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I’ll be completely upfront with you Pandas—one of my favorite parts about living on Planet Earth and being a human being (instead of, for example, a chill banana tree or a rat who can cook French cuisine) is the vast amount of new, creative, and interesting things I get to learn about each and every day. Life’s full of magic, even if it’s not as flashy and obvious as in the Harry Potter books and movies. And one of the cozy nooks on the internet that shows us just how neat the world can be is the ‘Mildly Interesting’ subreddit.

Rapidly closing in on the 19-million-member mark like a marathon runner in sight of the finish line, r/MildlyInteresting is a completely community-driven online group where people post photos of the things that interest them. Mildly, of course. And despite the name of the group, plenty of these photos are actually vastly and deeply interesting.

Redditor RedSquaree, who has been moderating submissions for r/mildlyinteresting for almost a decade now, went into detail with Bored Panda about how the type of content posted changes with the seasons and how much the subreddit has influenced people in real life. You'll find what they have to say below, so be sure to read on, dear Pandas.

While you’re checking out some of r/mildlyinteresting’s newest photos and upvoting the ones that made you smile, I’ll just quickly remind you that we’ve got some more of their amazing pics in Bored Panda’s earlier articles about the community here, here, and here. Happy scrolling!

#1

I Like To Make Little Drawings Of People That I See

I Like To Make Little Drawings Of People That I See

the_sneaky_artist Report

#2

This Crack In The Pavement Filled With A Stained Glass Cat Portrait

This Crack In The Pavement Filled With A Stained Glass Cat Portrait

sanelib Report

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

Mosaic, I think. Not stained glass. A ceramic mosaic would be a lot more durable and make more sense. It looks nice though!

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#3

These Chairs Made From Old Fire Hoses, In Front Of A Fire Station

These Chairs Made From Old Fire Hoses, In Front Of A Fire Station

i_heart_carrot Report

"Yes, the seasons affect the type of content we get," moderator RedSquaree told me when I enquired about this.

"This leads to content which is extremely common, particularly during the winter. Take frost on cars, for example. We get this kind of photo daily during winter months, and often we mark with an 'Overdone' flair because the people who hang about /r/mildlyinteresting will see these time and time again (whereas more casual readers probably still enjoy seeing them). Another common one is the pattern of ice or frost on the wheel, seen here," the mod gave Bored Panda a couple of examples of how the particular season, in this case, winter, affects what redditors are more likely to post.

Of course, holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving also influence what people tend to focus on. "We see posts about eggs, gifts, people receiving the same card from multiple people... and I'd bet, in the latter example, at least one person has lied about this and purchased two cards of the same type and posted a photo just for karma! Stranger things have happened," RedSquaree said.

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#4

My Rhododendron Looks Like It's Trying To Run Off

My Rhododendron Looks Like It's Trying To Run Off

phigene Report

#5

Many Vegetables In The U.k. Have The Name Of The Farmer Who Grew Them On The Packaging

Many Vegetables In The U.k. Have The Name Of The Farmer Who Grew Them On The Packaging

lockdownhype Report

#6

Saw This Logo For A Pet Grooming Service On My Drive Home

Saw This Logo For A Pet Grooming Service On My Drive Home

EmiDoodlers Report

The moderator shared that one thing that they find interesting is that some people actually think about the subreddit when they spot something interesting and go to take out their phones to take a photo. That just goes to show how much influence the 'Mildly Interesting' community has on the collective psyche.

"Being an original content-only subreddit—and quite a niche one at that—causes those chain of events which I find fascinating. If our (not-so, these days) wee subreddit changes someone's behavior in real life—to find something nice where others might let it pass them by without a second thought—that's a great thing. Maybe the sub does inspire some people to appreciate the smaller things in life."

#7

My Blinds Reflection Looks Like Lunar Phases On My Wall

My Blinds Reflection Looks Like Lunar Phases On My Wall

spaniard702 Report

#8

I Ordered Some Sample Colors For New Blinds, And They Sent Me Actual Tiny Little Blinds

I Ordered Some Sample Colors For New Blinds, And They Sent Me Actual Tiny Little Blinds

vilebubbles Report

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#9

We Use Hulk Hands To Move Cacti At My Work

We Use Hulk Hands To Move Cacti At My Work

catnip4sale Report

According to the moderator, if we want to keep our sense of curiosity burning bright as we grow older, we ought to expose ourselves "to more novelty and ambiguity" in our day-to-day lives. Seeing or experiencing something fresh and unexpected brings you out of your routine and provides you with a different perspective in life. Hopefully, one that inspires you to dig deeper and learn something new.

"Much of our content is novel and/or ambiguous. Go about your day tomorrow and think, 'If I were to submit a photograph to /r/mildlyinteresting, what would it be?' Be on the lookout for things that are just novel and ambiguous enough to arouse only mild interest. Snap."

#10

Coffee Stain That Looks Like Earth

Coffee Stain That Looks Like Earth

its_hard_to_explain Report

#11

I Found A Pidgeon With One Feather Sticking Out Of It's Head

I Found A Pidgeon With One Feather Sticking Out Of It's Head

Volmarras Report

#12

A Vibrant And Clear Spectrum Of Colors Refracting Through My Apparently Prismatic Window Onto My Arm

A Vibrant And Clear Spectrum Of Colors Refracting Through My Apparently Prismatic Window Onto My Arm

SubZro432 Report

For our last article about the ‘Mildly Interesting’ community’s enrapturing photos about life from different perspectives, I had a chat with redditor Cowbeller1, one of the group’s moderators, helping maintain the standards and the quality of the content. Luck, according to the moderator, is an important part of getting attention online.

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#13

My Girlfriend Bought Some Particular Measuring Spoons

My Girlfriend Bought Some Particular Measuring Spoons

Chicken_Wing Report

#14

There Is A Free “Period Pack” At My School For Girls Who Are Unprepared For Their Periods

There Is A Free “Period Pack” At My School For Girls Who Are Unprepared For Their Periods

thicc-nibba420 Report

#15

This Shopping Cart Has A Magnifying Glass Attached To It

This Shopping Cart Has A Magnifying Glass Attached To It

YamhillScrub Report

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Laura Mende (Human)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rossmann is a German drug store chain, so this cart is designed for old people needing health stuff. But other stores have these too, but not that big... 😂

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The moderator divulged that we can’t always predict what posts will become very popular on the subreddit. “A lot of it has to do with luck. Maybe you come across something interesting in your day-to-day life and remember to take a picture, maybe you're just lucky enough that something is interesting to the community. No real rhyme or reason aside from that," the moderator said that it’s not an exact science.

Which, in a way, is actually inspirational and chill: that means that you can focus on sharing pictures of what you love and what you find interesting instead of vying for karma on Reddit.

#16

This LEGO Set Has Loose Change In The Couch

This LEGO Set Has Loose Change In The Couch

burstaneurysm Report

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Laura Mende (Human)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These details nowadays ...! My mom had one of the first Lego sets (she was born in 1959) there were only red and white bricks, later very primitive windows were added to her Legos.

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#18

Calf In The Checkout Line

Calf In The Checkout Line

rasta4eye Report

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The subreddit’s moderators value stability and original content above all else. “We will just continue doing the same thing. We've found that being boringly consistent is the best way to remain fair to the community. There haven't been any major changes in a while," moderator Cowbeller1 told Bored Panda earlier.

#19

My City Has Public Defibrillation Stations And The Sign For It Looks Like A Video Game Health Bar

My City Has Public Defibrillation Stations And The Sign For It Looks Like A Video Game Health Bar

Phyierpickle Report

#20

Septic Truck I Got Stuck Behind The Other Day

Septic Truck I Got Stuck Behind The Other Day

anoki87 Report

#21

The Apartment That I Just Moved Into, Has A Picture Of A Pig Jumping Off A Dock

The Apartment That I Just Moved Into, Has A Picture Of A Pig Jumping Off A Dock

The____Wizrd Report

#22

My Phone Took This Photo When It Fell On My Face

My Phone Took This Photo When It Fell On My Face

SmolMagicBoi Report

#23

Got Vaccinated And Just Realized They Gave My Fox An Eyepatch

Got Vaccinated And Just Realized They Gave My Fox An Eyepatch

Kehbechet Report

#24

I Have A One Third Of A Dollar Bill From February 17th, 1776, Making It A Couple Months Older Than The USA

I Have A One Third Of A Dollar Bill From February 17th, 1776, Making It A Couple Months Older Than The USA

that-weird-writer Report

#25

My Great Grandfather’s Oscar Nomination From 1944

My Great Grandfather’s Oscar Nomination From 1944

TheIndigoCrafter Report

#26

These Two UK Phone Booths Have Been Repurposed

These Two UK Phone Booths Have Been Repurposed

axnu Report

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

Most of the red phone boxes in the UK have already been repurposed, from everything to mini library's to restaurants. The remaining one are available to purchase and are half price if you take them away.

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#27

Dobby’s Fan-Made Grave In The Precise Location Of The Film!

Dobby’s Fan-Made Grave In The Precise Location Of The Film!

my-bug-world Report

#28

The Air Vents On A Subway In Stockholm Have A Hidden Pacman Easter Egg

The Air Vents On A Subway In Stockholm Have A Hidden Pacman Easter Egg

Oluge2009 Report

#29

This Is Me Wearing My Great Grandmothers Traditional Finnish Dress From 1936

This Is Me Wearing My Great Grandmothers Traditional Finnish Dress From 1936

real_life_martian Report

#31

Found This Aarowhead While Digging A Hole In My Backyard

Found This Aarowhead While Digging A Hole In My Backyard

Jonahw8 Report

#32

The Note I Found In This Second Hand Book

The Note I Found In This Second Hand Book

holdmeturin Report

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

When you're finished, add your own note: [John Doe] bought this book from [secondhand books] X.X.21. [Opinion/review/insight] Resolved to donate it X.Y.21. Pass it on.

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#33

I Found The Elusive Skin Colour Crayon Box At Michael's Today

I Found The Elusive Skin Colour Crayon Box At Michael's Today

BustedFutaBalls Report

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

We, the people of Avatar are very upset! Our Smurf brothers and sisters won't take it!

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#34

I Ordered A 119 Year-Old Book Online And Quite A Few Pages Are Uncut- Meaning No One Ever Read It

I Ordered A 119 Year-Old Book Online And Quite A Few Pages Are Uncut- Meaning No One Ever Read It

Not_Bekki Report

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

Been there! Love it, you feel so special reading such an old book for the first time

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

I've got a few like that passed down to me from my great grandfather

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

All those words sitting patiently on those pages, through global conflicts, watching Kings, Queens, Presidents, Dictators and Despots rise and fall, as man travelled off this planet and saw the furthest corners of the universe, and then created technology to bring a universe worth of knowledge into the palm of every person. Sitting patiently on those pages waiting for the day when someone would open the cover and absorb those words into their minds, their job simultaneously completed and only having just begun.

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

I feel happy for this book, it must be relieved to finally get read.

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

I have a book of a Shakespeare like this. Half the pages have been cut but look like grandma never got thru the book

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Bert van Aalsburg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have several old editions that are like that. A book collector cousin told me that it was significant when a book is bound with uncut pages. But I've forgotten why.

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

I remember reading a story where the heroine saved up and bought a book, and then only cut the pages as she read to savor the feeling.

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

great enjoy reading it for the first time, you maybe find secret messages inside

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Miss Frankfurter
Community Member
2 years ago

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A 119 year old book should have it's pages left that way.

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Aahzmandus Pervect
Community Member
2 years ago

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That's cool, but it doesn't mean no one ever read the book.

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Laura Mende (Human)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes it does. I am a bookbinder and I can say that readers used to have to cut the pages themselves. For cost reasons. You cut the pages open only as far as you read the book. The previous owner has only read up to the point where the pages are not yet separated.

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#35

There's A Cute Little Excavator Graphic On The Window Of This Excavator

There's A Cute Little Excavator Graphic On The Window Of This Excavator

NotGettingInvolved Report

#36

The Tiles Around Our Apartment Complex Is Made Up Like The Enemies In Space Invaders

The Tiles Around Our Apartment Complex Is Made Up Like The Enemies In Space Invaders

HandsomeCO2 Report

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#37

My Son Was Born With A Black Spot Of Hair In His Blonde Hair. It Grows In Black, And There Is No Birth Mark Or Discoloration Under It

My Son Was Born With A Black Spot Of Hair In His Blonde Hair. It Grows In Black, And There Is No Birth Mark Or Discoloration Under It

maceparks Report

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

My hair is black, but I remember I used to have one peculiar red hair years ago. But it seems to be gone now.

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#38

This Hair That Got Caught In A Zipper

This Hair That Got Caught In A Zipper

bubzies Report

#39

There Is A Live Crayfish Defending The Rice Aisle In My Local Asian Market

There Is A Live Crayfish Defending The Rice Aisle In My Local Asian Market

SucksToYourAssmar3 Report

#40

The Sun On My Window Made A Rainbow That’s Split In Half By My Chair Leg

The Sun On My Window Made A Rainbow That’s Split In Half By My Chair Leg

RichardMcLuvin Report

#43

The Font Size On My Contact Packaging Increased With My Prescription

The Font Size On My Contact Packaging Increased With My Prescription

lrishhhhhhhh Report

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

Hmm it's a negative prescription meaning that the large the absolute number, the easier it is to read for a short sighted person

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#44

3D Printed My Skull From A Ct Scan Of My Sinuses (Hence It's Got No Top, No Data). Makes For The Perfect Headphone Holder

3D Printed My Skull From A Ct Scan Of My Sinuses (Hence It's Got No Top, No Data). Makes For The Perfect Headphone Holder

deelan1990 Report

#45

Our Electrician Left All Of The Screws In A Vertical Position In Our New Kitchen

Our Electrician Left All Of The Screws In A Vertical Position In Our New Kitchen

wobwobwob42 Report

#46

The Sand In Tahoe Is Magnetic And Stuck To My Phone

The Sand In Tahoe Is Magnetic And Stuck To My Phone

bopete1313 Report

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#47

Bought Bathroom Scales And My Weight Is Exactly The Same As On The Box

Bought Bathroom Scales And My Weight Is Exactly The Same As On The Box

RobYoun Report

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

Plot twist: number on the picture is the maximum load it can weigh. :p

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#49

One Of The Eggs I Bought Was All Wrinkly

One Of The Eggs I Bought Was All Wrinkly

bake-lite Report

#50

My Cola Exploaded Inside The Freezer

My Cola Exploaded Inside The Freezer

ReformedShady Report

Note: this post originally had 115 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.