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“What Do People Not Realize Has An Extremely High Chance Of Happening?” (28 Answers)
Article created by: Kotryna Br
Even though people fall ill or get into accidents and other unfavorable situations all of the time, many think that it’s not going to happen to them; that they are somehow immune to the hardships and calamities in life, which might prove to have a higher chance of happening than one thinks.
Members of the ‘Ask Reddit’ community recently discussed things that people don’t realize have an extremely high chance of happening, after one of them started a discussion about it. The netizens’ answers covered all sorts of misfortunes—and a couple of more positive scenarios—so if you’re wondering what might be more likely to happen than you think, continue scrolling through to find out.
On the list below, you will also find Bored Panda’s interviews with Professor and the founding director of the Fire Safety Engineering Group (FSEG) of the University of Greenwich in London, UK, Dr. Ed Galea, and Assistant Professor at Michigan State University in the US, expert in hazard mitigation and science communication, Dr. Robert E. Drost, who were kind enough to answer a few of our questions about emergency situations.
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#1
We able-bodied tend to think of disabled people as unlucky but (as has been pointed out) being able-bodied is AT BEST temporary. Everyone will at some point have to face a life of disability unless you die early.
The ADA helps everyone and is one of America's great achievements.
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#2
Sadly, Miscarriage in the first trimester. Some studies estimate as high as 40% of pregnancies terminate by 12 weeks.
Edit: Since this has gained mild traction I figure I should highlight a through-line featured in a lot of comments: normalize talking about miscarriage.
Obviously folks who have experienced a miscarriage should not be forced to discuss it if they aren't comfortable, but I have seen so many first-time pregnancies that miscarried where their first question was "what did I do wrong?" A significant majority of the time, there is nothing they did that triggered it; the more society is able and willing to provide that reassurance, the better off these people will be.
#4
Complications during labor and delivery.
My wife wasn't high risk with either of our kids. We had no indication that we had anything to be concerned about.
With my first child, he got stuck in the birth canal and had to be emergency vacuum extracted. He likely would have been still born had we not had an OB at the ready to act fast.
My wife hemorrhaged unexpectedly during recovery after delivering our second child. She likely would have bled out had she not been monitored during recovery by labor and delivery nurses, and emergency treated by an OB when the hemorrhage happened.
I know many women want to have their children in different arrangements than a traditional hospital birth, and I respect that. Just understand that having a doula in a birthing center is not the same as a team of labor and delivery nurses along with an OB that has an OR with blood band ready if things go sideways. The likelihood of complications is much higher than many understand. Just because you aren't classified as high risk does not mean you are at zero risk of complications.
#7
Dying. Many people take things for granted and do not prioritise right. Something I’ve noticed after I got cancer. Because I made the same “mistake.”.
#8
People often don't realize that everyday accidents, like car crashes or household injuries, have an extremely high chance of happening compared to more dramatic or rare events.
#9
Becoming disabled. There’s so much ableism in the world because people think it could never happen to them.
#10
One thing people often don't realize has an extremely high chance of happening is experiencing some form of mental health issue during their lifetime. According to various studies, a significant portion of the population will deal with conditions like depression, anxiety, or stress-related disorders at some point. Despite this, mental health is still stigmatized, and many people don’t seek the help they need. It’s important to recognize that mental health issues are common and to encourage open conversations and support for those who are struggling.
#11
Getting diabetes. At least here in the US people really don’t get how deep the deck is stacked against them.
#12
Your parents dying. I’m in my mid-thirties and I’m seeing all these posts like “omg, I’m going to lose my mom/dad one day”
Yes. This was always a thing and you are supposed to outlive your parents. Make a plan now and talk about the hard stuff and then it’s not nearly as hard when it does happen. (My mother and I have been actively talking/planning for when she passes away since I was about 10- I lost my dad at 17).
#14
That we will permanently damage the environment. We aren't going green fast enough and politicians and big businesses keep working against green energy. We are setting ourselves up to be the first species to destroy ourselves because it wasn't profitable to do otherwise.
#15
Crashing and possibly killing yourself and/or others when you prefer to pay more attention to your phone than the road. Texts and social media can wait until you've parked your car somewhere.
#16
People don’t realize that there’s an extremely high chance of getting hooked on a TV show just before it gets canceled. It’s like a cosmic law of entertainment: the more you love it, the quicker it’s destined to leave you hanging.
#18
The US power grid failing. It would have extreme consequences. Just about everything we need and do in American society requires some sort of power. Even the water you drink.
Mike Goslin 3 months ago
The power grid fails all the time. It is not tragic. It is designed that way. It's a grid. Only one part goes out at a time. that way we can re-route and repair very quickly whilst the crittical systems still have batteries and back-up power. I've never seen a grid failure long enough and wide enough to shut off water.
#19
Getting hooked on social media. It happens so quickly and easily without ever realizing it.
#20
We could die at any moment for any reason. Human body is extremly complex and it's easy to not know what happening with our own body.
#23
Personal injury. It’s atrociously easy to get hurt in a way that will stay with you for life.
Being aware will mitigate most of that risk.
Drinking severely limits your ability to mitigate.
#24
Losing your phone or having it stolen. It’s more common than you think, so it’s good to have a backup plan.
#27
A cyber attack or out of control vulnerability shutting down every single non air gapped communications network and computer on the planet, putting us in a quasi stone age for weeks or months. Very real possibility and almost certain to happen in the next decade or so.
#28
If you live long enough, the likelihood of developing some sort of cancer approaches 100% If nothing else gets you first, cancer will eventually.
Mike Goslin 3 months ago
You can say that about any crittical organ system. 100% chance you will die of heart failure if something else doesn't get you first.
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