Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
20 Popular Survival Myths That Not Only Are Wrong But Also Dangerous, Shared By People On Twitter
Even an optimist has to agree that every day that you are alive, there is a possibility, even if it’s small and almost invisible, that something bad can happen to you. Even if you don’t leave home or don’t even get up from your bed. The chances are low, but never zero.
Because you live without thinking about it every day, you might not know how you could protect yourself from these dangers. On the other hand, you might have read some tips, but never actually had to apply them, so you don’t know if they are even valid.
To clear up the air on the topic, the popular Twitter account UberFacts that now has a following of 13.6M people asked “What's a popular survival myth that's actually wrong and could possibly get you killed” and let’s take a look at what knowledge people shared.
More info: Twitter
This post may include affiliate links.
UberFacts is a Twitter account focused on interesting facts that satisfy our curiosity and the need to know random things about the world that aren’t really useful, but just cool. This time they asked a question that made people share facts that are actually quite useful.
People took the opportunity to let out their frustration about misconceptions on how to survive dangerous situations because unnoticeably, they have become the truth even though they are myths.
RELATED:
#3
alias D. 3 years ago
Ha ha that’s cute let’s see how they sing when their jewels are ripped off by the chimp
RafCo (he/him) 3 years ago
Lol reminds me of. Sure, a shark can swim faster than me, but I am way faster than a shark running on land. So it really just comes down to who is the better cyclist.
Load More Replies...
harpling 3 years ago
I'm pretty sure I could win a fight against my turtle, even if he gets really angry. But if my dog gets rabies or something and attacks me, I'm dead.
RafCo (he/him) 3 years ago
Pretty sure I could take my mini-aussie. But my cats would murder me.
Load More Replies...
Calane E. Vanya 3 years ago
...but someone forgot to establish the principle of non-use of weapons. it's possible that humans are unable to eradicate tardigrades.
Paola Barbosa 3 years ago
I feel like the only people that could beat a crocodile are from florida haha
Shinyravengirl 3 years ago
That’s because the USA rates 27th in the world in education. Stop trying to ‘pet’ bison, bears, mountain lions…and no, you can’t win in a fight.
Veronica Jean 3 years ago
If it makes you feel better, an average of 5% of Americans suffer from narcissistic personality disorder, and believe themselves superior to all living things..which accounts for a good chunk of these
Kenny Kulbiski 3 years ago
Trips to the vet have proven to me that I can't even whip my 16 pound cat. Luckily I have surprise and trickery going for me.
simply.Taz 3 years ago
Apparently, you have underestimated your cat!! Lol
Load More Replies...
Missy Corron 3 years ago
Seriously! Sometimes I wonder that humans survived at all with these dumba$$ genes.
T. Unnamable 3 years ago
I couldn't take on a domestic cat much less a dog. As for a wild animal? Good luck. I hope you have good medical insurance.
Randolph Croft 3 years ago
Hell, prolly 20% think they could best a wolverine. Good luck with that.
Sue Mullen Andersen 3 years ago
I m not at all confident that I could take a small cat...let alone those other animals!
Lara Verne 3 years ago (edited)
These people probably think that animals mentioned above behave like plushies in toy store.
BasedWang12.7 3 years ago
lulz.. I have no faith in me winning against a f****n chipmunk . If I walk away victorious from anything, Im makin myself a trophy
der sebbl 3 years ago
Who the fluff thinks to have a chance against an elephant. None of the options sound like having a chance, but an freaking elephant? I encountered a wild one when I was in Ghana. He didn't seem to care much at first but when we came closer to take a picture he turned to us and trumpeted. That was f*****g scary.
Ian Webling 3 years ago
Some travelling shows in the US in the 19th century had wrestling matches between men (chumps) and chimps. To win the human would have to pin one shoulder of the chimp to the ground for one second. There are no records of a human ever having won.
Shyla Bouche 3 years ago
A lot of people have never seen an adult chimp. They think Elly May's baby in diapers, and have no idea baby chimps grow up.
Amused panda 3 years ago
Is this all the same 17% of those surveyed? Or is there actually a percentage who thinks yep, I can take an elephant, but a chimpanzee would beat me hands down
Chesty Gardner 3 years ago
48% of the American population would actively engage with these animals..! It sort of sums up the American educational system. This is the same country that thinks 30% of the population live in Texas and that 41% of the population is Black. When in reality only 9% live in Texas and 12% are black. What the heck is being taught in their schools..?
Eric Smith 3 years ago
I could definitely win against a wolf. Pretty sure a chimp would shred me. Wouldn't stand a chance against the others.
simply.Taz 3 years ago
It's not just the south where idiots are born!! smh
Load More Replies...
Jordan Riopelle 3 years ago
Oh you better be ready to fight a wolf! They can run much faster and so much longer than you ever could. Find a weapon and prepare to fight
Catte West 3 years ago
Sounds like my beer swilling, truck driving, ah, love ma dawg, redneck landlord.
Ray Carrillo 3 years ago
Only if armed properly, otherwise an ugly death. Not sure who thinks they can beat a chimpanzee, try watching Nope.
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
I think of all these animals, the gorilla and chimp scare me the most. They're like humans, but way stronger. Wolf I reckon I could take. Croc, elephant, lion, nope.
Jeff Gabrisl 3 years ago
Yeah.. Zookeepers have been been eviscerated by big cats that are just playing the way cats do. The cats weren't trying to hurt anyone, they were just playing. I would never try to fight a wild animal, that's just stupid. However I would totally try to befriend a wild animal, and probably end up in the same situation. It's the internet's fault. I have seen too many videos of people caring for orphaned big cats, releasing them to the wild, and then the giant murder kitty comes running up for love and snuggles.
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
It cracks me up that any spoiled human thinks they can win against an animal that literally fights for its survival on the daily.
Mario Strada 3 years ago
They mean they can do it after they buy and equip their armored troops transport or battle tank. They forget that a chimp will likely learn how to open the hatch and get inside before you can traverse the .50 cal (in their fevered dreams).
Mohammad Ammar 3 years ago
I think I might be able to outrun a croc if I have enough distance and run in zigzags. Crocs don't really chase prey on land much anyway. The rest of these animals though, I'd die just looking at.
Doctor Strange 3 years ago
Running in zigzags to escape a croc is pointless. Actually it is less than pointless, because it keeps you in range longer than just running straight away. Crocs are ambush predators, they don't chase.
Load More Replies...
Almost 400 people joined the conversation and many of them mentioned facts related to how to protect yourself from wild animals, which makes sense, as it is a very possible encounter depending on where you live.
They also touched on survival tips during natural disasters, being attacked with a gun or being stranded in the middle of nowhere without supplies.
#4
TCW Sam Vimes 3 years ago
Jep, makes you think you are warm, but makes you cool out even faster. Very dangerous.
Such information which turns out to be false is called misinformation and researchers who write the article “The psychological drivers of misinformation belief and its resistance to correction” believe that it is dangerous as it “poses an inevitable challenge for human cognition and social interaction because it is a consequence of the fact that people frequently err and sometimes lie.”
Also, now it’s easier than ever to spread misinformation, whether it’s intentional or not, because of modern technology and its huge reach, as there are 5 billion internet users around the world, which is more than half of the world’s population.
But it’s not only the widely available information being repeated multiple times that contributes to people believing in false facts. “When deciding what is true, people are often biased to believe in the validity of information, and ‘go with their gut’ and intuitions instead of deliberating.”
What is also convincing about misinformation is that not only can it spread quickly, but “often contains appeals to emotion, which can increase persuasion.”
There are multiple ways misinformation is spread. University of Victoria points out social media as one of the biggest contributors to spreading false information: “Regular users of social media are to blame for a lot of this spread, as they like, share, and otherwise engage with posts containing misinformation.”
Another way is circular reporting, which means that a news outlet publishes information and others pick up citing the original source, trusting they have the correct facts or willingly continuing the false narrative.
#10
Thegoodboi 3 years ago
Yeah I hate bullying but standing up to them is just going to p**s them off. Not like the movies..
The ways to combat misinformation are “a fact-based correction that directly addresses inaccuracies in the misinformation and provides accurate information” and addressing “the logical fallacies common in some types of disinformation.”
Researchers believe that social media plays a big role in combating misinformation “because they can reduce false beliefs not just in the target of the correction but among everyone that sees the correction — a process termed observational correction.”
#12
Bill Evs 3 years ago (edited)
I've always found it weird in movies where someone is lost/stranded/ trapped and the first thing they worry about is starvation. No one even mentions the need for a safe, steady water supply despite the fact a human can last weeks and weeks without food but only a few days without water.
But it’s not easy to convince someone that their source of information is misleading instead of yours. If you would like to know more about the psychology of a person believing in conspiracy theories and what is the best way to communicate with them, you can read another Bored Panda article here, in which we talked with Karen Douglas, a Professor of Social Psychology at University of Kent, who studies the psychology of conspiracy theories.
Have you ever fallen for false information? Have you believed in any of these survival myths? Let us know in the comments and also, if there are any more survival myths you know that weren’t mentioned in the list, share them as well!
#15
Michael Bain 3 years ago
Growing up near the coast I carried grocery store meat tenderizer in my tackle box. Dashing good bit over the sting seemed to help
#17
#18
Tessa Fontaine 3 years ago
The best advice is laying flat on the floor with your hands over your head.
#21
Dan Holden 3 years ago (edited)
You're driving on a desolate highway in the prairies. There are no buildings in sight but there's an overpass a few meters away, and a tornado bearing down. Not a lot of options here.
Add New Image
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
WonderWoman 3 years ago
Note: this post originally had 21 images. It’s been shortened to the top 20 images based on user votes. SERIOUSLY??? Come on BP
Hphizzle 3 years ago
And the one they cut off is actually helpful to know how to to take cover in a tornado.
Load More Replies...
Mary Jeffries 3 years ago
Don’t put something between the teeth of someone having a seizure. You have a good chance of chipping their teeth and then they would aspirate the shard.
Anon Yymi 3 years ago
I'm a bit suprised Bear Grylls' favourite pastime, drinking urine, isn't on the list.
Todd Campbell 3 years ago
Here’s one - drinking urine is NOT sterile. Thanks Fight Club for that bad advice.
Load More Replies...
Tom Hardeveld 3 years ago
#21. "Taking cover under an overpass to shelter from a tornado." .... You're welcome
Pablo Aikin 3 years ago (edited)
If someone has (nearly) drowned, place him/her on a flat surface and ventilate (mouth-to-mouth most likely) the majority of drowned people will spontaneously breathe -somewhat similar of how newborns do. Also, DON'T compress the abdomen "in order to evacuate the water inside". That maneuvre might displace said water into the lungs and further complicate the case. Head to the hospital immediately afterwards. If someone gets burned (water, fire, metal) apply temperate (NOT cold) water on the damaged area for at least 10 minutes to fully cool down it down. If someone is having a seizure, remove any objects that can cause injury and wait for the convulsion to fade, which usually takes less than 5 minutes. A seizure that persists longer than 15 minutes, though, is called status epilepticus, a medical emergency that requires immediate hospital admission. This mostly occurs to known epileptics that don't adequately adhere to their treatment.
Katja Katze 3 years ago
My grandmother taught me to stay away from oak trees during thunderstorms and to take shelter under a beech tree. "Eichen sollst du weichen, Buchen sollst du suchen." Never tested. To this day I wonder why the flash should be able to distinguish tree species
Bethany Heller 3 years ago
And do you know what all of this comes down to, kids? Only. Professionals. Are at. Professional. Level. PRO-FESS-ION-ALS.
Joyce Blodgett 3 years ago
Not anything listed, nor relevant, I suppose, but in the disaster movies (my favorite genre...), the extras are scripted to stand there like dimwits, staring at the coming huge event, THEN run like morons when it's only feet away. If I was in that scenario, I'd just sit down and let it happen. I can't run anymore due an incorrectly healed hip fracture, combined with my age, and where would I go anyhow? At my age, I'd just as soon let my life end that way as to have to die a long, slow, agonizing, age-related death. My children are already dead, and weren't old enough to have children of their own first. My parents are dead, my sister and brother live hundreds of miles from me, and we aren't close anyhow, so why run? Why would anyone run when it's impossible to outlive a huge, monstrous, VEHICLE crushing wave or tornado? If vehicles weighing tons and built of metal are being utterly destroyed, why would humans be foolish enough to believe their puny, fragile bodies will survive?
WonderWoman 3 years ago
Note: this post originally had 21 images. It’s been shortened to the top 20 images based on user votes. SERIOUSLY??? Come on BP
Hphizzle 3 years ago
And the one they cut off is actually helpful to know how to to take cover in a tornado.
Load More Replies... Mary Jeffries 3 years ago
Don’t put something between the teeth of someone having a seizure. You have a good chance of chipping their teeth and then they would aspirate the shard.
Anon Yymi 3 years ago
I'm a bit suprised Bear Grylls' favourite pastime, drinking urine, isn't on the list.
Todd Campbell 3 years ago
Here’s one - drinking urine is NOT sterile. Thanks Fight Club for that bad advice.
Load More Replies... Tom Hardeveld 3 years ago
#21. "Taking cover under an overpass to shelter from a tornado." .... You're welcome
Pablo Aikin 3 years ago (edited)
If someone has (nearly) drowned, place him/her on a flat surface and ventilate (mouth-to-mouth most likely) the majority of drowned people will spontaneously breathe -somewhat similar of how newborns do. Also, DON'T compress the abdomen "in order to evacuate the water inside". That maneuvre might displace said water into the lungs and further complicate the case. Head to the hospital immediately afterwards. If someone gets burned (water, fire, metal) apply temperate (NOT cold) water on the damaged area for at least 10 minutes to fully cool down it down. If someone is having a seizure, remove any objects that can cause injury and wait for the convulsion to fade, which usually takes less than 5 minutes. A seizure that persists longer than 15 minutes, though, is called status epilepticus, a medical emergency that requires immediate hospital admission. This mostly occurs to known epileptics that don't adequately adhere to their treatment.
Katja Katze 3 years ago
My grandmother taught me to stay away from oak trees during thunderstorms and to take shelter under a beech tree. "Eichen sollst du weichen, Buchen sollst du suchen." Never tested. To this day I wonder why the flash should be able to distinguish tree species
Bethany Heller 3 years ago
And do you know what all of this comes down to, kids? Only. Professionals. Are at. Professional. Level. PRO-FESS-ION-ALS.
Joyce Blodgett 3 years ago
Not anything listed, nor relevant, I suppose, but in the disaster movies (my favorite genre...), the extras are scripted to stand there like dimwits, staring at the coming huge event, THEN run like morons when it's only feet away. If I was in that scenario, I'd just sit down and let it happen. I can't run anymore due an incorrectly healed hip fracture, combined with my age, and where would I go anyhow? At my age, I'd just as soon let my life end that way as to have to die a long, slow, agonizing, age-related death. My children are already dead, and weren't old enough to have children of their own first. My parents are dead, my sister and brother live hundreds of miles from me, and we aren't close anyhow, so why run? Why would anyone run when it's impossible to outlive a huge, monstrous, VEHICLE crushing wave or tornado? If vehicles weighing tons and built of metal are being utterly destroyed, why would humans be foolish enough to believe their puny, fragile bodies will survive?
You May Like 60 Interesting Facts That Are Better Than Watching The News 41 Intriguing “Today I Learned” Facts That Show How Little We Actually Know (New Facts) 46 People Share Mildly Disturbing Facts You May Have Never Heard Before
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Evelina Šiukšterytė
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Related on Bored Panda
