There are many things in life that we never pay attention to, considering them to be quite ordinary and common. For example, did you know that calico cats are mostly female? Male calicos are extremely rare. Much of this seems ordinary to us, but it's time to dispel our misconceptions. So read this article and learn the truth about 10 things people think are ordinary, but are actually extremely rare.
1. Tourette's syndrome with coprolalia (involuntary swearing).
Reality: Coprolalia occurs in only approximately 10% patients with Tourette syndrome.
Most people describe Tourette syndrome as an involuntary, repetitive motor tic, accompanied by involuntary swearing. This is because coprolalia, an involuntary, socially inappropriate vocalization, is the most well-known symptom of Tourette syndrome. However, this is a misconception. Coprolalia occurs in only 10% patients with Tourette syndrome.
Coprolalia is caused by certain neurological disorders and sometimes by certain brain injuries. It can also occur in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Coprolalia is triggered by premonitions. For example, offensive words can be triggered by viewing or performing certain actions. For example, patients with coprolalia may involuntarily begin making sexual comments upon seeing a member of the opposite sex. (1,2,3,4)
2. Successfully rescuing a person trapped in a fire by returning to the burning building.
Reality: The fatality rate from this is very high, and fire departments have started a petition to stop showing it in movies because it usually results in another death.
Watch any movie featuring a fire, and you'll likely see someone entering a burning building and rescuing a trapped person or animal. To us, this may seem like the most heroic act during a fire. But repeating this action in real life could cost you your life. There are many factors that can lead to death if you enter or re-enter a burning building. Here are a few:
1. Smoke inside a building can cause suffocation.
2. The structure could have become unstable due to fire.
3. When buildings burn, deadly vapors are released.
4. Burns from fire are almost inevitable.
Statistics show that few people die from heat or burns in a fire. In fact, most people entering or returning to a burning building die from asphyxiation—a lack of oxygen. Fire requires oxygen to burn, so it quickly depletes the building's oxygen supply. This can happen so quickly that occupants may become disoriented and even faint. Therefore, once you've escaped, stay outside. Do not reenter the burning building. (1,2,3)
3. Burglaries occur at night.
Reality: Contrary to popular belief, most burglaries occur during the day, when no one is home. No burglar wants to break into your apartment and try to get in while you're sleeping. Their main goal is to remain undetected. Working during the day makes much more sense.
A man in black clothes and a black ski hat breaking into a house in the dead of night—guess who? A burglar? Wrong! That's the completely wrong image we've been fed by movies and books. In reality, burglaries most often occur in broad daylight, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the most common times for burglaries on weekdays are between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Burglars often enter a home disguised as salespeople or repairmen to gain access and explore. Later, when you're not home, they put their plan into action and make off with your valuables. (1,2,3)
4. People born with red hair.
Reality: Red hair only occurs in approximately 2% of the population.
Hair coloring, including red, has become a huge fashion trend. That's why we often see people with red hair. But people born with red hair are actually quite rare. Children with red hair can only be born if both parents carry the mutated MC1R gene. Currently, less than 2% of the entire world population are redheads. Furthermore, redheads are more common in Northern European countries than anywhere else in the world. (1,2)
5. Shark attacks
Reality: Shark attacks are actually rare, and fatalities from them are even rarer.
We invade their territory, violate their home, and we kill them. But when sharks attack humans, we all gasp and call them ferocious, vicious beasts. According to marine biologists, humans kill about 100 million sharks each year, while shark attacks on humans are far fewer. In fact, the chance of dying from heart disease, a car accident, or even drowning is higher than from a shark attack.
Shark attacks are currently on the rise. This is likely due to the increasing number of people and the amount of time they spend in the ocean. In fact, the number of fatal shark attacks has actually decreased over the past century.
If you're still afraid, just remember that of the 375 known shark species, only about 30 have been reported to have attacked humans. So, in essence, humans are safer from shark attacks than sharks are from humans. (1,2)
6. Plane crash
Reality: The chances of being in a plane crash are 1 in a million, yet many people still fear flying more than driving a car.
Ask anyone which mode of transportation is safer: cars, boats, or planes. Many will answer yes to the question of whether cars and boats are safer, but few are knowledgeable enough to name air travel. However, statistics tell a different story. According to data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, driving is far more dangerous than flying. On average, there are 1.27 fatalities and 80 injuries behind the wheel for every 100 million miles driven, but almost zero fatalities and injuries in air travel.
In 2008, the National Safety Council compiled data and found that the lifetime odds of dying in a traffic accident are 1 in 98. Meanwhile, for air and space travel, the odds are 1 in 7178. So why do people consider air travel more dangerous? Because behind the wheel, we have more control over the vehicle than on a plane. (1,2)
7. Sexual harassment by a stranger.
Reality: Approximately 85-90 percent of reported sexual harassment cases are perpetrated by someone known to the victim.
Rape and sexual assault have increased significantly over the past decade. So, before sending children out of the house, we warn them about potential sexual predators lurking outside their door. But have you ever considered warning them about those who might be hiding in your home or disguised as someone you know? If not, now's the time. According to the National Institute of Justice, more than 80 percent of sexual assaults reported by students are committed by someone known to the victim. Most often, these assaults occur in the home of a man or woman. (1,2)
8. College dropouts become millionaires/billionaires.
Reality: Dropping out of college and becoming a millionaire or billionaire is actually not as common as many people think.
Besides being billionaires, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have another thing in common: both dropped out of college. The same can be said for Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, and Larry Ellison. In a world where jobs are scarce and college tuition is at record highs, the stories of these successful individuals inspire people to prioritize entrepreneurship over college. But few realize that, regardless of a college education, only a select few will achieve such incredible levels of success.
In fact, college dropouts face greater barriers to success than graduates. Statistics show that college dropouts are 71 percent more likely to be unemployed than their college-educated peers. A 2008 study of 500 tech startups found that the average income of college graduates was twice that of those who did not complete a college degree.
However, if you believe you could be the next Zuckerberg, it's worth noting that almost all of the famous dropouts were anything but ordinary. They attended prestigious universities and were highly effective and skilled professionals in their fields. Moreover, before dropping out, they already had practically established businesses and plans for the future. (1,2,3)
9. A plea of insanity to avoid punishment for a crime.
Reality: Insanity is extremely rarely used as a defense in criminal cases. Less than 1 percent of criminal cases in the United States involve an insanity defense.
If a mentally ill person, unable to distinguish between right and wrong, commits a crime, will they be held accountable for it? This question gave rise to the "insanity defense." If it is proven that a person suffered from a mental disorder at the time of the crime, then under this law, the accused cannot be held accountable for the crime.
At first glance, this may seem like a simple way to avoid punishment for a crime. Many films and television shows may have reinforced this belief. But in reality, the insanity defense is used in less than 11% of serious crimes. Even then, it is successful in only a small fraction of such cases. (1,2,3)
10. Wasabi
Reality: Wasabi is very expensive and difficult to grow. This is why real wasabi is found almost exclusively in Japan. Most wasabi served outside of Japan is a mixture of mustard, horseradish, and food coloring.
Sushi and wasabi are a perfect pairing. Spicy wasabi pairs beautifully with sushi. But did you know that almost all the wasabi you've eaten outside of Japan was likely counterfeit? Fake wasabi is made by mixing mustard, horseradish, and food coloring. It's not that shopkeepers are trying to deceive you. The reason is simple: wasabi is extremely difficult to grow outside of Japan.
In Japan, wasabi grows naturally along streambeds in mountain river valleys. However, cultivating it on an industrial scale is extremely difficult. This makes it extremely expensive. One kilogram of wasabi can cost around $160. Outside of Japan, it is served in some upscale restaurants. Even there, it is prepared only to order. (source)