I think about this a lot, especially while raising my own son. My family always said things to scare us into submission “the boogie man will get you, a car will hit you, or your face will freeze up”.
My son is on the autism spectrum. I told him one thing and it made him very sad and anxious and fearful of certain things.
When others try to now I gently correct it before it sticks in his head.
It’s a little scary how easily you can shape someone’s world.