card hands, one is the banker hand while the other is the player hand. The hands are added up. If a hand totals over ten, the ten is dropped (I.E. 9+5=14=4). A hand equaled to 10 becomes a 0 or baccarat. The winning hand would be the higher of the 2 and anyone who placed a corresponding bet wins.”
According to the rules, the game gives an even chance to banker and player but completely neglected are the rules for the draw. After the first two cards in each hand are dealt, if either the player or banker has an 8 or a 9 (a natural), the hand is over and the winning hand is paid. Otherwise, if the player has a hand less than 5, they must draw another card. Then the bank draws a card by the following rules:
If the hand is 0, 1, or 2, the bank automatically draws a third card
If the hand is a 3 and the player’s third card is an 8
If the hand is a 4 and the player’s third card is a 0, 1, 8, or 9
If the hand is a 5 and the player’s third card is a 4, 5, 6, 7
If the hand is a 6 and the player’s third card is a 6 or 7
If the hand is a 7, the bank will not draw a third card
These rules give the slightest of advantages to the bank
List Containing Error: Top 10 Amazing Earth Facts
Item in error: 9. Deserts
In the description, the Sahara Desert is named as the largest desert.
Actually, a desert is an area with 10 inches or less of rainfall. Because of it being so cold, the polar regions receive almost no precipitation and at an area of 14 million square kilometers, Antarctica is easily larger then the Sahara at only 9 million square kilometers.
List Containing Error: 9 Great Historically Accurate Medieval Movies
Item in error: 9. Henry V
“King Henry V of England (Kenneth Branagh) is insulted by the King of France. As a result, he leads his army into battle against France. Along the way, the young king must struggle with the sinking morale of his troops and his own inner doubts. The war culminates at the bloody Battle of Agincourt. This film is based on the Shakespeare play of the same name and it contains brilliant battle scenes.”
In the present, we think of the Duke of York as a younger brother of the king and Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V implies as much. At the time of King Henry V, the Duke of York was a hereditary title held by a line of the Plantagenets and at the Battle of Agincourt, the Duke was 42 year old Edward of Norwich. Also, he did not get killed by French soldiers like in the movie. He fell off his horse and unable to get up, either died of a heart attack, asphyxiation, or heat exhaustion. At best, he was a distant relative of King Henry V.
List Containing Error: Top 10 Errors in Science Fiction Movies
Item in error: 4. Explosions in Space
“Unfortunately virtually every science fiction movie makes this error – in fact, in the vacuum of outer space, there can be no flames (as flames need oxygen) and, of course, no boom.”
Then I guess rockets can’t travel in space since there is no oxygen for the fuel to burn. Rockets carry their own oxidizers to burn the fuel, very similar to modern-day explosives. In fact, this is why there was an explosion on Apollo 13, there was a spark in an oxygen tank. An accident like the Challenger explosion would occur whether in the atmosphere or in deep space.
List Containing Error: Top 10 Tragic Movie Set Deaths
Item in error: 7. The Return of the Musketeers
Death: Roy Kinnear. “In September 20th 1988, Madrid, Spain, actor Roy Kinnear broke his pelvis after falling from a horse and subsequently bled to death!”
Actually, Kinnear died the next day of a heart attack despite the wealth of “bled to death” pages on the web. Ref: New York Times
List Containing Error: 15 Holidays and their origins
Item in error: 6. Independence Day
“Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.”
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on 4 July 1776 but not signed. The signing of the Declaration did not begin until 19 July with most of the signatures done on 2 August.
List Containing Error: 10 Of The Best In Hollywood Who Never Won An Oscar
Item in error: 1. Charlie Chaplin
“SURPRISE! Charlie Chaplin never won an Oscar, EVER! This is rumored to be because of his public disdain for the Oscars. Nonetheless, Charlie Chaplin is considered by many to be the most influential and greatest actor of all time. He received 2 honorary Oscars, but as I said earlier those don’t count. No doubt he should have at least won ONE!”
Actually, the first honorary Academy Award given to Charlie Chaplin was at the first ceremony for The Circus. Most Oscar historians accept that this was because if it competed, The Circus would have dominated the awards. But even if we discount that as honorary, Chaplin won outright for Best Music in an Original Dramatic Score in 1972 for Limelight.
Contributor: Saint Cad
dole – I’m sick of you shooting your mouth off about Cyn shooting her mouth off about other people shooting their mouths off. Assuming that Cyn is part of the equation you said “let people say what the ***** they want to,” then she can say what she wants to.
And since this is the internet no one is shooting their mouths off, more like shooting their fingers off, in which case they wouldn’t be able to type.
I voted for you for President a few years ago, and I’ll eat your canned crushed pineapple, but you best not come in here and do a drive by on my girl Cyn. Stick to what you’re good at, holding a pen with one hand and upside down cake, you ass-crater.
Don’t most mistakes get pointed out in the comments? And did anyone ever fix that one in high school movies where the entire description is wrong? That was a pretty glaring error, way more so than the technical definition of a desert.
If I’d written this list, I’d have chosen the same entries, only I’d have called it “Top 11 Listverse List Errors.”
60. dole -
sweetie, be a good boy and take your medication and go to bed now. nite nite!
61. bucslim
bucslim…. awesome. Pure awesome. No wonder I frequent this site.
Oh, and also for the wonderful and 99.99% error-free lists =P
This list is one big error! Admit your site is perfect! XD
Hmm, wait… #3 Kinnear… died of heart attack. Should that be “cardiac arrest” instead of heart attack? Or am I making an error?
bucslim/cyn:
Speaking of shooting mouths off… I just had to share this. I know the guy that Christian Bale threw his temper tantrum at, the other day. Sorry, had to share… I found it hugely amusing. Needless to say, I don’t think much of him.
Quite likely he deserved the tongue-lashing.
Randall – heard it, laughed my ass off. Somewhat being in that area professionally, I originally thought Batman was being a douche. But I’ve known plenty of idiots on the other side of the camera to know better. The lighting is supposed to be set before the talent shows up.
But it is funny to listen to.
Limelight was made in 1952 but didnt win the oscar till it was released in the US finnaly 20 years later. The academy now does not award any film that has been made more then 2 years ago, that is why i didnt count it. He didnt win it against the movies that came out in 1952.
Number 8 seems like it’s being called an error because of a difference in opinion.
“I don’t like frozen pizza. It should always be made from scratch.”
Isn’t this an example of that same concept? A person is dead wrong about what good pizza is because they enjoy frozen pizza. But I suppose several lists on this site are based entirely on opinion.
bucslim:
No doubt both are douchebags; that seems to be more the norm than the exception, in Hollywood. I mean, who carries on like that just because someone made a mistake?
On the other hand, well… as I said, I know the other guy. AND there’s the eternal question–who matters the most, on a film set? The actors, or the guys behind the scenes?
Saint Cad: (writer of this list)
Regarding #10, the Seven Wonders “error”… that was a bit nitpicky. It’s generally acknowledged that of all the “original” Seven Wonders (actually there’s never been full agreement on what these were, since some lists vary by one or two “wonders”… though the primary, original authority on this is supposed to be Pausanias, I believe—or was it Strabo?) The Great Pyramid IS the only one still standing–and I think it’s perfectly okay to read “still in existence” for that… after all, rubble does not a structure make. If you want to argue that, then we might say that the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the other “wonders,” still “exists” because there are surely pieces of it on the bottom of the Alexandrian harbor.
But I’d never say that, and I don’t think anyone else should. The Pharos of Alexandria ceased to exist when it was toppled by an earthquake. Same goes for the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.
And in fact, if I’m not mistaken, columnar remnants of the Temple of Artemis remain in situ; nevertheless, no one speaks of the temple as “still existing.” It’s gone, along with all the other wonders, no matter which version of the list one goes by… except, of course, for the Great Pyramid–which will probably outlast everything else created by mankind, including our own modern, vaunted edifices.
(Im late at commenting, just found the site)
I agree with the above. Also, I think there is a mistake in the list of mistakes, if you can believe that. I just visited the British Museum a month ago, and while I don't remember seeing the Temple of Artemis, the remains of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus ARE there.
i’d have np w/ Bale cussing me out. *sigh* course i’d wouldn’t hear a thing, be too busy dreamily drooling all over that gorgeous man. *sigh*
which is prolly what my problem is here…i’m not *****y enough to garner attention & respect, so people just go off on me in absolutely the wrong way.
eh..life of faceless admin online.
as Rodney Dangerfield would’ve said..
i get no respect!
Let me also take a moment to hit and run on Chaplin a bit. As a writer, former film student, and all-around lover of classic cinema, I freely acknowledge Chaplin’s genius and feel he very definitely should have received an Oscar in his lifetime–and for specific works like “City Lights” and “Modern Times,” and “The Gold Rush,” not simply an honorarium. But at least he got that.
But then again, those are the breaks. The Oscar didn’t come into being, unless I’m mistaken, until 1927. And while, at that time, some of Chaplin’s best work was still ahead of him, we have to admit that there existed at that time the classic Oscar bias against comedy, particularly of the slapstick variety, which some of Chaplin’s schticks definitely fell into. Moreover, while we today admire his steadfast refusal to go full sound on, say, “City Lights” (it has sound but no dialogue) at the time (1931, some 2 years after the introduction of sound) it was viewed, because of this, as rather quaint. Not fair, perhaps, but understandable–and no doubt played a part in the film being overlooked.
Then, in the ensuing years, Chaplin’s brilliance clearly faded. While some still tout a couple of his later films (particularly “The Great Dictator” and “Monsieur Verdoux”) they’re clearly not in the same league as “City Lights” or “Modern Times” and are not of the caliber of films which they would have had to compete with for the Oscar.
And frankly I find “The Great Dictator” to be a tad… unwatchable. It’s interesting to see once. And as satire it was no doubt close to brilliant. But it has its flaws.
“Limelight” also is a very good, but perhaps overrated. When you watch the film it seems all too much a vehicle for Chaplin’s ego–and indeed, there seems to have been something to the rumors that Buster Keaton showed Chaplin up in the film, resulting in Chaplin cutting some of Keaton’s scenes in editing.
But the bottom line to all this is that I don’t weep many tears for Charlie Chaplin as it’s well known that he was a bit of a prick. While I have no problem with his womanizing per se, it’s also clear that he wasn’t always keen to be all that gentlemanly about it. On the other hand, he was handed a couple bad breaks about it as well–but that’s the risk you take when you live that kind of lifestyle. But mainly it’s clear that he was above all else a Great Ego, which is often to be expected–and often an advantage–in Hollywood; but it also leaves a tarnish on one’s reputation sometimes, and it certainly didn’t cause Chaplin to be endeared to many people. While some expressed great admiration for him, others despised him, and in balance I can’t feel too terribly sorry for him for having lost out in the Oscar department.
I personally have always preferred Buster Keaton–both as a public figure and an artist. Keaton stood in Chaplin’s shadow far too long, and it’s only in recent years that critics have begun to realize that he was at least as great as Chaplin.
I was going to post about item #8, stock in the pantry, and see that there are a few comments about that already.
My addition is that although it is easy enough to make stock, and in past times when people had all day to prepare meals you could make a stock that simmered all day, today that is not feasible. If you are able to make your own homemade stock then go for it, but if not there are some good store bought stocks and good stock starters (not bouillon cubes or powders) that keeping it there for quick use is a good idea.
I know how to make, and do at times make, an excellent spaghetti sauce, but only do it now on special situations. I will use jarred sauces because most time I want to just be in the kitchen as long as it takes for the noodles to cook and not all day stirring and skimming and adjusting the taste, as you also need to do with stock.
IMNSHO
Regarding the dessert item. I am Alaskan and there is a little fact that may surprise some of you! Did you know that Alaska is classified as a dessert in the winter months? I remember learning that in school at a young age and again in geology sciences in High school.
Shibari Hime Out >_
Whew! what a difference avoiding LV for a day makes! People mouthing off people for mouthing off people, critics critiquing the critics of the critiques… I am thoroughly enjoying myself reading all this.
Someone bring peace to the weeks of constipated anger by making a list where everything is BLATANTLY wrong! That way everyone can be annoyingly right without acting condenscending (haha…impossible). I dunno about the rest of y’all but I wouldn’t mind an internet scavenger hunt.
I said someone and not me because I’m a lover and not a fighter, I’m a reader and not a writer.
I propose a Toast of respect to Cyn, who tirelesly works to keep us in line… Here Here
(Drinks a cup of wine)
78: oose85
I am always down for anything involving alcohol
Uh, gabi? Just check out the top ten TV or movie cops for a list where everything is blatantly wrong.
I think the list writer picked some pretty lame examples. I’m sure there are better.
I don’t agree with his critique of my list, at least in practice. My grandmother’s pantry did not include home-made stock; she had an ice-box. You know the kind that holds maybe a tub of ice cream, some ice cubes and a bag of frozen veg. Stock was made for day of use – not ahead. Having stock handy in the cupboard for making quick soups and sauces is a god-send. I want to encourage people to learn to make their own; start out by having them make their own stock – they’ll give up before they even begin.
Speaking of # 3 tragic hollywood set deaths – It’s kinda weird that Oliver Reed is in that shot, because if I’m not mistaken, I believe he either died on the set of Gladiator or he died during the making of it and they had to use his digital face to complete the movie.
79. oose85 -
i’m not into the wine but i’m there if its a cuppa hot chocolate!
& thank you.
81 bucslim:
Nope, not everything. I firmly believe Gunderson belongs on a top ten cop list and would fight to the…. well, not fight to the death defending it, but I may be inclined a stubbed toe.
And that list is subjective rather than based on any facts, statistics or predetermined formula of “good cop-i-ness”.
82Mom424:
My mom’s the same way. She’ll make stock if it serves double duty or if she’s making a big plate for a party but for general homecooking, it’s the readymade stock. She works as a cook…the last thing she wants to do is go home and take more precious time making everything from scratch.
Thanks for clearing these up! Don’t worry it’s not too *****…
Way to many whiners on this site. Just let us read our lists in peace without you *****ing about everything!!!
Cyn’s a girl?
No, she’s a woman! (Hear her roar, in numbers too big too ignore)
#8 seems more like a personal preference than a mistake on the part of listverse….
88. ReVeNg3
indeed. female. in fact..a mommie.
89. astraya -
‘..Hear her roar..’ observation or complaint?
Observation, of course.
After I typed that, I thought that you might not recognise the allusion. In 1972 an Australian singer named Helen Reddy had a big hit called “I am woman”, which became the theme song of Women’s Lib. It went to no 1 in the USA, so I don’t know if you know it. Other lines include “I am strong, I am invincible”. (It was, incidentally, cowritten by Reddy and a man. I bet his mates never let him forget that.)
Reading further down the wiki article, I read that he sometimes sings the song with the pronouns changed:
‘Today he performs again in venues on the Queensland Gold Coast, where he lives. Sometimes he includes it in his set, raising a laugh from audiences by saying, “Here’s a song I wrote in the ’70s, with a twist.” He sings it as, “She is woman, hear her roar”.’
astraya -
had an old lady brain fart & could not recall singer or song title but yeah, i’m old enough to have lived thru all that.
good to know it was just an observation too.
..and not to mention the utterly shameful “Dazed and confused” issue.
@ 77. Shibari Hime
Had to say it but Baked Alaska is a dessert all year round
@96
*giggles* I was hoping I picked the right one. Guess not. Spelling is not my Forte. *giggles* But yea… you got me!
Shibari Hime Out
Couple of comments from the author.
I think it is a credit to the list authors that to come up with 10 errors, one does have to be so nitpicky. Perhaps I should have gone for a top 6 list instead of trying to find 10 errors. Oh and bigski – I agree with you . . . too bad my girlfriend doesn’t
#9 – I picked one example to represent the whole “body language” meme. Why did I pick that one in particular? I remember reading in a book (I can’t remember which one) about a study where a psychologist ask people with crossed arms what they were feeling and sore back, general discomfort, and coldness were common answers.
#8 – I picked this one particularly for the fact that the list is made for home cooks. I understand that most people throw pantry items together to make meals but a home cook to me is at a little higher level of food preparation – hence the “error”
#5 – Great movie, but not terribly accurate which was the whole point of the original list.
#4 – Everytime I hear the “no explosions in space because of no oxygen” I think of everyone telling Goddard rockets can’t go to the moon since there is nothing to push against in a vacuum. If you have burning fuel and/or humans on board, you are bringing oxygen with you and hence the possibility for an explosion.
“An accident like the Challenger explosion would occur whether in the atmosphere or in deep space”
Whats the point in correcting an error with another one. The challenger wasnt an explosion but a rapid desintegration due to aerodynamical forces.
Plus it wouldnt happen in deep space since the external boosters are rapidly detached from the shuttle. Apparently you are not that pedantic.
Ps:”Oh and bigski – I agree with you . . . too bad my girlfriend doesn’t” his joke made me giggle a bit. Your joke made me roll my eyes. The “hey ive got a guyl fwiend” bit isnt the way to reply to such a comment.
also on the space one, there IS sound in space, just not very much and ud really need good equipment to make out any fairly close sounds
We should add the whole of Powerful Political Families list because it is just full of errors and is just frankly awful.
Yay 100.
kudos to the author for trying to make the lists even better…
D.O.I adopted on July 3rd, publicly embraced July 4th, signed July 19th
I remember noticing the desert error & the body language error..but the rest were all new to me..:)
As for the pantry items snafu, stocks are made with animal bones and or vegetables. True stock is never made with a substantial amount of meat. But you are correct in that it does taste much better than store-bought crap.
Number 8 regarding making your own stock is very pedantic.
At least the list makers realize that they do make mistakes.
regarding no. 9
I once took a journalism class; details are meaningless but I got singled out as difficult and not a good listener because I would often sit with my arms folded. My defense of "it's more comfortable" didn't fly with the professor.
with regard to #6 amazing earth facts. a requirement of a desert is for it to be "arid" (being without moisture or extremely dry). therefore, the original post was indeed correct. yes "desert", as a noun, can be used in multiple forms. such as "any place lacking in something" or "an ocean without marine life" etc. i could include the supercontinent of Africa-Eurasia (roughly 85 million sq mi) or the "world ocean" (roughly 130 million sq mi) if i wanted to choose an obscure definition of desert…. but, that would kinda make me a bit of a douche. wouldn't it?
With regard to #2 Holiday origins…Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams all wrote that the Declaration had been signed by Congress on July 4, 1776. thirty-four delegates signed the Declaration on July 4, and that the others signed on or after August 2. I think I'll take my forefathers word on this one. They were actually there after. It would kinda make me a bit of a douche to say they had lied about the date, wouldn't it?
Unecessary
Worst list on the site , instead of trying to fix other people small problems which are of little relevance get a life and do something worth while. I could make a better top ten list on why you shouldnt of made this list. Terrible, and I guarantee you this person is a liberal.
Science Fiction Movie Errors: As an additional movie error, sound can not travel in the vacuum of space because sound waves require air to travel. So technically an explosion in space would also be silenced within a very short distance and not even be picked up…. even if you had external microphones to pick them up from another ship nearby.
I do not think the explosions in space (In sci-fi terms) is entirely a mistake.I highly doubt space travel as depicted in these movies, television shows etc. would be based on chemical rocketry to function.
Chemical Rocketry in incredibility inefficient and SLOW. Any race using this type of space travel, would require generations to go even the shortest of distance compared to the size of our galaxy , let alone multiple galaxies.
Most sci-fi ideas of space travel are based more more exotic designs (by our understanding now). For example, in Star Trek most of the races use a anti-matter/matter warp engine, or in the case of the Romulans it has been mentioned that they may use a forced singularity dive (artificial black hole).
I hardly think a chemical rocketry system would be anywhere near practical for the large ships and death stars in Star Wars.
I also believe that faster than light would be absolutely impossible with chemical rockery.
Now the Oxygen needed for life support is an entirely different matter, and my be closer to the reason why a explosion could happen in space with sci-fi.
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