Redditor Kondellark wondered about what life truths are so outrageous they nearly prove truth is stranger than fiction, so they asked:
"What is a true fact so baffling, it should be false?"
The truth will always be more off the wall than we think.
Lies have to come from somewhere.
That Decade
roaring twenties smile GIFGiphy"There used to be a radioactive energy drink called 'Radithor' that was in the US market for a decade from 1918-1928. Some of the more prominent users had to be buried in lead coffins."
WildWonderWolf
The Power
"There is a 1 in roughly 5.2 to the 61st power chance that if you were to slap a table, all of the molecules in your hand and the table would miss each other and your hand would go through it."
"Story time: I learned this fact from a deep intellectual conversation with my engineering class 2 years ago, so there very well could be some kind of detail I'm missing here, but nonetheless, what i said is theoretically true."
32151134
Go Wayne!
"You could take away all of Wayne Gretzky’s goals that he scored during his career and he would still be the all-time NHL points leader off his assists alone."
"Bonus Gretzky fact: He and his brother own the record for being the highest scoring pair of siblings. Brent had 4 points in his whole career."
holy_cal
"Of every father/son combo in NHL history, Wayne and Trevor Gretzky have the most goals. Trevor Gretzky was a baseball player."
Damage
happy betty boop GIF by OctoNationGiphy"Giant squids have a donut shaped brain so their esophagus can run through the middle. If they try to swallow too large a bite of food they can get brain damage."
VerminSupreme__
Unless a squid is fried with marinara sauce... stay away from me.
Bad Face
Wide Eyed Reaction GIF by MOODMANGiphy"If a gorilla looks grumpy, it's because they are relaxed and at ease."
"So I’m a gorilla. Cool."
Think about that...
"When the 22nd President of the U.S., Grover Cleveland was 27 years old, he was friends with a married couple who had a baby girl named Frances. As a gift, he bought them a high-end baby stroller for little Frances. 21 years later, he married Frances and she became the youngest 1st Lady. Think about that."
FixFalcon
"This isn't mindblowing or anything, but a fun presidential fact: Grover Cleveland was also the only U.S. President to serve two non-consecutive terms. He was the 22nd AND 24th President, with Benjamin Harrison (23rd President) serving as the meat in the sandwich that was Grover Cleveland's two terms."
japanishinquisition
In the Hole
"The gravity of black holes is so great that it literally bends light around the black hole, so that if you could somehow stand close enough to a black hole and look straight ahead, you would actually see the back of your own head."
chyko9
"So going through a black hole = realizing we all live in a videogame."
"While getting close to the black hole you start seeing weird things. Thinking that light is just being freaky... you suddenly go from thinking the last thing you see before you step into the next dimension is the back of your own head, to realizing it’s actually just you currently looking at yourself on a screen in 3rd person view."
jaqueburton
no food at all...
"A morbidly obese person can survive with absolute starvation without any sickness or feeling ill (under close control). There have been studies since 60's, there is a patient in 1973 who went under a 382 day starvation diet for therapuetic purposes under close control with only vitamin and mineral supplements and water intake without protein, carbohydrate or fat intake (no food at all)."
"Dropped from 207 kg to 88kg and maintained it. After a follow up check-up 5 years later, the patient was 96 kilograms, stabilized. Prolonged fasting had no ill effects. If anybody is curious about the article, the pubmed ID is: PMC2495396."
Dartosismyname
Crunchy
Loop Waiting GIFGiphy"Giraffes eat bones."
"When I was in Africa we were legit surrounded by a family (?) of 12 giraffes. Then one bent over and picked up a gazelle carcass, looked dead into our eyes as it ate it's leg. It was so f**king creepy."
Kibeth_8
I knew there was something off about giraffes.
Do you have anything to add? Let us know in the comments below.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PEPPY, SUSAN?!
GiphyGraphic design.
Every bloody person comes out of the woodwork for invitation design. Weddings, Engagement parties, Baby Showers, Birthdays... agh.
The worst part is, friends make the worst 'clients' (apostrophes because I would never charge them).
'I love it! But can you make it a bit more peppy?' Well, what do you mean by peppy?! Font? Color? I don't know what you don't like if you can't tell me. ceeelljay
Keep it Smooth...
Taping and mudding drywall.
nice. It takes practice. Less is more is the best advice. Use the green first, and less is more. The heavy has more moisture and shrinks down, but it is strong. Keep it smooth as possible. The second and third coats are lightweight. Again, less is more. Also, run the knife over the the first coat before the next (2-3) coats to knock down any boogers.
Don't worry about inconsistencies with the lightweight because it sands down easily (if you suck at it). If you can work the knives in order to feather the outer edges you should be good. It's possible to finish with very minimal sanding. Sometimes a wet sponge is good enough to eliminate dust. Practice makes perfect; I still hate it. jackofallwagons
So Tired.
Working as a programmer. I'm good at it, it's lucrative, but after 15 years I'm so tired of it. I just want to make enough money so I can do something else. triple_verbosity
I think it depends what you are making. If you are programming in a big team and have no say over anything, for me I would burn right out. But working on my own smaller projects within a business makes me feel really fulfilled, even if all I made was some minor efficiency. MrStump
I just wish I was doing anything else.
Sales.
I've been in retail for the better part of my adult life. I'm pretty decent, can get customers to where they need to be, and just overall make sure someone is happy with their purchases.
I just wish I was doing anything else.
I just don't know what else I can go and do. I don't have any degrees, and need money to live, so I just keep plodding along at the safe comfortable job. l1vewire
Me either Janet, me either.
GiphyPublic Speaking. I always get told how calm and collected I am, that I am clear and good at making it interesting, easy-going and interactive.
Inside I am screaming, feel like I am going to puke, panicked, absolutely sure I have a giant stain on my shirt or booger hanging out, adrenaline rushing that makes me feel like I am going to collapse the second I am off stage. I hate hate hate it!
So I get selected almost every time because, "You're so good at it, I would be a total mess up there, I don't know you do it!" Me either Janet, me either. Wife-B-Gone
The Strokes.
Backstroke. I'm apparently fast at it, but it's still "nasal destruction." nickwantsacake283
I just hate how blind you are, watching the ceiling scroll by, hoping to catch a glimpse of the flags soon. My high school had 25 yard pools. That was bearable, but the 50 meter pools are like you're lost in the abyss. softwaremommy
Help me!
Customer support. Help me! sarcatsticks
Same. My coworkers have always told me I have the best customer service but I absolutely despise it and get anxiety just knowing I have to speak to these people. kimchiblues
Just Go!
Firing people. I've had to terminate people in multiple jobs (usually when I'm the new person brought in to turn things around).
The last time I had to tell someone, the HR VP who was in the room as well told me "wow you are really good at this. We should have you do a video training on how to let people go."
Btw if you have to fire someone (aside from a really bad reason like theft etc), get them a severance, don't fight their unemployment claim, and cover their healthcare for a few months. Not every person works out for a job and these things make landing in their feet much easier. Cardsfan961
Taking Sides.
Mediating between people who can't get along. It is so damn annoying and I haaaate it, turns I get stuck doing it all the time at work. Ugh, just thinking about it is stressing me out. Wishyouamerry
It's nice to know I'm not the only one. Recently informed a bunch of people I'm going to start billing them. SweetPotatoFamished
Hey Techie....
GiphyFixing computers. Sad part is I do this for a living. I love everything about computers, networking, etc. But when I get a phone call from an inept user who makes triple my salary, or an older relative calls for "computer help," the eye rolls ensue and the thoughts of hanging up kick in. Tucker727