If we consider only a single year, it's not difficult to see just how many events and news stories will fall through the cracks as time marches on.
Sure, the events that affect many people and the stories that concern influential leaders may persist in our memory, but unfortunately, the experiences of so many common people will simply not make the cut of remembered history.
And that is just a single year.
Now consider hundreds of years of history. Imagine all the events and victims of disaster that you've never even thought of, never conceived existed at all. Truthfully, that describes most of the people who've ever lived.
There are plenty of tragedies that didn't receive much press at the time they occurred, let alone make it into the record of common knowledge.
But never fear, a Reddit thread is here to shed light on at least a few of those catastrophes, be they immoral transgressions or random calamities.
rockingkp asked, "What are some of dark events happened in history not many people know about?"
The Value of Laws
"In the early 80's, Bayer knowingly sold millions of dollars worth of HIV and hepatitis tainted medications to Asia and Latin America. These countries didn't have laws to prevent the proliferation of tainted drugs. Thousands of people died as a result."
"It was hardly mentioned on any news platforms."
-- beardcloset
Taxidermy Surprise
"Once in the seventies, a film crew was filming an episode of The Six Million Dollar Man, and they were shooting at an amusement park fun house kind of thing."
"A stage hand was moving what he thought was a prop wax figure on a noose, only for one arm to fall off, revealing human flesh and bone underneath."
"After an autopsy, it was revealed to be the 60 something year old corpse of an old wild west outlaw that had been taxidermied to an extent."
Horrifying Practices
"The Ideal Maternity Home here in Canada. From the 1920s till the 1940s, they took in babies from unwed mothers and they were selling them especially to desperate Jewish families in New Jersey (adoption was illegal in the US back then)."
"It was later discovered that the people who ran this business would starve the 'unmarketable' babies by feeding them only molasses and water (the babies would last around 2 weeks on this diet). They put the corpses in wooden box often used for butter and that's why the victims are called the Butterbox Babies."
"The boxes were either buried on the property or at sea or burned in the home furnace. The parents who gave their child to this maternity home would go back and see how their child is doing but were told the child has died when in fact it had been sold to adopting parents."
"Between 400 and 600 died in that home and at least a thousand were adopted but sadly, the adopted babies often suffered from diseases because of the unsanitary conditions and lack of care at the home."
-- Pomsan
Totally Ineffective
"During prohibition the government funded and lead an operation to release barrels of alcohol that they had poisoned to make people sick and shy away from bootleg liquor."
"Lots of people ended up dying but people still drank more than ever."
-- maceman486
A Rough Decade
"The Halifax Explosion."
"Regarded by many as the biggest man-made explosion prior to the invention of the atomic bomb. A ship laden with explosives collided with another vessel in Halifax Harbour. The resulting explosion flattened much of the city's downtown core, killing roughly 2,000 and injuring 9,000."
"The blast is said to have temporarily displaced the water in the harbour, forming a tsunami that reached up to 15 metres high, surging over the wreckage of the waterfront."
"The following day, Halifax was hit by a blizzard that dumped 40 cm of snow on top of the city, further complicating rescue efforts."
"The city is also home to a cemetery where many victims of the Titanic were laid to rest. It is said that the body identification system developed at the time of the Titanic's sinking in 1912 aided efforts to identify victims of the Halifax explosion in 1917."
-- keoura
Nicer On Paper, Dreadful In Real Life
"In my family's region in Africa they used to carry out the death penalty by snakebite."
"Just a snakebite to each ankle, and then letting the man spend his remaining time with his family before he died (under supervision)."
"I thought it sounded sort of humane in a way, like our lethal injections, but apparently they say it was one of the most horrific ways that existed."
-- nonodru3
A Week Is Plenty
"'Khuk Khi Kai,' or the 'Chicken Poop Prison' in Thailand. Used by French forces to hold political prisoners (rebellious Thai people) in the Chanthaburi region."
"The long-standing impacts of this much-feared torture are still felt in the region today - there's a Thai saying for those who buck authority that roughly translates to 'Be careful not to get caught in a chicken poop prison.' I learned about this prison from my parents who learned about it from theirs."
"How it worked, was there was a small, 2-story prison. Bottom floor houses the prisoners, and the top floor is basically a huge chicken coop."
"The grated floor/ceiling ensures that the chicken poop falls onto the prisoners below."
"Apparently, even though the 'maximum sentence' in Khuk Khi Kai was around a week, it was one of the most feared punishments there was."
-- entlp
An Elder to Tell About It
"The massacre of kalavrita. It is a village in Greece. The Germans entered it and rounded up all the male villagers in a field. They then shot them all with machine guns."
"After that they got the children and women and put them in the church. When everyone was inside, they locked the doors and set fire to the church."
"Around 20 minutes into the burning, a German soldier couldn't take it anymore and opened the doors. Around half of the people escaped the fire but the rest perished. The German soldier was shot for this, and if you go to kalavrita today his name is on the memorial."
"No one was punished for this apart from the leader of the division, who I was told by my grandmother that he died in a gulag. But everyone else got away with it. It is sad that no one knows about this, as things like this happened all over Greece and Russia and Poland."
"I only know about this because my Great grandmother was one who escaped in the church. This massacre was in retaliation for the villagers supporting the local resistance force, which had recently killed about 10 Nazis."
-- Zaffa_07
PPE Problems Have Been Around for Awhile
"The Radium Girls. In the 1920s, they worked at a watch company painting the hours on the watches using radium, a radioactive element that glows in the dark. They did this with no PPE and weren't told radium is dangerous. Meanwhile, the chemists had full PPE and worked in a sealed environment."
"Worse, they were instructed to lick the tip of the brush to make a very fine point. Some of them would paint their nails or their teeth with it for fun when they went out at night."
"They would develop cancer whenever the paint touched, and many of them had such decay in their jaws that their mandibles had to be held on with bandages."
Earth's Sudden Changes
"The Children's Blizzard. It occurred in January 1888 on an unseasonably warm day. The weather was nice and many school-kids were tricked into not wearing coats or jackets to school, some only in short sleeves."
"While the kids were in class, the weather outside changed dramatically from warm and sunny at noon to dark and heavy like a thunderstorm, with heavy winds and visibility at 3 steps by 3 pm."
"Children left school to go home and do their chores (this was in Minnesota) and were expected to milk the cows and do whatever else was involved in the family farm."
"But they got lost in the darkness and snow and the wind and many froze to death in their town, just yards from houses or other sources of refuge. 235 people, mostly children died."
Popes on Popes on Popes
"The Cadaver Synod"
"Basically the pope had a previous Pope's corpse exhumed so the corpse could stand trial for something made up. So they dug up his bloated 7 month old corpse and convicted him, retroactively nullifying his papacy."
"Then they dumped his bloated and convicted corpse in a river. The people got pissed and overthrew the pope, who was strangled in prison."
"The next pope came along and had the corpse collected from the river and its papacy posthumously reinstated."
"897 was a crazy year."
Sounds Familiar
"The San Francisco Plague of 1900-1904 was a terrible, scary time when the Black Plague was beginning to ravage San Francisco."
"California's governor tried to suppress information about the outbreak and restrict any activities to curtail it because he feared economic damage to the state. He even tried to get the doctor who was warning people about the outbreak fired."
"What information did get out was used against the Chinese residents as it was believed that it was a disease of the 'unclean.'"
"Had it not been for the earthquake in 1906 that devastated the city, the plague outbreak would have probably been more remembered."
-- jthanson
Not to be Forgotten
"There's a surprising amount of people that don't know about the Rwanda genocide that happened pretty recently (like when Bill Clinton was president)."
"Basically there were two 'types' of Rwanda natives: the Hutus and Tutsis. The Hutus believed the Tutsis were invaders of land that was theirs, and after the assassination of the Rwandan leader (who was a Hutu), the Hutus were ordered to 'chop down the tall trees' which meant kill the Tutsis."
"The 'differences' between Hutus and Tutsis were that Hutus were supposedly darker-skinned, shorter in stature, and had shorter faces. That's why the Tutsis were called 'tall trees.'"
"The events that followed killed so many Tutsis, yet the UN was stingy to call it a genocide (they never like using that term because of its association with WWII and the Nazis)."
"It wasn't until very recently that the killings stopped. To this day, Hutus and Tutsis that survived the genocide speak at events side-by-side speaking about how terrible the events were."
Battered by Forces Beyond Him
"The sad case of Ota Benga. He was a 'pygmy' boy from the Congo who was essentially captured and brought to the USA to be displayed in freak shows. He had undergone tribal customs such as having his teeth filed into points before his capture."
"He eventually got out of the carnivals and dreamed of returning to Africa, then WWI happened, making the trip impossible for the foreseeable future."
-- Hardcore_EHS
In the Closing Days
"The sinking of the Sultana which occurred in 1865. Legally allowed to carry 375 people, it was carrying over 2,300 recently released Union POWs, civilians and crew when the boiler exploded. About 1,800 people died from steam burns and drowning."
"Why so many people? Greed. The U.S. government would pay $2.75 per enlisted man and $8 per officer to any steamboat captain who would take a group north."
"So the captain took on more and more passengers. Plus the men were desperate to get home as the war had finally ended."
"The Sultana explosion occurred the same month the war ended and Lincoln was assassinated, so it was barely a blip in the news."
-- SylkoZakurra
A Disgusting Curiosity
"You know Jameson Whiskey? Well a long a** time ago in like the 19th one of their family Heirs fed a little girl to cannibals."
"Like legit went and bought a little girl in the Congo as a slave and brought her up to a cannibal tribe because he wanted to see them."
"Sick fu** drew pictures of it and sh** as it was happening."
"Of course for years the family tried to bury the fact, and the stories and such. Discredit the witnesses."
"But the crazy bastard was happy to document the whole thing, his only rebuttal in case it reflected badly on him was that 'he wanted to see if they would do it.'"
"And his accounts matched up with the evidence witnesses had provided."
-- MurrayMan92
Education System of Torture
"The Inuit people were brought to boarding schools in the mainland of the US. Then, since they lived full time at the schools, the school had some special rights over the kids."
"During the COLD WAR, the US military made these kids drink radioactive stuff for 'experiments' because the schools signed off on it. Obviously this has caused many of them to develop cancer, and many have had no reparations to this day."
-- Abstract-Pi
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Exam Proctors Describe The Most Elaborate Attempts At Cheating They've Ever Witnessed
Students who have not prepared for an exam somehow have the energy to devise a plan to cheat.
Ploys
<p>These Redditors witnessed answers being relayed to students by an unassuming accomplice.</p><p>While the tactics may have looked good on paper, they failed to fool anyone. <br></p>Using A "Translator"
<p>"At the test center I used to work candidates were allowed to bring a translator of their choice as long as it got approved by the state. Most of the time it was a family member and we would listen in on the conversation using a headset and record it. Once in a while, while replaying the recordings we would hear signals and patterns given by the translator telling the candidate which option to choose. Busted!"</p><p>– <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lqkhsq/exam_proctors_of_reddit_what_is_the_most/goh177j?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Csuz9022</a><br></p>Braiding Hair
<p>"Not an exam proctor, but a student who heard of this afterwards. It was two girls, and the one who knew the answers sat behind the other. During the test, she started braiding the other girl's hair. When the teacher wasn't looking, the one in the front would make a number with her fingers on the side of her thigh (the question), and the other responded by pulling her hair on specific spots (A, B, C, D)."</p><p>"They made a habit of braiding each other's hair everyday days before the exam so the teacher wouldn't find it weird. I was the goody two shoes who never cheated, but even I had to respect them."</p><p>– <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lqkhsq/exam_proctors_of_reddit_what_is_the_most/gohx322?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leticia_the_bookworm</a><br></p>Notes To Self
<p>Some students used their own bodies to scribble down the answers – including on thighs, arms, and even mixed among freckles.</p><p>All that work disguising the answers could have been spent on studying.</p><p>Yet, here we are. <br></p>Notes On Thighs
<p>"I'm not an examiner but my mate once wrote out loads of notes on his thighs then went to the toilet during the exam- the examiner led him to the toilet to check the cubicle out first etc then waited to listen for papers rustling etc. He wasn't very smart but that could well be the smartest idea he's ever come up with. Absolutely do not condone though!"</p><p>– <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lqkhsq/exam_proctors_of_reddit_what_is_the_most/goguirq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sophloopyP</a><br></p>Camouflage With Freckles
<p>"I have a lot of freckles on my arm, which would turn lighter if I put pressure on the skin, which gave me an idea. If I used a marker with a similar color as my freckles, I could make dots that formed letters or numbers, and when I pressed my arm just right, the freckles would fade for a second or two, but the ink would remain dark. Couldn't write a lot like this, but enough for notes on more difficult concepts. Never got caught."</p><p>– <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lqkhsq/exam_proctors_of_reddit_what_is_the_most/gohqb1h?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">FourRosesVII</a><br></p>Two "BUSTED" Students
<p>"Not a proctor but I witnessed two students get caught cheating while we were taking exams."</p><p>"One girl wore cheap/thin leggings that were slightly too tight. When she sat down, they would stretch out further and would basically become see-through over her thighs. She had a bunch of equations written on her thighs that one of the proctors noticed as they walked around the testing room. BUSTED."</p><p>"One guy had a bunch of stuff written on the insides of his arms, near his wrists . He wore a long-sleeved shirt that he would pull up/down. One of the proctors noticed him messing with it across the room and had him pull his sleeves up. BUSTED."</p><p>"Don't cheat, kids. You really don't want to have to explain to future employers or grad schools why you have an academic suspension or worse on your transcript."</p>Tricks Up My Sleeve
<p>Instead of relying on accomplices or their own flesh canvases, the following students devised ingenious ways to cheat. </p><p>One proctor was astonished while watching one particular student who, like a magician, produced slips of paper from "everywhere."</p>Printing Personalized Labels
<p>"I knew a guy who would make his own labels for soda/water bottles, but change the nutrition info to be useful equations for the test. The labels' material was identical to regular ones, even down to the gloss of the paper. Seems like if he spent the time studying, instead of making perfect labels for cheating, he wouldn't need the labels in the first place." </p><p>– <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lqkhsq/exam_proctors_of_reddit_what_is_the_most/goi5cta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Helldiver-xzoen</a><br></p>So 2020
<p>"My friend came up with the realization that you can slip a paper into your mask and then pull it to see what you wrote."</p><p>– <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lqkhsq/exam_proctors_of_reddit_what_is_the_most/gogvb4u?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Disposable_baka404</a><br></p>The Pen
<p>"In high school, circa 1996, I somehow obtained the answers to a 20 question test. I proceeded to go to the computer lab and type the answers and then printed them in size 3 font. Then I cut them out and taped them on one side of a white Bic pen. During the test I could roll the pen so the answers weren't visible, and then when I need to look I could tilt the pen slightly and see the answer. I missed two on purpose so the teacher wouldn't figure I cheated."</p><p>– <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lqkhsq/exam_proctors_of_reddit_what_is_the_most/gohmm4p?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Flip17</a><br></p>So Many Slips Of Paper
<p>"Guy came in to sit an exam (along with one or two dozen others), wearing an eyepatch and with one arm in a sling with a prosthetic hand. Pretty unusual, but whatever. But I got suspicious when he started fiddling with his eyepatch, pulling it way away from his face and then putting it back. So I pressed the button on my desk that turns the cameras on (not sure why they didn't just record all the time, but this was back in the mid-eighties). I wasn't actually supposed to intervene in these cases, so I just sat there and watched, astounded, as this guy proceeded to pull little slips of paper from all over the place -- the sleeve of his supposedly injured arm, <em>under his tongue</em>... incredible. I don't know how he fooled himself into thinking nobody would notice."</p><p>– <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lqkhsq/exam_proctors_of_reddit_what_is_the_most/goiemw8?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">super_aardvark</a><br></p>Sometimes the things that come out of peoples' mouths are truly astounding. It makes you wonder, where did things go wrong? Why are they like this? As Forrest Gump once said, “stupid is as stupid does".
Here are a few of the most jaw-dropping lay stupid things that have been said by actual human beings. Not aliens trying to figure out how humans communicate--ACTUAL human beings. Thanks, Reddit.
U/cperr310 asked: What's the dumbest thing you or someone you know has said?
First up, what better people to hear ridiculous claims from than children? Here are some people that even teachers couldn’t help.
Well, that’s awkward.
I was in 5th grade like 20 years ago, and I am a male which is important later. My school changed an extra girls locker room into a computer lab. When my class got to go check it out, I say "wow, it looks so different!".
Everyone looks at me like I'm a creep. What I meant to say was "wow it looks so different that the boys locker room!" I still think about this when trying to fall asleep more often than I'm comfortable with.
....no. No it’s not.
In my Spanish class where they were talking about Spanish countries
"What about Syria...isn't Syria Spanish?"
Worst part... NOBODY called her out on it to the point I was questioning myself. The professor had good English but it wasn't her first language and she dodged her question saying she's only going over countries in south america. I had to literally write myself a note that she literally asked that question. Then I got paired up with her like 10 minutes later for a group activity and I still wasn't over this question lol
Fake but also real but also demonic?
A kid in high school tried to convince me that men had an extra rib and that the earth is only a few thousand years old. Same kid said that ouija boards were full of magnets and gears which made them fake, yet they were simultaneously completely real and needed to be burned on sight to prevent demonic possession.
But sometimes it’s the parents of children who say the dumb stuff.
Back in 2014 I still vividly remember we were eating dinner, and my brother is chewing with his mouth open while my sister is talking. My dad, still thinking about her talking but talking to my brother said "Talk with your mouth closed." and my sister just went silent immediately.
Stupid can turn into ignorant really quickly. Here are a few examples of the not-so-harmless kind of dumb statements.
Fun fact: they don’t use the US Constitution in New Zealand. Who knew?
After the church shooting in New Zealand, they banned guns. My coworker said that they can't do that since it violates the second amendment. We live in California.
Everyone knows New Zealand is the state below New Canada.
Uhhhhh that’s racist af.
Not to me but my husband.
He had to take an uber home from the Naval Base in San Diego (car was getting fixed) and the guy who picked my husband up was from Pakistan and they had small talk, telling him how he moved over here etc, dude was pretty cool.
My dumbass half sister whom we were staying with for a bit told him straight to his face, "Oh since you're military he probably wanted to like... murder you."
...What a f*cking ignorant, racist thing to say.
Just gonna leave this one here....
"And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside, because you see it gets in the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that out."
Well that’s a new one.
A trans friend got "You're registered as a man here, so I need to hear a male voice to complete the verification of your acount."
Not the first time the cable company pulled this 'female' account 'female' voice / 'male' account 'male' voice crap. But that one time was on a whole other level.
But most of the time, dumb statements are harmless, and make for a good story down the line.
I wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face either.
A few questions I've heard come to mind, I'm not sure which is the best/worst.
A few years ago my mom, in her 60s at the time, asked me if chipmunks grow up to be squirrels. Have you ever tried to keep a straight face while explaining to the grown-ass woman who was responsible for keeping you alive for ~18 years that chipmunks and squirrels are different animals?
In high school during a Spanish class as student asked "Do Spanish-speaking people think in Spanish?" After being told yes, her follow-up question was "Are they born speaking Spanish?" The teacher kept a straight face explaining that foreign language speakers learn their language the same as the student learned English, but there were a lot of other students laughing and brutally mocking her.
Ah yes, the two types of guitars.
Dumbest thing I ever asked was, "do you prefer playing electric or air guitar?" I really meant to say acoustic, like my dad's.
Air guitar. I don't know how to play the acoustic or electric guitars, but I never get a wrong note on the air guitar.
Did you change your birthday?
At the bank.
Teller: Is your phone number still 123-4567?
Me: Yes
T: Is your address still 123 Easy st?
M: Yes
T: Is your birthday still 01/01/2000?
M: laughing I sure as hell hope so
I can't even make fun of these. One time I asked my husband where the Newport Ferry sailed to.
Newport, obviously.
I think we all have slip-ups in our brains sometimes. It's part of being human, and hey, they stay alive as inside jokes for generations to come
If you want to be ready when an emergency strikes--or isn't far away--it's so important to have a developed foundation of preparedness.
In the midst of a sudden crisis, blood pumping and heart racing, devising what to do out of the blue is just about impossible.
But if you've studied ahead of time, and even practiced if you're really good, you won't have to devise anything. You'll just act. And you'll act correctly.
Don't Count Anybody Out
<p>"If people stumble for no reason and sound drunk but haven't had alcohol, ask them to smile. If it looks weird/ one side is drooping, get them to a hospital ASAP. High chance it is a stroke."</p><p>"Plus people of every age can have a stroke."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/goc5mux?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Zuckerschneggle</a></p>Know What to Look For
<p>"The symptoms of a heart attack are slightly different for men and women. This is one of the reasons women sometimes get diagnosed too late."</p><p>"Men: Cold sweat/ nausea; Chest pressure/pain; Shortness of breath; Pain in arm(s), back, neck, jaws, stomach"</p><p>"Women: Fainting/ extreme fatigue; Chest pressure; Shortness of breath; Upper back pressure; Light-headedness/ dizziness; Pain in arm(s), back, neck, jaws, stomach"</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/goci0x2?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Veni_Vici-Vetinari</a></p>YOU WILL NOT GET IN TROUBLE
<p>"If you are taken to the hospital and the doctors ask you if you have taken any drugs don't just think about the illegal stuff also tell them if you've had small things like Advil or Tylenol it could save your life." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/gocncvh?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Atomicwaffle117</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Frankly this needs to taught in schools. I've known people who took stuff and didn't tell the doctor's, they either went into withdraw which prolonged there stay, or the doctor's have them stuff which interacted with drugs and they nearly died cause of it" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/gocqenr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">xxluisvrewxx</a></p>Warning Signs
<p>"If your vomit looks like coffee grounds, you may have internal bleeding. Head straight to the hospital." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/goc0diy?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Long-Cupcake</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Additionally, this kind of internal bleeding is further down the digestive tract and has a higher chance of being a more serious issue."</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"coffee grounds means that the blood has been digested by your stomach. if it was just a tear in your mouth or esophagus (like from vomiting too much) it would be bright red." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/gocsn62?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">elaerna</a></p>Get Low
<p>"Crawl out of a burning building, breathing as close as possible to the floor as you move."</p><p>"Toxic smoke rises while air remains more breathable nearest the floor."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/goc9phy?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Back2Bach</a> </p>Not Over Yet
<p>"There's something that's called gasping. It's the fake breathing that occurs when you're performing CPR on someone that has water in his lungs (i.e. because of drowning). It looks like a fish that's trying to breath when it's out of water."</p><p>"The person is not back alive then, and you should not stop the CPR."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/goc4dy0?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">SilverStory4502</a></p>Quarterback the Response
<p>"In an emergency around any other people, be intentional and specific with people. Do not shout into the void 'someone call for help!!!' "</p><p>"Make eye contact with someone, make sure they know you are talking to them, tell them what you need: 'Sir in the blue shirt. Call an ambulance.' 'Ma'am with the green jacket, go ask the barista for a clean towel.' 'You with the hockey mask and machete, watch this baby!' "</p><p>"Studies have shown that the assumption that someone else will do something is ingrained within people and often they will not help without specifically being talked to."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/gocr6es?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Goosfrabbah</a></p>Deprive the Oxygen
<p>"Don't pour water on a burning pan/oil/grease in the kitchen, cover it with a damp cloth or towel. Water will make it explode like a bomb."</p><p>"Same goes for gasoline I believe - the burning gasoline will just float on top, still aflame, but now spreading more easily to something else flammable."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/gocq1vu?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">bodhi85uk</a></p>Ya Never Know
<p>"If you have to eat crickets or similar insects, chew them. DO NOT EAT THEM ALIVE. They have spines on their legs which can cling to your throat and are very difficult to remove without a decent amount of force (i.e. you cant "shake" your throat like you would your hand to remove them)."</p><p>"If they block your wind pipe, you'll asphyxiate."</p><p>"I used to work at a pet store, I've had to explain this to quite a few people who wanted to do "Fear Factor" parties or dares or pranks."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/gocqtun?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">AzoriumLupum</a></p>Counter-Intuitive Warnings
<p>"If one of your depressed friends suddenly starts acting really happy or peaceful, don't leave them alone."</p><p>"When suicidal people have a plan and are about to kill themselves, it can make them feel relieved which can make it look like their depression is getting better."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpmamq/what_are_some_facts_that_can_actually_save/gocxdjo?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">mylifeisathrowaway10</a></p>Culture shock is an understatement.
Have you ever gone abroad and seen something just... so out of whack and strange that you couldn't help but fixate on it? Like, yes, other countries are very different than the United States. But different is not the reason that we are so perplexed and somewhat horrified.