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The human mind is one of the most complicated things on Earth. Just think that basically everything we have and know, whether it's a product, an explanation for a phenomenon, or something else, once was just an idea in someone's head that they felt brave enough to express and develop.

Yet, that doesn't mean that every single thought that pops up in your head can reach such success. Some ideas might theoretically have some potential but don't have enough going for them to be realized. Just like these, let's say, theories in today's list that various netizens had, but have no proof for. Interested? Make sure to check them out!

More info: Reddit

#1

People smiling and using smartphones, possibly sharing wild theories in a casual setting. That our phones hear everything. I,ll mention something ramdom like “I kinda want a kayak,” and boom—suddenly, I’m getting ads for paddles and life jackets. Coincidence? I think not.

SoftWhisperingCharm , Wendy Wei Report

A girl
Community Member
9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One evening my husband and I were discussing a problem at work and he said "And I just don't know what to do". The ipad was on the counter between us. The screen lit up and Siri announced "It sounds like you are having an existential crisis". They're listening always.

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    #2

    Close-up of a curious dog with expressive eyes, often inspiring wild theories about pet emotions. My dog's actual English vocabulary and literacy level is at least ten times my estimate from two years ago. She's hiding it from me, that much is certain.

    Far_Dragonfruit_1829 , RK Jajoria Report

    Robert T
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Animals are way smarter than we often think. I'm just happy when the neighbour's cat waves back at me when I wave at him (from two floors above I might add). Friend's cat, whom we often catsit, definitely understands the word "yoghurt" and generally seems to understand "don't be long" when I let him out and want him to come back in!

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    #3

    Scientist examining a vial skeptically, reflecting wild theories people believe without proof. Every single time a product is "New and Improved" the quality goes down and the price goes up.

    Elly_Fant628 , freepik Report

    superfluous
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The quantity sometimes decreases, too.

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    Throughout our lives, we've all probably had some ideas that could have easily been turned into some kind of theory, maybe even a conspiracy one. Yet, to prove something like that you need evidence. 

    After all, that’s how everything gets proven (or disproven) in life – through the scientific method. Depending on the field, the procedure itself can vary, but the essence of the process is rather similar. Basically, it is coming up with an idea or hypothesis and testing it through experiments and analysis, which later serve to confirm or refute the evidence. 

    #4

    Rear view of a white BMW parked in a park, related to wild theories people believe without proof. Environmental factors like exhaust, products in our homes, etc. is causing more health problems than we realize or are willing to acknowledge.

    Feral_doves , Mike Bird Report

    Kathy Wilbourne
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one is so obviously true. Our bodies are not made to handle the incredible amount of environmental toxins that we are exposed to. Is it any wonder that chronic diseases are on the rise? Of course, those who profit from them want everyone to think it's a merely a conspiracy theory. But like too many conspiracy theories, the proof is coming.

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    #5

    Bed with black headboard, laptop, notebook, pencil, and coffee cup; cozy setting evokes wild theories. There is some *thing* that follows me from place to place that I've lived in. It hides my things. I've learned through the years to ask out loud if I can please have them back. Once I leave the room for a little while, when I go back in, I instantly find it usually in a place I already looked before or just sitting in a very obvious place like on my bed. I don't mention this to anyone irl because it makes me look crazy as f**k lmao.

    eredria , Letícia Alvares Report

    Robert T
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is definitely a troll of some description that comes and puts greasy marks all over my glasses whilst they are on the bedside table at night!

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    #6

    Person in jeans and heels sitting on ledge with pink handbag, suggesting wild theories of style choices. Women's clothing having no pockets is a conspiracy to sell more handbags.

    rowenaravenclaw0 , Karen Laårk Boshoff Report

    PeepPeep the duck
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Jokes on them, I just carry my wallet or use a basket 🧺

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    Technically, evidence is proof of something being true or false. Yet, some argue that strictly speaking, science doesn’t provide proof, only evidence. Sound confusing? Bear with us. 

    As this article claims, proof implies there’s no room for error, and that something is 100% for sure. With the proper amount of evidence, we can make educated guesses, but it can never be 100%. There’s always a risk some new evidence can come in and destroy (or at least damage) everything we knew up to that point. 

    Still, it doesn’t negate the fact that some form of evidence is important when trying to prove something. Yet, in some cases, the hypothesis can seem rather likely (at least in someone’s mind) and doesn’t have that much confirmation behind it. 

    #7

    Silhouette of a person standing in a dark room, symbolizing mystery surrounding various wild theories. A lot of people are in jail for crimes they did not commit when the actual culprit roams free. My suspect is that the percentage of this is much higher than people think specially in developing countries.

    sleepyhead_420 , Donald Tong Report

    superfluous
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And a lot of people are NOT in jail for crimes they DID commit because they weren't caught OR it couldn't be proved/cops couldn't wear them down to confess/couldn't find someone to give a reduced sentence to for their sworn statement of guilt on the part of the accused.

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    #8

    A woman with red nails covers her face, possibly overwhelmed by thoughts of wild theories. That many humans are suffering from collective zoochosis, especially in urban environments.

    _fremy , Julia Taubitz Report

    Stephanie Did It
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Had to look up zoochosis: A form of psychosis that develops in animals held captive in zoos. Most often, it manifests in what are called stereotypic behaviors, or stereotypies, which are often monotonous, obsessive, repetitive actions that serve no purpose. An example would be a lion's pacing or elephant rocking.

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    #9

    A jar of sugar cubes on a wooden table, next to a ceramic cup, related to wild theories people swear by. All or most of the health problems that blame salt for are actually caused by sugar.

    LionNo3221 , Nikolaos Dimou Report

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    Today’s list is made exactly of such ideas. All of them were generated and shared by netizens in an online thread under the question "What's something you suspect but can't prove?" which, within 21 days on the internet, gathered over 1.7K responses. 

    Of course, we picked out the most intriguing ones for you to enjoy. For instance, someone believes, but has no way to prove, that our phones listen to everything we say. Probably quite many of us have thought a similar thing after we said something and eerily soon saw an ad about it. 

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    #10

    Man in a suit on a talk show set, smiling while discussing wild theories. Tom Cruise doesn't do his own stunts. I don't believe that he's an amazing helicopter pilot, climber, can fly a jet, blah blah blah. He belongs to a cult which encourages lying, it's not that much of a stretch.

    AcademicCounty , Jimmy Kimmel Live Report

    Robert T
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Perhaps not, but Jackie Chan definitely does. The number of times the guy has been hurt or injured is incredible.

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    #11

    Smartphone screen displaying a message, illustrating one of the wild theories people swear by. Nobody read the end users license agreement.

    Pandore0 , Rahul Shah Report

    #12

    A person in a clown costume holding an axe, sitting in a window frame, evokes eerie wild theories. That most people in general are nuts.

    Rosanna44 Report

    Tiffany
    Community Member
    9 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People are nuts. Most hide it. Everyone is messed up. People like to deny and live in delusion.

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    While our phones have the capability to listen, they do not do that constantly. They are only activated by turning on the microphone in certain apps while using them or by triggering voice-activated features with wake words or buttons. 

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    Then, how to explain those ads that seem to be just about what you discussed near your phone? Well, apparently it has more to do with advanced data collection and algorithms instead of eavesdropping. Usually, we don’t even realize how much tech companies collect data and how it tells so much about us that algorithms can be eerily predictive and convincing. 

    #13

    Performer standing on a car during a dramatic concert, capturing a moment rich with wild theories atmosphere. That the audio quality for the Kendrick Lamar halftime show broadcast was intentionally poorer than it should have been so FOX could get audiences at home to whine about the woke black guy.

    The recorded version I heard on Spotify yesterday completely changed my entire perspective on the show. It was phenomenal.

    obi-jawn-kenblomi , NFL Report

    Nate Gilbert
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Live music on tv have notoriously poor mixes, especially on a sports broadcast. The recorded performance is a totally different mix and has had time to be cleaned up/enhanced before release.

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    #14

    Earbuds resting on sheet music, exploring wild theories in music interpretation. Apple made their wired headphones longer when they released AirPods so that the wires caught on more things, thus demonstrating the need for wireless headphones.

    no1scumbag , Pixabay Report

    WindySwede
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they been s****y ever since Jobs..

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    #15

    Reddit app icon with notification, a platform where users discuss wild theories. A huge amount of instigating comments on Reddit are not from real people but from paid actors with an agenda.

    Didntlikedefaultname , Brett Jordan Report

    Nice Beast Ludo
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nah. A lot of people are complete d***s. Especially behind the reddit wall of anonymity

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    Well, who knows, maybe in the future someone will prove this explanation wrong and it will turn out that this person was right all along. And even if they don’t, knowing how much our phones know about us even without listening is quite scary, isn’t it? Well, that’s the price we pay for most free stuff online – as the saying goes, “If it’s free, you’re the product.” 

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    Do you have your own theories you have no proof for? Share them in the comments!

    #16

    People sitting in a courtroom discussing wild theories enthusiastically. Luigi is innocent. And I don't mean Luigi did a public service and should be free on that basis, I just don't believe he did it.

    sikkerhet , BBC World Service Report

    #17

    Plastic bottles and packaging on a table, related to wild theories about environmental impacts. That high use of plastics are damaging human eggs/sperm leading to declining birth rates in highly developed countries.

    Ulfric4PREZ , stux Report

    Robert T
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You say this like it is a bad thing. Overpopulation is k*****g this planet.

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    #18

    Smartphone apps glowing on screen, symbolizing wild theories in digital media. The screen is more sensitive for ads on Reddit than for posts. I'm not a programmer and I don't even know if this is possible, but it seems like anything I accidentally open on Reddit is always an ad.

    Orcapa , Mikhail Pushkarev Report

    Nice Beast Ludo
    Community Member
    9 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bored Panda? The x's are so tiny you always inadvertently open the ad instead of closing it down

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    #19

    A group in a discussion circle, gesturing passionately, sharing wild theories in a casual setting. That people simply do not want to be argued with.

    Sure sure, everyone will say "Oh no, I like people who challenge me" but I actuality everyone just wants to be agreed with and nothing more.

    King_Of_BlackMarsh , Antoni Shkraba Report

    PeepPeep the duck
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don’t like arguing but I do like the company of people with different views and opinions, it helps shape a better picture for me on whatever subject I may not understand or agree with. Learning is fun 😂

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    #20

    Hands handling contact lens materials on a white table, with glasses nearby, illustrating personal care and vision theories. The free contact lens cases that come with the contact solution have gotten much larger in the last 30 years, encouraging you to use the solution up faster.

    shawntitanNJ , Nataliya Vaitkevich Report

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    #21

    Animated characters intensely discussing wild theories, with one character wearing a jacket labeled "Reagan". The TV show Inside Job was cancelled because one of the conspiracy theories was secretly true.

    Ok, "suspect" is a strong word, but the idea amuses me and I certainly can't prove it.

    ringo24601 Report

    DrBronxx
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or maybe it just wasn't very popular. Never heard of this show.

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    #22

    Person in VR headset gestures, embodying wild theories concept, with futuristic background. That we are all currently living a simulation. Everything is just so weird. It used to be so normal. No way to prove it… but I’m pretty sure that’s where we are.

    arseniclunch , Darlene Alderson Report

    Tiffany
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If only it was depression and anxiety free.

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    #23

    People examining furniture in a store; discussing theories or ideas. The Mattress Firm conspiracy.

    AgitatedPatience5729 , prostooleh Report

    DrBronxx
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Shoelace Handshake conspiracy. See? I can put words together too. You gotta give more information, instead of assuming everyone knows what you're talking about.

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    #24

    Scientists in a modern lab, exploring theories with high-tech equipment and microscopes. Dark matter is merely a mathematical convenience and does not in fact exist in any appreciable amount.

    KratChick , Pavel Danilyuk Report

    kitten levels tokyo
    Community Member
    9 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "A lot of mathematics, if sufficiently complicated, is indistinguishable from witchcraft." - Carl Sagan (Edit to correct spelling 🤦‍♂️)

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    #25

    Colorful rocks painted with words and patterns, one prominently with "Hope," representing wild creativity and beliefs. Rocks are soft until we touch them.

    PocketSandOfTime-69 , Nick Fewings Report

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    When discussing theories or hypotheses that lack solid evidence, it’s helpful to understand how scientific discoveries and research unfold. Insights into how researchers investigate unique phenomena can deepen your appreciation of the scientific method.

    For more on this, explore the fascinating mechanics behind animal movement and aerodynamics in this detailed exploration of a very unusual species: the science of gliding in nature.