Can the past change? It sounds incredible, but scientists are debating exactly this, with various theories ranging from quantum mechanics to the many-worlds interpretation. If it could, how would it appear to us? The internet is buzzing with wild ideas, so it's time to go over where they originated, and consider in detail what exactly might be causing it.
Did the Monopoly Man wear a Monocle?
- Carter Tweed
Alternate:
The Monopoly man had a monocle
Current:
The Monopoly man did not have a monocle
Did the Monopoly Man really never wear a monocle?
Is there a Mass Memory Discrepancy Effect at work on the most famous board game in the world?
When most people picture the man in the logo, they often recall him wearing a monocle, and claim it's always been that way since his introduction in 1935.
Several references to him wearing one exist - see the video for some newspaper articles regarding this.
Some people are claiming he was wearing one only on some of the cards he appeared on, and not on the box or in any of the ads.
Next time you meet someone unaware of the effect, ask them to describe him - you may well be very suprised to see how widespread this one is!
Did Tom Cruise wear sunglasses in the Risky Business solo dance scene?
- Carter Tweed
Alternate:
Tom Cruise wore sunglasses in the Risky Business dance scene
Current:
Tom Cruise did not wear sunglasses in the Risky Business dance scene
No sunglasses in the dance scene?
Tom Cruise wore RayBans throughout the 80's movie Risky Business ... but not in the famous dance scene? It's the film which made him famous, and he's particularly well-known for the solo dance scene in question. So how come so many people get a trademark part of it wrong?
Those experiencing the Mandela Effect claim he definitely wore sunglasses in the scene, but if you watch the movie today he didn't.
This is one where there are many references in the form of parodies, homages and tributes - where all of them are wearing the trademark sunglasses. The photos of Tom in the covers advertising the movie all show them, so could every single one of these just have misremembered this, having had the image of him wearing them throughout planted in their memories?
Kit-Kat/Kit Kat
- Carter Tweed
Alternate:
Kit-Kat
Current:
Kit Kat
Dash or no dash?
Few people realise the name "Kit Kat" or "Kit Cat" for a type of food goes back to the 18th century, when mutton pies known as a Kit-Kat were served at meetings of the political Kit-Cat Club in London.
It seems the popular chocolate bar took its name from this, which definitely had a dash in when used by the Kit-Cat club. Those experiencing the Mass Memory Discrepancy Effect say they too remember the dash in the chocolate snack's name years ago, but today it has none and no references to the version with the dash ever existing can be found.
Time for a break?
Bob Holness played the sax on Baker Street
- Cory Grajales
Alternate:
Bob Holness played the sax on Baker Street
Current:
Bob Holness did not play the sax on Baker Street
Everyone knows he didn't - don't they?
This is the Mass Memory Discrepancy Effect working in reverse - a popular urban myth which everyone knows about but still perpetuates.
Bob Holness was the presenter of the popular UK TV programme "Blockbusters". A straight up guy you'd never associate with the sleazy fantastic sax work on Gerry Raffertys 1978 hit "Baker Street".
This one also has nothing to hide - even it's orgin is well documented. The sax was played by Raphael Ravenscroft and the idea Bob played it originated as a joke in the NME music magazine in 1990.
There is an interesting point if you really want to catch people out though. Bob Holness was the second actor to play James Bond. This was on the radio in the 1950's. Allegedly.
Krispy Kreme or Crispy Creme?
- Carter Tweed
Alternate:
Crispy Creme
Current:
Krispy Kreme
A double MMDE!
This is unusual - two Mass Memory Discrepancy Effects with the same brand!
First we have the people claiming it used to be spelt "Crispy Creme" but can't find any reference to that today, even though they swear it once was.
Then we have those who look closely at the logo and read it as "Kuspy Kreme". You can see why when you look at the logo - the typeface does lend itself to this reading. What is different is how it seems to suddenly jump out at people as "wrong", even though it can be shown as always having been that way right back to 1937.
Take at look again at the logo here - can you see "Kuspy Kreme"?
The man behind the curtain
- Carter Tweed
Alternate:
Pay no attention to THE man behind the curtain
Current:
Pay no attention to THAT man behind the curtain
Another Wizard of Oz MMDE!
The Wizard of Oz must win the award for the most Mass Memory Discrepancy Effects!
At the end, (spoiler alert!), when finally confronting the fearsome Wizard, Dorothy's dog Toto pulls back a curtain to reveal a little man working some machinery. A voice booms out "Pay no attention to THAT man behind the curtain" - or was it "pay no attention to THE man behind the curtain"?
Today you'll only find "that" man is being said, but if you ask most people they'd say it was "the" man.
This is another meme - the phrase is often used to describe some kind of hidden controller in a general way, where some unseen hand is guiding things in, for example, fields such as politics or business. It's easy to see how it could have been changed this way when making the transition. In the Oz scene, he is physically present, so the more specific "that" is appropriate, whereas in the general meme the subject is unseen so "the" is better suited. Or is that what you're supposed to think? :-)
"Me Tarzan, You Jane" was never said?
- Carter Tweed
Alternate:
"Me Tarzan, You Jane" was in the original Tarzan movies
Current:
"Me Tarzan, You Jane" was not in the original Tarzan movies
You Jane Me Tarzan
Another popular misquote or the Mass Memory Discrepancy Effect in action?
The favourite schoolyard call "Me Tarzan, You Jane!" can't be found in any of the original Tarzan movies, nor in the books running right back to when he first appeared in "Tarzan of the Apes" in 1912. Yet this quote is as famous as the other "non-quote" people remember, "Beam me up Scotty". What is causing people to not only think they were present originally, but continue repeating them?
Once a phrase such as this, which almost seems trying to sum up the entire movie or series in one quick phrase, gets into the public consciousness, its appears for some of them there is no stopping them once they hit a critical point. They become a "meme" and gain a life of their own. It's as if the masses, who aren't hardcore fans, use it as this quick "summary" to the chagrin of that fewer group who actually to pay attention and realise their "mistake".
