Genius often lies in simplicity. Even if it sounds off. So, to figure out the true capacity of human ingenuity, one person recently turned to the place that holds all the secrets to our collective intelligence - Reddit. Now, it's not important whether or not you caught my sarcasm; 1 month ago, redditor NecessaryPrudence posted a question on the platform asking, "What is so stupid but it actually really works?" and it immediately went viral, generating nearly 12,000 upvotes and 4,478 comments. From soothing bug bites with hand sanitizer to putting ice cubes in the dryer with a garment that needs ironing, here are some of the best replies, proving that if something looks stupid but does the job -- it isn't stupid!
This post may include affiliate links.
Stay at least a year behind in technology and gaming. Better, yet, two. You'll save a s**t-ton of money.
NecessaryPrudence told Bored Panda that they have had quite a few random conversations with friends and family that sometimes produced silly but somewhat interesting thoughts and questions, and it was what inspired this post, too.
"It's not something I intentionally came up with," NecessaryPrudence said. "Not even a serious conversation, but rather just chitchat."
The original poster has done things they would consider "really stupid" that actually worked out well. It made NecessaryPrudence relate to a lot of the answers, they said.
I work in a hospital and when I'm doing something scary I tell kids that whatever they do they must not laugh.
Reading the replies, they also realized that people have varying perceptions of what "stupid" is. "Is it really that stupid if it actually works? Maybe they see things as stupid because they don't see themselves doing these things until they find themselves actually doing it and get favorable results. The thought after the 'stupid' deed is what's funny," NecessaryPrudence summarized the post.
But what really defines an act as "stupid"? To find the answer to this question, Balazs Aczel and Bence Palfi of Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary teamed up with Baylor University's Zoltan Kekecs and analyzed various real-life examples. They first built a formidable assortment of 180 stories describing stupid actions, collected via the internet and from daily reports provided by a group of 26 college students. Then, a group of seven raters reviewed all of the stories to ensure that they described a "stupid" action, were comprehensible, and were relatively brief.
If you want someone you don't know well to like you, ask them for a small favor.
When I get new coworkers I go out of my way to ask them for something little, like borrowing a stapler or giving an opinion on something I'm working on.
Then they feel like they can ask me for something next time they need help, and soon I've tricked them into thinking I'm a nice person.
I don't know why it works but it does.
Can't remember where I read it, but there actually is a scientific study that found out that people who DID YOU a favour are thinking better of you and are more likely to give you another favour, than people that YOU DID a favour. Seems strange. Feels like it should be the other way. But it's true
From the data, the researchers distilled three key categories that make an action stupid. "The first situation in which people call an action stupid is when the actor takes high risks while lacking the necessary skills to perform the risky action," they explained. "A typical story for this is when burglars wanted to steal cell phones, but instead stole GPS navigation devices. They didn't switch them off so the police were able to track them easily. We named this category 'Confident ignorance.'"
I've worked in mental health for years. I can't tell you how many people tell me what a good listener I am..because I just shut up and let people talk.
It's not rocket science, but the large majority of people just want to feel like their voices are being heard. Too many therapists and providers don't know how to be quiet and stop loving the sound of their own voices.
Thinking loud can help you in many situations not only in mental health. This loud thinking works best if there is someone to listen to you.
The second cluster consisted of cases of "Absentmindedness—Lack of practicality." "A typical story here is when someone inflates more air in the car tires than allowed. Here the person either forgot to pay attention to the action or he or she doesn't know something essential about tire inflation."
Finally, the third category is "Lack of control." "Cases here are thought to be the result of obsessive, compulsive, or addictive behavior. For example, one of the stories in this category described a person who canceled a meeting with a good friend to instead continue playing video games at home," the researchers explained.
There you have it. Now, the next time your friend falls on their face while attempting to ride a shopping cart, you can tell them exactly why they were acting stupid.
Exercising once per day
cutting down on caffeine after noon
keeping your phone out of your bed
reading light fiction at bedtime
keeping a notepad and pencil next to your bed
Then you will fall asleep on time.
My aunt puts her expensive jewelry in a zip lock bag, and her cheap jewelry in the jewelry boxes. She apparently had a lot of her jewelry stolen in the past by family. She now only has the cheap stuff stolen.
Feeling tired, headache, muscle cramps? Drink water. It is amazing how many people walk around in a state of dehydration. Water is an amazing fluid that solves a lot of problems.
I don’t even know what made them think of it, but some researchers filled iPods for their elderly, confused clients with their favorite music. When they listen to the music, they are calm, recognize people better and are generally more cognizant.
Music has a calming effect and when your're calm everything works better.
Putting a piece a duct tape on your bike seat so people won't steal it.
Who wants to try and sell a potentially ripped bike seat, let alone buy one.
For me personally, I make a to-do list but put like 3 or 4 things that are just mind-numbingly simple. I knock them out, cross them off, feel productive, and feel motivated to hammer out the tougher pieces.
This is my forever habit. And I should say not only it makes your life more simple, it keeps you productive and aware. One tip... if you started noticing that you have sooo many things on a list, AND by the time you accomplished them and crossed out... even more thing you had to add, AND it's like never ending story of piling up even though you are utilizing all your daylight hours. AND this piling up is stressing you, AND you need to highlight or put exclamation mark next to those with higher priority.... ...then your workload is too big, time to stop, take a breath and do something about your load. Health of your body and mind is of highest priority.
My anti-clothing static device. I think I learned about this on reddit.
I live in a dry climate and static cling was always a problem. I really dislike fabric softeners for multiple reasons, but this trick solved the problem.
Take an old cloth (mine is a cloth napkin) and pin 7-10 big safety pins to it. Just toss it in the dryer with your clothes. The safety pins hit the sides of the dryer, continually grounding your laundry.
If you think someone is following you, literally act as crazy and stupid as you can. It is so stupid but the other person is usually so freaked out they leave you alone
One Halloween a friend gave me a DIY blood pack because I wasn't wearing a costume and it might have helped me not get assaulted. I had a bad feeling about a guy standing near the elevator in a parking garage I was walking through. Sure enough, I heard footfalls rapidly approaching from behind. Without even really thinking about it, I popped that blood pack in my mouth, grabbed my skull on both sides, let out a really loud groan and turned to face him, biting down on the pack just as he saw my face. It stopped him dead in his tracks and he turned tail and took off. I wasn't wearing any sort of costume or makeup, so if he had not been about to do something horrible, why didn't he try to help? Pinterest saved my a*s that night.
I'm not sure about this one. Predators tend to be looking for easy prey and this could make you look like easy prey.
Most people's first response to weird behavior is to avoid, not attack.
Load More Replies...
I have been known to turn around and walk straight at them. I will memorize what they look like, what they are wearing and any other things that will help the police ID them. I also am reaching into my bag when I do this like I am reaching for a gun or a weapon. Sometimes I have even gotten vocal with them. They do not like any attention being brought to them at all and will typically retreat when confronted.
Yep - a good one. I also will stop suddenly, forcing them to pass me. Then I follow them. This is particularly good if someone is pretty close behind. I've done this several times.
Load More Replies...
I've done this with creeps - it 10/10 works. My fave trick is to find a garbage can and start throwing the contents around while making eye contact with the guy who's following me
No need to act crazy...just mutter "I need to kill them all. I want to kill them all." over and over just like when you watch the TV news.
ok.... actually good idea!!! although that stalker/assasin/whoever might call the police ok i just thought of another thing ok never mind
Load More Replies...
When I don't feel safe in the street or I feel someone is too close to me I start to cough as loud as I can like if I'm very sick, works like a charm (pre COVID)
In 1999, I was a very young woman at a conference in D.C., far away from my small town. A group of us were walking and being bumpkins when this methed-out homeless guy was following us closely and harassing us for money. We were all terrified but that just made him do it more. I finally just stopped, turned around, and yelled like an animal "NOOOOOOOOOO!" He freaked out and ran the other way! The other kids were like, "dayum, you scared us!" LOL
I signed on just to comment on this. Sometimes people are simply going the same way you are, but sometimes that turns into following. I was followed once, and since I was headed towards a sort of isolated woody area, I tested the idea by going around a block (literally 4 rights, right back to where I was). He was still there. So I pretend answered my phone enthusiastically (phone was on vibrate, so no accidental real call ring), turned 180°, and walked straight past him. It stopped that guy on that occasion.
If you're walking in the same direction as someone and you're behind them stay partially to one side or the other so if they turn their head a bit they can see you. Its walking directly behind someone that really will set off alarm bells in their head. I have spent years disabling my triggers and someone coming up behind me, especially if they touch me from behind, is one that will set off flashbacks to the point I have to be medicated. A lot of people make assumptions as to why I get so twitchy and quite frankly if I can spot you in my peripheral its a non-issue because I've seen you, know you're there, and know you're not the threat. If I can't spot you, buddy yeah I start talking to myself as I get twitchier. Generally makes people get out from behind you.
When I walk up behind another woman, I always go from the side, so she can see me.
Load More Replies...
You can also turn to face them, look them directly in the eyes, and ask them a simple question or a simple statement (ask for the time, comment on the weather, etc). If they’re a creep, they won’t want to bother you because you’ve gotten a good look at their face.
I don’t know... it could also backfire, because some can see that as an advantage? Should just learn some self defense techniques.
MJ - Most people's first response to weird behavior is to avoid, not attack.
Load More Replies... 
I like this one!! Done this a bit in the past, pretend I’m mentally challenged verbally
I used to carry a little .44 in my purse, but it was so heavy (and illegal), so now I just WALK like I'm armed to the teeth and scary guys actually cross the street to get away from me!
also scratch your nether regions and laugh hysterically... that should turn off even the most perverted potential attacker. Then of course avoid dark lanes where there is no one and you can be trapped..
I couldn’t out crazy their crazy. This only works if your stalkers are relatively sane and normal. What people like that wouldn’t be staking you in the first place. Don’t do this. Record them, let them see you are recording them, make them aware you see them following you, seek out a safe place. Check your vehicle for gps trackers and your phone for the same.
Load More Replies...
I asked a police officer about using this tactic. He said it might get me arrested. I'll take my chances and hope a cop is around or called.
I read this somewhere and asked a police officer how effective it was. He said it could get me arrested. I'd take my chances and act crazy.
Severely mentally ill persons in the US are victimized more often than the general population.
My friend was talking on a payphone, and the guy kept staring at her from across the way. And she told her friend on the phone about it. Then she said no matter what I say next just laughed. So the closer he got she started talking about how her crotch it did she think she may have gonorrhea or syphilis, she said the itching and burning is horrible. And went on and on and on, the guy ended up crossing the street to get away from her.
Or they will go and rob you or just beat you up for the sake of itself, because they feel your vunerability
If you think someone's following you, accelerate your pace & literally be as loud as possible [talk to yourself; turn off phone]. Start cackling & coughing, throw pennies [any coins] onto the ground every 10 ft. Pretend you’re picking up something off the ground [keep doing this, while watching the stalker as you're bent over]. If he thinks you're nuts, he may look for someone else to rob/attack...someone who's unaware [or has earbuds in ears & isn't focusing on her surroundings].
My father (God rest his soul) was a Sheriff. He said the safest thing for me to do if I thought I was going to be attacked was to "go nuts!" It actually worked. To bad it didn't work for him. He was shot for the crime of being a white cop.
Taking a shower to remedy any ailment. Prescribed by my mother. Headache? Take a shower. Anxious? Go take a shower with lavender. Have a cold? Get in the shower with Vix vapor rub. It's not a cure all, but I guarantee it always makes me feel less bad than before.
"The Superhero Stance"
Stand up straight. Chest out, shoulder back, hands on hips, chin slightly elevated.
It's so f**king stupid. But damned if you don't start to believe your own fake superhero hype.
Telling your little kids to clean their room is a guaranteed way to get them to spend the day playing with their toys.
Putting hand sanitizer on bug bites. It's the most glorious feeling and it works better than any itch spray!
Long story short: A boorish guy was bullying my grandfather at a movie theater. My grandpa turned around and literally blew air on his face. The man was so weirded out that he left the theater.
I would NOT do that during this pandemic, it would be construed as a physical attack and could get you hurt or in deep trouble!
My depression makes it hard for me to do chores on command, but I figured out that if I set a timer or give myself some time to psych myself up, then I do it. It doesn’t always work, but 85% of the time I end up succeeding, and it’s a huge leap from a few months ago when I just shut down over chores.
If you think someone is watching you in a crowd, yawn. If they yawn too, they are watching you. Yawning is contagious!
Except for psychopaths. Psychopaths are not affected by someone else yawning
Smile when you talk on the phone and you sound much happier than you really are.
Eating off a smaller plate. That trick helped me lose 80lbs.
Dressing well at work. You can be an amazing worker but people really do judge you by how you look. And by well I mean looking put together and professional. This applies for trades/blue collar work as well as white collar. I’ve worked both.
This works almost everywhere, not only at work. If you wear formal clothes at work and go to a supermarket before going home you might see the difference.
If you always forget if you have locked the door/closed the oven/charged your smartphone/... do something stupid after you did the thing you're about to forget. You won't remember the actual locking, but you'll remember the stupid thing, and then you'll know you did the thing. Stupid things include doing a little dance or pirouette, singing a small song (rickroll yourself!) or saying something really stupid like "I'd like to eat a towel right now!".
Wash your hands in shaving cream to remove fish/onion/nasty smells.
Watching movies you've already seen to help you fall asleep
Facial expressions affect your mood. Just faking a smile can help boost a meh or bad mood. Just squinting in the sunlight can bring your mood down. So spend time smiling and wear sunglasses.
I did this when I was in a low place and it helped a lot! I wish we were wearing masks then, would have made it easier.
People resent being emotionally manipulated, so don't do it. Ever.
You might get something in the short term when you try to 'butter up' or trick a person, but if you instead are civil and clear about what you want they will not spend days plotting revenge.
Don't spend days plotting revenge! If you got manipulated by someone address this problem and, if necessary, avoid that person in future, but do not waste your time, your energy, and your mental health with plotting revenge.
Yell “strength of a bear!” before lifting something heavy
Wearing two pairs of socks, one thin pair under a thick pair. Sounds stupid. it helps wick the sweat away from your feet reducing stinky feet and crusty socks.
Note: this post originally had 58 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
When you're young children need to start taking pills, go out and buy some mini M&M's and a bag of regular M&M's. Give them a few of the mini's to eat, then give them one, and challenge them to swallow it without chewing it. Do that two or three times, then give them the regular M&M's to eat. After they've eaten a few, challenge them to swallow one without chewing. Do that two or three times. Then show them a pill next to an M&M and tell them that they just learned how to swallow a pill without chewing. The M&M's are fun and non-threatening, so they are immediately up for the challenge. And when they see the pill is really no different, it's not so scary anymore. Worked like a charm for my three kids.
as a kid who hated swallowing pills.... I reckon this would've worked!
Load More Replies...
I am always late to appointments. I started putting them in my calendar 15 to 30 minutes earlier, but sometimes I put in the real time. Of course, I immediately forget which ones are which. I have to get to all my appointments on time because I can never be sure if I gave myself extra time or not.
Got a cold? Run as long and hard as you can. Shakes the snot out of your sinus and sweats out the bugs..
I've done a couple of those before, and they do work. I'm going to try a couple more....
Anything that works is not "stupid". If it was stupid, it would not work. What IS stupid is anyone saying the method is stupid in order to save face because they were too stupid to think of it. LOL e.g. "Aw, my car stopped and won't go again". TIP! Put gas in it! ... "Gee! That's so STUPID, but it works! Wow!"
I don't! I'm quite the slob... but then I work for myself and from my home. My dogs think I'm a complete disgrace! Though I will make the effort not to embarrass them when I take them for a walk! 🤣🤣🤣
Load More Replies...
When you're young children need to start taking pills, go out and buy some mini M&M's and a bag of regular M&M's. Give them a few of the mini's to eat, then give them one, and challenge them to swallow it without chewing it. Do that two or three times, then give them the regular M&M's to eat. After they've eaten a few, challenge them to swallow one without chewing. Do that two or three times. Then show them a pill next to an M&M and tell them that they just learned how to swallow a pill without chewing. The M&M's are fun and non-threatening, so they are immediately up for the challenge. And when they see the pill is really no different, it's not so scary anymore. Worked like a charm for my three kids.
as a kid who hated swallowing pills.... I reckon this would've worked!
Load More Replies... I am always late to appointments. I started putting them in my calendar 15 to 30 minutes earlier, but sometimes I put in the real time. Of course, I immediately forget which ones are which. I have to get to all my appointments on time because I can never be sure if I gave myself extra time or not.
Got a cold? Run as long and hard as you can. Shakes the snot out of your sinus and sweats out the bugs..
I've done a couple of those before, and they do work. I'm going to try a couple more....
Anything that works is not "stupid". If it was stupid, it would not work. What IS stupid is anyone saying the method is stupid in order to save face because they were too stupid to think of it. LOL e.g. "Aw, my car stopped and won't go again". TIP! Put gas in it! ... "Gee! That's so STUPID, but it works! Wow!"
I don't! I'm quite the slob... but then I work for myself and from my home. My dogs think I'm a complete disgrace! Though I will make the effort not to embarrass them when I take them for a walk! 🤣🤣🤣
Load More Replies...