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When people think nobody is around, their words can be shockingly honest, weirdly mundane, or hilariously unfiltered. These moments can reveal someone's true feelings, secret habits, or inner dialogue they’d prefer not be exposed.
One person asked the internet, “What’s the most disturbing thing you’ve heard someone say when they thought no one was listening?” and netizens didn’t hold back with their responses. Here’s our collection of some of the most curious.
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Well my mom said it to me, but no one else was listening. My first cousin died in a car accident and my aunt was driving the car. Everyone was very concerned about my aunt. (Her husband and my dad were brothers). My mother said, wistfully, "I wish I were your Aunt Dee." I was confused because my aunt had just lost her eldest son. I asked my mom "You wish my brother had died?" My mother laughed at me like it was the silliest thing she ever heard. "Oh I don't want anyone to DIE, I just want the ATTENTION tee hee. Don't be so melodramatic."
I was shocked that my aunt had gone through the most traumatic event in her life and my mother was jealous of the attention she got.
Creepy af.
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#2
When I worked as a nurse in the locked, in-patient psych unit, we had a guy come in who had been banned from other hospitals for being violent. Because it was night shift, I handled most of his intake alone. I knew his history, but he was polite and helpful. He didn’t complain about having his things searched or being in the locked hall.
I had him sit to answer questions and take his vitals. The portable blood pressure machine was acting up and as I was kneeling next to it, I heard him whisper “no it’s fine. We don’t need to hurt her. She’s nice and just doing her job.”
He wasn’t talking to me and I pretended not to hear. I finished up and got out of there. I’ll never forget what he said or the way he was smiling.
Edited: commas are a good thing
Edited again for poor grammar.
#3
Over hearing my mother say I wouldn’t go anywhere in life so it’s fine if they continue taking advantage of me financially. Haven’t spoken in many years since, while overhearing that was very painful to learn my biggest opp was my MOM who I thought always had my back. It showed me how toxic my environment was and how much I was actually coping to get by, and by removing myself from that it has opened many more doors for me. Turns out when you are not giving every piece of yourself to others who give nothing back, you have the energy to go places in life.
tresgatos72 2 weeks ago
I'm glad you found the strength to escape form that toxic sheeyitshow.
We all say strange things when we think no one’s listening. Maybe it's a mumble under our breath, a whispered pep talk, or a full-blown imaginary conversation. In those unguarded moments, our thoughts spill out unfiltered. These private dialogues might seem bizarre, but they offer a fascinating glimpse into how people process their emotions and daily lives.
Talking to yourself is surprisingly common and even healthy. Psychologists call it “self-talk,” and it can help us focus, calm down, or rehearse difficult situations. Whether we’re hyping ourselves up before a meeting or working through frustration after a long day, these moments of verbal solitude are often a hidden form of self-care.
#4
“Just what I need is deaf grandchild,” said by my mother to my next door neighbor as I was getting out of the car.
I had just given birth to my second child and he failed the newborn hearing screening test. He is Deaf.
#5
My old boss - "We only hired him as a favor" - in regards to me as a newer hire.
I was right behind him and said "Let me return the favor and quit" I took off my work shirt, threw it at him and left.
I was 19 at the time and a bit of a hot head. I did not handle that as well as I should have.
#6
My mother telling me I “killed” my brother and my husband. My brother was serving overseas when he passed and my husband died in his sleep next to me. I don’t think anyone in my life would believe me if I told them.. I think I’m the only one she’s ever shown her ugly side to.
When we’re alone, our brains are free to wander. We invent characters, repeat memories, or even ask ourselves questions that no one else would understand. This kind of mental wandering isn't random; it reflects how we make sense of the world, solve problems, or reflect on things we might not feel safe expressing out loud.
It’s not always lighthearted. Sometimes, people use these private moments to express feelings they’re afraid to say out loud, such as grief, regret, self-doubt, or fear. While it may seem odd to catch someone talking to themselves, it can be a moment of quiet vulnerability or even healing. We all need some way to unload.
#7
I was an RN in a nursing home. There was a communal pet cat who lived there. I overheard a lady talking to herself, about how she was going to catch it and break its leg! I reported to administration immediately, and she was moved to the memory care unit . The cat was incredibly sweet and would sit on laps and gave a lot of comfort to residents. Disturbing all around.
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
I was an agency care assistant in nursing homes. The locked units were...fun. Especially the oldies who gave graphic descriptions of what exactly they planned to do to you (people who don't have an extremely dark sense of humour tended to run away screaming). Me? Well, given the person is sitting in their own poop because they can't get up and are too far gone to think to call for assistance, it's a bit "yeah? you and who's army?".
#8
“She is no longer useful to me,” said my dad while he was on the phone with my sister. This was after I filed for FMLA from my company and spent 12 weeks (without pay!) living with my parents who are in another state to help them navigate the healthcare system, make decisions about his surgery and treatment, and research and schedule and drive to and attend appointments with oncologists and surgeons following my father’s melanoma stage 3c diagnosis. Yes I understand that you are dealing with a life threatening diagnosis and a concerning future prognosis but I gave up 3 months of my life with my husband and daughter and took 3 months out of my career to help you….AND NOW THAT MY TIME HAS RUN OUT I AM NOW NO LONGER USEFUL TO YOU?!?!?
marianne eliza 2 weeks ago
Some people shouldn't be allowed to have kids. Like those who have children so there's someone to take care of them when they get sick or old.
#9
"It's just because they want me to conform." - an alcoholic mom to her five year old daughter over the phone. This was in reaponse to the situation she was in; her daughter had been removed from their home, she was due in court, and had to start going to treatment for her alcoholism. She definitely did not know I was in the same room "supervising" the phone call. Like yes, we all want you to conform to not drunkenly driving around with your kid in the car, you brave little idiot.
ElfVibratorGlitter 2 weeks ago
Yikes. Yes conforming to not being drunk when driving is a good thing
There’s something oddly comforting about these verbal rituals. They’re a way of checking in with ourselves, keeping our minds busy, or even managing loneliness. While some might feel embarrassed to admit they talk to themselves, it’s one of the most human things we can do. It’s our brain’s way of being a friend.
In fact, many psychologists suggest that how we talk to ourselves matters. Positive self-talk can improve performance and reduce anxiety, while harsh or critical language can worsen mental health. So, the next time you catch yourself mid-monologue, it might be worth noticing how kind—or unkind—you’re being to yourself.
#10
I had lent my car to a coworker and on the day I was to get my car and keys back, she had me meet her at a pub. She was already drunk when I arrived, and didn’t realize it was me she was talking to and said
‘I can’t give her car back, I need it because the judge won’t let me have my car without a breathalyzer machine installed.’
Turns out she had amassed enough DUI’s to have her driving privileges revoked and she was borrowing any car she could for as long as she could to keep driving home drunk from the pub every night.
She also offered to buy my car and asked if the registration could be left in my name for a while…….um, no.
#11
Ending a conference call with "Thank you everyone. I will talk to you tomorrow" ... then quietly "I really hope i don't wake up tomorrow".
DennyS (denzoren) 2 weeks ago
Well this is just really sad and I hope the person got help or someone reached out.
#12
Our waitress just the other night mutter “i am gonna shoot myself” after talking to the table next to us. We left her a large tip because she really was great and the table next to us seemed like real a******s.
MagicJacket 2 weeks ago
That could just be someone expressing frustration at the job that night. I think most people have thrown out a line like that when exasperated. I know I have.
For many, self-talk happens during routine moments—walking alone, driving, or before bed. These little windows into our internal world are often deeply personal, shaped by memory, imagination, and emotion. They might sound silly to an outsider, but they often serve real psychological needs: comfort, rehearsal, motivation, or emotional processing.
Of course, having your self-talk overheard can be problematic, especially if it reveals dark or disturbing thoughts, or things you wouldn’t be proud to say out loud in the company of others. If you’re verbalizing thoughts of harming yourself or others, for example, it would be wise to speak to a psychologist sooner than later.
#13
While waiting on my daughter to be done with guard practice years ago, the couple in the car next to me started fighting.
I heard the wife say, “that’s why everyone thinks you’re an a*****e, Brad”. Which I thought was funny because actually everyone thought Brad was a nice guy who happens to be married to a huge b***h.
#14
In high school, I was an aid for one of the science teachers. After grading the tests for one of his classes, he said, 'You can really tell whose mothers drank when they were pregnant.
#15
Coworker was at my place for dinner. he had his shoes off, and my puppy chewed on them. coworker hit the puppy with the shoe and called him a piece of s**t, and puppy yelped.
I wasn’t supposed to hear any of it.
he was asked to leave immediately.
MagicJacket 2 weeks ago
Coworker is never invited over again and all contact with him is severed immediately.
Ultimately, our private words reveal the parts of ourselves we don’t always show to others. In a world where we’re constantly connected, these quiet conversations remind us that we still need solitude. So go ahead, talk to yourself. Just maybe check that you’re not on speakerphone first.
What do you think of the thought-to-be private remarks on this list? Upvote the ones you found creepiest and feel free to leave a comment if the urge grabs you. What’s the weirdest eavesdropping moment you’ve ever had? Let us know in the comments!
#16
My Uncles wife, who had never met me, said I was faking my depression for attention when I was 14. Am 34 now and can confirm I do have depression.. 🖕🏻 her.
The Majestic Opossum 1 week ago
It's incredible to me how many adults (back then and still now sadly) think children are incapable of having mental health issues. Also why I wasn't treated for Bipolar or ADHD until I was an adult...
#17
I overheard someone casually say they didn’t care if their actions hurt others, as long as they got what they wanted. It stuck with me.
#18
Right before my dad moved out of town for work, him and mom got into a big fight about money one night and I don’t remember exact words but he said something like “this is why I told you that having a second kid was a mistake” (I’m the 2nd kid). 😊.
Earonn - 2 weeks ago
I hope OP didn't take that personally. If the fight was about money, then it was about the costs of raising a kid, which are a fact and are unrelated to parents' feelings for their kids. Yes, it would be great if having kids wouldn't present any problems (and it certainly shouldn't be a financial problem! ) but that's just not the case.
#19
“My wife and I have been estranged for three years.” We weren’t and very much were together.
#20
One of my bosses closed his office door last week and ranted about the plight of white men and how terrible women are and threw in an insult about black lives matter as well. He always closes his door when he doesn't want me to hear him swearing/freaking out but I can still hear everything.
TruthoftheHeart 2 weeks ago
Hr report and keep complaining every time he does it, record him too.
#21
My a*****e ex husband. He was dying of self inflicted and un-self-regulated liver failure. He was a mean, and angry, and bitter dying drunk.
One night when he thought I was asleep he leaned in really close to my ear and whispered, "This should be you." After years of trying to help, and mitigate, and take care of his issues.
This was how I know the feeling of "blood running cold." He had already tried to k**l me, twice by that point (what we say about strangulation? It's very true).... He meant it.
marianne eliza 2 weeks ago
The OP is the one who needs therapy. He tried to k**l her.... twice? And she stayed?
#22
i wish i could remember exactly what was said. on an empty day at dolores Park, maybe 2014? i overheard a kid ask her (very wealthy looking) mom “when do we go back to the moon?” and the mom saying “We don’t talk about that”. freaked me the hell out!!!
#23
Heard my mother say she wished she never had children.
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago (edited)
I was a terrible child. But no matter how awful I was, the worst thing my mother ever said about it was "one was more than enough". She never said she wished she'd never had me, she never said "I hate you", nothing like that. Instead she stuck with me despite me giving her oh so many reasons to open an upstairs window and toss me out of it. Some things, once said, cannot ever be unsaid, and mom never said those things. ♥️
#24
"I love lying to people. I like to think of the biggest lie I can and see how far I can take it. I think it's funny."
*Someone who lied about small things, big things, any things...
#25
My former neighbour, who was an old witch, had a staffordshire terrier. It was vicious and aggressive. One day, I was resting at home in my bedroom, with the windows open, and I heard her open her sliding glass door, and let her dog out. I heard her say to him "go get her, go on, go get her". I wondered what was going on, so I looked out the window. She had set her dog off after a cat that had gone into her back garden. Told you she was a witch.
#26
I shouldn't have hired you, I should have asked you out instead.
#27
I walked by someone a few days ago casually telling someone on the phone that they were hunted down by the police that weekend.
#28
Last time I visited my mother, I kept overhearing my brother who temporarily lives with her.
one day, he was complaining about his son who said “but you promised not to spend that money on alcohol”. another day he hissed at mom’s bedroom: f*****g die!
he also bragged about never cheating on his wife - he tried but it never worked out.
it’s hard to find the strength to go there again.
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago (edited)
I knew a guy like that. I think he was jealous of his brother (a dependent special needs) because his mother gave most of her attention to her other son (because, well, because he needed it). We were on the phone, mother brings a mug of tea in for him. And he goes batshít crazy, like "Don't you know how to knock you dumb b***h? Did I ask for tea? F**k off! Just f**k the f**k off!". A few moments later, then "Yeah, go cry, just get the f**k out of my room". I told him to call me back once he had apologised and then I hung up. He never called back. Like ever. I very much hope his mother found the courage to say "pack up and find your own way in life", but she was lovely and a doormat. 😢
#29
When I was a server, I waited on this family and heard, “This is why our children hate spending time with you, Alyssa” from the dad and, “I wouldn’t die for friends because my life matters more than theirs. MAYBE for family” from one of the kids.
Cpt. Christan "Panda Bombero" 2 weeks ago
Frakk. I was a Firefighter for over 20 years, this was always a possibility of my job, that I accepted from day one, at the Academy. Even for CWOHS Muck Fuppet, like him.
#30
"Cat boys pay in other ways"
I have no idea what they meant, I pretended not to hear!
What do you think ?
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
Bridgwater, 1993. I was idly listening to CB radio (remember that?) with my totally legal (cough!) half-wave antenna (about 5 metres rather than the legal metre-ish). Two men. One was saying things like "turn her over... now gently caress between her legs... how does that feel? okay now run your finger gently around her nipples until they are erect" and so on. It was quite a thing to overhear. Luckily I wasn't the only eavesdropper, somebody else came on and timidly suggested that if a guy needs that kind of help maybe it would be better to do it over the phone. Turns out that the guy giving the instructions was a vet, and the other was in the middle of a dank woodshed caring for his dog that was dying of cancer and hurt all over but being the outdoor dog wanted to stay in her favourite spot in the woodshed. Man, that was 😳 to 😂 to 😭 so fast my heart hurt.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 weeks ago
My (adoptive) mother, talking about me to various family members (though she has also said most of these things to my face over the years as well): "I wish we'd never adopted her." - "She's going to be a junkíe alcoholíc just like her junkíe alcoholíc parents." - "She's gutter trash, just like her mother." - "She says she's 'depressed' and 'suícidal', but she just wants attention." - "Yeah, mental illness isn't real." She's also said some astoundingly racist things when she thinks no one else is around other than my sister (who is just as racist as our mother, surprise.)
Wysteria_Rose 1 week ago
My cousin, who grew up with emotional issues due to losing her father unexpectedly and tragically when she was an argumentative teenager, fully admitted to me, "I don't know how to feel bad for people. I don't feel anything for anyone, even if they're upset or sad." I know she may have been trying to communicate in honesty, but she didn't seem to understand what was wrong with this. It makes me uncomfortable sometimes because I worry she's a narcissist (which tracks with a lot of other things about her).
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
Bridgwater, 1993. I was idly listening to CB radio (remember that?) with my totally legal (cough!) half-wave antenna (about 5 metres rather than the legal metre-ish). Two men. One was saying things like "turn her over... now gently caress between her legs... how does that feel? okay now run your finger gently around her nipples until they are erect" and so on. It was quite a thing to overhear. Luckily I wasn't the only eavesdropper, somebody else came on and timidly suggested that if a guy needs that kind of help maybe it would be better to do it over the phone. Turns out that the guy giving the instructions was a vet, and the other was in the middle of a dank woodshed caring for his dog that was dying of cancer and hurt all over but being the outdoor dog wanted to stay in her favourite spot in the woodshed. Man, that was 😳 to 😂 to 😭 so fast my heart hurt.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 weeks ago
My (adoptive) mother, talking about me to various family members (though she has also said most of these things to my face over the years as well): "I wish we'd never adopted her." - "She's going to be a junkíe alcoholíc just like her junkíe alcoholíc parents." - "She's gutter trash, just like her mother." - "She says she's 'depressed' and 'suícidal', but she just wants attention." - "Yeah, mental illness isn't real." She's also said some astoundingly racist things when she thinks no one else is around other than my sister (who is just as racist as our mother, surprise.)
Wysteria_Rose 1 week ago
My cousin, who grew up with emotional issues due to losing her father unexpectedly and tragically when she was an argumentative teenager, fully admitted to me, "I don't know how to feel bad for people. I don't feel anything for anyone, even if they're upset or sad." I know she may have been trying to communicate in honesty, but she didn't seem to understand what was wrong with this. It makes me uncomfortable sometimes because I worry she's a narcissist (which tracks with a lot of other things about her).
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