The Straight Dope: Is Paul Bunyan a fraud?

[Send questions for Cecil Adams: cecil@straightdope.com](mailto:cecil@straightdope.com) FOLLOW CECIL ADAMS ON [TWITTER]( AND [FACEBOOK](! [020510.gif] THREADSPOTTING: THE BEST OF THE STRAIGHT DOPE MESSAGE BOARD — 06/14/2019 Say what? Say where? [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #1 — 05/10/2002 Dear Cecil: Everyone has heard the great American folk legend of Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue ox. But I have heard that Paul Bunyan is nothing more than the invention of a lumber company — a corporate logo no more mythological than Mr. Clean or the Pillsbury Doughboy. I've tried searching this on the Internet, and I've found some sites that claim that the Red River Lumber Company did indeed create the character, whereas others say the company just took the legend and used it in their ads. You seem to be the man who knows his stuff, and I figure if anyone can come up with a definitive answer to this question it's you. — Andrew Micak Cecil replies: The Paul Bunyan tales have been described as “fakelore” — “a slender vein of oral anecdote” embellished by copywriters for low commercial ends. That’s putting it a little harshly; the stories are a cut above the usual promotional puffery. Still, there’s no denying the truth … [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE STAFF REPORT — 09/05/2001 Dear Straight Dope: I was talking to a friend about bees the other day, and started wondering something. When a bee stings you it usually dies when its stinger gets stuck. My question is, do the bees have enough intelligence to know that stinging equals death? Or are they too unaware to even realize that they're on kamikaze missions? Your answer may shape the way we look at bees--as either brave and noble crusaders, sacrificing themselves for the good of their hive, or bad tempered and stupid pests, blindly attacking anything in sight without regard or even consideration for their own well-being. — Jim Burm via AOL SDStaff Doug replies: We need to restrain the impulse to anthropomorphize, Jim. Brave and noble crusaders, or bad tempered and stupid pests? What are we talking about here, bees or lawyers? Nonetheless you raise a good question … [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #3 09/24/1993 Dear Cecil: Who exactly were the Aryans? Being Indian, I've heard all about the mythic accomplishments of my forefathers, who were reputedly Aryan. But how much of it is true and how is it that Aryan blood is prized from Calcutta to Berlin? Where exactly did they come from and where did they go? When people make mention of Indo-European languages, cultures, etc., are they referring to Aryans? What did the Aryans look like? I'm pretty sure they weren't the blond-haired blue-eyed stock of Hitler's wet dreams, but what racial characteristics did they possess? Also, how did the myths of Aryan supremacy come up? — RS Cecil replies: Never mind nukes and germ warfare — if you really want to wreak havoc in the world, you can’t beat a dubious idea. Aryanism is the classic example. But it started innocently enough. [Click here]( for more. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [View this message as a webpage](. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. To advertise on The Straight Dope, contact Rich Hummel at rhummel@suntimes.com [Privacy Policy/Terms of Use]( • [Unsubscribe]( © 2019 Straight Dope, LLC. 30 N Racine Ave. Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60607