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.
The Mandela Effect
Ever had that feeling when you hear something, such as a celebrity dying, and was sure it had happened before? When that happens to a group of people it has a name: the Mandela Effect. It's called that because there are many who were sure Nelson Mandela died in the 1980s and not in 2013.
Welcome to Alternate Memories, where these and more are documented, discussed and puzzled over. We're not here to judge. We're just trying to find out what's really going on.
Please bear in mind that as you read about them more and more, some will hit you as being ridiculous, and others as spookily accurate. They're not the same for everyone, which is a huge part of their mystery ;-)
John McAfee died in 2012?
Alternate:
John McAfee died in 2012
Current:
John McAfee died in 2021
The wild man of software
When some people heard of the death of John McAfee in prison in 2021, they were shocked.
That's because they were sure they'd heard he died many years earlier, and they knew exactly when and how. They recall the details including the press and TV coverage, and the mass outpouring of articles expressing grief and combing over his remarkable life.
They remember it being suicide by a gunshot wound to the head in 2012.
Some point to a famous wired article in which he apparently plays Russian Roulette with the interviewer to make a point - could this really be the cause of this confusion?
Bible: Wine into wineskins or bottles?
Alternate:
Bible: Wine into wineskins
Current:
Bible: Wine into bottles
Mark 2:22
Many remember the parable of the old wineskins as:
"And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.'"
Jesus said this to illustrate the change of religion from traditional Judaism to what would become Christianity. He was basically saying a complete change of mind is required. However, the KJV (King James Version) has changed to
"And no one pours new wine into old bottles. Otherwise, the wine will burst the bottles, and both the wine and the bottles will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new bottles.'"
The man in the Iron Mask
Alternate:
The man in the Iron Mask wore an iron mask
Current:
The man in the Iron Mask wore a cloth mask
No so fast
It sounds like a joke.
What was the mask that that man in the Iron Mask wore made of?
Although the story has been told and retold in the centuries since the real life events which occurred in France, 1669-1703, the actual answer is velvet. The reason most people assume iron is down to the poetic license of the storytellers of the day, which gave the whole episode a title of it's own which bore the literal description of his unusual facial garment.
Roman thumbs down
Alternate:
The Roman "Thumb down" signal meant die
Current:
The Roman "Thumb down" signal meant live
Backwards
We're all familiar with the thumbs up gesture. It's pretty much universal meaning of "all ok" spans cultures and languages, and when asked, most people would say it's origin comes from the practice of the Roman emperor, or whoever was the big cheese at the time, signaling to a triumphant gladiator whether his defeated opponent should live or die.
Unfortunately, it seems the idea of thumbs up meaning "live" and thumbs down meaning "die" is completely the opposite from what actually happened, This is coming as such as surprise to many people that they are pointing to the Mandela Effect for an explanation regarding this mysterious switch.
The Portrait of Dorian Grey
Alternate:
The Portrait of Dorian Grey
Current:
The Picture of Dorian Grey
Never gets old
Published in 1890, Oscar Wildes famous tale was his only novel. It tells of a young man, Dorian Grey, who makes a wish that his portrait would age rather than himself, which mysteriously comes true. As he lives his life without care, his sins are gradually reflected in his changing image in the portrait. It becomes uglier as time goes by, whilst Dorian remains young and handsome.
The story is of interest because of the title.
Many remember it as The Portrait of Dorian Grey, rather than The Picture of Dorian Grey, and are pointing to the Mandela Effect as a possibility for this.
Michelangelo's David's eyes has heart shaped pupils?
Alternate:
Michelangelo's David's eyes does not have heart shaped pupils.
Current:
Michelangelo's David's eyes has heart shaped pupils.
Renaissance
For over 500 years the statue of David has been a symbol of the Renaissance in Florence. Michelangelo's masterpiece is so famous, and has been studied so much for over 500 years that there couldn't possibly be any controversy over some detail, but it turns out there is.
What shape are the pupils?
It comes as such a surprise to many people they they are heart shaped, than it is being pointed to as a Mandela Effect, because they are sure they have seen the statue before with normal eyes.
Tim Curry dead?
Alternate:
Tim Curry died in 2012
Current:
Tim Curry did not die in 2012
Let's do it again
The Rocky Horror show legend Tim Curry is famous for his timewarp song, so it's only fitting the great man hoimself is the subject of a Mandela Effect. Well, several actually, since they all relate to his death, with many blurring the lines between the usual celebrity death hoaxes and what people believe are actual Mandela Effects.
Unfortunately, Tim had a stroke in 2012 and it seems its this that most people are being confused by. Many swear that he in fact did die then, right down to the media running "life story" programmes and reruns of his movies.
When these false death rumours resurfaced in 2020, he had something to say about them...
