The Lie Was Better Branded
Pirate myths are not random mistakes. They are successful stories. The plank gives fear a countdown. The treasure map gives theft a quest. The parrot gives color. The accent gives everyone at a party something regrettable to do with their voice.
This page is the sorting room. Some pirate stories are documented. Some are reported in early printed tradition. Some are plausible but overused. Some are rare. Some are mostly modern costume shorthand. Some are wonderful nonsense wearing a hat with too much confidence.
The point is not to kill the fun. The point is to keep the fun from eating the history.
