Mermaids' superstitions and misconceptions about humans

[PearlieMae]

I have an idea for a story, and I'm looking for suggestions for misconceptions mermaids might have about humans. Ideas? Keep in mind that I will be aiming for a younger audience.

[Coradion]

Humans are dirty people who leave trash in the water and don't slow their boats for mermaids, manatees, and other marine life.

[PearlieMae]

Excellent! Thanks!

Anything absurd?

[selkie13]

They poison the water with black stuff so that the can't breathe
There nets catch the young and are never seen again
Um, this is difficult I see why you posted a thread

[Prince Calypso]

Human are beastly animalisic creatures. they are covered in hair with heavy brows and dark eyes
they will eat you as though you were a simple fish, can you imagine, us! Simple Fish!?
also they cant sing!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Try searching mermaid stories from other countries, not just western ones.

Like a Japanese cartoon series I watched recently, if you eat mermaid flesh, you can live forever.

The protagonist of the story only took a little bite, but was forced into it, so he became an immortal. And he found another girl like himself who ate the flesh because it was the only thing to save her life cos she was dying of sickness at the time. To me, the story was, if you had a pure heart (nice person) and only ate a tiny bit, you would become immortal. But if you were greedy type and always trying to nom the entire rack of roast mermaid, they had suffer the consequences like disfigurement and often instant death.

Probably not meant for younger kids, but maybe you could change some things around so they're not so gory.

[deepblue]

Humans have babies by stealing pearls. That's why they keep taking the oysters!

[Echidna]

No superstition is going to be anywhere near the horrid reality.

Maybe you could sensitize your audience (kids or not) a bit about those issues.
Imagine when they find out what they thought was a chilling scare story is completely real!

You're sure to impress them with that :p

[PearlieMae]

Thanks!! I like the pearls one...the horrid reality ones are going to be a little tough for the 3-7 year old crowd.

Picture this, a mermaid and little girl are arguing, the little girl saying the mermaid can't possibly be a mermaid because all mermaids have red hair, green tails and have fishy friends like in the movies. The mermaid counters with...___________________.

See what I mean?

Ireneho, I think Mermaid Scar is a little beyond this age group!

Educating them to the harsh realities of what humans are doing to the waters is a good idea, but I would also like to have repeat birthday party business. Something a little lighter, perhaps?

[deepblue]

I can't think of an answer for that... could be something like, "My sister looks like that... but I like my tail and hair, AND I have a unique and shining personality." But yeah as for a counter-superstition... I can't think of a thing.

I was thinking about the superstitions I remember hearing as a kid, beyond the black cats and breaking mirrors. But you could work with those in an ocean environment.

And you got me to picturing two merkids talking.

"I'm going to swim up and see that boat!"
"No, don't. My mama says if a human sees you, all your hair turns to seaweed and sea urchins nest on your tail."
Eyes her suspiciously. "...nuh uh."
"Uh huh."

[SeaGlass Siren]

for japanese mermaids " dont go near the surface! humans eat mermaids! "

[PearlieMae]

I can't think of an answer for that... could be something like, "My sister looks like that... but I like my tail and hair, AND I have a unique and shining personality." But yeah as for a counter-superstition... I can't think of a thing.

I was thinking about the superstitions I remember hearing as a kid, beyond the black cats and breaking mirrors. But you could work with those in an ocean environment.

And you got me to picturing two merkids talking.

"I'm going to swim up and see that boat!"
"No, don't. My mama says if a human sees you, all your hair turns to seaweed and sea urchins nest on your tail."
Eyes her suspiciously. "...nuh uh."
"Uh huh."

AWESOME!

[Mary Marine]

Humans are addicted to looking at tiny boxes of light and will stare are these flashing light boxes for hours at a time.

[PearlieMae]

I LOVE that!

[Lyretail]

Human are beastly animalisic creatures. Also they cant sing!
( "They can't sing ", that made me laugh so hard.)


Humans have babies by stealing pearls. That's why they keep taking the oysters!
(Ooh, snap, that's a really good one!)


✦Humans use their belly buttons as a third breathing hole?

✦Human toes work like air sensors, and they cover them because they prefer being unaware to the dangers around them. Hence why they are always stubbing their toes while wearing socks? (Those who stub bare feet have poor toe sensors?)

Uhmmm what else. Humans have a fear of water; Those that sit in the rain or swim are considered extremists,insane,or not considered highly intelligent?

✦If you tip a human upside down they become invisible? Much like how the bellies of luminescent fish work in warding off predators who swim beneath them.

✦The shorter a human is to the ground, the more likely they will be to understanding the plight of other creatures?

✦Humans actually eat garbage for a living, and are just depositing garbage into the sea as an offering to fictional gods? (Much like leaving an offering of peace to larger sea-creatures who might opt for eating mers without some kind of persuasion)

✦And here's a special misconception... Humans used to be Merfolk long ago? Some merfolk were corrupted by greed, and as a result grew two tails instead of one. As the greed stricken merfolk basked in the heat of the sun, they would claim more and more land as their basking spots, venturing further out of the water each time. Until they became so greedy... Humble merfolk never saw them return to the waters again. And it is said that Humans are the final product of that corruption and greed; forsaken to never swim their previous watery homelands for very long without the use of 'magic'(technology).

I don't know. But it sure is fun making up absurd rumors about humanity based off what another species could theoretically gossip to one another about.Best of luck to you!

[PearlieMae]

Wow, Lyretail! You should write a book! These are wonderful and now my mind is swimming with the possibilities!

Thanks, gang!

[Mermaid Dottie]

I like those, Lyre! You're brilliant!
How about:
"Well, you can't really be a human, because humans are hairy all over, really big, and yell things like 'ARR' and 'Scurvied Bilge-hats!' I think you're just a mermaid that changed your tail into starfish arms."

[PearlieMae]

I had a thought of a mermaid with a little candy box with a cellophane front and a little glow fish inside...she stares at it a while and says to the fish "Are you having fun?" Fish shakes side to side saying no..."Me either" and she lets him out of the box and he swims away.

"I don't get it" the mermaid says.

[Mary Marine]

Humans drink funny smelling colored water that makes them yell and fall off their boats.

[telzey.amberdon]

Human babies are brought by the stork, found under cabbages, etc. Humans are crippled mermaids. Humans wear clothing to keep wet cloth against their skin or they dry out. Humans use boats to keep dry on water because if they get wet they turn into mermaids.

[Anahita]

What if, like the stereotype for mermaids is just that, mer MAIDS, so mermaids stereotype for humans is hu MEN. lol.

It would work better for European descent folklore, and for 18th century folklore, since by the 19th century women are plenty found on boats, but just a thought.

[PearlieMae]

Oh, that's something to think about! If I write a period piece, I will definitely consider that as a plot device.

Here's one: Split tail rock swimmers live in boxes made of stone.

[Gem Stone]

if all mermaids had red hair and green tails, it would be really boring underwater. why don't all humans have the same hair and skin color? huh? and who are you to tell me that I'm not real? we're having a conversation aren't we? do you make a habit to talk to things that don't exist? do you talk to unicorns too?

actual conversation I had with a seven year old

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Humans are banished mermaids who did something bad and now have to live on land.

[Miyu]

I LOVE THIS THREAD :D

[PearlieMae]

if all mermaids had red hair and green tails, it would be really boring underwater. why don't all humans have the same hair and skin color? huh? and who are you to tell me that I'm not real? we're having a conversation aren't we? do you make a habit to talk to things that don't exist? do you talk to unicorns too?

actual conversation I had with a seven year old

HAHAHA! I spewed my coffee!

[Jeblily]

Hmmm I like something along the lines of a body part a mer wouldn't have.... something along the lines of but you can't be a human, humans have these things called feet and you just told me those rubber things are your flippers!!! ( I imagine a little girl snorkeling with her family and getting scared by the mermaid)

[Mermaid Mhara]

well, you see...

Above the water is these things...they call them 'Lands' they're like water, only dry...and full of something called 'air'. This strange, short seaweed grows on the 'lands' bed, and these tall things that are brown and have green scale-like things on them grow here and there. The sand is grainy and hot on the 'lands' but...that isn't even the oddest thing about this weird place!

There's these things...like us, except...no scales, no fins, no gills...and their HAIR...oh my gosh! It grows in...other places...not just their heads...it covers their faces and arms. They're called 'peoples' or something like that...they live in clumps in these big places filled with electric eels which are hundreds of fins tall! They carry themselves along the water in odd creatures called 'Boats', like Whales except louder...and they literally sit INSIDE them.
They have a tail..well, actually, that's a lie...they have TWO. The worst of these 'peoples' are the Sailors...they sit inside HUGE 'boats' and lure Mermaids in with their beautiful chanting...but their chanting is hypnotic and it sends Mermaids up to the 'air' where they suffocate without water to breathe.

But there's this tale, that deep in the furthest of 'lands' lives the Queen of the 'Peoples' and her seven beautiful 'people' sons. They live in a luxurious castle formed out of solid dry sand, and beautiful gemstones.

But never get too close to a 'people'! They eat fish, and so would probably not think twice about eating a mermaid.

[deepblue]

if all mermaids had red hair and green tails, it would be really boring underwater. why don't all humans have the same hair and skin color? huh? and who are you to tell me that I'm not real? we're having a conversation aren't we? do you make a habit to talk to things that don't exist? do you talk to unicorns too?

actual conversation I had with a seven year old

ha! I love that.

[Lyretail]

Lots of great ideas in here! (I'm enjoying reading everyone's imaginative expressions.)





which are hundreds of fins tall!

...They sit inside HUGE 'boats' and lure Mermaids in with their beautiful chanting...but their chanting is hypnotic and it sends Mermaids up to the 'air' where they suffocate without water to breathe.
I think it's clever you've made a Mer-version of a measurement system! "Fins tall" like "Feet/foot tall" or "Hand stall" (for measuring horses) , Excellent!

[PearlieMae]

I had a thought for an exchange where the girl was tring to convince the mermaid that the fish were her friends, but all the mermaid could think was that Nemo looked delicious.

[Mary Marine]

a body part a mer wouldn't have....

*inappropriate giggles*

[Jeblily]

*inappropriate giggles* I knew it was going to go there........... :lol: