People Share The Worst Reactions They've Ever Seen Someone Have After Losing
Reddit user ImaginativeEmpress asked: 'What’s the worst reaction to losing you ever saw?'
People who are extremely competitive can ruin the experience of any time of gameplay or sport.
Yet, you can't fault them for their passion...until you see them win and run victory laps around you until you're dizzy.
But when they lose? Oof. It can either be amusing or utterly disturbing to witness.
Strangers online shared their experiences after Redditor ImaginativeEmpress asked:
"What’s the worst reaction to losing you ever saw?"
"Board games are hardly boring."
Hunger Games
"Breaking the board apart and eating the pieces. We were just playing ludo."
– randomhumen
"Eating the pieces? Damn, that’s a whole new level of sore loser."
– AstreaShira
Diplomacy
"In university we played a game called Diplomacy in between and after classes when we could. We had a little table set up in the common room and no one bothered with it. There’s a lot of backstabbing and secret deals that goes on. We had this one friend, Jamie, who got so mad at being double crossed by a secret deal that he flipped the board and the table. He and his girlfriend left our friend group and dropped any classes that he had in common with anyone in our game group. We never saw him again despite knowing him since high school."
– KauaiGirl
Sister's Rage
"My sister tore down a door in our parents' house a couple years ago when I said that 'zag' wasn't a word in Scrabble. Turns out it is a word and I was wrong, but her reaction was nuts."
"She paid for the repairs, and then I chipped in for half once I realized that 'zag' was actually an acceptable Scrabble word."
– ormr_inn_langi
It's not all fun and games after all when the cops get involved.
Haywire Hockey
"We had some dad whose name I've long since forgotten lose his sh*t after a hockey game. This was one of those kids games the parents got too invested in. It started when his son supposedly had a penalty called on him for high sticking + checking, and supposedly this butterfly effected the entire game. Everybody was sick of this guy's antics after about 45 minutes, and one of the parents confronted him, and he stewed some more. At the end of the match he was banging hard on the glass, and swearing every word that is unholy, then he got into a fight with a few parents. Ended up with a bloody nose and was cuffed."
– radiantpenguin991
Angry Coach
"I play tennis and in high school we played a team and beat them."
"The coach called the cops on us after threatening our coach and had us escorted off the premises of the country club … for beating them. We weren’t even loitering, he just lost his mind on our coach and my coach was standing up for us, we were just trying to pack up and leave. Next thing you know - cops have arrived. This was a 50+ year old man."
– Feeling_Ad_2354
The tantrums people can have are downright frightening to watch.
Poor Guitar
"I've seen a dude take his Wii Rockband guitar, both hands on the neck and smashed it to hell on a coffee table because he 'got boo'd off of the stage.'"
– Weedhopper24
Projectile Vomiting
"saw a guy scream so much about everybody else cheating, so hard, he threw up."
– nelliesgrowingpayne
Game Over
"A buddy of mine was playing Rocket League and getting his a** handed to him game after game. He got really mad after a while and threw the controller at the screen while calling the other players cheaters. After he calmed down, he just stared at the broken TV and said 'F'k. Now I can't play anymore.'"
"Congratulations buddy. You realized you're garbage at the game and can't keep playing to get better all in one."
– Merry_Dankmas
What A Mess
"My stepdad threw chili ALL OVER the kitchen and smashed the lid to the crockpot, then threw our Christmas tree off the deck (we had it sitting on our deck to get rid of it) because his football team lost a game. He was also drunk."
"Best part was my mom was PISSED. She put up baby gates on both entryways to the kitchen to keep the dogs out. Then made him clean it all up, spotless, the next morning when he was hungover. It was all over the ceiling, walls, cabinets, countertops and floor."
– Gyzonx
Bye To The Pillow
"I was on zoom waiting for the teacher. Kid playing a phone game gets up, screams, tears his pillow with his teeth, cries."
– LynxWantsToBeHuman
Pitching a fit after losing is no different than a toddler wailing after not getting their way.
So it's rather unsettling to watch a grown adult have a total meltdown and cause property damage.
Like, seriously, how are they during job interviews that don't go well in their favor?
If you have a short fuse, remember, it's not that deep.
You can either seek anger management courses or have an edible.
Otherwise, you'll be that person no one wants to play with anymore.
Ah the sweet smell of success and the delicious taste of victory.
Two things we all long to experience. And it should be—striving to succeed isn't a crime.
But success means different things to each of us. It can be found in the smallest of possibilities or in the grandest of accomplishments.
Like most things in life, we experience success with our senses.
Redditor Time_Bonuswanted to hear about the impact success has on our personal senses, by asking:
"What does victory taste like to you?"
Like I said... money.
Money makes me happy. When I watch Scrooge McDuck swim in it I feel like I've just tasted the best pumpkin pie, which yes, is my favorite.
The Good Slide
Giphy"Sliding into your bed sheets after a long day and laying down."
"And the sheets are fresh out of the dryer."
Getting it Back
"Finding things that trigger lost memories and give me some of my old self back."
"Lost large chunks of memory to seizures, discovered something that triggered memories from a happy time this week. I'm still riding that high."
"I had a seizure/amnestic MCI a few years ago and know exactly what this feels like!"
"It's kind kind of bittersweet really, because everytime something triggers lost memories I'm immediately reminded of how much I lost, and can't help but what wonder what's still missing."
"Good luck on putting it all back together, friend."
I didn't show up...
"Relief. I don't win, so much as I outlast things. So far."
"One of the smartest people I ever met once told me that all you need to do well in life is to show up on time and stay till it's done. I'm a 32 year old college drop out."
"In college I didn't show up. After dropping out I quickly realized I'd need money if I wanted to sleep inside."
"I've been showing up ever since. I've worked as a dishwasher, a cook, a busser, a waiter, and a bartender."
"For each of those jobs all I had to do was be reliable and coachable. I was taught new skills by people who knew more than me, I was offered (and demanded) more money for the increasing responsibilities of my new jobs."
"And at 32 I have run more than one successful restaurant and am confident that my influence and leadership would have a positive impact on any restaurant anywhere. I know that my story isn't one of massive success and vast wealth, but remember: all I did was show up."
"What I mean is, outlasting the bad will pay off over time. Keep showing up!"
Big Fumble
"I honestly don't know. I'm a Jacksonville Jaguars fan."
"With the Jags, at least you can look at their history and be like, 'Well, their players sucked'."
"The Lions have had Barry and Megatron and others I'm surely forgetting. The whole narrative for the Rams this year is 'Stafford is finally playing for a competent franchise, so we expect great things from him'."
Climax
Giphy"Sometime's its like the first bite of your favorite food but sometimes its just like nothing happened."
Now those are some good eats.
I could definitely break bread with this menu and feel happily full and satisfied.
My bed is also one of my best friends.
Manly tastes...
"My family weren't into sports, but if we ever had a 'manly' job to do, like going to the dump, helping someone move, doing a long drive, collecting and chopping wood, stuff like that, my dad would take us to the pub for a victory pint."
"So victory was something like orange juice and lemonade, a packet of McCoys salt and vinegar crisps, and the smell of beer."
"An ice cream from the corner shop on the way home from school on Friday was a close second."
Feel the grinds...
"5am espresso with the kid still asleep and having slept through the night."
"I don't even have my machine calibrated very well and I still pull tastier shots than most coffee shops I go to. Gotta love home espresso machines."
"No kids for me but I have a new dog that keeps waking me up at 5am, 3-4 hours before I even need to wake up for work, not even to go to the bathroom. Just anxious cause my girlfriend left for work usually."
It Hits You
"It feels like a very powerful wave of strong emotions going around you and through you."
"You feel lighter, adrenaline wears off from the peak, you start to calm down, tiredness hits you, and your mind feels quiet and at peace."
"This is from some extremely powerful events I've had happen to me personally."
"Just so everybody knows, my story isn't one of those fairy tales with a happy ending. We broke up after a while and sure, it was hard to handle in the beginning."
"But that's what life is all about, numerous of ups and downs. Many things are just out of your control and sometimes you just gotta let go, even those you love the most."
"One thing I'm sure of, the memories and feelings that she gave to me, made me stronger. IMO, this is a huge victory, besides learning to love myself again!"
I love to hear about accomplishments.
It makes my cold heart feel like happiness is possible. I miss the taste of that.
Somebody bring me some cinnamon french toast.
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I love money. Everybody loves money. And anyone who says different is lying. Now I'm not saying I'm in love with money, and that its the only thing that matters, but its pretty great to have.
I've been very poor and I've had a few bucks and I can attest, having a few bucks is better. Going to be bed hungry isn't fun.
Now truthfully I've also seen money bring about immense stress. Once you start acquiring wealth people notice, and they always want something.
So you do have to start being more diligent with the people you surround yourself with, less one. It's all a learning curve. And Lord please take me on the ride.
Redditoru/SheelahSchimek1980wanted to hear all the details surrounding the acquisition of riches, by asking:
What are some things you realized as you got wealthier?
Money isn't all about counting the coin or buying any frivolous thing you want. It's also about spending wisely and sharing wealth. That's part of the gift, just ask Oprah.
Secure
"Money doesn't buy happiness so much as it buys security. There's a lot less stress about really critical issues with money, which has the unfortunate effect of freeing up your brain to be worried about more trivial things. But not having to worry about certain expenses or fret over whether a minor indulgence will set you back is simply relaxing."
99 Problems
"Technically I am much wealthier than I was 5 years ago. I've learned the phrase "More money more problems" is for people with no control over their spending."
- msb41
"More money more problems" can apply to just buying crap, but I think it is actually supposed to be attributed to what happens when you invest and aggressively build wealth. I now have a day job, a Bar I own, and an investment property. All of that on top of other normal day-to-day crap. It's a lot more problems but it generates a lot more money."
Less Scary
"It doesn't buy happiness as much as it reduces certain stresses. Being poor is scary, and frustrating and stressful as hell. Money won't make someone happy, but it will give them the freedom to do the things that will make them happy. My dad works with a lot of rich people and the ones that are the most miserable are the ones that don't do anything fulfilling with their wealth and freedom."
Money Cycle
Pay Me Kim Kardashian GIF by GQGiphy"You can actually do the whole 'it takes money to make money' thing."
Security, security... security. That is definitely the running theme with wealth. Security and freedom shouldn't have to be a luxury, that is an unfairness of life for sure.
People Share Their Unexpected Happiest Moments | George Takei’s Oh Myyy
While many of life's big events like weddings and births bring us joy, even the smallest of gestures or gifts can leave a lasting impression. Especially if y...Panic be Gone
"Everything has gotten so much easier now that I have money. I can afford to live in a decent place so I'm not stuck with awful roommates and/or dealing with a slumlord. Decent food and other creature comforts are easier to obtain. Heck, I've even taken vacations."
"So many problems can simply be avoided by spending a little more money on something with a higher quality or buying some before I need it. Plus, stress is also much lower since my bank account isn't always on the brink of going into the negative. A while back my insurance suddenly stopped working and I had to pay $200 for a medication instead of $8."
"Ten years ago that would have given me a panic attack because I'd have to skip meals to make rent but now it's just a minor annoyance that I can fix down the line. The terrible thing is, I'm not that wealthy. I make just over $70k a year which makes me thoroughly middle class. Just by being above the poverty line I find that life gets so much easier."
- BW_Bird
the hard way
"Just because you can save some money by doing things the hard way doesn't mean you should."
"I had an argument with someone recently who was extremely pissed that I'm going on vacation but not going to do it on a tight budget. I said that I was just going to set aside some money that will be more than enough and just say "f**k it" and not care about expenses as I know they won't go beyond that amount of money no matter what I do. They were extremely, extremely pissed. Need to have a very tight budget with every single thing planned, price checked and researched for the cheapest price possible."
Cookie Clicker
"The more money you have, the easier it is to make more money. It's like that Cookie Clicker game. It's true when they say the first million is the toughest, because with 8% annual returns, because it'll take you decades to earn that first million, but then it'll take less than 10 years to double it to $2 million (assuming 8% returns), and less than 6 years for the next million. Combine that with using leverage to give yourself even more money, it'll take less time."
Soft Landing
money rain GIF by Shameless MayaGiphy"Fortune and luck are not ignorable... they matter more than a lot of people are willing to admit, perhaps for ego reasons, or perhaps they've simply fooled themselves. Also, the cushion of safety and ability to have most of what you need provides a lot of dignity that can't be ignored either."
I love money even more now. I have no shame in admitting that. I will do good things with it. So fingers crossed, for all of us.
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People Who Always Overthink Everything Break Down The Time That Actually Worked In Their Favor
Sometimes what might appear as too much to others is just right for you.
And more often than not those of us who overplan, overthink, and can be perceived as "over the top and too much" end up being vindicated in the end. Even to our own shock.
Planning and plotting and being overprepared is a the scout's motto. It should be a life motto, because another important life truth is... you just never know.
Redditor u/lawofdox18wanted to hear about the times life has turned out for the best by surprise by asking:
Overthinkers of Reddit, what unlikely scenario actually came true that you were completely prepared for because you are an overthinker?
I always over-shop. Because what if the store suddenly gets set on fire on the day I need toilet paper. When I gotta go, I gotta go. I can't run an extra block when I gotta go, and all because buying in bulk seems strange to others. Take a guess who was already toilet paper stocked pre-pandemic.
Needle & Thread
Excited Jump GIF by Megan BatoonGiphy"I always carry a small sewing kit whenever I go to a wedding. I have sewed two brides into their dresses so far!"
Middle School Days
"All the teachers at the Middle School I taught at knew I was a pack rat and one day a kid split his pants and the school counselor came to me and said 'Mr. Thehogdog, would you happen to have a pair of sweats or gym pants in your truck'. YEP. So the the kid spent the rest of the day in a pair of nylon pants I had behind my seat."
"He is lucky because if he didn't fit he would have spent the rest of the day in a white disposable 'coverall' I had in case I had car trouble in nice clothes. Icing on the cake: It was a student I really liked who was super helpful to other kids and teachers, so it was nice to do something nice for him. I also carried a 'Swiss Army' brand soft side brief case (yard sale find) STUFFED and it had a few of each size of battery."
"One day Phil Niekro and 2 Braves players were there for an assembly and Phil's mic battery was dying so I SPRINTED upstairs to my classroom, grabbed a 9 volt from my bag, then basically rolled across the panel and switched out his battery and got back to the PA avoiding getting on TV News cameras."
Through the Hourglass...
"Not me, but my mother."
"Apparently at a party where my parents and their friends were playing board games, there was a realization that an hourglass was missing from one of the games they planned on playing. My mother proceeded to reach into her purse and pull out an hourglass she just so happened to bring, on the off chance they didn't have one."
"HOWEVER, later in the night when some drinks had been had, someone accidentally slammed a drink down, breaking my mother's hourglass. Without missing a beat, she reached into her purse and pulled out ANOTHER hourglass. She knew the first one, being glass, might get broken so she had a backup ready."
Former Flat Earthers Explain What Finally Made Them Come Around | George Takei’s Oh Myyy
Creepers
"I didn't actually plan for this, it just worked out. But one day for some reason I put a suction cup in my pocket. I can't exactly remember why - it was from a shower hook that I think broke (?) and I put it in my pocket hoping to find a replacement or something."
"Later that day I was standing around with a few friends and one friend was lamenting that his bumper was dented. He showed us and said, "I bet I could pop it right out if I had like a suction cup or something." I wordlessly pulled the suction cup out of my pocket and handed it to him. Everyone definitely thought I was creepy as hell."
25 Plus
tom jerry GIFGiphy"When my son was still a baby, we had to take an 11 hour flight. As an overthinker, I brought at least 25 diapers for him to go through. He didn't need that many, but the mom sitting close to us was very grateful when she ran out of diapers not even halfway through the flight and I gave her a few."
See, these people get it. It's better to be safe than sorry. If I had a kid I'd be packing a hundred diapers. And to be a sewing aficionado and carrying around supplies, should be mandatory skill for everyone.
The Cut
scissors GIFGiphy"I carry scissors in my glove compartment. They came in handy when a kid tightened a skinny zip tie around my 9 year olds finger at a park. Completely cut off the circulation. Also the other kids mom was a nurse so that was helpful too. Carry scissors and a nurse at all times."
Clogged!
"One time, I waaaay over thought a concern I had around dryer vent fire. When the time came that we had a clog, didn't know, and there was a wee burst of flames I was freaking READY."
"Edit to add: I cleaned the lint trap religiously. I just had a gut feeling. I bough One of those things from Amazon to clean it and nothing came out so DON'T LET THAT FOOL YOU."
"If your drying times are up and there's sometimes a smell, call someone or check every POSSIBLE location. We found basically Brillo pads of burnt hair inside the heating element. Stay safe pals!"
"Last edit: thanks for the award - my first of this kind!!! You rock fuzzybum."
just in case...
"Was at one of those trampoline parks with my kid when I look over and see several of the workers attending to an elderly lady sitting on the floor. Turns out she'd taken a shot to the forehead somehow and was bleeding profusely. They were trying to help with paper towels. Well I'd taken a free local Stop the Bleed class "just in case" and since have kept supplies in my truck."
"Asked if they needed some gauze and a bandage, went and got it, and brought it back. I told the guy, "Now if one piece of gauze fills up -" He interrupted, "Take it off and put on a new one." I said, "No! You put another one overtop that one, but leave the bottom one there." He said, "Well, you know more than I do. Come over and help." We were able to get her patched up."
- nchiker
Slim Jim
"I bought and learned to use a slim Jim ( open locked cars) I carry one in my car and have been able to help no less than 10 people who have locked their keys in their car. My brother was visiting me from out of town and he need something from Target, he called me and said an elderly man had locked his keys in his car and I was able to drive over and help. Also have jumper cables that have helped start a few stranded drivers."
I See Things
All That Magic GIF by NickelodeonGiphy"Went through a stage as a teenager where I thought I was psychic."
"I know, I know, stupid. A friend asked me jokingly to make a prediction. I told him to get a flashlight, because tomorrow would be dark. I grabbed one myself when I got home and put it in my purse. No idea why, just did it. The next day the Eastern seaboard blackouts happened. He still asks for predictions to this day."
Got It!
"I worked weddings for a while, during an age (26-28) where lots of my friends were getting married. I've helped to bustle pretty much every bride whose wedding I attended, including brides who I didn't know well (who were either friends of my husband, or I was close friends with the groom)."
"At work, I had one of those craft supply organizers full to the brim of emergency supplies: pins (safety, bobby, AND straight pins), hair ties, earring backs, a sewing kit, pain relievers, tums, granola bars (sometimes you just need to get the bride to eat SOMETHING), chalk (works great for covering up minor stains on white dresses), hairspray, makeup remover wipes, superglue, bandaids, blister bandages, you name it. People were always pleasantly surprised when they needed something random and I was just like "yep I've got that, here you go!"
Tiny Ideas
"I remember one day in school a teacher was complaining someone had tied her blinds so tightly she couldn't get them to open or close. Me being the weird kid, I ask her if she wanted a screwdriver to get it undone. She looked at me like I was crazy and a little scared as I reached into my wallet and pulled out this tiny screwdriver from those tiny finger bmx/skateboards and handed it over."
"Everyone thought I was crazy and my teacher laughed in relief when she saw it. Everyone thought i was weird until I told them I used it to tighten the screws on my glasses. They were constantly unscrewing themselves and I was sick of having to go to the opticians every time it happened. Obviously the solution was to carry a tiny screwdriver with me!"
- Zanki
Parent MD
"I found a nickel-sized lump on my fifteen month old daughter's temple, freaked out, obsessed over it, researched it exhaustively, and concluded it was a dermoid cyst that had worn through the skull. I was told by a pediatrician that it was a bone bruise that would fix itself over the course of three to six months, no imaging was needed, and I shouldn't make an appointment at the children's hospital because it would resolve on its own."
"I got an X-ray done anyway and the radiologist confirmed every one of my suspicions, but the pediatrician still said to wait and see because that's what you do with dermoid cysts and it was definitely not through the skull despite what the radiologist said. Made an appointment at the hospital anyway, and the surgeon swore up and down that although it was a dermoid cyst as I'd suspected, it would not be through the skull since in all his years of practice it never had been."
"Well guess what? It WAS through the skull, and it was pressing on the membrane between the skull and the brain, a hair's breadth from breaking the membrane or pressing on the brain. A couple more weeks of waiting and my daughter could have had seizures, a brain infection, lasting damage. I overthought it and now she's a happy, healthy three year old."
Firesaver...
scary movie burn GIF by UsGiphy"I carry a fire extinguisher in my auto. I witnessed a car accident where the engine caught fire. I quickly put it out before it burned the inside of the car. Everyone survived."
- mwthread
The Classmen
"In college on occasion upper classmen would randomly steal the under classmen towels from the shower stalls and then lock their room doors so they had to go to the RA bar messed. I had the idea to stash a towel in the drop ceiling tiles for just that event. Maybe a week later I became the victim of a towel snatching. However, the upper classmen were very unhappy to see me strut out with a nice clean towel from my ceiling stash."
- duck1914
Holding the Deck
"I always keep an unopened deck of cards in my backpack. You never can tell when some Hold 'Em may be needed to pass the time. But when I was at a business conference the bigwig who was presenting to us was having to wing it with a few things because his luggage had been lost, and he didn't have all of his materials. He had the PowerPoint deck, but he didn't have his props."
"He started going into explaining how he'd be able to demonstrate this statistical principle he was describing, only he didn't have the unopened deck of cards he needed. Voila! I was able to produce a shrink-wrapped deck of cards. My boss was also in the same presentation, and he was also impressed that I just happened to have a deck of cards on me, so that's nice, too."
- ronearc
My Left Hand
"Injuring my dominant hand... as a kid I had an irrational fear of having it chopped off. I spent all of grade 6 teaching myself to write and do things with my left hand. I made a conscious effort to remain as ambidextrous as possible. As an adult I broke a few fingers on my dominant hand... but it wasn't a big issue because I could do most things equally with my left hand. Anti climactic, but it was useful lol."
I am Here
ichabod crane map GIF by HULUGiphy"Getting lost in a foreign country. Relying on phone GPS to navigate, data stops working... had over prepared and memorized the map of the downtown area ahead of time."
The Back-up
"I am basically blind without my glasses, and I've always taken a backup pair of glasses when I travel. It went untouched for years, taking up valuable space in my luggage. Lo and behold, one trip to Montreal a few years ago I just woke up one morning to find my glasses broken - no idea how it happened. And I finally got a chance to break out my backup pair 😎."
- caruul
Got it All...
"I used to live out of my backpack, and I always thought I'd need to leave town, so I kept just about everything in there you could ever need. Often times I'd end up having to stay somewhere without much notice, and I'd have: a change of clothes, face wash, tooth brush, toothpaste, scissors, floss, phone charger, money, snacks, etc. Enough to cover me for at least two days without actually needing to go home."
I hope everyone is paying attention. Be more like the overthinkers. We're the ones you want on the island. You want to stay useful or be fed to sharks. Eventually, our day always comes.
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People Break Down Their Best 'Actually, You've Challenged An Expert' Story
In nearly all contexts, expertise is invisible.
When we're walking around in the world, at a party, or in the workplace, an obscure proficiency remains a secret.
The years of practice and study needed to amass expertise happened in the past, and in the present its simply held within as silent potential.
But every once in awhile, circumstances align and the person is given an opportunity to demonstrate that hard-earned forte.
Sometimes it comes as an unexpectedly clutch move when its needed most. Other times it's more of a mic drop when a presumptuous doubter judges a book by its cover.
However it goes, the unveiling is its own kind of epic.
somekid437 asked, "When did someone challenge you at something you were an expert at?"
Unguarded!
"Medieval Faire, 2002. Carnie running the fencing game picks me out of the crowd for being tall, and challenges me to a free bout against 'The Master.'"
"Not a lot of people fence, so his gambit probably worked most of the time, but when he handed me that saber, I handed him his a**."
-- HatfieldCW
The Stars Aligned
"Not quite this but I tried to learn piano years ago, i bought a keyboard and learned the first movement of moonlight sonata but it was literally all I could play."
"I had just started a new job as a chef in a fancy hotel, had been there maybe a month and was at the Christmas party, I sat at a piano and the head chef pointed me out, laughing and said 'look at [you], you cant play the piano.'"
"I thought I'll just act confident and play the only thing I can so was like 'yeah i can.. I've played for years' and he said 'oh really? Play moonlight sonata then,' couldn't have gone better."
"He was gobsmacked and I never told anyone there that I was actually crap at piano except that one song lol"
-- spliffwizard
Coolest Clown There Was
"Not me but my friend used to ride a unicycle as a kid. He worked construction and they were working at a house that had an old unicycle."
"The other workers tried riding it and immediately fell off. My friend walked over to it and inspected the unicycle like it was the first time he ever saw one them said it didn't look that difficult."
"They all laughed at him and he said he thought he could ride it. Eventually one of them bet him $100 he couldn't ride it."
"He jumped on it and immediately rode down the street."
-- char92474
Generational Talent
"By no means an expert (I'd probably rate in the 1500s), but I've played chess since I was a small child and was the best player in the middle school chess club."
"The guy who owned the pool hall me and my juvenile delinquent friends hung out in was talking about how dumb kids are these days and said he bet nobody in my group of hoodlums could play chess."
"I beat him soundly, then again in the rematch."
Getting With the Times
"For most of 2020 so far. I am an infectious disease expert (PhD from a Microbiology and Immunology program) and suddenly all my former high school classmates think they know more than me."
"They watch the news and learn a new vocabulary, and they bestow themselves a doctorate." -- mrschro
"It happens a lot lately, I'm a microbiologist, so the number of people who have suddenly taken an interest in the subject in order to be confidently wrong about it is pretty upsetting." -- slurmgurm
A Patient Man
"Kinda the reverse, for me. I'm a physical education teacher and I had a student that took a pretty bad tumble in class. Hit her head on the wall."
"Pretty clear concussion symptoms. So we get her stable, call mom & dad to come get her."
"Dad shows up & I start going through the concussion symptoms and treatments with him. Letting him know that a doctors visit is probably in order."
"Blah blah blah I keep going on and on about concussions. He just politely nods and thanks me."
"He takes daughter and leaves, and I see my principal standing behind me and he can barely contain his laughter."
"Turns out dad is an emergency room doctor. And he just sat there while his daughter's gym teacher gave him medical advice."
-- persad_power
A Very Self Absorbed Date
"I used to play fighting games competitively all over the world. Never made one of the top slots but I could usually hold my own. One of my best games was Super Street Fighter 2."
"Went to a bar by work one day and they just so happened to have an SNES set up with SF2. I order a drink, pick random characters and just f*ck around for a bit."
"Some guy comes in and immediately starts bragging to his date that he's the best SF2 player ever. I asked him to play some games against me and offered to buy him a drink if he could beat 2 out of 3."
"Twelve games later I am completed hammered and he finally gives up and leaves. Still don't remember getting home that night."
Palette Pro
"Colour. It sounds weird but anytime the colour of something comes up and someone tries to correct me."
"I've been a commercial printing press operator for 20 years. I can spot VERY subtle differences in colours that most people can't."
-- magnagan
A Lifetime of Training
"I have been wrapping my family's Christmas presents since a very young age.
"It's the perfect activity to focus my crippling perfectionism with my overall anxiety riddled self to create a beautiful master piece that would make anyone think twice about discovering the mysteries beneath the colorful paper and bows."
"I have just always loved to do it and my mom was more than happy to not spend hours wrapping presents.'
"Flash forward to the company Christmas party in my late 20s. We are split into teams to compete for random prizes, I am up for the next game. I had no idea what I would be doing."
"I see a big cardboard box, a neck tie, wrapping paper, scissors, tape and a bow....I know what's about to go down and I am here for it!"
"It's a blind present wrapping challenge. My competitors start talking about how they can wrap presents fast and I sit there silently staring down that cardboard box knowing fully that the crowd is in for a show."
"Blindfolds (neckties) go on, we have a partner that isn't blindfolded that is supposed to give verbal directions. Just before the timer starts, I lean over to my partner and say quietly 'are you ready for this?' And she just says 'what?!'"
"Bam, timer starts, partner tries to give directions at first and quickly realizes I'm way ahead of her. Before anyone else can even get their paper cut, I've got my box wrapped, taped, and bowed. I even folded the ends in 'fancy' to have the triangles meet."
"And that, my friends, is how I earned the most satisfying $10 Starbucks gift card of my life and earned the title of wrap-master."
-- selkam
Do NOT Mess with Email Guy
"The property management company for my homeowner's association insisted that I had received emails that I never received."
"So I asked them to prove that I had received them. They said they're sure I received them."
"I'm a software engineer and at the time I had just finished an enterprise email delivery system (like an in-house Constant Contact). I knew the rules of the CAN-SPAM Act by heart. I KNEW exactly how their system worked."
"So this real bi*** of a property manager said 'I know how email works. You wouldn't understand.'"
"I mentally did the arrogant knuckle crack and started to explain - very methodically - how email delivery works and how they'd track various actions."
"I spent about five minutes detailing my credentials and why I was absolutely certain they had never sent me the emails they alleged I received. When I was finished, the HOA board just agreed to waive the fines."