Carnival of Bad History

Nothing changes more constantly than the past; for the past that influences our lives does not consist of what actually happened, but of what men believe happened.

- Gerald W. Johnson (1890-1980)

So you wanna be startin’ something? If you’re Bad History, see if you can imagine Billie Jean and Dirty Diana catching Smooth Criminal breaking into their second floor walk-up (betcha didn’t know they were roommates). Talk about a smackdown. That’s about how it’s going to be for you today if you try anything, B.H. So take a good look at the man in the mirror and ASSESS. The shocktroops have arrived. My advice to you? Just beat it. And don’t even bother taking that rock with you, it won’t do you any good.

But enough of this bullocks. Welcome to The Carnival of Bad History! Make yourself at home in this the lastest Bad History debunk-a-thon where bloggers will attempt to snuff the fuses of yet another batch of historical stink bombs. Since today’s Bad History becomes tomorrow’s Braveheart, this may be the most important Carnival of the Blogosphere! We must be strong in the face of blatant inaccuracy, self-serving historical analogy and empty suits talking nonsense. So once more into the blogs, my good fellows! Read, friends, and don’t stop till you get enough!!!


Where did martyrdom first come into style? To kill or to be killed? Dr. Jim Davila at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland (where they call it "GOF" without the "L") sorts out the mess.

Are you a Godwin's Law enthusiast? Do you keep a log every time someone makes an ill advised Holocaust comparison? Orac breaks down some pretty egregious Nazi era analogies. And he tells us what to do about it. Whacking Bad History over the head with a blackjack is fun, innit?

Where are the moustache-twirling Arab villains? Certainly not in the movies, regardless of what one reporter would have us believe. Logical Meme explains.

As Jonathan Dresner tells us again and again, Paul Harvey is wrong. Sometimes, you've just got to tell it like it is.

Think you're reliving a piece of our history when you turn on that oven light, peer through little holes in the oven door window film and watch the turkey roast and toast? Think again. Jeremy D. "She" Bangs at Sail1620.org has it covered. This is the definitive debunking of the pop history (how often is it Bad History!) surrounding one of the USA's best holidays.

Looks like British History's not much better. Can't seem to agree on when they were last invaded. You'd think they'd remember something like that.

Just when you though that Intelligent Design supporters had reach the point of wrongness singularity, they burst into the world of, you guessed it, Bad History. Carl Zimmer at Corante channels Newton to keep us all from spiraling down a vortex of Badness.

When blogs attack!! Sometimes a blog, in the midst of an attempt to debunk Bad History, finds itself the target of a debunking all its own! Is no one safe?!?! Never let it be said that Professor PZ Myers takes prisoners. He doesn't.

The movies are a veritable mushroom patch of Bad History, with new and improved distortions springing up almost overnight. Browse around this collection of posts where they put movie versions of history under intense scrutiny. Enough to break a movie, really.

Here are 10 fun questions to ask your history teacher. Try them out and watch the smoke come out of their ears.

Could this be the Unifying Theory of Bad History? Sometimes it all just makes sense.


Enough carnage for now!! Your insatiable thirst for Bad Historical blood will have to wait. The next carnival will be held in about three months at a time and place to be announced. But don’t let that stop you from continuing to de-bunk Bad History in the meantime. Do the world a service and prepare your post for the next Carnival of Bad History!

(moonwalks off stage leaving only the glare of track lighting)