Article created by: Kotryna Br

Facts are supposed to be educational, but if they’re entertaining or unusual, it helps them stick in our minds better. However, the truth doesn’t care about our feelings or making us feel ‘good.’ It can often be uncomfortable, and nuanced, and make us realize how fragile life can be.

The r/AskReddit online community tackled this idea by sharing facts that, on the surface, sound quite comforting. However, once you think about them a little longer, you realize how disturbing they actually are... and how little control we have over some aspects of our lives. Scroll down to see what the internet users shared.

Bored Panda reached out to the author of the viral thread, u/Soupmandog589, and they were kind enough to answer our questions. You'll find our interview with them below.

#1

Person lying in bed, blowing nose with a tissue, reflecting disturbing facts behind comforting appearances. When you're sick, you're supposed to do drugs and stay out of school.

The_Spyre , Andrea Piacquadio / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #2

    Person sleeping peacefully under white sheets in a dimly lit room. The most peaceful way to die is in your sleep, but you’ll go to sleep not knowing you’ll never see anything ever again.

    anon , Ivan Oboleninov / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #3

    Inside view of the Colosseum's ancient structure, showcasing its historic and architectural significance. The average age of empires is 250 years.

    P3n1s_6a11s , Mathew Schwartz / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #4

    Woman gazing at reflection in dimly lit room, creating a comforting yet disturbing atmosphere. You’ve never actually seen your face. Only pictures or reflections.

    Low_Egg_7606 , Ivan Oboleninov / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #5

    Pouring water into a glass on a wet surface, illustrating facts that seem comforting but are actually disturbing. That there is enough food and water to feed everyone on the planet for free. But a small group of world owners governs it, plays monetary games, and uses it to control the masses.

    WiseOwlBear , Pixabay / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #6

    Two women engaged in a serious conversation at a table with plants in the background. People think about you far less than you actually believe they do.

    MarcableFluke , Mimi Thian / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #7

    Children swinging at a busy playground with families around, under a clear sky. I was at a bbq yesterday and my uncle told me “think about it one day you went outside to play with your friends for the last time and didn’t even know it”.

    rynor9or , cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #8

    Close-up of a person pointing at their temple, evoking thoughts about facts that sound comforting but are actually disturbing. There are hundreds if not thousands of versions of you in the minds of other people.

    Depending on how many people you have met in your life.

    He-Who-Laughs-Last , pexels / Engin Akyurt (not the actual photo) Report

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    #9

    Person in orange shirt holding head with eyes closed, sitting by a laptop and open book, reflecting on disturbing facts. One day you'll never feel pain again.

    Antdawg2400 , Andrea Piacquadio / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #10

    Crowded street scene with diverse people walking in different directions, some holding coffee and wearing sunglasses. There will be a point in time where humans go extinct. We won't experience it but imagine our future generations will see the “end of the world”.

    SunTzy69 , Cameron Casey / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #11

    Earthrise from the moon with a dark sky, highlighting a comforting yet disturbing perspective of our planet. Either alien life exists, or we are totally alone in the universe.

    ALA02 , NASA / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #12

    Aerial view of deforestation with fallen trees, highlighting a disturbing environmental fact. While we're losing a lot of forests in the tropics due to climate change, we're actually gaining a lot of forest in the northern latitudes, and into formerly grassland areas as more available CO2 allows them to grow in more arid regions. And everyone loves trees, right?

    The problem is the climate crisis is also a biodiversity crisis, and habitat loss - like grasslands or tundra becoming forest - is arguably even harder on species than changes in weather patterns.

    RIPEOTCDXVI , gryffyn m / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #13

    Person writing in a notebook, focusing on facts that sound comforting but are disturbing. The idea that who we are is not who we used to be, nor who we will be. Both literally and figuratively, considering our cells are constantly dying and recycling so every 7ish years you have a "new" body and because our minds are ever expanding and learning new things.

    Another one is the fact that who you are is not who others perceive you to be, since no one can ever truly know who you are and how you think, to the point that if you ever lost your memories, no one would be able to describe you fully to you.

    sorry001 , Marcos Paulo Prado / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #14

    A couple in soft light, lovingly holding a newborn wrapped in a star-patterned blanket, convey warmth and comfort. You might be just like your parents when you have kids.

    Ishzero , Kelly Sikkema / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #15

    A couple in a comforting embrace, illustrating facts that seem comforting yet are highly disturbing. "This too shall pass"

    by3s3xualdisasstr , Ron Lach / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #16

    Elderly man in plaid shirt and apron, playfully biting shrimp skewers outdoors. My husband has worked in elderly care for over 10 years. He can attest that even without dementia, older people tend to loose their ability to taste. It’s like weakening eye sight but with flavor. He’s always getting complaints that the food is too bland but it’s so full of salt substitute it’s almost inedible to everyone else.

    stormycakes , RDNE Stock project/ pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #17

    People crossing a busy intersection in a vibrant city scene, surrounded by colorful buildings and advertisements. You walk by at least 10 murderers in your life time without even knowing it.

    _weirdness , Cory Schadt / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #18

    Close-up of a hand touching a person's shoulder, highlighting comforting but disturbing facts. when you get skinned, you (most likely) won’t die of blood loss, but instead hypothermia or infection as they will get you first.

    Soupmandog589 , Nora Hutton / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #19

    People entering the ocean at a sunny beach, highlighting comforting but disturbing facts about the sea. This will be the coldest summer of the rest of your life.

    scythefalcon , Oliver Sjöström / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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    #20

    Aerial view of a crowded pedestrian crossing, illustrating comforting yet disturbing urban life facts. Even if 99% of the population finds you unattractive, around 78 million people still find you attractive. Idk this just really creeps me out.

    blakespaghetti , Ryoji Iwata / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This statistic doesn't logically work. Just because that 1% of the population doesn't find you *unattractive*, doesn't mean they find you *attractive*. They may just think you're average-looking, nothing special.

    #21

    Adults and children playing with alphabet blocks on a blue carpet, focusing on educational play. If you don’t have children you end a several hundred year long bloodline.

    nice_wholphin , Marisa Howenstine / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, no. The bloodline continues as long as my siblings have children, duh.