21 Things You Thought Were Common, But Are Actually Rare

In our everyday lives, we often make assumptions about what’s common and what’s not. But sometimes, our perceptions can be way off the mark. There are plenty of things out there that we might think are pretty ordinary, but in reality, they’re about as rare as a unicorn sighting. Let’s take a look at 21 things that you probably thought were common, but are actually pretty darn rare.

Achieving Perfect Scores on Standardized Tests

You know those smarty-pants who always seem to ace their SATs or ACTs? Turns out, getting a perfect score on these tests is about as common as finding a needle in a haystack. Sure, we hear about the high achievers, but in reality, only a teeny-tiny fraction of test-takers actually manage to nail every single question. So if you didn’t get a perfect score, don’t sweat it – you’re in good company!

Winning a Major Game Show

Who hasn’t dreamed of hitting it big on “Jeopardy!” or “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”? But the truth is, actually winning a major prize on one of these shows is like finding a diamond in your breakfast cereal. It takes a crazy combination of skill, luck, and being in the right place at the right time. So while it’s fun to watch, don’t count on a game show to be your ticket to riches.

Ambidexterity

You might know a few people who claim to be ambidextrous, but true ambidexterity – being able to use both hands equally well – is about as common as a penguin in the Sahara. Most folks have a dominant hand, and only a select few can really do tasks just as well with their left as their right. So if you’re a righty or a lefty, don’t feel bad – you’re in the majority!

Natural Twins or Triplets

Twins and triplets always seem to get a lot of attention, but the chances of having them naturally (without fertility treatments) are pretty slim. Identical twins only happen about 3 times in every 1,000 births, and fraternal twins vary depending on genetics and where you live. As for triplets? They’re even rarer – only about 1 in every 10,000 pregnancies. So if you’re a twin or triplet, consider yourself part of an exclusive club!

Finding a Four-Leaf Clover

We all know that four-leaf clovers are supposed to be lucky, but have you ever actually found one? Probably not, because they’re about as rare as a polka-dotted elephant. Even though clover fields are pretty common, finding one with that extra leaf is like finding a needle in a haystack. The odds are something like 1 in 5,000. So if you do find one, make sure to snap a pic and buy a lottery ticket!

Being Struck by Lightning Multiple Times

Getting struck by lightning once is already rare enough, but there are actually people out there who have been struck multiple times in their life. These folks are so rare, they’re practically urban legends. I mean, what are the chances of being in the wrong place at the wrong time that many times? If you know someone who’s been struck more than once, give them a hug (but maybe wait for a clear day).

Heroic Fire Rescues

In movies and TV shows, it seems like there’s always some brave soul running back into a burning building to save someone. But in real life? Not so much. Firefighters are trained professionals with protective gear and knowledge of how fires behave. For the average person, running into a burning building is extremely rare and seriously dangerous. So while it might make for a great dramatic scene, don’t count on seeing it in real life (and definitely don’t try it yourself!).

Midnight Burglaries

When you think of a burglar, you might picture someone sneaking around in a black mask in the middle of the night. But believe it or not, most burglaries actually happen during the day, when people are at work or school. Nighttime break-ins are way less common than Hollywood would have you believe. So if you’re worried about burglars, make sure to lock up during the day, too!

Halloween Drug Myth

Every Halloween, there are always those rumors about people giving out drugs disguised as candy. But in reality? It’s about as likely as finding a pumpkin that can talk. Most of the reported cases have turned out to be hoaxes or misunderstandings. I mean, think about it – drugs are expensive! Who’s going to give them away for free to random kids? Not likely.

College Dropout Millionaires

We’ve all heard the stories of college dropouts who went on to become millionaires or billionaires, like Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg. But those guys are the exception, not the rule. Most successful entrepreneurs actually finished their degrees, and dropping out of college usually means lower pay and fewer job opportunities. So while it’s a nice fantasy, don’t bank on becoming a millionaire without that diploma.

Red Hair

With all the redheads we see in movies and TV shows, you’d think red hair was pretty common. But in reality, only about 2% of the world’s population has naturally red hair. It’s the rarest hair color out there, with the highest numbers in Scotland and Ireland. So if you’re a redhead, congratulations – you’re part of a very exclusive club!

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which used to be called multiple personality disorder, is a favorite plot device in movies and TV. But in real life, it’s actually pretty rare – only about 1-2% of people have it. And the way it’s shown in media is often way more dramatic and sensationalized than the real experiences of people with DID. So if you think you know all about it from watching movies, think again.

Water Breaking in Pregnancy

In every movie and TV show, it seems like the first sign of labor is always a dramatic gush of water. But in reality, that only happens in about 15% of pregnancies. Most of the time, labor starts with contractions, and the water might not break until later, or a doctor might have to do it. So if you’re pregnant, don’t wait for that big movie moment – pay attention to those contractions!

Resuscitating Drowning Victims

If you watch TV, you might think that CPR can bring someone back after drowning pretty easily. But in reality, if someone’s heart stops after drowning, there’s only a 1 in 20 chance of getting them back with just CPR. A defibrillator can double those odds, but that’s still only a 10% chance. So while it’s absolutely worth trying, don’t count on a Hollywood-style miracle.

Gym Bullying

You know that stereotype of the super-fit gym rats pointing and laughing at the newbies? Turns out, that’s mostly a myth. Sure, there might be a few jerks out there, but most people at the gym are focused on their own workouts. In fact, a lot of gym-goers are really supportive of people who are just starting out. So don’t let a fear of judgment keep you from getting your sweat on!

Eating Tide Pods

Remember that Tide Pod Challenge that went viral a few years ago? With all the media attention it got, you’d think tons of people were actually eating laundry detergent. But in reality, only a handful of people were dumb enough to try it. Most people were smart enough to know that eating soap is a bad idea, no matter how colorful it looks!

Airplane Crashes

A lot of people are scared of flying because they think plane crashes are common. But the truth is, your odds of being in a plane crash are about one in a million. You’re way more likely to get in a car accident, but we don’t think twice about driving every day. So if you’re a nervous flyer, take a deep breath and remember – flying is actually one of the safest ways to travel.

Hitting a Jackpot

Casinos make a lot of money off of people who think they’re going to hit it big on the slot machines or the lottery. But the truth is, your odds of winning a major jackpot are about as good as your odds of getting struck by lightning while riding a unicorn. Casinos and lotteries are designed to make money, not give it away. So if you’re gambling, do it for fun, not because you think you’re going to get rich quick.

Autistic Savants

Movies like “Rain Man” have given a lot of people the wrong idea about autism. While some people with autism do have exceptional abilities (known as savant syndrome), it’s actually pretty rare. Autism is a spectrum, and people with autism have a wide range of abilities and challenges. So if you meet someone with autism, don’t assume they’re a genius – just treat them like you would anyone else.

Green Eyes

Green eyes are often seen as mysterious and exotic, probably because they’re so rare. In fact, only about 1-2% of the world’s population has naturally green eyes. So if you’ve got green eyes, congratulations – you’re part of a very select group! Just don’t let it go to your head.

Insanity Defense

In movies and TV shows, it seems like every other criminal is getting off on an insanity defense. But in real life, the insanity defense is used in less than 1% of cases, and it’s only successful about a quarter of the time. That’s because you have to prove that the person really didn’t know what they were doing was wrong – and that’s a pretty high bar. So if you’re counting on an insanity defense to get you out of trouble, you might want to rethink your life choices.

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