Chickens are not to be trifled with, fam.
People underestimate the chubby little velociraptors, but if you spend any significant length of time with them you'll soon find they're ferocious enough to kill. We don't normally think of them as predators, but they are downright bloodthirsty.
If chickens, particularly in groups, see blood - they go on the attack as a group and don't stop. They can, and have, scratched or pecked human beings to death - typically by tearing open veins and arteries.
We're not saying you should be afraid, just maybe don't underestimate them. If we didn't all like chicken nuggets so much it's quite possible we would be overrun by clucky murderers.
Reddit user ThomasHarrison618 asked:
What can kill you that people often underestimate?
... and yeah CHICKENS immediately came to mind for me. Not that I have a personal vendetta or anything, regardless of anything that may or may not have happened in my years owning a chicken in a small Manhattan apartment. Those stories are for another article.
Let's take a look at the stories other people had about stuff we tend to underestimate.
A Stomach Ache
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Bacteria. Appendicitis. Dad told me to man up, shut up and deal with it, and to fix my diet, and that it was just a stomach cramp that everyone gets. I'm on the smaller side and pretty fit. If I had followed that advice I would've been dead by the next day.
I had to have emergency surgery. Dad was giving me that lecture again when the doctor walked in and shut down every single point.
That's how my paternal grandmother died. Her husband, my grandfather, told her to stop complaining. She was in her 20's with 4 kids.
- ppw23
Just Passing Out
I almost died from carbon monoxide poisoning two days ago. I spent about two days just passing out in my bed, I was so tired. Eventually somebody smelled gas, because I couldn't, so they called the energy company who had somebody there maybe 30 minutes later.
Her CO meter was going off as she walked up to the door before it was even open. She said open windows and leave right now. That was when I realized I had been passing out for two days, and in such awkward positions that my back was sore as hell.
So I got to the hospital and my resting heart rate was about 130, and I was told my skin was an off color, but other than passing out I felt no symptoms. I didn't notice my heart rate was so high because it wasn't accompanied by heavy breathing like usual. I was the only one home most of the time, I might never have woke up if that had continued for much longer.
- et50292
Tylenol
Tylenol overdose... the difference between typical dose and dangerous overdose is surprisingly few pills.
- blipsman
A case I will never forget from when I was in nursing school. I was doing a rotation at the Children's Hospital and a kid who was 15 was going under for a liver biopsy. He had overdosed on Tylenol in a suicide attempt at 13. He was on his second liver transplant and, like the first, this one was beginning to reject.
It was heartbreaking to see a kid whose suicide attempt was seemingly going to eventually be successful, but only after years of attempts to reverse it :(
I'm an RN and I've seen people die of accidental Tylenol overdose. Lots of pain, taking it around the clock without paying attention to the label. It's a dangerous drug. I never take Tylenol for any reason to be honest.
Choke
Choking on your food. Eat more slowly, chew your food people it won't run away from you.
Choking on food when I'm alone and dying as a result is one of my biggest fears, tbh
Like just knowing that I'm not going to make it and slowly fading out while staring at my dog who is worried but cant help me? No thank you, I'd rather just not eat
Zzz
Falling asleep on the toilet and smashing your head on the tile. After working 12 hour shifts 14 days in a row, it nearly happened to me, luckily we had a bath mat so I just got a minor head wound.
Botox
Botox. Botox is the most lethal poison in the world, not when injected for your face, but when ingested. If you ingest about 0.00007mg of botox, it would be lethal and kill you.
I have Botox injected into my lower back to relax the muscles - I wonder if someone who tried to eat me would die? I'm sure the chances of dying at the hands of a cannibal are pretty slim, but that'd be the ultimate pay back.
Don't Bleach It!
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Using Bleach to clean up Urine .
The chemical reaction with the ammonia can create Chlorine Gas that can kill you.
Mixing chemicals together for cleaning. A guy at work did this to clean a toilet at work & ended up gassing himself. He survived, but wow.
How do people not know that? Though the smell alone is terrible so I automatically assumed it could kill you lol.
- big-spo
You are reasonably safe using household strength cleaners to sanitize your bathroom. Just don't use it to hose down the cowshed.
Wrestlemania
Wrestling with your little brother. One awkward angle and his spine and skull break and crack leaving you with a corpse. Play safe.
One of my fraternity brothers died after a drunken wrestling match with a couple friends. They were all horsing around and someone accidentally crushed his windpipe.
- gogojack
Bucket
Water buckets kill about 20 toddlers per year in the US. It happens when they inspect the bucket only to fall in head first. It's a very small risk relative to other dangers, but it's not zero.
Poop
Bearing down to move your bowels.
When I was a paramedic I used to find people dead on or next to the toilet with one floating in the bowl. When you bear down it stimulated your vagal nerve and that slows down the heart. Sometimes a bit too slow.
I'm sure there are exceptions, but everyone I ever encountered that went out that way was in their fifties or older.
- SCCock
I have epilepsy. I also have chronic constipation caused by various other medical issues. Bearing down too hard to push one out will sometimes give me a seizure.
- eekknock
I knew a boy in high school (he was a couple years below me) who died from a seizure on the toilet...not a nice way to go. He was on a camp too and they couldn't unlock the door to get to him until it was too late (not even sure if they knew straight away or just went looking for him when he didn't come back)
Cavities
A cavity can lead to sepsis.
Untreated cavity becomes abscess (abscesses are a pocket of pus in a tooth caused by an infection) infection spreads to bloodstream then you become septic.
Doesn't even need to be an abscess. Bacteria from the mouth can temporarily enter the bloodstream and lead to infection of the heart valves (endocarditis). (This can also happen in people with good oral hygiene but poor oral hygiene increases the risk).
Brush ya teeth
Abscesses which lead to septic arthritis.
I had an abscess on my gum, my phobia of the dentist (due to childhood trauma) meant I wouldn't let the dentist remove my tooth. I was 8 and developed septic arthritis. My mom tried one last time to get my tooth removed else I'd be taken to theatre. The dentist had to sit on me while a nurse and my mom held me down. Septic arthritis can kill, it can develop into sepsis which is often lethal. I was a healthy child but that abscess could've easily killed me. Do not ignore abscesses, the bacteria can get into your bloodstream and easily cause complications.
Me-ouch!
Cats...
I had a friend who nearly died from a cat bite that got severely infected, a cat got into his backyard with 3 dogs, he was trying to help the cat because it was stuck he was holding high because his dogs were jumping, it bit his wrist and within 48 hours was in hospital ICU with doctors contemplating amputating his arm from the elbow down.
He didn't blame the cat.
The Kangaroo Sanctuary
Kangaroo's can be extremely dangerous if they decide to attack. A large big red kangaroo can disembowel a person with one kick with the power it has in its legs.
A lot of people may have seen the guy that punched the kangaroo in the face, he was extremely lucky the kangaroo had the 2 dogs to worry about as well. You see for a split second the kangaroo deciding whether or not to kick the sh!t out of him but his attention turns back to the dogs, that bloke was very lucky.
Bug Bites
Won't quite cause instant death, but Insect bites or smaller injuries when not treated right can very quickly lead to blood poisoning or other nasty stuff which can very likely land you in hospitalization. Especially when your immune system is for whatever reason (recent illnesses, poor hygiene, HIV, etc.) is already weakened.
Don't neglect insect bites! Scratching them will not only further irritate your skin, but also spread the insects secretion into your blood, which encourages infections in either the surrounding skin or your bloodstream!
Also take greater care for disinfecting open wounds!
Yosemite
Yosemite National Park. Everywhere.
I live near the park and have friends that work there and hear of people dying there all the time. People climb rocks in areas roped off and marked with warnings and slip and die. People back off cliffs doing selfies. People have huge chunks of rock fall on them and crush them to death. They decide to go for a dip in the Merced River and don't realize that the current is so fierce, and get ripped to shreds when the water pushes them over massive jagged rocks.
People die there all the time. It's a thing.
- dma1965
A Melted Ice Cube
Water or slippery trash on the floor. With bad luck and a hard enough blow to the back or front of your head, a receipt or even a few drops of water on the floor can send you to your death.
I always get mad at my husband for letting fallen ice cubes melt on the kitchen floor especially because someone could skip and hit their head on the corner of the stove.
I think about death a lot. :(
Coconuts
Coconuts, an average of 50 people die a year because they were under the wrong coconut tree at the wrong time and a coconut fell on his/her head and killed them.
Crafters Beware
Glue guns. Less than 5 minutes ago I turned round and it was on fire and it was a pain to clear up (dont even ask me how it set on fire i have no idea)
Feel The Pain
Taking pain meds every time you feel pain. Unfortunately pain is natural for humans to feel, it tells us there's something wrong. Headaches can mean stress; lack of sleep, water,etc.
As a child I suffered from frequent migraines and would take advil, ibuprofen, and other over the counter pain meds almost daily. Turns out I had asthma and the lack of oxygen caused my headaches.
Unfortunately the years of pain meds have consequences. I now suffer from IBS, acid reflux, and gastritis as a result. Do not abuse over the counter meds, save pain meds for when you really need them. If you can deal with it then don't take anything. Long term it only harms our bodies.
Another downside is that I am limited in the over the counter meds I can take now because only certain ones work for me. My body has built up an immunity to most pain meds.
Straight In Your Throat
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Your own tongue, hit your head the wrong way and that f*cker is straight in your throat.
- canekobe
Get Used To It
I work in emergency services for elderly people. They sometimes forget that they take serious drugs like strong pain killers. If they take them for a long time they forget the danger coming from it and start to drink alcohol. That can kill them. So basically getting used to danger can kill you
Not all pet owners have the same relationship with their pets.
While anyone who decides to become a pet owner, or pet parent as some say, love their pets equally, some never ever let them leave their side.
Taking their pet with them to work, running errands, even on vacations.
Many pet parents even allow their pets to share their bed with them when going to sleep.
For others though, this is where a line is finally drawn.
Redditor Piggythelavasurfer was curious to hear whether pet owners allowed their pets to share their bed with them, as well as the reasons why they do/don't, leading them to ask:
"Do you let your pet sleep in your bed? Why/why not?"
The Tiny Issue Of Water...
"Absolutely not."
"I have fish."- Senior-Meal3649
Everyone Gets Lonely Eventually...
"I adopted an eleven year old cat the day before Halloween."
"She has mostly lived in my closet since I got her, and she hasn’t been too interested in coming out."
"Last night, she came out of my closet and jumped up on my bed, and crawled under my covers and curled up by my feet to sleep."
"I was so happy!"- YellowBeastJeep
The Comforting Reminder That You're Not Alone...
"I recently lost my Greyhound but I used to let him sleep on my bed with me."
"The company was nice and he was no trouble to have on my bed."- HoodedMenace3
Hungry Cookie GIF by De Graafschap Dierenartsen
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What Do You Mean Allow?
"I have no choice."
"She is a cat, cats do whatever they want."- Small_cat1412
"He lets me sleep in my bed."- Poorly-Drawn-Beagle
Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
"I carry my old boy upstairs to bed every night."- worst_in_show
Hug GIF by The BarkPost
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Who Needs An Alarm Clock?
"I let my two cats sleep with me."
"They're so full of love and just want cuddles all the time."
"And so do I."
"We've all developed a lil routine."
"Get to bed, oldest sleeps on my feet to keep them warm, youngest lies in my arm while I lie on my side (she the little spoon), then when I snooze my alarm for work in the morning the youngest paws at my face and meeps loudly to wake me up."- GhostofaFlea_
Whose Bed Is It Anyway?
"Yes."
"They're also kind enough to let me squeeze into whatever space they've left for me."
"Although I do get a few dirty looks off them."- Therealkaylor
"I found this tiny kitten screaming her head off under a car."
"Would not come out."
"Got some food and some water in dishes."
"I stood by the tire so she couldn't see my feet."
"She got curious about the food and water and started gobbling it down."
"I thought she would bolt when I squatted down."
"She was too busy eating."
"I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and all four legs went straight out and she tried to scratch me to death."
"I got her in the door and tossed her toward the couch."
"She ricocheted off the couch as if she was a ping pong off a table and I lost sight of her."
"I put out food and water and a sandbox and did not see that kitten for three days."
"On the third day, I came home and she was on my bed pillow."
"I thought she would bolt when I came near, but she didn't."
"I wanted to sleep so I tried to scoot her little butt off my pillow."
"She would not go."
"I put my head down to sleep and that is the way it was from then on."
"She ran the roost."- Logical_Cherry_7588
sleepy kitten GIF
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Sleeping Is A Prerequisite...
"No, he's a cat and he cannot keep still during the night."
"He walks across the headboard, opens the closet doors, jumps into the windows and rustles the blinds, etc."
"If he would sleep he could stay, but alas, he's a ramblin' man."- Spong_Durnflungle
Saying No Just Isn't An Option...
"'Let'."
"Lol."
"It's a cat's world and I'm happy to be on her good side."- milaren
Felines Only!
"The cat does, the dog doesn't and the horse certainly does not either."- Xcrowzz
Angry Tom And Jerry GIF by Boomerang Official
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Is That My Hair On That Pillow?
"My dog is perfect."
"She comes up, cuddles til we start to fall asleep, then gets down to sleep on her bed so she doesn't get too hot."
"Jumps back up in the early morning for wake up cuddles."
"The hair everywhere is the only downside but she is so cozy, what can you do."- HoodieWinchester
It is easy to understand how some people are able to fall asleep more easily knowing their friend and protector is there, in bed, with them.
Though we can't blame others who don't want to run the risk of being scratched or bitten in the middle of the night either...
The old wives' tales.
They are the stories of legend.
I think we all need a big DEEP Google dive though.
Where did they originate?
WHO ARE THE OLD WIVES!
You don't hear about them as much anymore.
It's like science and logic are suddenly a thing.
But they sure are a good way to keep your kids and their behavior in line.
Redditor the_spring_goddess wanted to discuss the tall tales we've all been fed through life, so they asked:
"What is an old wives tale that people still believe?"
"Wait an hour to swim after eating."
What a crock!
So many summer hours wasted.
I want revenge for that one.
Say Nothing
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"An undercover cop has to tell you he's a cop if you ask him."
LonelyMail5115
"Pretty much most advice when it comes to cops are old wives tales. I’m not even a cop but most of the advice you hear is pretty off."
I_AM_AN_A**HOLE_AMA
Say Something
"That you have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing."
Severe_Airport1426
"I really think this one is important and should be the top regardless. As it’s a piece of advice that needs to be relearned and the only way to do that is through awareness."
crappycurtains
"This used to be true. I think they changed it after some guy named Brandon went missing back in the '80s or '70s. You used to have to wait 24 hours if the missing person was an adult because they had 'a right to be missing' and then everyone realized that was stupid and stopped doing it."
AlbinoShavedGorilla
Body Temps
"That drinking ice cold water after eating oily foods will solidify the oil and permanently remain in your body. I informed my coworker that if your body temperature ever reached that point, you’d have bigger problems than weight gain."
chriseo22
"Oh, I have a cousin who 100% believed this. One of those guys who believed every early 2000s internet rumor and old wives tale. One night I chugged a big glass of ice water after dinner and he started freaking out and saying my guts were gonna harden."
"I sarcastically told him to drive me to the hospital if that happened. Obviously, nothing happened and the next morning I said something like 'Thanks for being on standby in case my guts filled with hardened oil.' He just walked off muttering under his breath."
apocalypticradish
Arms Down
"When I was pregnant, I was told by young and old alike that I should NOT raise my arms above my head or exert myself in such a manner because it could cause cord strangulation to my unborn sons and daughters."
Fatmouse84
10 Years Actually
Unimpressed Uh Huh GIF by Brooklyn Nine-Nine
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"Chewing gum stays in your stomach for 7 years."
"I remember accidentally swallowing a piece of gum when I was a kid in like 1995 and just accepting my fate like welp, gonna have this in my stomach til high school I guess."
Gecko-911
I was so afraid to sallow my gum when I was young.
This tale is haunting.
High/Low
Hungry Debra Messing GIF by Will & Grace
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"You can tell the sex of the baby by how you carry."
LeastFormal9366
"Pregnancy certainly wins awards for the most old wives tales. So much absolute BS was repeated to us by everyone we talked to."
IllIIIlIllIlIIlIllI
The Cursed
"If you’re a woman and you wear opal jewelry but opal is not your birthstone (October), you’ll never be able to have children, or will be widowed, or just generally have bad luck or something. You can counteract this by having a diamond in the same piece of jewelry as the opal, though."
"I have a nice opal ring that my parents gave me years ago, and I’ve had other women give me this 'advice' unprompted more than once when I’ve worn it. I have absolutely no idea where it started, but I’m pretty sure this little chunk of silicate rock has no concept of what month I was born in, let alone of how my reproductive organs work."
SmoreOfBabylon
Stay In
"Going outside with wet hair will make you get pneumonia. Or an earache. Or maybe arthritis. Depends on which old wife you listen to."
"Jokes on them - I haven't blow-dried my hair in decades and usually leave the house with wet hair in the morning. On winter mornings, the tips of my hair get frozen. No ear infections or pneumonia or arthritis yet."
worldbound0514
Dreams and Facts
"You never make anyone up in your dreams you've seen everyone in your dreams somewhere else before and never make anyone up entirely."
"How would you possibly prove that to be true? My partner adamantly believes this and tells me this 'fact' whenever I have a dream about someone I've never met before."
mattshonestreddit
"My late wife used to tell me that before she met me she would have dreams of standing at an alter on her wedding day but could never see the guy's face, no matter how hard she tried. After meeting me the face was filled in with mine. Don't know if it's true but one of those things I like thinking of every now and then when I miss her."
Darthdemented
Cracked
Getting Ready Episode 2 GIF by The Office
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"Some people still believe cracking knuckles causes arthritis."
Choice-Grapefruit-44
"There's a doctor (Donald Unger) that cracked his knuckles a couple of times a day for 60 years, but only on one hand, just to prove it. Both hands remained exactly the same."
MacyTmcterry
I love my knuckles.
Do you have any tall tales to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.