Thank you, Captain Obvious!

There are plenty of obvious things that people love to discuss, like how the weather currently is and how soon the holidays are. It’s totally fine to bring up topics like this in a self-aware way: “I know this is obvious, but I just really need to make small talk.” But sometimes, people think they’re being philosophical when they’re really just stating the obvious.

Below, we’ve gathered some of our favorite posts from the That’s How Things Work subreddit, which is dedicated to highlighting people who tried to be deep but failed miserably. From explaining concepts that already have a name to sharing “shower thoughts” that they probably should have kept to themselves, this list is full of funny, facepalm-worthy moments that might make you lose a bit of faith in humanity.

Be sure to upvote the posts that you get a kick out of, and then let us know in the comments: what’s the most obvious thing you’ve ever had explained to you before? Then, if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article featuring obvious things people learned embarrassingly late in life, you can find that right here!

#1

My Cake!

My Cake!

tigbitties888 Report

Rocke-Road
Community Member
3 years ago

"When you have friends"

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RELATED:
    #2

    Thanks I Hate Names

    Thanks I Hate Names

    Exile_The_Fallen Report

    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Actually I quite like this one

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    #3

    Are You Twins In Real Life?

    Are You Twins In Real Life?

    SalazarRED Report

    Daria
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    🤦‍♀️

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    #4

    Help Me I’m Drowning

    Help Me I’m Drowning

    tigbitties888 , twitter.com Report

    Saggi
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Nah it’s all good, I’ll just pick my favourite lifeguard to save me.

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    #5

    He Blames Pot

    He Blames Pot

    SalazarRED , thereal-obama.tumblr.com Report

    ShyWahine
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    ♫♪♪ Cause I got high, Because I got high, Because I got high ... ♫♪♪

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    #6

    Ah Yes. Evolution Has Nothing To Do With Genetics

    Ah Yes. Evolution Has Nothing To Do With Genetics

    EthanLeEthan Report

    Gregory Mead
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    This is the same kind of person who hated Obamacare but loved the ACA.

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    #7

    Headlines

    Headlines

    _kellythomas_ Report

    Rocke-Road
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    They need to arrest death as soon as possible! They can't keep getting away with it!

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    #8

    Low Battery? Charge Your Phone

    Low Battery? Charge Your Phone

    J_KR Report

    Rocke-Road
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    No water? Melt some ice.

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    #9

    Opinions Must Be Objective

    Opinions Must Be Objective

    reddit.com Report

    Headless Roach
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion.

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    #10

    How Stock Photos Work

    How Stock Photos Work

    reddit.com Report

    Rocke-Road
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Yeah Man you can take a pic of us chilling with the hooman, it all good

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    #11

    What A Question

    What A Question

    Regi413 Report

    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    When you have more hate cells than brain cells

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    #12

    Yes, That’s How Genetics Work

    Yes, That’s How Genetics Work

    kill3r326 , cassjaytuck.tumblr.com Report

    David
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited)

    Not only the obvious of being related in the fictional story but also the Disney "gene pool" is limited due to making their characters fit other formulaic criteria. Like oversized eyes and small noses and such to make them "cute and lovable" or whatever. If you are going to look like Ursula in the Little Mermaid you are going to be a bad person. If you are the 'good' star you have large eyes / small nose like Ariel. Occasional exceptions but for the most part they are all going to look like they might be related.

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    #13

    Amazon Review For A Backpack

    Amazon Review For A Backpack

    salty_llama Report

    Rocke-Road
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Smartest Physics Teacher

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    #14

    That’s Just What It Is

    That’s Just What It Is

    reddit.com Report

    Howl's sleeping castle
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    More like 'slower' thoughts

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    #15

    Yes, Doing Things Have Consequences

    Yes, Doing Things Have Consequences

    PanaceaPlacebo Report

    Rocke-Road
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Mmm, yes, the floor here is made out of floor...

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    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    Yes That’s How It Usually Works

    Yes That’s How It Usually Works

    reddit.com Report

    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited)

    This person is in for a surprise if they ever hailsl a taxi

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    #17

    Cecil’s Brother, Jericho, Is Also A Lion, Don’t You Know That!?

    Cecil’s Brother, Jericho, Is Also A Lion, Don’t You Know That!?

    Slomotion321 Report

    Some Random Person
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Humans are so cruel. The wording is kinda funny, but I feel sorry for the lion.

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    #18

    Smh

    Smh

    pastalavista01 , twitter.com Report

    Rocke-Road
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    101% Accurate

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    #19

    Kinda The Goal, Right?

    Kinda The Goal, Right?

    esquared722 Report

    Rocke-Road
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Parents: We want your life to be easier for you! Parents when my life is easier: WELL BACK IN MY DA-

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    #20

    That's Why It's Called A Virus

    That's Why It's Called A Virus

    CouragesPusykat Report

    Saggi
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    I think this thread is running out of ideas. I mean shower thoughts was good i at first, now they just getting a wee bit desperate.

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    #21

    But-

    But-

    otj667887654456655 , twitter.com Report

    Peter Parker
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    He's right. Might be a man elected to congress, hence congressman.

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    #22

    This Is A Fact

    This Is A Fact

    reddit.com , twitter.com Report

    Thorsten Massow
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    He might even be the richest person in the solar system, but this fact can not be derived from the previous statements.

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    #23

    That’s Why Biographies Are Written

    That’s Why Biographies Are Written

    TristanLennon Report

    Jan Eivroc
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Yes, makes sense...

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    #24

    If You Know How Old It Is Then You Know How Old It Is

    If You Know How Old It Is Then You Know How Old It Is

    Sizzox Report

    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    This is genius.

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    #25

    R/Showerthoughts At It Again

    R/Showerthoughts At It Again

    emojilover3001 Report

    Saggi
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    And I am pretty sure billboards were made before online ads, it’s like saying, a newspaper is like IRL Google.

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    #26

    Yep, The Wind Can Blow Across State Borders

    Yep, The Wind Can Blow Across State Borders

    hexafraction Report

    Rocke-Road
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Impossible! We have to complain on Twitter about it so air pollution will go away!

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    #27

    Are You High

    Are You High

    reddit.com Report

    Jan Eivroc
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    'Dude you are high' hahahahaha

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    #28

    That's Pretty Much It Yeah

    That's Pretty Much It Yeah

    CoolBoyClarence , twitter.com Report

    Saggi
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    I think in this persons mind it made sense, but then they said it out loud, and it just sounds batshit crazy.

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    #29

    Funny How Things Work

    Funny How Things Work

    Thye204 Report

    OnAFreakingRollercoaster
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    What a bargain

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    #30

    Roses Are Red, I Serve My Master-

    Roses Are Red, I Serve My Master-

    MalbaCato Report

    Nadine Debard
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    I translate : A nuclear explosion so far away from us would be a disaster even for us

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    #31

    That's How Currency Works

    That's How Currency Works

    SuperSlavicBros Report

    OnAFreakingRollercoaster
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Hence, the economy 🤷🏼‍♀️

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    #32

    Yeah, No Sh*t Sherlock

    Yeah, No Sh*t Sherlock

    jp_1896 Report

    Headless Roach
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Oh I thought they were small phones.

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    #33

    I Am Enlightened By Such Powerful Knowledge

    I Am Enlightened By Such Powerful Knowledge

    pootermelon Report

    Rocke-Road
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Nice going, Deccan Herald

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    #34

    I Mean, Yeah

    I Mean, Yeah

    remainoreos Report

    Rod McCabe
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    You never see them making a1974 AMC Gremlin anymore.

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    #35

    Thanks I Didn't Know That

    Thanks I Didn't Know That

    reddit.com Report

    Blurryface
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    That is a cursed hotdog version of Buzz that I have never seen before. Eye bleach Pwease?

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    #36

    Its A Christmas Miracle!

    Its A Christmas Miracle!

    Karim90716 , twitter.com Report

    VikingAbroad
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited)

    Then imagine the 31st of December 1999. The 1st of January 2000 was both the next day, the next month, the next year, the next century and the next millennium. I was there! It was actually not crazy. No IT crash, the TV worked, no aliens, just some mediocre fireworks and then we were sent to bed.

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    #37

    Thats How Humans Work

    Thats How Humans Work

    NateTheNooferNaught Report

    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Good to know

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    #38

    A Woman Who Looks Like Her Parents

    A Woman Who Looks Like Her Parents

    jmcrljen Report

    Saggi
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Let me introduce you to my little friend called ✨genetics✨

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    #39

    Frenemies

    Frenemies

    cy6nu5 Report

    Mahayana
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    I used to sell Christmas lights that had the disclaimer : only for outside in inside use… what’s the third option?!! To this day, I still don’t know and it keeps me up at night.

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    #40

    Glad They Clarified These

    Glad They Clarified These

    abstractassassin05 Report

    JB
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    a = a, b = b, etc

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    #41

    "You Won't Look At These Things The Same"

    "You Won't Look At These Things The Same"

    killer_pop_chilly Report

    OnAFreakingRollercoaster
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    That's actually a cool way to look at it 💡

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    #42

    How Dare They Ask

    How Dare They Ask

    NothingToSeeHere201 Report

    DrBronxx
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited)

    "Yay, my home country of Ireland is on one of these posts.....ah shite."

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    #43

    Thats How Vaccines Work

    Thats How Vaccines Work

    woodenbroom Report

    Nadine Debard
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited)

    Covid vaccines don't contain whole covid virus. They contain some mRNA from the virus, which is a molecule, not a germ. Edit: mRNA or DNA or spike protein...

    Xottel
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    To explain it roughly: There's no need to bring in a live culprit to introduce to your immune system. The mRNA vaccine hands out leaflets with a photo and teaches your body how a virus would look like if it actually entered your organism.

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    El Dee
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    COVID made me realise that quite a large section of humanity is stupid..

    Zachary Gillette
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    You must be young.

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    Stephanie Did It
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    With every vaccine, the earth gets flatter!

    Spocks's Mom
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    🤣

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    Lily Mae Kitty
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    an old guy was wearing an "Indict Fauci" tee the other day so I asked for what(I know I should not poke the animals) and he said it's b/c he lied about everything and he's in with Biden. I said, but he worked under 5 presidents of both parties and Biden wasn't president when covid started. He said he'd never heard that he worked under other presidents. I guess he thought he just came on the scene at 80. argh

    PolymathNecromancer
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    It seems to me that 100% of people who are like this have total blanks of who actually is or was in charge of whatever they are protesting.... sigh

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    Saggi
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Nooooo. What!? And here i was thinkin they injected Poly Juice into you, then you turned into a virus to kill the virus.

    Moezzzz
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Prob want to stay away from needles like that too. Jeezus, if a needle dents the skin, that f****r is duller than my 2nd cousin explaining how fast turtles can ski. Yes, that was a conversation, and yes, he was dead serious. Spoiler alert- it's not very fast

    Jenn C
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    The Covid vaccine is one of the few vaccines that don't the virus.

    FatKid Games
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    When General Washington Mandated his soldiers get vaccinated for small pox at valley forge they cut the skin of uninfected, took puss from the pox of an infected person and smeared it into the cut...and imagine this....it worked!! Can you believe it, science is real!

    Paul Dodd
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    This is variolation, not vacation, and much more dangerous. Vaccination was invented later.

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    GadgetGirl
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Think of it like a Monty Python sketch. The guards are at the castle discussing swallows when the runner from the next castle over brings them a picture. "This bad guy here just waltzed right in and killed a bunch of our people! He's super dangerous, be on the lookout!" So they make photocopies of the picture and post it everywhere. "This is the ENEMY" the posters say. They even practice fighting him. They've heard from survivors of other attacks, and they know how he fights. Sure, the practice scares some of the people in the castle; all this rushing around and yelling, but no one actually dies, they're just frightened. When the baddie rides in, clopping his coconut shells together menacingly, the guards know just what to do because they practiced. They dispatch him quickly, and everyone can go back to talking about swallows. The guards are your immune system. The baddie is the virus. The wanted posters are the vaccine. The castle is you.

    Stranger-Has Candy
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    WOW. I have never (don’t hit me, please 🫠) been able to get into Monty Python. However, yours is the BEST analogy I’ve read so far, and I doubt I’ll come across one better. I’m curious if your gadgets include pipettes, petrie dishes, agars, and microscopes. Maybe a centrifuge or two. An autoclave, perhaps? (No need to answer. Just seems you have a background in science… Or medicine.) It’s a shame that so many people have already formed their (*misinformed*) opinions and won’t learn a thing from your amazing comment. Still, though… BRAVA!

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    werewolf394
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    guys this is high school science ffs

    Show thyself
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited)

    And for people like that one scientists beat down pox

    Headless Roach
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Get vaccinated, you'll get your personal 5G chip.

    Grimstones
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    being a mobile hotspot sounds really useful, and if it didn't have side effects you could sign me up

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    Masculine Possum
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Umm, Yeah?!

    Cal the dragon (she/her)
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Why is that picture painful

    Evelyn Haskins
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Nowt do queer as folk!

    Mickie Shea
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Idiot poster

    Gay-Trash-Panda
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    i gaged looking at this because the needle in the arm surprised me

    BJ Hage
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Also, Contain=To halt the spread or development of; check. Poor choice of words.

    ZOE ADEGBOYE
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Now this bro, never payed any attention in biology class

    Pieter LeGrande
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    My neighbour reckons we are safe in Australia 'cos we don't get vaccinated. Instead we get immunised.

    Bird SharkRawr
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Can we just agree to stop trying to explain things to people that clearly don’t want to live anymore? 😂

    Audra Sisler
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Story time!!! This is not a joke. My husbands boss has a daughter, and I'm sorry I can't remember if Navy or Army, but she is very high ranking. Anywho one day she asked her dad if he had gotten the vaccine. He said no and she said....... Good, don't. They haven't flipped the switch yet but they will. I'm sorry WHAT?!?!?! 😳😳😳

    Melissa Hamed
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Don't forget there's also chips in there to track you. You got to love conspiracy theorists.

    Andy Frobig
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Barbecue, or sour cream & cheddar?

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    Ryan O
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Warning! The vaccine will contain a vaccine!

    🪩𝓒𝓵𝓪𝓲𝓻𝓮🪩
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    No s**t that’s how vaccines work

    J Aislynn d'Merricksson
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

    Stephanie A Mutti
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Some of these folks need a brain vaccine... because then they'll get at least a little brain.

    Jane Hower
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Misnamed on PURPOSE!! It's just a F...King Flu Shot, totally untested and full or bad side effects. VACCINES are those like Small Pox, Polio, that mean you NEVER get the disease. These VAX's for Covid do not keep you from getting it, sometimes several times, or passing it on. DO NOT TAKE THEM!!!!!

    Mary Elliott
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    I highly recommend that anti-vaxxers not get vaccinated, in order to expedite their removal from the gene pool.

    Marianne Luginbuhl
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Unfortunately, they are dragging healthcare with it, as well as the economy. So get vaxxed and help yourself and humanity.

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    Ruth Hempsey
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Aw c**p. Not this again. Some people believe this. Erase, erase, delete, delete.

    3 Owls In A Coat
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Aw c**p. Not this kind of comment again. Some uneducated people really think like this. Downvote, downvote, downvote.

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    Emory White
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Has anyone else noticed the high fatality and blood clotting rates in the people who are covid-vaccinated?

    Marianne Luginbuhl
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    It's the opposite. People who aren't vaccinated and get covid are much more likely to have clots ( heart, brain, lung) and be very sick and or die.

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    Dexter Moncrieff
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    neither are right

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    #44

    That's What Nostalgia Is

    That's What Nostalgia Is

    reddit.com Report

    Christian Fuller
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Here's an interesting tip-in. One kid is nine years old, but a bunch of them are called nine year olds.

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    #45

    M I N D B L O W I N G

    M I N D B L O W I N G

    OskarSkjold Report

    Stephanie Did It
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    The fewer cells in a brain, the lower the intelligence

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    #46

    Person Wouldn’t Be Famous If They Did Not Do What Made Them Famous

    Person Wouldn’t Be Famous If They Did Not Do What Made Them Famous

    Spaghettiboobin , twitter.com Report

    Daffydillz~
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    She sounds like a genius, lol 😆

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    #47

    Company Wants People To Buy Their Product

    Company Wants People To Buy Their Product

    angery_rowlet Report

    Jensie
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    Been trying to get my hands on one for 3 years

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    #48

    Thanks For The Advice

    Thanks For The Advice

    reddit.com Report

    David
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    TRUE STORY (I'll try to keep it brief). McDonalds drive through. Friend in car has sensitive teeth so drinks warm water because cold water hurts. I order food and a cup of warm water. I s...t you not.. "I'm sorry sir we don't have warm water. We only have cold water and hot water.". Me:... Me: "Well, could you put some hot water and some cold water in the same cup to make it warm water?" Drive through lady: (pause). "I guess we could do that". Me: "Okay, do that please". We were laughing so hard we were crying but we were trying to keep it together at the drive through window because we didn't want to be mean. Maybe she was having a bad day and just had a moment. Or maybe she was dumb AF. Years ago. We still laugh about it if she wants some warm water.

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