Hey there, curious minds! Ever stumbled upon a Reddit thread so eye-opening that it flips your view of the world on its head? Well, someone asked Reddit users to share things that are extremely rare but often perceived as common, and boy, did the internet deliver. Let’s dive into these revelations, and prepare to have your mind thoroughly blown!
CPR Waking Wonders
“People surviving CPR and waking up immediately acting normal and asking what happened.“
It turns out, those dramatic scenes in movies where someone springs back to life after CPR, asking, “What happened?” are more fiction than fact. CPR is a lifesaving technique, sure, but it’s not a magic wand. Surviving it is one thing; hopping up for a chat is quite another.
Amnesia in Real Life
“Amnesia. It’s common in fiction because it’s convenient in ways that makes things easy for the writers, for example explaining why someone’s dark past is a secret which can be revealed later at the climax of the story. In real life it’s very rare and doesn’t work like people think it does.“
Forget what you’ve seen in soap operas and mystery novels. Real-life amnesia isn’t a convenient plot device. It’s rare, complex, and doesn’t usually involve forgotten identities or secret pasts just waiting for a dramatic reveal.
Stranger Danger?
“Stranger abductions of children represent less than one percent of all missing child cases (in the US, at least). They’re mostly runaways or family abductions.“
The fear of stranger abductions has been ingrained in us, but it turns out, these cases are incredibly rare. Most missing child cases are either runaways or family abductions. So maybe it’s time to reassess those ‘stranger danger’ talks.
Suing for Millions
“Successfully suing a company for millions. Some Redditors will have you believe that any minor inconvenience should earn you some kind of massive payout. And the comments will assure you that the company will do anything to avoid bad PR.“
While some may dream of turning a slip in a supermarket into a million-dollar lawsuit, the reality is far less lucrative. Legal battles are long, exhausting, and often not as rewarding as one might hope.
Insanity Pleas
“Insanity pleas actually sticking.“
In the courtroom dramas, an insanity plea can seem like a get-out-of-jail-free card. However, in real life, it’s a complex and rarely successful defense strategy that often results in long-term institutionalization rather than freedom.
Halloween Highs
“Kids given drugs at Halloween.“
The age-old Halloween myth: beware of strangers giving drugs to kids. In reality, drugs are expensive, and people generally aren’t in the business of handing them out for free to trick-or-treaters.
Acting as a Career
“Casting director here.
Having a career in acting, I don’t mean being famous. I mean paying your bills with acting alone.
I would hazard being an exclusively working actor is about 1% of actors.
But the amount of people still going into acting tells me people think otherwise.“
Dreams of stardom often overshadow the harsh reality of the acting world. Making a living purely from acting is an achievement attained by a mere fraction of those in the industry.
Athletic Stardom
“Your kid becoming a pro (or even college) athlete“
The odds of your little champ making it big in the sports world are, well, not so big. While encouraging sports is great for health and teamwork skills, banking on a professional future might be a bit of a long shot.
Bermuda Triangle Disappearances
“Going missing in the Bermuda triangle“
Despite its mysterious reputation, the Bermuda Triangle isn’t the black hole for ships and planes that folklore would have us believe. Modern navigation and weather forecasting have made it much less ominous.
Manhattan Alleys
“Walking into an alley in Manhattan. Happens all the time in shows/movies, in reality there are like 1 or 2 in the whole borough.“
Manhattan, a labyrinth of alleys? Not quite. Unlike their frequent appearances in films and TV shows, actual alleys in Manhattan are a rare sight.
The Blimp Count
“Blimps, there are only around 25 left“
Blimps, those quirky airships, are rarer than you might think. With only about 25 of them left, spotting one is more of a treat than a common occurrence.
Awake During Surgery
“Being awake during a surgery under general anesthesia. Patients worry about it all the time, but I’ve been doing this 19 years and never seen a real case of this.“
The fear of waking up mid-surgery is a common anxiety, but in reality, it’s an extremely rare occurrence. Anesthesia has come a long way, and so has our understanding of it.
Green-Eyed Rarity
“Green eyes“
Green eyes are often admired for their beauty, but did you know they’re also quite rare? Only a small percentage of the world’s population can boast this unique eye color.
Finding Your Perfect Match
“People who are truly compatible with you(and I mean both friendships and relationships)“
Finding someone who’s truly compatible with you is a lot rarer than rom-coms and fairytales would have you believe. It’s a mix of chemistry, timing, and sheer luck.
Savant Skills in Autism
“Savant abilities in autism. We have Rain Man to thank for that, largely, but there are big questions as to whether the guy this was based on actually should have been diagnosed with something other than ASD.“
The portrayal of savant skills in individuals with autism, as popularized by movies like Rain Man, is not as common as many believe. The reality of autism is far more diverse and complex.
There you have it – a reality check courtesy of the Reddit community. It’s funny how often what we perceive as common is actually anything but. Maybe it’s time to question a few more of those ‘common knowledge’ tidbits we take for granted!