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If you read ancient folklore - fairy tales, fables and legends... no, not carefully edited versions for children in the 19th or 20th centuries, but the original texts - you can be surprised and even amazed at how scary and bloodthirsty they sound. Almost any old fairy tale is quite capable of causing some kind of phobia in a modern person.
But the good thing about the modern world is that today we are trying to understand the true essence of things and people, without always succumbing to their mass perception. And it turns out that certain things, phenomena or groups of people are not as scary as they have been portrayed as being for many years. And then we go to this dedicated thread in the AskReddit community... or read this collection that Bored Panda prepared for you.
More info: Reddit
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#1
Vaccines
Mr. Nurse Man 1 year ago
Vaccinations are wonderful feats of medical innovation. I strongly recommend them for those who are able to take them.
RELATED:
#2
In terms of how much we thought it would affect us, probably quicksand.
Detroit Citizen 1 year ago
In my childhood I thought quick sand was a real and present danger, I thought it was everywhere. I was terrified of it. I should add I have lived in Michigan all my life. Michigan isnt known for quicksand lol. Oh and the Bermuda Triangle stories, pure nightmare fuel.
#3
Strangers. Most of the violent crimes you hear happen between acquaintances.
Goose of the Ahonkalypse 1 year ago
Kidnappings are predominantly by family members, murders of women predominantly by their male significant other or former signifigant other, and rape (of women and men) is predominantly by someone they know. Strangers abduct less than 1% of missing kids, only around 8% of femicides (child or adult) are by strangers, and around 8% of adult female rapes and 15% of adult males rapes are by strangers. I would include stats for my non binary friends but while I can find some related to overall risk for violent crimes I can't find any separating out stranger vs known assailant.
No, we in no way want to claim that, for example, absolutely all snakes are completely safe, or that you will never become the victim of a plane crash. But the contemporary world is full of data, and on its basis we can conclude that certain species of snakes that live, let's say, in an area where we are planning to travel to are, in fact, not venomous.
Or that the likelihood of getting into a plane crash today is really extremely low. “If you take one flight a day, you would on average need to fly every day for 55,000 years before being involved in a fatal crash,” Executive Flyers quotes Arnold Barnett, who has calculated the chances of a plane crashing, and is an expert in the field of aviation safety and risk and Professor of Statistics at MIT. And now all that remains is to believe in the truth of the statistical data.
#4
Drag Queens
#5
Snakes. People get so freaked out, but come on. It's a noodle with a face. Almost all snakes are non-venomous, and even the ones that are are NOT coming to hunt you down. No snake is coming to get you. If they attack, it's only out of defense - imagine if some gargantuan creature the size of a skyscraper was coming after you! Just leave them to live their lives in peace and they'll do the same to you. They're a huge part of a delicate ecosystem... plus they're cute as hell! Look at a hognose's upturned snoot or a ball python's little puppy dog face and tell me they're not.
#6
The Bermuda Triangle, particularly with modern navigation equipment.
Detroit Citizen 1 year ago
Stories of the Bermuda Triangle terrified me as a child. Pure nightmare fuel. Oh and quick sand. I thought quick sand was everywhere. Ive lived in Michigan all my life, its not known for quicksand lol.
“Our belief in scary stories actually comes from ancient times, when fear was the most important driver of survival for people,” says Volodymyr Nemertsalov, a teacher and school principal from Odessa, Ukraine, whom Bored Panda asked for a comment here. “Ancient people could hardly be convinced by logical arguments, but the classic 'The night is dark and full of horrors!' worked perfectly. Especially in cases where the listeners were small children - by default, more impressionable and gullible.”
“Hence all the numerous horrors of ancient fairy tales. Because, having told the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, the narrator then always added that it is unlikely that the kids would be as lucky to have people passing near their grandma’s hut... and therefore, it is better not to walk through the forest wilderness at all. This worked quite successfully for many centuries, but today it plays a cruel joke on us, because we are accustomed to believing in scary stories - even if they are actually not scary at all," Volodymyr concludes.
#7
People who have no/few friends
Most of the time they're either weird, shy, socially awkward, quiet, or simply just prefer to be alone
Detroit Citizen 1 year ago (edited)
People made fun of me because i had very few friends. The friends I had were extremely close, loyal, good friends. I didnt know I was an introvert until the Millennials normalized it. Im GenX also, so a latchkey kid too.
#8
Immigrants wanting a better life…
Adam Belaire 1 year ago
What's even more amazing is immigrants simultaneously take all the jobs and don't have any jobs and are all on social welfare.
#9
Trick or treating on Halloween. Kids are not getting poisoned by candy from strangers.
Sami-Jo Ross 1 year ago
Or getting drug candy. I've said it before and I'll say it again, no one is giving little Timmy their drugs because that sh!t is expensive.
In addition, many myths are often supported at the corporate or even state level - for example, about the risks of nuclear energy. At one time, large oil and gas exporters skillfully took advantage of the accidents at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, and especially in Chernobyl, so that, for example, many European countries closed their nuclear power plants altogether.
At the same time, the impact of fossil fuels on the environment, as we can now see, turned out to be almost worse than from major accidents at nuclear power plants. Moreover, modern nuclear power plants are built with unambiguous consideration of the negative experience of their predecessors. But fears - fears have not gone away...
#10
Swimming after eating - I used to fully believe I would drown in seconds if I didn’t wait a full hour before getting back in the water.
LizzieBoredom 1 year ago (edited)
In 1982, little Timothy Walker threw up the 4 hot dogs he had previously wolfed down into the pee-laden waters of our community pool thus causing a day long pool closure. We called him Timothy BarfDog for the rest of the summer.
#12
Opossums
The only Plueschopossum 1 year ago
We aren't dangerous. We just want to be loved like anybody else ;)
Well, in any case, we expect you to read this selection to its very end, and always remember that any concern should ideally have a rational basis. And be based on facts. Otherwise, it will be like sticking your foot out from under the blanket at night with childhood fears. Although... who knows, maybe it’s better to buy a bigger blanket. Well, you'd just better read and discuss everything in the comments, but as for the blanket - it’s better to just play it safe, isn’t it?
#13
Trans people
SofieTheMJFan 1 year ago
Here's my thing. I am in no way trying to offend anyone. But I don't think it's fair for female athletes to compete with Trans women. Especially in the Olympics. I am all for Trans rights, except this. Maybe we could have a new category? Unisex, or Trans? (Please don't down vote me if you disagree, I don't want to get banned. If you disagree, please just reply. We could have a nice discussion)
#15
Leaving your foot hanging out of the bed covers.
TheGoodBoi 1 year ago
Nope. Can't chance it. Must have absolute protection against the monsters. You lift your feet up and tuck that blanket under your feet, then wrap yourself up like a burrito.
#16
Travelling alone as a woman. So many people looked at me in shock when I told them about my solo trips. Sure, it's not without a risk, but nothing in life is and I'm not gonna miss seeing the world and living life just because I haven't got someone to go with me. And so far I haven't made a single negative experience. The world isn't always as evil as some make it out to be.
Sandra Morison 1 year ago
It can be dangerous you just have to minimise the risks through common sense and some research
#18
Flashing your high beams at someone who doesn't have their headlights on at night. I've done it hundreds of times and I've never been gang-style assassinated
TheGoodBoi 1 year ago
Honking at someone who isn't paying attention at a green light is a different story lol. I usually do a quick harmless honk, almost every time I get the finger. Why are you mad at me 😂, you're the one busy on tiktok/snapchat lol..
#20
Hiking. I’ve been shocked at the amount of people who think a bear is about to get them. This even happens in places where bears don’t exist.
Yer maw 1 year ago
100% coming for me in the Scottish highlands but aren't as bad as the wild haggis - those wee f*****s are relentlessly savage
#21
Public transportation. It’s insanely safe by number of miles traveled and most of the security issues come with too few people using it.
WindySwede 1 year ago
1,4 B rides was taken in 2022 in Sweden from regional traffic. Trains, busses, boats is the main thing. I think I read the report correctly..
#22
Foreigners
#25
Alligators.
Yes, people do get eaten sometimes but as someone who grew up in Florida, they are everywhere and if they were that dangerous there would be an attack every day.
#26
Turning the light on in the car.
Detroit Citizen 1 year ago
I think every parent of my generation told their child that they would get a ticket if the light was turned on after dark lol
#29
Swallowing gum
#30
Chicago. They’re barely even in the top 100 most dangerous cities anymore (98th). And yet they’re still the default example of a dangerous city in a lot of people’s minds.
What do you think ?
David A Paterson 1 year ago
Passive smoking. In smoking and lung cancer, it's well known that there is no significant elevated risk until you've smoked daily for 20 years. Passive smoking is a serious danger for spouses and children of heavy smokers, and for people exposed at the workplace to daily cigarette smoke for at least 20 years. But not casually passing a smoker.
Vix Spiderthrust 1 year ago
In The Last Continent by Terry Pratchett, the list of non-dangerous Australian animals reads, in its entirety, "Some of the sheep."
Load More Replies...
Foffy Skrimshaw 1 year ago
Drag Queens don't usually get dressed up unless they are in a performance of some type. They play a character. It is not who they are. And I would call reading a book at a library a drag show.
Foffy Skrimshaw 1 year ago
Sorry.. typo: I wouldn't call drag queens reading at a library a drag show. And if it's just their character reading then I have no issue with it, but if they add their politics, or anything risque into it then I would. I've seen both versions. After all they are human. Some have no agenda other than reading to kids, while others do insert their own agenda.
Load More Replies... 
Thomas Ewing 1 year ago
Don't forget: gravity is the #1 killer in falls! Sudden contact with the ground...
David A Paterson 1 year ago
Passive smoking. In smoking and lung cancer, it's well known that there is no significant elevated risk until you've smoked daily for 20 years. Passive smoking is a serious danger for spouses and children of heavy smokers, and for people exposed at the workplace to daily cigarette smoke for at least 20 years. But not casually passing a smoker.
Vix Spiderthrust 1 year ago
In The Last Continent by Terry Pratchett, the list of non-dangerous Australian animals reads, in its entirety, "Some of the sheep."
Load More Replies... Foffy Skrimshaw 1 year ago
Drag Queens don't usually get dressed up unless they are in a performance of some type. They play a character. It is not who they are. And I would call reading a book at a library a drag show.
Foffy Skrimshaw 1 year ago
Sorry.. typo: I wouldn't call drag queens reading at a library a drag show. And if it's just their character reading then I have no issue with it, but if they add their politics, or anything risque into it then I would. I've seen both versions. After all they are human. Some have no agenda other than reading to kids, while others do insert their own agenda.
Load More Replies... Thomas Ewing 1 year ago
Don't forget: gravity is the #1 killer in falls! Sudden contact with the ground...
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