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All things have a purpose and function. However, some objects are so peculiar, so strange, and so weird that it takes amateur detectives and internet occultists to decipher their meaning. The ‘What Is This Thing’ subreddit is a treasure trove of everyday artifacts whose purpose was lost to the world… until Reddit’s resident Sherlock Holmeses took a look at them and explained exactly what people were looking at.

We’ve collected some of the best examples of odd things, so scroll down, have a look, have a read, and upvote your faves. Let us know in the comments if you learned something new and share the most obscure objects with your pals to test their knowledge.

Be sure to read on for Bored Panda’s interview with one of the subreddit’s moderators. And when you’re done with this list and if you’re still hungry for weird things whose purpose is unclear, then be sure to have a look through our previous posts about strange objects right here, here, as well as here.

More info: Reddit

#1

What Is This Thing In My Classroom? Makes Subtle Fan-Like Sounds And Changes Colour On Top

What Is This Thing In My Classroom? Makes Subtle Fan-Like Sounds And Changes Colour On Top

Answer: AV1 is a personal avatar for children suffering from long-term illness, helping them to continue their education and maintain the normality of daily life despite no longer being able to access mainstream education. Through an app, the user can remotely log into the class from their home or hospital. Looking through the robots eyes, the child can watch the lesson, through the robot’s ears they can hear greetings from their friends and they can speak through the robot to interact with the rest of the class.

Potetbror Report

#2

What Are These For In An Outdoor Area Of A Hospital?

What Are These For In An Outdoor Area Of A Hospital?

Answer: These are emergency showers. An affected person (chemical spills, laboratory mishaps, etc) will pull the level on the top and tepid water (OSHA defined between 60F and 100F) will douse the affected from the shower head (above) and boot sprayer (below). The duration of these showers is required to be 15 full minutes at approximately 20 PSI.
Source: I design these systems.

chashaoballs Report

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

So they are like the showers you find in chemistry classrooms

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#3

IKEA Coffee Mug, What Is The Thing At The Bottom?

IKEA Coffee Mug, What Is The Thing At The Bottom?

Answer: So water doesn't stay on the bottom if you put the mug in the dishwasher and stops wet mugs suctioning themselves to coasters.
Pretty clever design actually.

HR_92 Report

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According to one of the subreddit’s moderators, there are several reasons why people become amateur detectives online and help others figure out what obscure objects are. The first reason is that interesting items show up and some folks can’t help but get involved. There’s also the “thrill of the chase”—people want to show off their great search skills.

“Many [people] have unique and obscure knowledge and they like to use it. Get enough of them together and they cover most things,” the moderator told Bored Panda.

The mod revealed that it’s very rare for a thing to get posted and for nobody to know what it is. They estimate that under 10 percent of ‘cases’ don’t get solved on the subreddit. “A majority of things are solved within 15 minutes of posting,” the mod added. With over 1.5 million members in the community, it's no wonder that mysteries get solved so quickly.

#4

My Mom And Dad Were Doing Some Landscaping In The Backyard And Found This Weird Slate With Writing Etched Into It. The Months Are Spelled Out And The Year States 1827 But That’s All The Information Here. I Can Send More Pics In Pm. Also, This Was Located In Southern Missouri

My Mom And Dad Were Doing Some Landscaping In The Backyard And Found This Weird Slate With Writing Etched Into It. The Months Are Spelled Out And The Year States 1827 But That’s All The Information Here. I Can Send More Pics In Pm. Also, This Was Located In Southern Missouri

Answer: a practice gravestone scrap. Someone who carved gravestones would practice engraving lettering and drawings on this broken piece of stone.

AppleTangoMike Report

#5

Thin Slabs Of Ivory With Days Of The Week On The Top Found In My Closet. What Is This Thing?

Thin Slabs Of Ivory With Days Of The Week On The Top Found In My Closet. What Is This Thing?

Answer: Fabulous antique early Victorian chatelaine aide memoir from mid 1800s. Made of sheets of bone, it would have hung on a lady's chatalaine chain or been kept securely in her pocket and she would have used it to make note and appointments for the week to come. It has 6 pages for the days Monday to Saturday, of course a lady would never have made appointments on a Sunday

mickbruh Report

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

You can sell your Ivory if you can prove that it was purchased before 1990. This clearly is from the Victorian era..so yeah, that is legal to sell. What a cool discovery. I want to know how she made notes on them..

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#6

Water Flows From A Culvert Beneath A Trail Into This Circular Pool, Then Continues On Into The Woods. What's The Pool's Purpose?

Water Flows From A Culvert Beneath A Trail Into This Circular Pool, Then Continues On Into The Woods. What's The Pool's Purpose?

Answer: Settling pond for erosion control and improving the downstream water for happier fish

yourlocalpizzajoint Report

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

Smart. Always good to have happy fish. Wouldn't have to summon aquaman to deal with angry fish.

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The subreddit has a more serious offshoot on Reddit called Trace an Object that searches for objects posted by Europol that are linked to child abuse cases.

“We've had some luck in identifying some things, but there's more yet unsolved and more to come as Europol does release some new information every few months,” the moderator explained. The Trace an Object subreddit currently has more than 52.6k members who are putting their sleuthing skills to good use.

#7

Grainy-Like Things? They Appear Inside And On My Closet, And Reappear Whenever I Clean Them. What Are These?

Grainy-Like Things? They Appear Inside And On My Closet, And Reappear Whenever I Clean Them. What Are These?

Answer: Termite poop.

wowiie Report

#8

Washed Up On A Beach In Florida. What Is This Thing?

Washed Up On A Beach In Florida. What Is This Thing?

Answer: "It is a wave-powered desalinator that is owned by Oneka Technologies, a firm in Quebec. It takes seawater and turns it into fresh water. It is powered by the motion of the waves."

New_Fry Report

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#9

Weird Squirming Living Lovecraftian Nightmare On Our Lawn Chair This Morning. What Is This Thing?

Weird Squirming Living Lovecraftian Nightmare On Our Lawn Chair This Morning. What Is This Thing?

Answer: Hag moth caterpillar with fuzzy “false arms” on its back to make it look like a dead leaf. (We’re looking at the belly)

pbjburger Report

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It’s not just the modern world that is full of mysteries: the further back into history we go, the more secretive things get because the purpose of some things has become lost in the fog of time. One of the most cliched and well-known examples of this is Stonehenge.

We all have our personal theories as to what it was used for (burial site, cosmic map, astronomical calendar, druidic circle, UFO landing site, etc.), but the real answer still eludes us. Researchers are still scratching their heads how the stones that weigh around 8,000 pounds (3,629 kilograms) were transported more than 200 miles (322 kilometers) to the place where Stonehenge still stands.

#10

My Boss Just Got Married, And Due To A Combination Of Indian Tradition And Him Being A Bro, He Brought Us These Little Snackboxes. He Left Before I Could Ask Him Much About Them. What Are They Called And What Are They Made Out Of?

My Boss Just Got Married, And Due To A Combination Of Indian Tradition And Him Being A Bro, He Brought Us These Little Snackboxes. He Left Before I Could Ask Him Much About Them. What Are They Called And What Are They Made Out Of?

Answer: The white block to the left is made with cashew nuts and sugar : It is called kaju barfi. The yellow block looks like it is mango flavored barfi. The circular one looks like dried fig with nuts stuffed in it. The shiny ones have edible silver foil and are also made from almonds, cashews and pistachio nuts. They are all made with clarified butter and are delicious desserts.

mstarrbrannigan Report

#11

Mini Harpoon Thing Found When Changing Bedding In A Hospital Room

Mini Harpoon Thing Found When Changing Bedding In A Hospital Room

Answer: Patient had been tased. It's a taser dart.

feickuss Report

#12

When You Pull The Ring On This, Four Little Pins Come Out. What Is It Used For?

When You Pull The Ring On This, Four Little Pins Come Out. What Is It Used For?

Answer: It's an anti-theft device for pocket watches.

johnsinternetsales Report

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Something else that has captured the imaginations of many individuals is a series of carvings in Peru made by the Nazca tribe. Nobody knows why exactly the Nazcas made these drawings of animals, plants, insects, and other things.

But two things are for sure: they are huge and they can be seen from the sky. But their true purpose is still shrouded in mystery. Perhaps, one day, we’ll figure out the answers to the secrets of the Nazcas, as well as solve the mysteries of Stonehenge.

#13

Found On Guam In Shallow Water. 3-Meter Diameter Disk. Top Looks Like Polyester In A Honeycomb Shape That Is Fiber Glassed To Flimsy Aluminum Disk. I'm Stumped On This One. Never Seen Anything Like It. What Is This Thing?

Found On Guam In Shallow Water. 3-Meter Diameter Disk. Top Looks Like Polyester In A Honeycomb Shape That Is Fiber Glassed To Flimsy Aluminum Disk. I'm Stumped On This One. Never Seen Anything Like It. What Is This Thing?

Answer: There was recently a Chinese Long March 3B rocket launch that failed, and the rocket and its payload was seen reentering the atmosphere near Guam

genopsyism Report

#14

What Are These Swirly Things? Found On Google Maps - Located In Cogdell, Georgia, USA

What Are These Swirly Things? Found On Google Maps - Located In Cogdell, Georgia, USA

Answer: Checked the tax records... It is or was an alligator farm.

stephi- Report

#15

Saw This In A Forest In Germany. What Is This Thing?

Saw This In A Forest In Germany. What Is This Thing?

Answer: It's a fridge, or a old time cold room. Basically a room covered with dirt for insulation

V-by-V Report

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

They have these in the UK- in the winter ice from a pond or lake is put inside and this keeps food chilled through summer.

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#16

My Grandfather Told Us To Not Remove This When Renovating. What Is This Thing?

My Grandfather Told Us To Not Remove This When Renovating. What Is This Thing?

Answer: Aztec calendar. Funny thing, I remember a bunch of these a while ago being smuggled over the border and they were made of meth.

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#17

Mostly Concerned About Why Is This Thing?

Mostly Concerned About Why Is This Thing?

Answer: For doing surgery on the cow

CIoverload Report

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

Smaller ones exist for other livestock. For small sheep, that's how some of them have their hooves trimmed - they come up the run, into the machine, get flipped and manicured (and usually vaccinated with 5-in-1) checked, and then sent out! Though I imagine for a cow it's a hell of a lot scarier!

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#18

Found In Deep Creek Md. What Is This Thing?

Found In Deep Creek Md. What Is This Thing?

Answer: Stonefly larvae. Good sign for the water quality.

GumAddict5947 Report

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

did some research and the last sentence is in fact NOT sarcastic, they are sensitive to water pollution

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#19

What Are These Things I Keep Seeing On Nearly All The London Bus Stops In My Area?

What Are These Things I Keep Seeing On Nearly All The London Bus Stops In My Area?

Answer: It's potato art... And I'm not even kidding... The artist is unknown (some say by an artist called NoNose), if you look for 'London bus stop potato art' you can find many more articles written about it.

4tunabrix Report

#20

Growing From The Basement Ceiling At A Very Rapid Rate. It Is Also Leaving On The Table Below It, Grayish Particles. What Is This Thing?

Growing From The Basement Ceiling At A Very Rapid Rate. It Is Also Leaving On The Table Below It, Grayish Particles. What Is This Thing?

Answer: Those are the studs from your walls -- redistributed by your termites.

FallAwayAlways Report

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

The bug ones give me the heebie jeebies. Ugh. I wish this thread was divided into unusual/interesting and gross/scary.

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#21

On The Underside Of Our Cabinet In The House We Recently Bought, Built In The 70s. Plastic With Metal Teeth On One Side, Very Dull. Each Side Is ~4 Inches Long. What Is This Thing?

On The Underside Of Our Cabinet In The House We Recently Bought, Built In The 70s. Plastic With Metal Teeth On One Side, Very Dull. Each Side Is ~4 Inches Long. What Is This Thing?

Answer: Jar opener

dwarfstar3434 Report

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

and why did we stop putting those in our kitchens? :D i need this!

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#22

This Rainbow Effect?

This Rainbow Effect?

Answer: A rainbow is a rainbow. The cause is refraction/dispersion of light due to water in the air.
Looks like it’s raining over there. The shape is just a matter of angles and height.

idontdislikeoranges Report

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

Hmmm, I've seen hundreds of rainbows in the sky and they all arched. So ,a rainbow is a rainbow' is hardly an answer and a little bit patronising. This is clearly an unusual rainbow. I think the poster knows it's a rainbow but wants to know why it's shaped this way. Nothing worse when somebody patronises you because they don't have an answer.

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#23

What Are Those Things Called? I Think They're Typical Of Gothic Architecture?

What Are Those Things Called? I Think They're Typical Of Gothic Architecture?

Answer: Flying buttresses. They’re there to transfer the weight of the roof outwards to stop the walls bowing and collapsing.

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

Yes they are a decorative necessity, as said the side walls will collapse without them, doubly so with a big tower on top.

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#24

Found This In My House. I Bet My Wife It Has Something To Do With A Tie. Do I Win?

Found This In My House. I Bet My Wife It Has Something To Do With A Tie. Do I Win?

Answer: Hoof pick for cleaning horses hooves.

Ymmy805 Report

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

Still sell for 320$! https://www.hermes.com/us/en/product/hoof-pick-H072826Ev93/

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#25

What Is This Fiber/Sand Ball? Found Among Thousands Like It On A Beach In Spain. It Weighs Almost Nothing

What Is This Fiber/Sand Ball? Found Among Thousands Like It On A Beach In Spain. It Weighs Almost Nothing

Answer: Sea grass ball

ErikBech Report

#26

What Are These Circular Metal Things On These Stairs? I Just Hit My Knee And Goddamn Did It Hurt

What Are These Circular Metal Things On These Stairs? I Just Hit My Knee And Goddamn Did It Hurt

Answer: Skateboard prevention device. Keeps em from grinding on edges.

JjzMerheb Report

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

I can see why some people would think this is mean, but turn about is fair play the city has probably had signs prohibiting skateboarding, asking people nicely, ticketing them, and it still went on. The kind of damage long term wear and tear would have not only on the curbs but the railings can put everyone at risk. Not to mention when they need to re-do the curbs and railings its coming out of the cities budget (if in the U.S. not sure about overseas). You can see the 'pebbled' like texture on the steps. My bet is this was their last resort. Added bonus, the constant grinding on the edges and rails can become a safety hazard, which can lead to lawsuits (U.S.) especially if its on public property. I don't care if people want to skate board, go for it, but follow the postings. They put them up for a reason.

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#27

Plaque With Numbers Inscribed On It. Found On The Sidewalk Outside A Building At My University

Plaque With Numbers Inscribed On It. Found On The Sidewalk Outside A Building At My University

Answer: Magic square. It's a popular sort of decoration to put outside math departments

hadsecks Report

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

Every number both raw and colum if u sum up the ans is always 34. Try it

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#28

Saw This Rusty Thing On My Walk In A Forest. The Forest Belong To A Estate Wedellsborg, Vestfyn, Denmark. What Is This Thing?

Saw This Rusty Thing On My Walk In A Forest. The Forest Belong To A Estate Wedellsborg, Vestfyn, Denmark. What Is This Thing?

Answer: It is an underwater mine

Damadamas Report

#29

I Found This Hanging From The Basement Rafters Of My 100 Year Old House. It Appears To Be Two Marbles Or Something Similar In A Hanger Of Some Sort. Any One Have A Clue What This Could Be?

I Found This Hanging From The Basement Rafters Of My 100 Year Old House. It Appears To Be Two Marbles Or Something Similar In A Hanger Of Some Sort. Any One Have A Clue What This Could Be?

Answer: It's a razor blade sharpener. A 1930s salesman's special and it doesn't even sharpen the blades just realigns the edge and gets you a few more shaves.

debo3883 Report

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

Reminds me of Click Clacks, a toy I used to play with as a kid in the 70s.

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#30

Found In A Crawlspace Of A House From The 80's Next To 3 Red Boxes Encased In Concrete. What Is This Thing?

Found In A Crawlspace Of A House From The 80's Next To 3 Red Boxes Encased In Concrete. What Is This Thing?

Answer: This label is used for materials with gamma and neutron emissions This label was specifically used on containers shipped by aircraft, and that reference is from the late 50s/early 60s. Any red label is going to be Group I or II, which as stated above emits gamma rays, neutrons, or both, and is potentially harmful even with the box closed. OP's lid came from something shipped by air, but it's interesting to note that on ground shipments of the same class of materials (like with the label variant I found in my first edit), the trucks themselves were required to be marked "CAUTION" or "DANGEROUS - RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS" on the sides and rear of the vehicle just to haul this kind of material.
Post author update: As of today a 3 man team from the state of Utah department of environmental quality, division of waste management and radiation control, uranium Mills and radioactive materials section (holy [crap]) showed up at my friend's house around 10am and spent a few hours taking readings, swabbing samples and asking questions and after all of that, found nothing but natural trace amounts of radon. The "lid" they think was from the late 1950's and was unrelated to the "vault".

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

This is all very interesting but.. I don't accept you being all: oh hey look, here's a really cool vault nobody wanted to be found. YOU CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT SHOWING WHAT'S IN THE VAULT!! No sir, I demand more respect for the curiosity itch! Thank you.

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#31

I’m Not Doing My Dishes Until I Know What This Beautiful Thing Is

I’m Not Doing My Dishes Until I Know What This Beautiful Thing Is

Answer: That’s a bacteria pellicle.

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#32

So I Found This Key In With A Bunch Of Things I Was Given Decades Ago When My Grandfather Died. Anyone Ever Seen A Key Like This Before? It’s About 2cm Long An I Have No Clue Where It Came From

So I Found This Key In With A Bunch Of Things I Was Given Decades Ago When My Grandfather Died. Anyone Ever Seen A Key Like This Before? It’s About 2cm Long An I Have No Clue Where It Came From

Answer: The swastika was one of Britain's favourite lucky charms during WW1, e.g. this swastika key charm from the war. There were swastika cushions in British homes & the Scouts had a swastika badge. There must have been a mass domestic clear out in the 1930s/40s, as such items now rare.

hugosp0ps Report

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

Never knew the brits used this symbol before the nazis. Very interesting.

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

Was used in India way before Christ. The Nazis just ruined a symbol of luck and well-being wishes

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

Remember that mysterious locked door in that dungeon you raided in the first part of your trip to save the world? Now, go get the treasure! ♡ (do it before you proceed with the main quest)

wookiee74 avatar
Chewie Baron
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There us an interesting story regarding the Nazis use of the Swastika. When they gained power in 1933 and starting getting attention across the globe for their behaviour, a group of Hindu elders wrote to Adolf Hitler, saying that if they continued to use the Swastika at that angle (The Nazis had rotated it by 45 degrees to how it was normally used),it will bring you bad luck.

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

Too bad Asshat didn’t listen to them... we’d be celebrating that symbol instead of forced to not use it bc of the horrific circumstances involved with it now.

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

the thing is, the swastika used to resemble peace, and was used as a symbol of divinity and spirituality in Indian religions, including Hinduism. The Nazi's kind of tarnished that.

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

For thousands of years Swastikas were considered a symbol of good luck in the west and spirituality in India until they were perverted by Nazi Germany.

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

The symbol was used decoratively in many cultures before the Nazis used it. Have an embroidered table runner from Sweden from the late 1800s-early1900s that has the swastika on it... have seen it in Native American art from way back too...

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

I really love it that Bored Panda can teach me things that I never knew. I am Danish and had no idea that the swastika was used as Carlsberg logo.

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

My mother's high school class insignia was the swastika. Running man. That was in the late 30's located in Butler Oklahoma. USA. It had new ing before Hitler took it.

elijah_snow1 avatar
Elijah Snow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one of the most f****d up tragedies in human symbology: the sequestering and resignification of the swastika to mean nazism and fascism. It used to be such a beautiful symbol before that. Nazis really p**s me off.

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

Apart from all the symbolism, it looks almost as though that has enamel over it. At least, it looks purple with a bit of depth to it.

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

From the Encyclopedia Britannica: "From its earliest conception, the symbol is believed to have been positive and encouraging of life. The modern name for the icon, derived from the Sanskrit svastika, means “conducive to well-being.” It has been used by cultures around the world for myriad different purposes throughout history: as a symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism; as a stylized cross in Christianity; in ancient Asiatic culture as a pattern in art; in Greek currency; in Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture; and on Iron Age artifacts. While the symbol has a long history of having a positive connotation, it was forever corrupted by its use in one cultural context: Nazi Germany."

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

And Native American symbol for wind, used both directions. The hell with the Nazis, we'er taking it back. Some of us still use it in our art.

easyreader50 avatar
Sharon Vaughn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe it went by another name (swasti) before the Nazis got it. It used to face left; the Nazis turned it to face right.

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

I believe this has been found in very ancient Babylonian ruins too. In Santa Fe New Mexico there’s a hotel with a two hundred year old Native American rug with swastikas on the borders. It’s used as a wall hanging.

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

I read that before the nazi tramps stole it the swastika was that generations version of 'Live, laugh love' and was everywhere.

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

and that basically it would be like an evil army wearing that slogan on their uniforms now

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Stephanie Scheeff
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just like now, how the LGBTQ community stole and twisted the rainbow to mean something that it doesn't ☹️ God gave us the rainbow as his promise to us that he would never again flood the Earth, and now, anyone that wants to display, or wear rainbow parafinalia will be automatically assumed to be part of the LGBTQ. The whole thing has just gone way too far!

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Rodney Schon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I heard it was a very popular key for locking up the juice during the holocaust so there was plenty for breakfast.

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Liz-ard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Isn’t the swastica actually a sun symbol? The extrem groups always seem to find a symbol with good origin and turn them bad.

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

Mesopotamia , Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, Germanic and Viking cultures and the Navajo used a variation of the swastika before the Nazis corrupted the meaning.

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

There are studio portraits of my grandmother as a small child, taken in the early 1900s, with swastikas embossed into the cardboard of the photo folder. It was a really common decoration before the Nazis hijacked it.

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Jaybird3939
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I watched a movie from the early 1930's (set in NYC) and they casually referred to the swastika in a completely benign way. I guess they hadn't gotten to hitler's evil plans yet.

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

There was an ancient symbol and Hitler reversed the arms Into what is recognised as a swastica! Someone knows a lot more than me!

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

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika Very interesting read.....the CLOCKWISE Swastika such as on this key, symbolised "auspiciousness or Good Luck" until the 1930s when it was adopted by the Deutsche Nazi Party.

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

One of the local downtown buildings was decorated with these, and I was told it was an Indian (Native American) symbol for good luck. It was covered up for years, then uncovered, then eventually painted over.

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

Kinda sad. It would be great to revert back to the original meaning at some point

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

wow it's worth alot but nothings worth more than family so keep it

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Jacob Talbott
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3 years ago

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Nunya
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was used in India even earlier (which is where the Brits got the idea from (East India Trading Company)). It is a symbol of positivity in India among several religions there (Buddhism, Jainism, Hindiusm, etc). Because of WWII, the positivity of this symbol was destroyed and is rarely ever displayed anymore. This key would be extremely rare now, but was very common up to the 1930s

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#33

What Is This Thing That You Always See On An Escalator?

What Is This Thing That You Always See On An Escalator?

Answer: They help keep shoes, dresses, handbags, etc. from getting snagged in the tiny gap at the side. I use them as a little shoe shine, too.

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#34

What Are These Are What Are They For? The Girl Sitting Across From Me Had Them On All Fingers On Both Hands

What Are These Are What Are They For? The Girl Sitting Across From Me Had Them On All Fingers On Both Hands

Answer: Oval finger splints for treating: Arthritis, Boutonniere Deformities, Crooked Finger, Fractures, Hypermobility (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), Lateral Deviation, Mallet Finger, Swan Neck, Trigger Finger, Trigger Thumb


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

'Hmmm.. What is that?' 'Shall i ask her politely?' 'Nááááh let's take a photo of her hand and upload it to a site that has a black and white bear without hobbies as a mascotte and ask there for the answer!'

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#35

Found In The Middle Of Asian Desert, In Google Earth At 40°26'37"N 90°48'00"E. What Is This Thing?

Found In The Middle Of Asian Desert, In Google Earth At 40°26'37"N 90°48'00"E. What Is This Thing?

Answer: They are the evaporation ponds for the Xinjiang Lop Nur Potash Co., Ltd. one of the world's largest potassium sulfate production mines

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#36

Found In The Wood In A Creek. It Was Under A Piece Of Wood. What Is This Thing?

Found In The Wood In A Creek. It Was Under A Piece Of Wood. What Is This Thing?

Answer: Those look like midge eggs, an aquatic fly

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#37

Found On The Norfolk (UK) Coast. Very Soft And Floppy, Pale Pink But Not Rotten Or Water Bloated. What Is This?

Found On The Norfolk (UK) Coast. Very Soft And Floppy, Pale Pink But Not Rotten Or Water Bloated. What Is This?

Answer: A hairless seal flipper

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#38

This Sci-Fi Looking Place In Poland, Somewhere By Krakow. What Is This Thing?

This Sci-Fi Looking Place In Poland, Somewhere By Krakow. What Is This Thing?

Answer: Alvernia Studios is a film studio located near Kraków, Poland, 18 km (10 miles) from the Kraków-Balice Airport, with additional offices in Mumbai and Warsaw.

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Daria B
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Toriyama style architecture. Bet they all come from capsules and the studio can travel the world if they wanted to. ♡

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#39

An Opening In The Bottom Floor Of An 1850s Home In Charleston, Sc. What Is This Thing?

An Opening In The Bottom Floor Of An 1850s Home In Charleston, Sc. What Is This Thing?

Answer: A way to access your crawlspace, there’s usually plumbing, wiring and potentially ductwork that periodically may need maintenance

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#40

Poured A Glass Of Water Last Night From The Tap Left It Under The Light On The Night Stand, Next Morning I Found This Floating In It... What Could It Be?

Poured A Glass Of Water Last Night From The Tap Left It Under The Light On The Night Stand, Next Morning I Found This Floating In It... What Could It Be?

Answer: If it actually did come out the tap with the water, my guess is some sort of flocculant/coagulant used in tap-water treatment, that somehow made it past the system and was still dissolved/in suspension in the water. Then settled out during the night.
These chemicals are used to attract particle in the water and clump them together for easier removal. Some of those "concoctions" looks similar to this after settling out.

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