Verboticism: Mythconduct
DEFINITION: n., Cautionary advice provided by parents to their children, often makes no logical sense but carries enough emotional weight to affect the child's behavior. v. To warn of danger through the judicious use of exaggeration.
Mythconduct
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: /mith-kon-dukt/
Sentence: Donna stared wistfully at her friends splashing in the pool, and glanced up at the clock again — it'd been only 53 minutes since she'd eaten that banana — seven more minutes before she could go back in the pool. Her mother had warned her many times that going into the water less than an hour after eating would inevitably cause cramps, which were somehow always fatal. 'Would she die from drowning or from the cramps themselves?' she wondered. What if she just dangled her legs in the water? No, it was just too risky. She couldn't overcome the mythconduct her mother had instilled into her. Six minutes and forty five seconds to go...
Etymology: Myth - any invented story, idea, or concept (from Greek, mythos "speech, story") + Conduct - personal behavior; way of acting (from Latin, conductus "to lead or bring together")
Points: 1277
Comments: Mythconduct
metrohumanx - 2008-08-29: 06:00:00
I always doubted this prohibition. I even sent it in to "Mythbusters"....to no avail.
Tigger - 2008-08-29: 10:12:00
Well, Mythbusters did prove that you shouldn't spin around in a makeshift wirlpool too soon after eating pizza. Funny episode. But I'm convinced that the 1-hour 'no swimming' rule is nonsense. But I knew kids whose mothers wouldn't even let them stand in the wading pool because of that rule.
TJayzz - 2008-08-29: 13:43:00
Good word
Nosila - 2008-08-29: 20:09:00
Welcome back, Tigger, we mythed you!
Rehlit - 2008-09-01: 00:50:00
This one is my favorite, well done!
abrakadeborah - 2009-03-14: 19:07:00
Good word there Tigger, it has a nice ring to it! I like the way you think :)