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We all know very well that things in this world tend to backfire. Call it a law of nature, a frequent twist of fate, or destiny. “Look who’s laughing now” is a phenomenon that has happened to virtually every one of us, and no matter what you do, it repeats again and again, and again.

The Reddit community “There Was An Attempt” is dedicated to precisely the comic absurdity of all the attempts in life that went against the plan, or turned in the wrong direction. Created in August 2015, the subreddit now has 1.9m members that are not immune to the funny attempts that “were there.”

“People enjoy the slapstick comedy of it. At the end of the day, everyone is laughing,” the subreddit’s moderator told Bored Panda in the interview that you can read in full below. And now we leave the stage to the ensued hilarity.

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To Complain About A Child Selling Hot Dogs

To Complain About A Child Selling Hot Dogs

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Bored Panda spoke to redditor u/F4T4-M0RG4N4, the moderator of the r/ThereWasAnAttempt subreddit, who said that the community has evolved a lot since it was created 5 years ago.

“When I first joined the team, it was mostly a screenshot sub. A few months back, there was some drama about how there were only three mods who ran the subreddit (which at the time had around a million members).” As a result, they invited more people to join the moderator team and removed the screenshot posts.

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To Make Speaking 2 Languages Sophisticated

To Make Speaking 2 Languages Sophisticated

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#6

To Sound Literate

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For those who’re wondering what, precisely, “there was an attempt” refers to, u/F4T4-M0RG4N4 explained that it’s basically about “someone attempting something but ultimately failing.”

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Conceptually, it’s similar to “if someone tried jumping off a trampoline into a pool but when they tried to jump, the trampoline tore. In that case, you could say, 'Well... there was an attempt, at least' and that’s where our subreddit comes into play.”

The posts are mainly about “some people having a dumb idea, trying out that idea, and failing.” This misery is what makes it so funny. 

#7

To Prevent The Homeless From Sleeping Here

To Prevent The Homeless From Sleeping Here

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#8

To Start Cat Racing

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Jihana
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is just adorable 🤣 Also: why would you think a cat would get out of a box?

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#9

To Prove That Patton Oswalt Is A Failed Comedian

To Prove That Patton Oswalt Is A Failed Comedian

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Today, the moderator team only allows video submissions and cross-posts, “which are posts that were in one subreddit but were reposted to another (kind of like retweeting.” This format works better for r/ThereWasAnAttempt, since screenshots can more easily become reposts, for one.

Especially when there’s one similar subreddit that’s specifically for social media clapbacks and comebacks, but its content mainly features screenshots.When it comes to their 1.9 million member count, the moderator said that “I don’t think we have the exact same post frequency as, say, a meme subreddit.”

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Partly, it’s because it isn’t easy to repost something from r/ThereWasAnAttempt. “I could probably look at the new section for r/memes and see quite a few frequent reposts.”

#14

To Shame Atheists And Take Away Their Holidays

To Shame Atheists And Take Away Their Holidays

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#15

I Mean... You Tried..?

I Mean... You Tried..?

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Steve Barnett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'Having Voldemort trying to kill him at every opportunity finally took its toll on Harry Potter'

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#17

To Arrest A “Drug Dealer

To Arrest A “Drug Dealer

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#18

To Make Fun Of A Bird

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DforDory
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least he realised it. If you can't laugh at yourself, you're doomed.😁

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#19

To Shame Men

To Shame Men

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#22

To Convince People To Be Pro-Life

To Convince People To Be Pro-Life

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you got a tiny Voldemort in your womb, abortion might not be the worst idea.

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Facts from a study of abortions in 25 high income countries: Almost 70% of abortions are carried out before week 9 of the pregnancy, with a an increasing proportion. In most countries nearly all abortions were carried out before week 12. The increase in abortions earlier than 9 weeks is likely closely related to the increased availability of medical abortion. https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/nine-out-of-10-abortions-done-before-12-weeks-in-many-high-income-countries/

kjorn avatar
kjorn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

anti-vax, pro-life, anti-mask lies so much it's distgusting. and they're proud of it!

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Seabeast
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't forget pro-gun. Really, they aren't so much "pro-life" as "pro-conception". They don't give a rodent's posterior about you after you're actually born.

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giovanna
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How can one believe this is a 16 weeks old fetus? Dont they teach science in schools?

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bryguy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some size context here would be helpful. Is this thing 6 feet long or is it an inch long? (At 16 weeks a fetus is the size of an apple, if you're wondering). Also yes, any woman should be able to decide what is best for her own body. We have no shortage of humans on this planet, we have wayyyy too many!

abbysmink avatar
abby smink
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not to mention the anti choice people don't give a flying f**k what happens to the baby once it's born

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YoChicken
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

people should be able to have their own choice.. its their body, money and time. not yours

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Anna McHugh
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahahah!!! That's ace. Jesus, I'd defo get rid of that if I thought it was creeping around inside me.

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Queen Mab
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a mighty big Voldemort for 16 weeks! He's practically college age.

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah I’d definitely abort if I thought that shït was inside me. Might even abort myself if I had one of those!

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Toujin C'Thlu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm guessing that she hasn't actually seen a picture of a fetus at 16 weeks, and just choose the first pic that looked like one.

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Phoenix
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that’s in your womb abortion might not be the worst thing that can happen

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Severus Snape
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh so this is that part of his life story he didn’t wanna talk to me about. I don’t blame him.

25kschmalz avatar
Hermione Jean Granger
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait-what? I knew you spied for the Order, but you had personal conversations with him?!?

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Claire Armstrong
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does she genuinely believe that is what that picture is? Does she really believe that's what a 16 week HUMAN foetus looks like in the womb! Has she never seen a scan picture taken at 20 weeks? Has she never looked at a pregnancy book? I mean, it's obvious she doesn't have kids! And if I were a naive young girl who was shown this picture and told it was a 16 week foetus - I'd be at the GP demanding a bloody hysterectomy before I ran the risk of falling pregnant and having to carry the new reincarnation of bloody Voldemort! Jeezo!

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Mishte Tine
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. No one “likes” abortion (guessing). Female people need corporeal autonomy and economic freedom like non-female people have. Get over it. There is nothing about “life” that anti-abortion people care about. If there was, they’d be be fighting for Medicare for all and abolishing the death penalty for starters. Patriarchy, especially espoused by women who claim to be pious is asinine.

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panda123
Community Member
3 years ago (edited)

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Political opinions are not a package deal. Someone can oppose abortion and the death penalty, or support both. Someone who opposes Medicare for all may do so because they do not believe it is the most effective system to protect people's health and life.

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Karen Klinck
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the rabid anti-abortionist who was brandishing a jarred fetus at his hate-rallies for a couple of months--till the guy who mailed it to him let it be known it was a mouse fetus...

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Leo Domitrix
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uh, no, that is NOT at 16 weeks. That's Gollum. At 16 weeks, much more like the "space baby" at the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey. They have tiny tiny tiny feet and hands, and their ears are not remotely that formed. THIS PIC IS A HOAX. ... sign me, got my MD, those idiots didn't

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Rannveig Ess
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why post such nonsense? From the entire internet, after a fact check for you - "When Harry has been hit with the killing curse, he ends up in an imaginary King's Cross, with Dumbledore, and an infant-like creature that can be heard crying." Go read a book, or something. Unplug

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Jenny Li
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a PART of Voldemort. That died. Sorry if any spoilers. :)

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あんぱんまん
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

after looking at that, i dont think i would like the idea of having a baby voldyy in me... so id abort....

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Jean Thompson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, whatever this perfectly formed tiny ADULT is, it is certainly NOT a 16 week old fetus.

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Chris Challis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ah but the soul or spirit is not there.. still hovering above. abortion is a desperate act and often a result of rape and abuse.

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TheSneakyNinja
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Strange that they said that. Especially because babies at that stage actually look like this:https://i.pinimg.com...c6bdf85cc95.jpg It's not even close. I don't think I can post what they look like aborted, because it's very graphic and disturbing.

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IFXO
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

imagine a 16 w/o fetus having fingers as long as mine! That would make one terrifying baby when it grows to 40 weeks!

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Jenifer Riggs
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can believe whatever you want, but please do not try to force other people to believe the same.

mollymc-mollyface avatar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just for everyone that hasn't realized, it's from one of the last movies of Harry Potter

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Stephen Hutchison
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not a 16 week fetus. That's a movie prop, the remnants of Voldemort's soul. Here, if you must, is a more convincing 16 week fetus, shown by a woman who miscarried, to show that it is appropriate to mourn for a (wanted) child who died in the womb early. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/218283913167575648/ Note that I'm still pro-choice. I think it's tragic when someone becomes pregnant, and cannot bring it to term, for whatever reason. But that doesn't make it NOT their choice when it's still possible to end the pregnancy before it could survive independently, OR when it would kill or maim the mother to continue. (I am looking at you, Ireland, Brazil, and the Vatican.)

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Ryan Deschanel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even if the baby was made during a rape? Because Voldemort's mother literally raped his father with drugs... Yeah, I know you know, everybody knows.

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Emyo Jennifer Nakayama
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You my dear are either incredibly uninformed or a liar. As noted above, this is "he who shall not be named". Just a bit different I hope.

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Kathryn Henry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not hardly a 16 wk. fetus! People are not that gullible - at least I hope not!

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jevais
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ridiculous, it's not a real dried up fetus, but a very badly made statuette or a momie. How dare these rednecks church gun owners hypocrites make such false informations. Abortion is a very private matter and it's nobody's business. So great america is finally not a free country, since laws are changed according who directs the congress and the president.

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TV Junkie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I laughed so hard, I wish I could upvote this many more times!

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23AClark
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's really out of touch, isn't she!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

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Louise Stange-Wahl
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hello--I hope you just had a brain fart, or you aren't up on the difference between fantasy and reality. I think we found the village idiot, in more ways than one.

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Amyah Labrèche-Docq
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks more like a momie, not a fœtus... this is a dead man not a baby

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Steve Cruz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The development of limbs and digits is closer to a 3-year-old child.

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Ian Bodey
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s one MF big Sod off 1(week old foetus more like 16 years....👹🎃👾👾

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Luuta
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is no way a foetus 😂😂😂 Possibly a mummified victim of a volcanic explosion.

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Sandra Boyd
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you have actual proof that this is a foetus? I'm doubtful about the skeleton, fingernails etc at only 4 months.

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Mary Dellenbusch
Community Member
3 years ago (edited)

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I have a better idea. Keep your f*****g legs closed!

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Crowley The Snake
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An even better idea: learn that condoms break, people are raped, things go wrong.

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Veronica Sjöberg
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, not really. If you have a scan at 12 weeks you can already see that its a human, just with a large head and obviously much smaller overall. However thats not the point. It doesnt matter how it looks, its still up to the woman if she wants it or not. It wouldnt survive without her so its her body and her choice.

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Gloria Elena Gil
Community Member
3 years ago

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I think that photo is not for the internet public. Maybe could be used only as a teaching aid for med students and other front line health care providers. It is a painful trigger for women like me who had lost their very much wanted unborn babies...I find this offensive to the human race if it is used for any kind of propaganda, even by anti-abortionists...My opinion.

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Damon Gates
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, it's fine for the internet public, since it's only a screen shot from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" from shortly after Voldemort "kills" Harry. It's a dying fragment of Voldemort's soul (a "horcrux"). That's all.

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Elaine Mattingly
Community Member
3 years ago

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Get your facts straight or your just telling a lie. I don't believe in abortion but telling the truth is the only way to make changes.

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#23

To Defend God

To Defend God

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#25

To Be Racist

To Be Racist

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Queen fhk
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am proudly a Muslim just like a Christian proudly a Christian and also like an atheist who is proudly an atheist!!!!!!! It's our believe when people think about freedom of speech, they forget about hurting other people's religion, but when we stand for our rights we are themed as paranoid. Just leave us alone, stop looking for trouble which you wouldn't get and exercise Human Rights fairly not partially degrading other people's religion. I quote everyone is different yet you try to make everyone the same religion, race, tribe all " Differences matters, yet that makes us who we are, denying our differences is denying the truth " I am A PROUD MUSLIM, it's me not you allow me to practice my religion in peace and stop popnosing on my affairs, everyone deserves right to religion just as u think!

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#26

To Suggest A New Idea

To Suggest A New Idea

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Flawless! And you should be able to make a audio contact with other people in real time so you can tell them, instead of typing a message for them.

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#28

To Eat A Mozzarella Stick

To Eat A Mozzarella Stick

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#32

To Replace I'm Sorry With Thank You

To Replace I'm Sorry With Thank You

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Charlotte
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But actually this is a technique I used in customer service. For example when you put a customer on hold to go get more info, you ask them if they’re happy to wait. When you get back you thank them for waiting. If you say “sorry for the wait” it suggests you did something wrong, when really you were just doing your job. It leaves a different impression on the customer and genuinely impacts satisfaction.

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#33

To Prove How Unfashionable These Jeans Were

To Prove How Unfashionable These Jeans Were

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#35

To Provide Front, Side, And Rear Photos For The Car Insurance Rep

To Provide Front, Side, And Rear Photos For The Car Insurance Rep

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#37

To Get A Cardi B Tattoo

To Get A Cardi B Tattoo

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Some Cool Guy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never realized that there is a level of messed up that someone would want to get an Anne Frank tattoo on your damn FACE

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#39

To Display Plus Size Clothes Without Causing Offence

To Display Plus Size Clothes Without Causing Offence

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Roger Haywood
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Considering that there are no plus sized mannequins, I think its good improv. (I'm on the larger size myself, and I'm nowhere near offended)

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#40

To Stand Up For The Joker

To Stand Up For The Joker

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Welcome to the Internet, where you can be offended by literally everything,

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#42

To Fuck The Police

To Fuck The Police

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#47

To Criticize A Garbage Man

To Criticize A Garbage Man

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Sanne H.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don’t know how it’s in other countries, but here in NL apparently it’s one of the best paid low-education jobs available. A friend of mine did it as a student job while in university and apart from the smell he was quite happy with it.

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#48

To Be A Professional Company

To Be A Professional Company

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Pamela24
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All that's gonna do is make more people drive drunk. If Uber is so concerned about people throwing up in their cars or being violent (which is understandable) they should charge a deposit and/or allow the drivers to have pepper spray or something to defend themselves if necessary (not guns!).

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#49

To Create 3 Mexican Countries

To Create 3 Mexican Countries

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#50

To Hide

To Hide

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Note: this post originally had 150 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.