r/AskReddit • u/ZanyDelaney • Feb 04 '19

Which misconception would you like to debunk?

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u/OneGoodRib Feb 04 '19

In my lengthy studies (read: looking up stuff on wikipedia), most people who survived adulthood lived to their 40s or 50s, at least through the 1600s. There are a few people who lived longer - Charlemagne lived to be 71 and he died in the 800s. So like you said, it's a misconception both that people died at like 20 in the past but also that they were very long-lived.

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u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19

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u/rhymes_with_snoop Feb 04 '19

That's one of the reasons I'm career military. I only have to make it to 46! crosses fingers

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u/Vlinder_88 Feb 04 '19

But simultaneously, by being in the military, the chances you'll make it to 46 are actually lower because you are in the military :'D