The world is a weird and wonderful place. Sometimes much more weird than wonderful, let's be honest.
Reddit user Ouch37 asked:
What is a mildly disturbing fact?
... so apparently people's idea of "mildly" varies GREATLY. So be warned. Some of these are at least a medium on the disturbance scale. Mildly, in out minds, is like "Hey there are some mites that live on your face."
But is that what people wanted to talk about? Nope. We've got impossibly sad whale deaths, intestines that move of their own accord, a few naked frozen people, and a new understanding of why some countries outlawed declawing cats.
Brace yourselves, we're goin' in.
Whale That's Bad
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Have you ever thought about how whales and dolphins die?
When they get too old and weak to swim to the surface to breathe, they start sinking into the cold, dark depths of the ocean, and suffocate.
- Serannis
Soap
If in the right conditions, when some bodies decompose, their fat turns into soap and turns the person into a soap mummy.
- archaeob
Wriggly Intestines
When performing surgery that requires one to remove intestines - surgeons momentarily put them on a rack because they wriggle around. After they're done with the surgery, they just put the intestines vaguely back in place and then the organ wriggles back the way it's supposed to.
Everest Bodies
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There are over 200 corpses on Mount Everest and they are used as way points for climbers. There's a particular path named rainbow valley where the colorful snow suits of the corpses speckle the landscape with all sorts of pretty colors.
The government is working on cleaning them up, but it's dangerous and difficult.
Nothing To Help
Some people survived the sinking of The Arizona during Pearl Harbor but were trapped inside. The guards would hear banging form inside for the next week or so but could do nothing to help.
The hull was thick and the proper equipment needed wasn't at hand. Not just that but a lot of other factors played a role in their deaths. Even if they cut into the ship, there wasn't any guarantee they would find a room that wasn't underwater. What equipment they had was either dangerous (torches that would burn up oxygen and possibly kill the men faster if they punctured through but took too long to get them out) or they simply didn't have enough of it.
Worms
One fun fact we learned in Animal Biology class at university: every person on earth has about 500 species of living organism in their mouth at any one time: mostly bacteria, fungi, viruses and worms. According to my lecturer, if your entire body was taken away except for the microscopic worms living in and on you, and the microscopic worms were somehow made visible to the naked eye, there would be a more-or-less perfect outline of your entire body and much of your insides too in worms.
Holes In Your Brain
Prions. When proteins in your body misfold, they create prions, which then infect neighboring proteins causing them to misfold, creating a chain reaction and eventually eating holes in your brain.
All known prion diseases are fatal. They can kill you in a bunch of fun ways, including taking away your ability to sleep or your ability to chew and swallow. They're also extremely contagious, and since they're not a virus, non-killable.
And to top it all off, symptoms can take years to appear. So you can be infected with prions in your system right now and not know it.
This Cartoon Killjoy
That sound you hear on cartoons when planes (or anything) goes into a dive was taken from a Nazi dive bomber as a form of psychological warfare, and it is likely that particular recording was the last thing someone heard.
Research JU-87 Stuka "Jericho Trumpets"
Bye Mum
One day, when you were a child getting cuddles and being carried about, your mum put you down and never picked you up again.
Eye Flies
Years ago I saw an episode of Monsters Inside Me where this guy was doing something outside and a fly flew into his eye. It only made contact for a millisecond, but it was enough for it to lay eggs. After they hatched they started eating his eye from the inside and he was starting to go blind until a doctor figured out what was wrong.
Since then I get super paranoid whenever a fly goes anywhere near my face because of the fact that something like this can possibly happen to me.
- -eDgAR-
Naked And Frozen
People who freeze to death are sometimes found naked because as they near dangerously low body heat they get the sensation they are burning hot. So hot that they desperately strip off all their clothing and, as you would guess, just hasten their incoming death due to hypothermia.
300%
In 1847 a surgery done by Robert Liston only lasted 25 seconds. It was done so fast that the surgeon cut off his assistants fingers who then died along with the patient and a spectator died from shock - resulting in the only surgery with a 300% mortality rate.
The Same Water
There is and always will be the same rough amount of water on the planet. Its been pissed through all of creation for millions of years. You drink dinosaur piss.
This Is Why We Don't Declaw
Declawing cats is the equivalent to chopping off all your finger tips.
- iSeize
- People Share Their Roommate From Hell Horror Stories - Knowable ›
- People Share The Most Disturbing Facts They Know - George Takei ›
- People Describe The Most Disturbing Movie They've Ever Come Across - George Takei ›
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.
