Superstitions

[FFoxX]

I always wonder where the superstitions about "bottomless" bogs that "suck you under" come from, and why most people believe it while it's physicaly implausible. Is it originated in some common fascination with peril and/or fatality? Or something else?

[Fred588]

I always wonder where the superstitions about "bottomless" bogs that "suck you under" come from, and why most people believe it while it's physicaly implausible. Is it originated in some common fascination with peril and/or fatality? Or something else?

Because they saw it on television. And you cannot lie on TV!!! .... Right?

[bogbud]

Because they saw it on television. And you cannot lie on TV!!! .... Right?

Indeed!
Also sinking in deep mud or even getting really stuck in it is a thing 99.x % of the people don't know from personal experience, so they are prone to believe even the wildest of stories.
There are some youtube-videos with people screaming for help or acting erratically when they are just calf-deep in some mud-puddle....

[FFoxX]

I remember when i was about 10yo and I saw one of those scenes in movie. It seemed so implausible for me, yet the idea of "sucking bog" totaly fascinated me. I asked my grandmother how is it possible that some mud sucks you down. She didn't give me any relevant aswer, so i stayed suspicious about it. Even in elementary school teachers were able to tell us such rumours. I suspect that was due to the fact that the peat bogs are located on czech-german borders and it was in the time of cold war, so people were discouraged by media of any attempt of crossing the borders. But generally those superstitions are much older than movie industry and TV.

[SinkLad]

It could be from people who got stuck in mud or something, struggled and sunk deeper before getting out, then got out and told the story with a "who knows how much deeper it could have taken me, it could be bottomless!" sort of spin on it.

[Fred588]

Not sure how relevant it might be here but its been my observation that people jump at the first explanation that is offered in an emergency and also tend to believe explanations that SOUND plausible even when they are total rubbish. In my younger days - a LONG time ago, I was a lifeguard and studied (and earned a doctorate doing it, things related to swimming and water safety. In the process of doing this I came across numerous news stories about people who went swimming, "caught a cramp," and went under. In quite a few cases the tragedy was attributed by observers, by news reports, and by a lot of people who should have known better, to going into the water too soon after eating. The belief was that the victim had a "stomach cramp," and could not swim in a doubled-up position that forced them into. I'd bet there are people here who still believe that it is dangerous to swim after eating.

Utter rubbish. A more careful look reveals further evidence and the truth becomes much more apparent. In a high proportion of these cases the drowning happened in the early to middle part of Spring, when the water tends to be quite cold more than a few feet down. Also, in just about every case, the victim's swimming ability was quite marginal. The most reasonable explanation is: a) the victim over-estimated his (victims of these accidents are almost always male) swimming ability, b) the victim swam into water than fairly suddenly became quite a bit deeper and there encountered an upwelling of much colder water, c) the victim's rate of respiration increased due to both the exertion and the effect of the colder water (ever had a shower suddenly turn cold?), and e) the victim choked on some water.

Net result = one drowning victim and a silly explanation that leads to failure to prevent repetitions. And, to make things worse, people who know nothing about water safety but think they do repeat the silly explanation in an effort to sound knowledgeable.

[Jon Smith]

Though we know that it really isn't that way. Personally, it makes the sinking experience way more exciting if I can get myself to believe that it is bottomless and could suck me under. Typically, it is easier said than done. Sometimes I can convince myself of “obvious bullshit” by getting drunk.

[dlodoski]

I remember when i was about 10yo and I saw one of those scenes in movie. It seemed so implausible for me, yet the idea of "sucking bog" totaly fascinated me. I asked my grandmother how is it possible that some mud sucks you down. She didn't give me any relevant aswer, so i stayed suspicious about it. Even in elementary school teachers were able to tell us such rumours. I suspect that was due to the fact that the peat bogs are located on czech-german borders and it was in the time of cold war, so people were discouraged by media of any attempt of crossing the borders. But generally those superstitions are much older than movie industry and TV.

Indeed, the entire mythology may be based on parents trying to keep youngsters from playing in the mud. Think about it.

[Jon Smith]

I remember when i was about 10yo and I saw one of those scenes in movie. It seemed so implausible for me, yet the idea of "sucking bog" totaly fascinated me. I asked my grandmother how is it possible that some mud sucks you down. She didn't give me any relevant aswer, so i stayed suspicious about it. Even in elementary school teachers were able to tell us such rumours. I suspect that was due to the fact that the peat bogs are located on czech-german borders and it was in the time of cold war, so people were discouraged by media of any attempt of crossing the borders. But generally those superstitions are much older than movie industry and TV.

Indeed, the entire mythology may be based on parents trying to keep youngsters from playing in the mud. Think about it.

Oh, the memories. I used to believe it for real, and even then I couldn't resist going in the mud, especially then. But I quickly learned a lot more about mud and quicksand than anyone else of my friends or family.

[FFoxX]

a) the victim over-estimated his (victims of these accidents are almost always male) swimming ability, b) the victim swam into water than fairly suddenly became quite a bit deeper and there encountered an upwelling of much colder water, c) the victim's rate of respiration increased due to both the exertion and the effect of the colder water (ever had a shower suddenly turn cold?), and e) the victim choked on some water.

There is also some aspect of panic which is related to those superstitions and consecutive insecurities. It could lead to some sort of self fulfilling prophecy. I think many people even don't know that they can hardly go under (in clear water) until they choke some water. In backstroke position it's virtualy imposible.