What Is The Mandela Effect? 10/31/16

What Is The Mandela Effect? 10/31/16

Just the mind playing tricks?
Taylor McCarthy
Taylor McCarthy Oct 31, 2016
300
views

The internet has been buzzing lately with countless videos regarding what is known as the “Mandela Effect.” While most internet trends can be pretty stupid, this particular subject is actually endlessly fascinating. The basic concept of the Mandela Effect is that a person or group of people have a vivid memory of something happening or being a certain way, when in fact it never occurred at all. The theory got its name from Nelson Mandela. While Nelson Mandela died in 2013, some people recall him dying back in 1980’s during his time in prison. As more instances popped up, the conspiracy theory snowballed into what it is now. It is believed that because so many people have stated their belief of things happening differently than they actually have, that the reasoning is due to alternate realities existing and we are somehow going back and forth between them.

A popular meme came about in 2010 regarding a popular children’s book series from years ago. Take a look at this image here and try to remember the name of the series:

If you remember this as The Berenstein Bears, you are wrong. Most people my age seem to remember very clearly that they grew up reading all about the Berenstein family, when in reality, they are the Berenstain Bears. Just a one letter difference has people freaking out. Following this discovery, someone uploaded a photo online of a VHS tape that had both spellings!

Maybe it was just a misprint. Or maybe that's what they want you to think. If these two examples don’t have you convinced, take a look at some other Mandela effects below.

1. Sex and the City

It is believed by many people that the popular television show was actually named Sex in the City. A video was put up online of a man with several merchandise items for the show that had “in” printed on them instead of “and."

2. KitKat

According to some, the original KitKat logo featured a hyphen separating the two words. While it seems possible that the company changed the spelling at some point over the years, none of the previously used logos have a dash present.

3. Chick-fil-A

This restaurant’s name is commonly misspelled, but for anyone that frequents this place, they could probably spell it out for you easily. A solid portion of Chick-fil-A lovers swear that there was no ‘k’ in the word chick.

4. Monopoly

When thinking of the monopoly man character, several different features come to mind. His top hat, cane in hand, and mustache are just some of the characteristics, but what about a monocle? Evidently, the character has never had a monocle! If you google monopoly Halloween costumes, you’ll see plenty of photos where people are decked out in his proper attire, INCLUDING the monocle.

5. Oscar Mayer

When thinking about this brand name, it’s hard not to jump right into singing the song we’re used to hearing in commercials. Although, you might be singing it incorrectly. If you think it’s “My bologna has a second name / It’s M-E-Y-E-R,” think again! M-A-Y-E-R is the actual spelling.

6. We Are The Champions

If you don’t know this iconic Queen song, you must be living under a rock. Plenty of people know it word for word, but it’s been made known that the placement of certain lyrics aren’t quite what some individuals recall. The line at the very end of the track is not, “‘Cause we are the champions of the world,” but is simply just, “‘Cause we are the champions.” Very weird.

7. Jif

As far as I can remember, my favorite peanut butter has always been Jif. It wasn’t until I researched the Mandela Effect that I began to question if this had been the brand name forever. It’s been noted that Jiffy is the alternate name being remembered. Personally, I'll believe the latter once people claim Skippy peanut butter is actually Skip.

8. Skechers

I used to repeat the slogan, “Skechers, it’s the S!” all the time as a child. I paid so much attention to the advertisements that it really bugs me out noticing there is actually no ’t’ in the word. I could have sworn it was Sketchers, which would honestly just make more sense.

9. I Love Lucy

There’s all sorts of memorable quotes that have come from television shows, but there is one that has stuck with each generation from this particular show. “Lucy, you got some ‘splainin’ to do!” is a line just about anyone will recognize if you say it to them, but as it turns out, the statement was never once said during aired episodes. Avid I Love Lucy fans have rewatched the series and found not one instance where the line was used.

There are several more examples of the Mandela Effect you can find online. You can probably even come up with some of your own if you think it over long enough. We may never know why we remember things one way when in reality it’s the other. All I know is, some things are too odd to be coincidental.

Cover Image Credit: KnowYourMeme
Taylor McCarthy
Taylor McCarthy Oct 31, 2016
At College of Staten Island

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8 Reasons Why My Dad Is the Most Important Man In My Life

Forever my number one guy.
Sydney Kofron
Sydney Kofron Mar 29, 2016
56867
views

Growing up, there's been one consistent man I can always count on, my father. In any aspect of my life, my dad has always been there, showing me unconditional love and respect every day. No matter what, I know that my dad will always be the most important man in my life for many reasons.

1. He has always been there.

Literally. From the day I was born until today, I have never not been able to count on my dad to be there for me, uplift me and be the best dad he can be.

2. He learned to adapt and suffer through girly trends to make me happy.

I'm sure when my dad was younger and pictured his future, he didn't think about the Barbie pretend pageants, dressing up as a princess, perfecting my pigtails and enduring other countless girly events. My dad never turned me down when I wanted to play a game, no matter what and was always willing to help me pick out cute outfits and do my hair before preschool.

3. He sends the cutest texts.

Random text messages since I have gotten my own cell phone have always come my way from my dad. Those randoms "I love you so much" and "I am so proud of you" never fail to make me smile, and I can always count on my dad for an adorable text message when I'm feeling down.

4. He taught me how to be brave.

When I needed to learn how to swim, he threw me in the pool. When I needed to learn how to ride a bike, he went alongside me and made sure I didn't fall too badly. When I needed to learn how to drive, he was there next to me, making sure I didn't crash.

5. He encourages me to best the best I can be.

My dad sees the best in me, no matter how much I fail. He's always there to support me and turn my failures into successes. He can sit on the phone with me for hours, talking future career stuff and listening to me lay out my future plans and goals. He wants the absolute best for me, and no is never an option, he is always willing to do whatever it takes to get me where I need to be.

6. He gets sentimental way too often, but it's cute.

Whether you're sitting down at the kitchen table, reminiscing about your childhood, or that one song comes on that your dad insists you will dance to together on your wedding day, your dad's emotions often come out in the cutest possible way, forever reminding you how loved you are.


7. He supports you, emotionally and financially.

Need to vent about a guy in your life that isn't treating you well? My dad is there. Need some extra cash to help fund spring break? He's there for that, too.

8. He shows me how I should be treated.

Yes, my dad treats me like a princess, and I don't expect every guy I meet to wait on me hand and foot, but I do expect respect, and that's exactly what my dad showed I deserve. From the way he loves, admires, and respects me, he shows me that there are guys out there who will one day come along and treat me like that. My dad always advises me to not put up with less than I deserve and assures me that the right guy will come along one day.

For these reasons and more, my dad will forever be my No. 1 man. I love you!

Sydney Kofron
Sydney Kofron Mar 29, 2016
At University of Arizona

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From One Nerd To Another

My contemplation of the complexities between different forms of art.

Flannery Brown
Flannery Brown Apr 18, 2019
694
views

Aside from reading Guy Harrison's guide to eliminating scientific ignorance called, "At Least Know This: Essential Science to Enhance Your Life" and, "The Breakthrough: Immunotherapy and the Race to Cure Cancer" by Charles Graeber, an informative and emotional historical account explaining the potential use of our own immune systems to cure cancer, I read articles and worked on my own writing in order to keep learning while enjoying my winter break back in December. I also took a trip to the Guggenheim Museum.


I wish I was artistic. Generally, I walk through museums in awe of what artists can do. The colors and dainty details simultaneously inspire me and remind me of what little talent I posses holding a paintbrush. Walking through the Guggenheim was no exception. Most of the pieces are done by Hilma af Klint, a 20th-century Swedish artist expressing her beliefs and curiosity about the universe through her abstract painting. I was mostly at the exhibit to appease my mom (a K - 8th-grade art teacher), but as we continued to look at each piece and read their descriptions, I slowly began to appreciate them and their underlying meanings.


I like writing that integrates symbols, double meanings, and metaphors into its message because I think that the best works of art are the ones that have to be sought after. If the writer simply tells you exactly what they were thinking and how their words should be interpreted, there's no room for imagination. An unpopular opinion in high school was that reading "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne was fun. Well, I thought it was. At the beginning of the book, there's a scene where Hawthorne describes a wild rosebush that sits just outside of the community prison. As you read, you are free to decide whether it's an image of morality, the last taste of freedom and natural beauty for criminals walking toward their doom, or a symbol of the relationship between the Puritans with their prison-like expectations and Hester, the main character, who blossoms into herself throughout the novel. Whichever one you think it is doesn't matter, the point is that the rosebush can symbolize whatever you want it to. It's the same with paintings - they can be interpreted however you want them to be.


As we walked through the building, its spiral design leading us further and further upwards, we were able to catch glimpses of af Klint's life through the strokes of her brush. My favorite of her collections was one titled, "Evolution." As a science nerd myself, the idea that the story of our existence was being incorporated into art intrigued me. One piece represented the eras of geological time through her use of spirals and snails colored abstractly. She clued you into the story she was telling by using different colors and tones to represent different periods. It felt like reading "The Scarlet Letter" and my biology textbook at the same time. Maybe that sounds like the worst thing ever, but to me it was heaven. Art isn't just art and science isn't just science. Aspects of different studies coexist and join together to form something amazing that will speak to even the most untalented patron walking through the museum halls.

Flannery Brown
Flannery Brown Apr 18, 2019
At Fordham University

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