Alan:

How dare you inject actual science into the received wisdom of surrealism! Actually, myths of survivalism might make a pretty good thread to explore.

I'll start: "If you're lost in the woods, follow waterways downstream; it will lead you to civilization."

While I acknowledge it may sometimes work, experience suggests, when lost in the mountains, it will often lead only to thicket-choked ravines, and increasingly steep, dangerous or impassible terrain, along with making both air and ground searches less able to find you. Likewise, in flatter terrain, like much of the US Southeast, it could lead you into swamps, bogs and other gator and skeeter-infested, and nearly impassable terrain. Generally it is much better to stick to ridgelines and other open terrain, sheltering on the margins if weather dictates.

Jeff