Stranger than fiction.
That's the theme behind today's burning question from Redditor ReadyPlayer85, who asked the online community: What is the strangest thing you've witnessed that you can't explain to this day?
"I was in a small airport..."
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I was in a small airport in Madagascar and I swear to God I saw 500 people get off a plane that should seat no more than 70.
"I was lying in bed..."
I was lying in bed with my girlfriend watching TV. We're the only ones in the house and the shower turned on, like a steady stream not just dripping water. I got out of bed, terrified, walked into the bathroom and turned it off. Had to turn the knob 90 degrees to shut it off.
Never happened before and hasn't happened again and it was a tight handle, not really loose as if its own weight could turn it. Damn ghost plumbers.
"I was walking home..."
I was walking home from the movie theatre with a friend/neighbor of mine. It was about 8:00PM, and the walk took us down some major roads and through the suburbs. 45 minute walk through residential and commercial areas.
We. Saw. Absolutely. NOBODY.
The whole walk, we saw no cars, no people, nothing... well, not quite nothing... we did see the creepiest sh!t ever.
An ambulance, parked outside a house, lights on, doors open, no paramedics to be seen. Just sitting there in silence. The whole thing was like a god damn zombie apocalypse, it was insane! To this day I have no idea what was going on.
"Out and about..."
Out and about on Saturday night, decided to stop at a bar with a friend of mine.
I walk in and go to the bathroom, I come out and he says" lets get the f--- out of here".
I begin to ask why, and noticed there was no one in this bar.
A parking lot full of cars, music blaring, tables with drinks on them. No people.
"I was very young..."
I was very young and woke up in the middle of the night. There was a strange rectangular green light dancing around a dresser. It was only about 6 inches high and 2 inches wide. I was terrified. Something said my name - I heard it very clearly and I hid under the blankets unable up move. A few minutes later my mom in the next room started screaming there there is a ghost in her room. We all calmed down after a while and we never did explain it
Today I don't believe in ghosts or anything like that. But I do believe that something happened that night and I'm not ruling out anything supernatural.
"Me, my brother, and a friend..."
Me, my brother, and a friend were camping once when I was maybe 11 or 12 way out on our 100 acre farm in small town Kentucky. I woke up around 1:30 or so in the morning and could faintly hear a piano being played that sounded like it was coming out of the woods about 100 yards for our campsite. There is not a house or building or anything anywhere near that spot on our farm. So naturally I think I'm just hearing things and decide to try to go back to sleep. Then my brother, who was apparently also awake, sits up and asks me if I hear a piano. We made a dash for the house and never camped out there again.
"When I was younger..."
When I was younger (elementary school) some days I would come home from school and see the shadow of a man in the window of my house. Sometimes I would just notice him in passing, other times I would only see him when I got close and jump back. Every time I tried to see him again he would be gone. Now I don't come home at the same time, so I haven't seen him in about a year. But if I'm home at around 3pm, my dog will usually start barking at that window for no reason. I don't know why I could only see it when I came home at 3pm from outside the house, but it's what happened.
More info: There's nothing in the window tall enough to make the shadow I saw and no one was home most of the time when it happened.
"I was around..."
I was around 6 or 7 when this happened. I was playing in the basement at the time. I had turned around to get another toy and this weird creature popped out from behind one of the red poles that was down there. The pole was thin so it couldn't have been a human as you'd be able see parts of their body from behind it. This thing I was looking at was pretty much just a torso and a head. It was all black and it's eyes were wide open and staring at me. You could see the white around it's soulless black pupils. I didn't look at it for too long as I had sprinted back upstairs a second later.
It scared the sh!t out of me, and to this day I have absolutely no idea what that creature was. Basements terrified me for years after. I could only go into one if I was accompanied by someone, to which I would promptly hold onto them or be in extremely close proximity until we returned upstairs. The fear got better around age 13 so I was only traumatized for 6-7 years.
"My friend lived..."
My friend lived in the middle of nowhere. Her house was surrounded by fields without people or homes for miles. One night we were sitting in her barn and we heard footsteps running towards us. We looked outside the barn doors to see a massive blue light glowing in the dark and moving steadily towards us. We hear the footsteps and see the light, but can't see anybody causing it. We freak out and take off running to the other barn and locked ourselves in. For the next half hour we could hear something circling the barn. Eventually it faded away and we ran to the house. I assume it was a person obscured by the darkness and holding a massive flashlight but I don't know why they came after us or what they were planning to do.
"When kiddo was small..."
When kiddo was small, I was awoken one night to what I thought was my kid saying "Mommy". I got up, turned on the hall light so I could check her without blinding her and saw a small girl child push herself away from the bed. I remember thinking it was my kid. Same haircut, same hair color (those were the only distinguishable features I could see in the dim light). Turned on her light, asking why she was out of bed and stopped short cuz she was still asleep and nobody was in the room....
"I've seen a lot..."
I've seen a lot of strange things, but one in particular sticks in my mind. Driving late at night after a school event. I'm taking a few friends home that didn't have cars or rides home.
We're winding through a narrow side street that cuts from one end of a neighborhood to the next one over. It runs uphill. To my left is a large hill, to my right is side streets that lead downhill to more houses.
A teenager comes screaming out of one of the side streets as if the hounds of hell are chasing after him. He runs in front of my car. I slam on my breaks just as he enters the light of my headlights. He looks at me completely terrified, leaning on the hood of my car.
My friends all finally realize why we're stopped and start asking who this guy is. We all start to open the doors to ask him if he's okay. He takes off running towards the hill before we can get out.
He disappeared before he could pass through the other headlight. We freak out, go searching the hill to see if he went up that way. But it's almost straight up and super high. There's no way we missed him. We were looking right at him!
Never could figure that one out. I'd seen other strange things in that same area over the years.
"I am going to preface this..."
I am going to preface this by saying I don't believe in anything remotely paranormal. I awoke one morning this January to find some very strange foot prints in my front yard. There were 4 individual boot prints in the snow, in the middle of my yard. They were completely isolated with none leading to them or away, it had not snowed overnight and wasn't particularly windy such that some tracks may be covered.
I have been wracking my brain as to an explanation but am drawing complete blanks. The only remotely plausible theory is that a very devoted prankster had strung a rope/slackline across my front yard, shimmied halfway across to make a few boot prints, then climbed back and removed the rope. I am 99.9% sure this was not the case of course.... Any ideas?
"I'm fairly certain..."
I'm fairly certain my family has a banshee. Several of my relatives have stated they've witnessed it and I've personally heard it when two of my relatives died.
"For about 6 years..."
For about 6 years, middle school through high school, I would get phone calls when I was in class from an unknown or blocked number. If I answered the call, there was fast breathing and then they would hang up. If I didn't answer the calls, the ensuing voicemail was someone playing elaborate piano pieces (quite badly). It happened maybe once every two months, I just ignored them and eventually it stopped happening. But every time I get a missed call from a number I don't recognize, I think for a split second that the voicemail might be someone playing piano.
"I was walking around..."
I was walking around Bush Gardens one day and I'm just having fun and goofing around, until out of the corner of my eye, I see this middle aged man curled up on the ground. For no reason whatsoever, he starts laughing really loud and intensively. I honestly thought he might pass out, but just as weirdly as he started, he stopped. He then stood up, and started sprinting, and I still wonder to this day where he might have gone after that.
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When we're intoxicated, or even the slightest bit tipsy from having a little too much to drink, our immediate perspective on things is hazy.
But there's nothing like a bit of alarming news or a jarring incident to snap us out of the fog and focus on the moment.
Sometimes alcohol isn't always to blame for our impairment.
It can be a state of mind, like a perpetual numbness from being complacent in life, and all it takes is one shocking moment to rattle us back to our senses.
Curious to hear from strangers online about this type of scenario, Redditor Known_Challenge_7150 asked:
"What’s one thing that sobered you up real quick?"
These individuals were witness to shocking events that sobered them up right quick.
Bleeding Out
"Got out of a taxi and found a naked man profusely bleeding from his head crawling up the driveway in my condo. Called him an ambulance completely forgot I was absolutely wasted until 45 minutes later when I'd helped him translate and in to an amublance and stepped in my front door."
"Later a few days later learned he'd slipped in the tub and literally crawled out for help. Poor dude. He was fine but I genuinely thought he was going to die there."
– DongLaiCha
Tragic News
"At a bachelor party and we got a phone call that the groom’s father had suddenly passed."
– accountnameredacted
Bottom Of The Barrel
"I went to visit my parents back in July. I was homeless and deep into fentanyl addiction so I lost a lot of weight. My folks could see it. They knew something was up. Anyway, I spent the night and I was getting ready to leave in the morning and I looked at myself in the mirror for a good long time. I finally had enough and told them everything. They took me to detox, from there I went to rehab. Graduated in August and been living with them ever since then. I have 160 days clean and sober."
– Crotch-Monster
A reality check can be enough for some people to snap out of it.
Like Father, Like Son
"Was driving a drunk friend home, he had been on a bender again and was smart enough to call me for a lift rather than try and drive. As I helped in to his house his mother came down the stairs and said 'your as drunk as your father' and went back upstairs. I haven't seen him drunk since then, he still drinks but the thought of turning into his dad scared him out of hard drinking."
– psycospaz
Busted
"Flashing blue lights."
– FiddleOfGold
"This sobered me up just thinking about it."
– redmaple_syrup
Losing Sight
"Woke up to no sight in one eye. I had cataract surgery so just thought one of the lenses had slipped and it was an easy fix. Eye doc says nope, you had a stroke. I loved soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and salty food, which caused high blood pressure, which caused retina damage. Over six months was able to get most of my eyesight back with medication, and all back within a year. Trying to navigate life with one eye was very sobering. Started taking HBP much more seriously."
– MissHibernia
Quitting The Bottle
"Looked up someone I went to highschool with who was an awesome guy. Found out he had been dead for 3 years from alcoholism, at age 33. I made an overnight change. I hadn't started drinking that night yet, 10 months ago. Haven't touched it again since."
– omgtater
These disturbing moments were enough for Redditors to immediately come to their senses.
Unplanned House Guests
"Me and a buddy Woke up in someone’s living room, realized neither one of us knew the people, they were just nice and let 2 drunk guys sleep on their living room floor. We didn’t even say goodbye."
– Oneinsevenbillion75
Serious Health Warning
"Elevated liver enzymes."
"And the knowledge that this sh** was gonna kill me and I just couldn't orphan my family over it."
"So I opted for recovery, instead."
"Clean and sober since June 5, 2009."
– Far_Meal8674
The Joyride
"Grew up in a rural area. The little town hosted dances at the hockey arena, everyone (adults and kids) went and they overserved everyone, regardless of age. I was maybe 16 or 17 and was absolutely sh*tfaced, and jumped in the back of someone's truck with about 8 other people to go back to someone's cottage for after dance drinking. The driver (still don't know who it was) started racing one of his buddies and we whipped around small dirt roads, flying around blind corners on the wrong side of the road, going god knows how fast. It was basically a disaster waiting to happen. It was crazy scary and I was sober and thankful to be alive when we finally arrived."
– foxfood9116
The human psyche is a fascinating thing, isn't it?
How we can automatically focus on something urgent at a crucial time, even after getting buzzed from drinking too much alcohol.
But as we're in the thick of the holidays, it's a good reminder to drink responsibly and stay off the roads if you drive to your celebratory destination.
Cheers. Stay safe. And happy holidays.
We've all complained or vented about something in our lives which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't exactly a problem, or is very easily solved.
Then there are those who complain about things that others almost hope will happen to them at some point in their lives.
These are known as "first world problems", as they are problems that pretty much only the world's one percent faces.
From having to fly business class instead of first class, or being served Roederer instead of Dom Pérignon, these complaints are often met with amusement, bewilderment, or even anger.
Redditor jennimackenzie was curious to hear the most absurd "first world problems" anyone ever complained about, leading them to ask:
"What’s the most ridiculous 'first world problem' you’ve seen people get worked up over?"
"Tale As Old As Time..."
"I once knew a mom who was legitimately devastated, to the point of tears/grief, because a doctor predicted her 8 year old daughter's final height to be around 5'2","
"Which wasn't tall enough to get cast as Belle at Disney World."
"That was the child's (and her mother's) only dream in life, apparently."
"Didn't appreciate my suggestion that she could be Minnie or Mickey."
"Lol!"
"Only a face character would do!"- TravelLovingMom
"Must Be Funny, In A Rich Man's World..."
"My boss from about a decade ago was this insanely rich dude who always went to the bank to get fresh and crisp currency."
"He'd call the bank in advance to make sure they had some on hand."
"I think he was a germaphobe."
"He had a trash can that he'd throw $1 and $5 bills in that he thought was 'dirty' and regularly just donated it vs spending it."
"I asked him why he did this and he said it was too much trouble and asked if I wanted it."
"I said f*ck yeah dumped it into my bag and when I got home it was close to $400 in singles and fives.
"Another time, he wanted to upgrade all the computers in his studio, so we went to a store and bought 10 PCs."
"They all had $150 mail in rebates and he wasn't bothered to go through the trouble of mailing them in."
"3 weeks later I received $1500 after spending a whole afternoon filling out all those goddamn forms."- azninvasion2000
Money Burn GIF by nog
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Who Wore It Better?
"When I was about 19 years old, I was at my boyfriends family BBQ."
"I was wearing this pretty floral sundress."
"His cousins girlfriend showed up in the same dress and she was SO mad that she went and changed."
"I will never understand being upset when someone is wearing the same thing as you.'
"Did you really think that your shirt you bought off the rack is going to be unique to you?"
"No."- mertsey627
Seeing Red! Or Blue In This Case...
"The blue of the balloons wasn't quite the same as the bridesmaid's sashes."
"Years ago my wife and I attended a wedding."
"It was very low key."
"The dinner was in the dining hall at the university where the couple met, cinder block walls and all."
"It was a Baptist wedding - no booze and very serious."
"The dark blue balloons attempting to liven up the hall were a slightly darker shade of blue than the sashes on the bridesmaid's dresses."
"The bride lost here sh*t and absolutely raved for nearly an hour."
"I can't remember how they finally managed to talk her down."- mechant_papa
south park wedding GIF
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See You In Court!
"Rich neighbors who end up in expensive court battles because they disagree about where a tree can be planted or whether the color of a fence fits in with the street’s 'amenity'."
'These disputes get really heated and rack up huge lawyers’ bills."
"The most pathetic part is after the judgement when they are arguing about who should pay the other party’s costs."
"Lots of affidavits filed citing the 'emotional distress' they had to endure, or painting themselves as brave warriors who were forced to take a stand to fight for 'justice'."
"Also lots of pompous litigants insisting that the judge refer to them by their 'Dr' title."
"An absolutely insane dumpster fire of entitled rich people problems."- ElectrocRaisin
It's Always People With Money Who Don't Want To Pay!
"I work in a public library."
"People will get so so mad if they have to be put on a wait list for a book."
"A popular book that just came out."
"Ok our services are not only free but so are the books."
"You’re welcome, a**holes."- Switchbladekitten
A Warm Butt Is A Happy Butt!
"My own."
"We have a bidet toilet seat (Fabulous! Everyone should have one!) and not only does it wash your bum and blow dry it, but the seat's heated!"
"It's shocking how much a heated toilet seat makes the whole process more agreeable."
"Except: We had a power outage and I went to use the toilet and the seat was cold!"
"Unacceptable!"
"This shall not stand!"
"I was really upset because it didn't feel good."
"Then I stopped and thought: This is the most first-world problem anyone's ever had."
"I was really pissed because my heiny was tepid."
"I got over it."- DeathGrover
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Holy Matrimony!
"Weddings are a gold mine for this question."
"People get so hyped up over their 'most important day of their life'."
"They'll destroy friendships, go into debt, and have crazy expectations."
"It's not always the couple who go crazy, either."
"Sometimes, it's the parents or another family member who feels entitled to control the wedding."
"It's just a party."
"Be considerate of guests, have plenty of food and drinks, and enjoy it."- magicrowantree
When Fast Food Isn't Fast Enough...
"Having to pull off to the side to wait for a drive-thru order to be brought out to you because your food isn't ready and there's a line building up behind you."- demanbmore
In Case You Don't Think Customer Service Employees Are Undervalued...
"I was working the return desk at a Target next to a military base so I have so many stories."
"One of my favorites was a lady who had her baby shower before revealing the gender and was livid that she had received floral newborn diapers when she’s having a boy."
"It was a huge box of super expensive, all organic diapers, that we didn’t carry and therefore could not return."
"I cannot accurately express her fury and disgust."
"How dare either suggest her boy could wear feminine diapers."
"I suggested she donate them if she didn’t want to use them and she instead threw away the entire box."
"When she left we pulled it out and threw it in our donate bin."
"There have also been multiple times where mom’s order massive toys and when we bring them out to the car they get furious that they aren’t wrapped."
"We don’t offer wrapping services."
"Here’s the thing, if you don’t want your kids to see the toys you got them for Christmas or their bit to day DON'T BRING THE CHILD WHEN YOU PICK IT UP."
'I’ve had multiple women scream and curse me out that I had ruined their kids Christmas by bringing the toys they ordered out to the car like they requested."- clever-mermaid-mae
Customer Service Waiting GIF by Juno Calypso
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Happiest Place On Earth!
"I used to work for Disney."
"That in itself should tell you everything."
"However for fun I'll give you two specific stories one form our tech department and one from my wife who worked bookings."
"I specifically worked for their call center to help with technical issues with magic band and the website."
"Suddenly got worse huh?"
"A right of passage call everyone has at least one story of is the 'Dome call'."
"Basically there is a subset of Disney Guest (TM) that believes if it rains at Walt Disney world there is someone that will push a button to encapsulate the whole of Disney property in a dome to keep out the rain."
"I'm not kidding."
"If this button is not pushed they call our tech department to angrily ask why."
"My wife worked booking."
"Pretty much everything including Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique and Pirate's league."
"These two things did roughly the same thing difference being price and theme."
"BBB was expensive did more and was focused on princesses, pirates league did a bit less and focused on mermaids and pirates."
"Lady called up my wife, and got pissed about BBB being booked up (It goes FAAAAST)."
"Karen: 'Im going to give the phone to my daughter and I want you to tell her how you are ruining her vacation by not letting her do BBB'."
"Wife proceeds to explain how pirate's league is so much cooler and how she can be a mermaid or pirate and basically gets the kid to start demanding to their parents about how they want to be a mermaid instead of a princess."- trollsong
Disney World GIF
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The horror!
Being booked into a junior suite at Disney World instead of an executive suite!
It's almost as bad as having no money for groceries, or no food to feed you children...
Said absolutely no one.