this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2024
-24 points (27.8% liked)

Showerthoughts

29880 readers
865 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. Avoid politics
    • 3.1) NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
    • 3.2) Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
    • 3.3) Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
quinten
vatlark
forkball
Thekingoflorda
-24
If on average, a person eats 8 spider in their sleep per year and assuming that no one other than one person ever ate a spider in their sleep, someone eats 64 billion spiders in their sleep per year (programming.dev)
submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by [email protected] to c/showerthoughts
13 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

If they only swallow spiders that are 0.1 mg, they would consume 6400 tons of spiders every year

If they only consume spiders that are 175 g, they would swallow 11.2 billion tons of spiders every year

Edit: i know its a myth, thats why i said "if"

all 14 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] pleasejustdie 25 points 10 months ago (2 children)

For one, the myth is that people swallow 8 spiders per year not per night.

Another, its a myth. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/swallow-spiders/

[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The myth goes deeper.
The story of Lisa Holst originating this myth as a spoof fact is also a myth.

Neither the supposed journalists, Lisa Holst, nor the magazine, PC Professional, exist.

The hunt is on for the earliest reference. Probably on a newsnet group.

https://www.snopes.com/lisa-birgit-holst/

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Usenet could potentially have the earliest online reference, but this myth could be ancient. Spiders and humans have always coexisted.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 10 months ago

8 per night? Good Lord no, it's 8 PER HOUR. They're literally lining up to jump into your mouth. Check your toothbrush for legs and silk. Usually a sore throat just means one bit you on the way down.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago

Upvoted because this is one of the most unhinged shower thought posts I've seen, and I want some of whatever you're smoking

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Lemmino did a very thorough video on this myth. I highly recommend checking it out.

I especially enjoy that the original authors name is an anagram that strikes me as too fitting to be a coincidence.

https://youtu.be/OjlKIjLWq-Y?si=nImo8Dk2wdmxUuVp

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Here is an alternative Piped link(s):

https://piped.video/OjlKIjLWq-Y?si=nImo8Dk2wdmxUuVp

Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.

I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

thanks lemmy for this beautiful shower thought :)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

It’s spiders Georg!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiders_Georg

[–] PP_BOY_ 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

8 spiders in their sleep every night

every night

OP... the myth is every year.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I misswrote the title. Everything else says every year

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

You can edit titles on lemmy.

[–] uienia 1 points 10 months ago

And per year is also a lie. People don't swallow spiders in their sleep.