Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Break Down The Most Terrifying Things That Are Completely Harmless

People Break Down The Most Terrifying Things That Are Completely Harmless
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Like a lot of the population, I've had some general anxiety about public speaking. Trust that it wasn't a terrible fear or even a paralyzing one, but it was still something I didn't exactly look forward to. Then I took a public speaking course in college. I learned that I simply had jitters and that I actually have no issues with public speaking. As for the rest of my classmates? Well, let's just say that quite a few of them dropped out of the course before the end of the term.

After Redditor mrbigshott asked the online community, "What is harmless but generally terrifies most people?" people weighed in with their observations.


"They don't realize..."

A child with a balloon in his/her hand. They don't realize the auditory destructive power they hold. One of the reasons why I hate going to children's birthday parties.

poopellar

"My grandparents had a cottage..."

Seaweed. My grandparents had a cottage as I was growing up and I spent every Saturday swimming around. I used to snorkel and swim through the different types of seaweed.

So I was very surprised when my friend visited and refused to go anywhere near seaweed. I've since learned that a lot of people hate the stuff.

valuesandnorms

"Statistically speaking..."

Elevators. Statistically speaking, you're waaaay more likely to die taking the stairs. I dare you to ask me just how safe elevators are. Your anxiety will melt.

GutterCookie45

"People pay so much money..."

Working on their own vehicles. People pay so much money for the most simple automotive repairs. A few simple automotive tools and youtube will save a mildly brave person a lot of money and build self confidence.

bustedaxles

"Asking someone you like..."

Asking someone you like out. Usually the worst thing that happens is a brief, awkward exchange that who ever you asked forgets about 2 hours later.

Meanwhile you stand to gain a lover or at least someone to keep your bed warm for a while.

VindictiveMelon

"You're more likely to die..."

Rollercoasters.

You're more likely to die on your way to visit a theme park than on a rollercoaster (or basically any attraction that might be there), but there's a ton of people that are too scared of them. I honestly don't understand that fear.

ribonucleico

"People hear 'nuclear'..."

Nuclear Power.

Thorium reactors and breeder reactors are the safest greenest current future for the world. But because of old failures in almost completely different technology. People hear "nuclear" and freak out.

Train_Veracity

"People go nuts..."

Coyotes. People go nuts when they see one but unless you're a small child it's way less dangerous than a lot of dog breeds people don't mind being around.

BerserkBoulderer

"They're also better for the environment..."

GMOs.

GMOs are safe. They're not "frankenfoods injected with chemicals." It's just lab controlled hybridization and crossbreeding. Not the crap you read about from science denying conspiracy theorists.

They're also better for the environment as they require less land, less water, and fewer pesticides while producing more crops than organic. And often they have more nutrients - like golden rice which is so high in vitamin A it can prevent blindness in children.

And yet people are terrified of them as if they expect them to suddenly become sentient and throw little girls into rivers.

JamiSings

"Unless you decide..."

Sharks are actually pretty harmless. Unless you decide to intimidate them, they'll never attack you. Humans taste disgusting to them, anyway.

TellMyWifiAmFaithful


Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Karoline Leavitt
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Karoline Leavitt Slammed After Suggesting Reports Of Deadly Strike On Iranian Girls' School Are Just 'Propaganda'

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was criticized after she rejected reports that the U.S. struck a girls' elementary school in Iran, killing 175 people, insisting in remarks to the press pool that it's just Iranian "propaganda" that they've "fallen" for.

Iranian state media and health officials said the strike occurred early Saturday morning in Minab, in the country’s southern Hormozgan Province. Journalists from international news organizations have not been granted access to independently verify the reported death toll or the circumstances surrounding the strike.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @madswellness's TikTok video
@madswellness/TikTok

Woman Sparks Debate With Her Viral Hot Take That We Should 'Normalize Not Liking Dogs'

We're all different people with different interests, and it's perfectly okay that we like different things.

But there are some people who passionately, even vehemently, draw the line at other people liking or disliking dogs.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @vanellimelli030's TikTok video
@vanellimelli030/TikTok

Model Accuses Fashion Brand Of Using AI To Recreate Her Looks For Ad Instead Of Hiring Her

There used to be laws in place for someone's likeness being used without their consent, and most certainly if their likeness was being used in an exploitative way for profit.

But now with the rise of AI-generated photographs, advertisements, and other digital products, the lines seem to have become muddied between the illegal stealing of someone's likeness and AI "inspiration."

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @anissahm15's TikTok video
@anissahm15/TikTok

TikToker Secretly Records Unhinged Spectrum Employee Screaming At Her For Trying To Cancel Her Service

Employees in commission-based positions are feeling increasingly pressured to acquire new clients, retain previous clients, and solve the issues their clients call in about with high satisfaction ratings.

Even though tensions are high, and the pressure they're feeling may be unrealistic for any one person to take, that doesn't give them the right to mistreat people who do not want to sign up or want to cancel.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @hustleb***h's TikTok video
@hustleb***h/TikTok

Travel Influencer Posts Viral 'Hack' Using Hotel Coffee Maker To Wash Her Underwear—And We're Horrified

We've all worried about packing enough clothes when we go on a trip, especially when it's the really important stuff, like underwear and socks.

But travel influencer @tarawoodcox11 thoroughly grossed out the internet when she shared a hack for maintaining clean, or at least cleaner underwear, while on the go. The video was later shared by the TikTok platform @hustleb*tch where it went viral.

Keep ReadingShow less