Insiders Are Sharing Unsettling Industry Facts That Will Make You Rethink Basically Everything
Whatever your profession, most industry workers are privy to certain facts and "secrets" that aren't widely available or obvious to the public. Well, Redditor SAMdaLOSER asked, "What's the scariest fact you know in your profession that no one else outside of it knows?" Here's what people said.
1."You know how you worry about getting your frozen and refrigerated groceries home and put away before they spoil? Overnight stockers don't."
2."Senior programmers are very reliant on Googling stuff, too."
3."I used to work in banking, and it was eye-opening to see how many people were victims of fraud, how little recourse there is to get the money back, and how little the police can do for you, too."
4."I'm a librarian, and you'd be horrified by how many books we get returned and have to throw out because they're covered in bed bugs. We put a block on accounts and notify patrons, but management specifically tells us not to mention this problem to the public."
5."Everyone is scared about being tracked by the government. But corporations and brand marketers know pretty much every time you take a pee."
6."The entirety of the internet is held together by a very outdated and very vulnerable routing protocol."
7."As an engineer, I know some bridges and structures you drive on daily are technically past their design lifespan."
8."I used to fish tuna in Southern California, and you’d be amazed at how many worms I saw filleting them. I’ve never eaten sushi, and rarely eat fish."
9."How much of our worldwide technical infrastructure is held together by duct tape and some sketchy Perl script written 20 years ago by someone who doesn't work there anymore."
10."I work in tech, and your 'deleted' data isn’t really gone. It’s just hiding until someone skilled enough finds it.
11."Former child actor. Quiet On Set is probably one of the most accurate depictions of the child entertainment industry you can currently get. The industry is not built around keeping your children feeling safe and happy. They will be exploited, whether that's through making them do sexual stunts/lines/scenarios, turning their physical appearance into the butt of a joke, or simply being unable to express discomfort about something they're asked to do."
12."Supply coordinator for a hospital here. Our supplies are ridiculously cheap. That IV you were charged $1,000 for? We paid 79 cents for it. We get diapers for about $1 per case."
13."Many people don't realize just how many dirty correctional officers there are that lug in drugs/weapons for inmates for money."
14."Working in the sleep world, many people go to bed every night with untreated/undiagnosed sleep apnea. It’s not entirely uncommon to see people’s oxygen levels dropping to the mid-seventies every night, which is part of their normal routine. It's incredibly dangerous, and I wish more people were aware of it."
15."A lot of people don't realize it, but graduation success rate can basically be predicted based on third-grade reading ability. Early education is important, folks."
16."When you go to trial, the truth doesn't matter one lick. It's only what the evidence can show. So many clients struggle with this concept. In a criminal case, if you go to trial and lose, you will most likely get a harsher sentence than you think. Elected judges believe they must appear tough on crime and hope that threat will convince you to take a plea deal so they have fewer cases on their trial docket."
17."As a nurse, it's unsettling how many patients I've seen who come in for routine procedures and end up with life-altering complications. It's often a result of rushed care or overlooked details. People assume hospitals are infallible, but the reality is that even in the best facilities, human error can lead to devastating outcomes. Always advocate for your health, and never hesitate to ask questions."
18."I work in a shelter. Some of our guests are from middle and upper-class backgrounds. Bad choices, bad health, bad treatment, and bad luck can happen to all of us, sometimes very quickly. As far as I can tell, the only thing all homeless people have in common is trauma and loss."
19."I used to work in the travel industry, and I definitely find this unsettling. You’d be surprised by how many people end up seriously hurt or even die while on vacation. When people travel, they often feel like nothing can go wrong. But here's the thing: you’re not invincible. Always get travel insurance."
20."The laxity in healthcare facilities. I work in Canada, and the staff is under such stress that a lot of corners are cut to try and save time, but it eventually always comes back to bite you in the ass..."
"Hygiene protocols are not respected. Patients are left in their filth because you have one nurse for 40 people with alarms going off everywhere. Sterilization processes are not being followed as they should, increasing the risk of disease...the list goes on. I remember starting to work and being happy about helping people. In the long run, you have to adapt because if you try to follow the norms, you will quickly get reprimanded for wasting time and resources.
The longer I work, the more bitter I become. You're fighting a battle that cannot be won, no matter your effort. At the end of the day, the patient will be the one to suffer. The system rewards people who slack off in the same as the guy doing everything in his power to try to fix it. The longer I try to do good, the more cynical I'm becoming in this society."
21."Probably how painful and long dying naturally can take. I work in memory care and have cared for sooooo many people dying. It's not a nice conversation with a loved one and then peacefully drifting off to sleep like in the movies. Morphine should be a human right. Assisted suicide should be a human right."
22."I’m a teacher. The education system in the US is largely in big trouble. We’re producing kids who can’t read, do math, or follow simple instructions. This is quickly going to become society’s problem."
23."Kids that were in grades two through six during the pandemic are frighteningly far behind their older counterparts and have a deep, deep reliance on technology."
24."Most security cameras are only reviewed after something goes wrong, meaning they’re more 'evidence collectors' than actual safety measures."
25."I am a nurse. People know when they’re going to die. They will straight up tell you, 'Today is my last day, thank you for being kind,' and you reassure them because their vitals are good, they are taking to treatment well, and nothing is happening that would indicate a drastic decline. Then, inevitably, you will hear a flatline on the machine and run in, and sure enough, that patient has passed away. If it hadn’t happened SO many times, I would chalk it up to a few people who just didn’t have the will to live anymore. But I’ve seen it enough, and I know that’s not it. It's really creepy when you think about it."
What is an industry secret you're privy to that others might be surprised, intrigued, or disturbed to hear? Tell us in the comments or in this anonymous form.
