"I don't ever sleep!" What is the fascination?

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Is it just me or does it seem that there are an abnormally large group of people who claim that they never get any sleep? It is as if people somehow think that they are special because they either don't go to bed until 3 a.m. and get up at 5 a.m. or they don't go to sleep at all. I first noticed this as a child. We all bragged that we slept less than each other and when someone slept over the goal was to not sleep at all. When we did have slumber parties, we tortured the first person to fall asleep as a way of reminding them that we were able to go without sleep. College students brag about having only a few hours each night... and even old people want you to believe that they never sleep! So, we aren't suppose to point out that they nod off for 15 minutes every hour on the hour. That doesn't count! I have read studies that suggest that people who actually can not sleep begin to hallucinate, go insane, and die if they are actually unable to sleep. Your immune system is also weakened by sleep deprivation. So, if you get sick more often than the average bear, maybe you should get some more sleep! Am I crazy or is not sleeping an over-rated, and over-exagerated problem?