"TIL When Assyrian priests saw a bad omen aimed at the King they used a ritual called The Substitute King. A commoner was found to replace the king while he went in hiding. The man lived as the king absorbing the evil spirits. When the omen passed the commoner was killed and the king returned."
Dun-Dun-Duuuunnnnn.... get ready for that 'Dear John' letter. HAHA!
but seriously, agreed. Generalizations (population level statistics) are exactly that, general and not specific.