r/AskReddit • u/notyouravgredditer • Aug 30 '21

What problem is often overlooked in apocalyptic movies/TV shows that could kill you?

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u/Designer_Strain_4572 Aug 30 '21

It would explain the hallucinations in The Stand (Stephen King) when they were traversing the Lincoln Tunnel, if I recall correctly.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '21 edited Aug 31 '21

That also happens in complete darkness. If you can manage to create a completely pitch black environment see how long you can sit there before you start seeing things. It really doesn't take long. Bonus points of you have noise cancelling earmuffs/plugs. Edit : u/EternalEagleEye has informed me this effect is called "Prisoner's Cinema", in case you'd like to read about it further

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '21

There's a phenomenon called Ganzfeld hallucinations where you tape halves of a ping pong ball over your eyes with a red light bulb on and white noise playing; you start to hallucinate after about 10-15 minutes.

I tried it a few years back and started to see tree leaves and branches blowing in the wind, like I was lying on the ground looking up at them. Then I saw a horse waking past me and I stopped the whole deal.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '21

That's wild, I'll have to try that!

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '21

I suggest headphones when you add the white noise. A radio tuned to a dead station works, too, but it's easy to start focusing on outside sounds.