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We need rules to keep the world safe. But a little mischief can be really fun.
The subreddit r/TheyKnew is dedicated to those moments when a person realizes that what they are about to say or do will be perceived as inappropriate, but decides to roll with the consequences anyway.
From cheeky signs to perfectly timed "accidents," these posts capture the playful side of chaos. I guess some of us simply don't care about the stares they attract.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
This Couldn't Have Been A Coincidence
Lotekguy 1 month ago
I'll bet he laughed, too. He seems too cool to get upset about something like that.
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R1MV4Superleggera 1 month ago
Hahaha! At least he has good sense of humour by saying that....just like my SIL when my other 2 partners in crime (my Wife and my brother) we make a little bit of fun for her height (6'00") And yes! SIL gets her revenge one way or another against all of us, me particularly! 😂
RELATED:
#2
Kevin Is A Dog
Chewie Baron 1 month ago (edited)
My review would say “thanks to Kevin joining me in bed, I then had the best nights sleep in years. Also, Kevin has a very long and wet tongue.”
Robert T 1 month ago
Human-sounding names are brilliant. I've known cats called Keith and Colin. "I just need to go and feed Keith" and people are thinking "who the [hot place down below] is Keith".
Deb Johnston 1 month ago
I had a friend that had a dog named Steve. This is in the olden days when we had answering machines, and her message was... sorry, but Steve and I are not at home, please leave a message.
Frances Pitchoune 1 month ago
And her future boyfriend hangs up, heartbroken, thinking she already has a fiancé 😲😩💔
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Victorious Foxx 1 month ago
When you're a woman, naming your dog a normal guy's name is smart, because if anything ever happens, bump in the night, etc, you call out your dog's name and any intruder will think there is another person home with you.
#3
A Bored Employee Knew
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 month ago
This is a true representation of how long cats can get, especially when you try to pick them up.
BrunoVI 1 month ago (edited)
Yes, I have a VERY long tuxedo cat who manages to stretch clear across a stair that is more than 1 meter long! Yet he can look so smol when he watches us sleep on the couch.
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Phantom Phoenix 1 month ago
Next minute it pours itself into a bowl and fits with no spillage!
Mary Peace 1 month ago
If I want to purchase one of those, should I pick one from the middle and then push the others along to fill the gap? I'd feel awful if I spoilt this!
As clinical psychologist Dr. Noam Shpancer points out, by common sense and experience, we would expect people who follow the rules to be rewarded and those who break them to experience negative consequences.
However, as we can see from the pictures, that's not always the case. And there's a study from 2024 that might explain why we're entertained or even impressed by people who don't always play along.
The paper by Astrid Homan of the University of Amsterdam and colleagues provided insight into people's responses to normative and counter-normative behavior in relation to leadership.
The researchers hypothesized that rule breakers are less likely to end up in leadership roles because, while they may demonstrate dominance, it would be perceived as low in prestige and thus they would be seen as inferior leaders compared to those who are rule abiders.
#4
Oh Snap
BrunoVI 1 month ago
Oh, that's bad. I was expecting Mwangi to be some world leader. He's "just" a journalist. I don't mean to say journalists are insignificant, but it's not like she's famous but only because of what he's done. But (I looked this up to come up with a name), if a headline wrote "says Kirsten Mehr," I'd responde, "Who???" so I could see identifying her as Nigel Farage's wife. (Even so, find a way to use her name in the headline.)
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#5
That Resemblance Is Uncanny
Nina 1 month ago
Took me waaay too long to figure out it was actually an animal head (catlike?)
Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
Someone help, I still only see an a**e. What was it designed to be?
#6
A Sign Of The Times
R1MV4Superleggera 1 month ago
With that wannabe Benito Mussolini the Yanks have for president right now..yeah! Pretty much! I feel sorry for those innocent, honest, hard working people in the US caught in the insanity of THAT commie orange traitor who wears a dead albino sewer rats for hair and his inbred family
Mary Tonningsen 1 month ago
Worst bank ever!! I haven't banked with them in about 30 years, but keep hearing horror stories from my friends and family!
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R1MV4Superleggera 1 month ago
Since clearly you're in the US by saying that...Could you do us a monumentally HUGE favor? Please? Could you put down that m**h/fent pipe you're using right now and walk away slowly, very slowly? Thank you
Load More Replies...In their first study, 149 participants were asked to consider a car company in dire need of revenue that also had to complete a large amount of administrative work to be allowed to sell cars. Three solutions were presented to keep the business in operation:
- Relying on crowdfunding (rule abider)
- Selling cars anyway (rule breaker)
- Selling memberships that include a free car—this way, cars can find new owners while technically no cars are sold, so there is no need to keep records preventing the sale of cars (rule bender).
#7
Yeah…they Knew
#8
Those Who Know, Know
Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
My husband's grandmother was struck by a log that came through her windshield from a logging truck. It wasn't her "final destination" but it messed her up for life. Terrifying!
#9
They Definitely Knew!
Amanda the Panda 1 month ago
Do it all the time on iNaturalist. It’s a lazy way to clickbait smartarses to post the right answer without me having to do any research.
Krystle Deschene 1 month ago (edited)
I feel like this one went over your head. 🤭
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Participants of the experiment were then asked to indicate their willingness to grant leadership to the person in each of the scenarios, as well as the extent to which they perceived that person to be prestigious and/or dominant.
Results revealed that, as hypothesized, rule breakers were seen as more dominant and less prestigious than rule abiders—rule breaking reduced one's prestige and in turn, resulted in granting less power.
However, the results further showed that rule benders were rated as more dominant than rule abiders but more prestigious than rule breakers. They were granted more leadership than either rule abiders or rule breakers.
#10
Don’t Do It, Chris!
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
Reminds me of the infamous post showing a business card for a female party entertainer - "Sally Bangs the Clown".
R1MV4Superleggera 1 month ago
Sooo...that's how all those 'magas' were conceived, huh? By banging cousins and their friends. Chris must be very popular with the hillbillies in that area and if there's any 'maga' reading this, you might want to have a paternity test done, most likely Chris is your biological father (of course it is! 'magas' are well known for being born anencephalic!)
#11
Not A Good Way To Honor Her
Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
I love this SO much. It's obviously ragebait, but so exquisitely crafted I just know someone somewhere is sniggering quietly that he got away with this.
#12
Kevin Lasagna
Riccola Tesla 1 month ago
dont let the other post fool you this is the kevin who will try to sleep with you at the air b&b
Michael Largey 1 month ago
Does this refute or confirm the critic who called his style of play "kind of cheesy"?
Hailey Himalaylee 1 month ago
He looks like.one.of my teammates when I was a kid but diff name
#13
I Hope It Is Not Photoshopped
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
There's no way this was *NOT* done intentionally, given that many of those are not real chemical elements.
Parmeisan 1 month ago
There's even a pointing hand showing you where to start reading.
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Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
Well given several of those do not appear there or anywhere else in the periodic table, I would think there is at least a small chance that this was indeed deliberate
Nancy Parker 1 month ago
Absolutely intentional, since none of those element symbols actually exist.
In the second study, involving 480 participants, the researchers hypothesized that since rule bending may signal both dominance and prestige, it should provide an advantage in competitive leadership contests across contexts.
The team varied the context within which leadership was to be granted, asking participants to judge the suitability of a person for a leadership position in various competitive and cooperative settings.
Results showed that rule benders did best in both competitive and cooperative contexts. Rule breakers (higher dominance and lower prestige) were granted less leadership in cooperative contexts than both rule abiders and rule benders. Still, while rule breakers were granted the least leadership overall, they were granted more leadership in the competitive than in the cooperative setting. This suggests that rule breakers’ leadership appeal may increase in adverse environments.
#14
Sold
#15
She Knew
R1MV4Superleggera 1 month ago
Oh man! Seems like she took very seriously that saying of: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"
Paige Merlin 1 month ago
I mean depending on age that could have been how long they were married and he’s dead to her, thus he saw the plaque?
#16
Enough Said
Jay Cee 1 month ago
"And down at the 69 yard line . . . " "Dan? Dan, there's no such thing as a 69 yard line!" "I know!"
Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
Awww poor mungo. He didn't realise "kiss my a**e" was not an instruction. Drawback to being a concussion enthusiast, I suppose....
#17
Poke The MT Fuji
Novlette Williams 1 month ago
OMG guys! We are sooo excited about this presentation! Can't wait to show it to you.
Commenting on the results, Shpancer wasn't one hundred percent optimistic. "[They] suggest that the leadership appeal of rule bending constitutes a risk factor for organizations and society, since rule benders tend to operate in the gray area between adherence and violation and are thus able to manipulate the very rules devised to keep checks and balances on powerful leaders," he said.
As rule benders rise to power, they create a self-reinforcing loop, gaining influence that enables more rule bending, which in turn brings them even greater influence. It appears that sly is the way.
For more, check out our previous article on r/TheyKnew.
#18
Dad Knew... For Sure
Chewie Baron 1 month ago
Blanche from The Golden Girls, hers were perfect! Blanche Elizabeth Devereaux!!
Load More Replies... George Costanza 1 month ago
Yep. We really like the name Lana for our gestating daughter until I told my wife what it was spelled backwards. Off the list.
Glix Drap 1 month ago
I did know someone called Iain Michael Smellie. The surname was pronounced "smiley". Suppose it depends if your into olfactory or visual clues.
Jay Cee 1 month ago (edited)
Scottish? Edited because of down votes - it's Scottish family name, as in the Scottish obstetrician William Smellie who was known as the "father of British midwifery,"
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OnlyMe 1 month ago (edited)
IT setting up staff log ons where I worked once, it was initial of first name then first 3 letters of last name. People with names like Sarah Hitchens ended up with unfortunate acronyms.
Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
In the same vein, do not call your child "Clint". When written in capitals (birthday cake for instance) that name can resemble the Australian word for 'person'.
#19
Hotel Knows What’s Up
#20
Happy Easter!
#21
He Really Came Through
Camber Hollywood 1 month ago
I don't think it would be any better if the Yo Cherry was on the left.
Load More Replies... Janet Graham 1 month ago
Yep, traveling vending machine folks also have a great sense of humor.
#22
They Definitely Knew
#23
At Least They're Being Upfront About It
#24
Inspiration
Riccola Tesla 1 month ago
this is certainly intentional. ive seen one like this in a city before. the left side and right side both say different things that are a bit depressing but when you step back and see the whole picture you realize its actually an inspirational message. i think the whole idea is that if you can only see one side you cant understand whats actually going on.
#25
Thanks Management
Lila Allen 1 month ago
Same....and now my students want to know what's so funny.
Load More Replies... R1MV4Superleggera 1 month ago
Oh, no! Hell NO! Can you imagine the awkwardness after asking the staff
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
Infamous improv gag on "Whose Line Is It Anyway": Ryan and Colin were asked to improv 'two men arguing over the tip'. Ryan: "Well, I circumcised him, I think I should get to keep it!" *BZZZZZZZ*!!!
Load More Replies... Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
A three euro h*****b really isn't one you want. At that price point you're better off doing it yourself.
#26
Meow
#27
Are You Sure That's The Name Of The App?
#28
Please Don’t Take My Crown Jewels!
#29
Ismart
#30
But Have Their Subs Unionized?
Nina 1 month ago
In b**m, a submissive is often called a sub. Being the dominant is called topping. How do you top your sub?
Load More Replies... #31
At Least We Know Now
Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
If the question isn't where is that girl's nose, then I don't know what this is about
#32
They Definitely Knew
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 month ago
Two of those minutes is getting your kit off.
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#33
IKEA Knows!
Hugo 1 month ago
Gökärt is Swedish for bitter vetch, alias heath pea. The connection is lost on me.
Auntriarch 1 month ago (edited)
I think the connection is between valentine's day and the damp patch on the bed.
Load More Replies... #34
The Guy Who Made This Was Diabolical, He Didn't Care
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
It's the addition of the word 'then' that proves definitively that this was done with malice aforethought. Even if it *is* in Squint-A-Vision.
Phantom Phoenix 1 month ago
That is so wrong. You should call 911 first. Then you can also lol about how long they're taking to respond. /s
Bill Swallow 1 month ago (edited)
Not letters *or* numbers - a simplified graphic representation of a drowning swimmer's head and arms. (Assuming this was a serious inquiry.)
Load More Replies... #35
An Employee With A Sense Of Humor
Blue Bunny of Happiness 1 month ago (edited)
Reminds me of the bookshop that displayed Prince Harry’s book, “Spare” next to “How to k**l your family”….
Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
I prefer the mystery section myself, I like turning the books around, spine facing inwards.
Abby Louise Rexroth 1 month ago
The employees are clever but of course...they actually read...
#36
They Definitely Knew
R1MV4Superleggera 1 month ago
Ahhh! The very best and iconic turntable *cough* *Jezza voice*...in the world! The mighty Technics SL-1200! 👍😊
#37
They Had To Do It To Us With This Glasses Ad
#38
He’s Watching
#39
They Might As Well Have Put A Winky Face Emoji
#40
Smelly Flights
UnclePanda 1 month ago (edited)
You know your fart was bad when the air masks drop down across the entire plane.
#41
Welcome To [insert Town Here]
#42
These Blocks In This Children's Book
Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
Maisies Marvelous Measles.... How that was ever allowed to be published baffles me, but then it is murica
Janet Graham 1 month ago
Our school district does not allow homemade goodies brought to class anymore because of all the Hepatitis B outbreaks. I guess no one washes their hands anymore.
#43
Yep Its From Florida
R1MV4Superleggera 1 month ago
Knowing ALL the really bad stuff that happen in that State in the US and their huge population of mentally unstable 'magas' off their military strength mental medication there....won't be surprised if someone has done that already, for insulting, offending his or her beloved "messiah", their "leader" comrade Kim-j...er, hang on a minute! Comrade trumpturdsky!
Anne Roberts 1 month ago
Agreed, but not all we Floridians worship the orange man.
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#44
Disney “Dumbo” Shirt
Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
I don't know what you're looking at, but the child's backside isn't even in the picture.
Load More Replies... The danish woman 1 month ago
In Denmark we actually say that "han er dum i nakken" "he is dumb in the neck", makes absolutely no sence, but neither does dumb people, I guess
UKGrandad 1 month ago
That 'DUMB' was not on the jumper when it was bought. It's been written on with a Magic Marker.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 month ago
Explain the off-center pink heart, then. THAT isn't Magic Marker.
Load More Replies... #45
Couldn't Possibly Be A Coincidence
Auntriarch 1 month ago
I'm pretty certain that when New Scientist magazine sent a reporter to interview James Lovelock for his hundredth birthday, they chose someone named Gaia on purpose.
Spidercat 1 month ago
There's a well known news report in the UK about a robbery featuring a copper called PC Rob Banks 🤣
Load More Replies... Upstaged75 1 month ago
Better than Phil McCraken. 😁 Sorry, I just became a 13 year old boy for a moment there - that was one of my brother's favorite jokes.
#46
He Definitely Knew
#47
Noice
Sam Trudeau 1 month ago
Is there a Detroit in Mexico? Because that's the kind of temp Mexico has. (btw, in a resort I went to, they have metres for Spanish, and the English translation has ft, because of USA)
#48
You Can’t Accidentally Turn That On
Lila Allen 1 month ago
Hey it happened during Covid in a court and the guy couldn't figure out how to turn it off and had to complete the proceedings as a cat
Load More Replies... #49
They Definitely Knew, And I Love Them For It
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 month ago
In the film it is a running joke that Mike always get covered by one thing or another in photos.
Load More Replies... Christine Wild 1 month ago
The Pixar over Mike’s face, at least I think he’s Mike, the green guy. Talks a lot loud
#50
A Calculated Move
LALALand 1 month ago
What is the point of a keypad if it’s written right there for anyone to use?
Riccola Tesla 1 month ago
its because the gooners who would peep on a mother breastfeeding would have already nutted their s**t stained britches the second they see 8008 (b**b) on the sign. theres probably a janitor that sits near by and slaps them with a broom while yelling "git, you git now ya here GIT, GIT on outta heah now boah GIT" and then chases them through various interconnected doors and hallways while yakkity sax plays in a soft polyphonic tone over the hospital speakers. the signs not for security, its for entertainment.
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R1MV4Superleggera 1 month ago
*talking to meself* 'I'm telling you, I'm warning you dirty mind...you better knock it off !'
#51
Hmmmm Intersting
#52
They Are Indeed
#53
Grab The What
Phantom Phoenix 1 month ago
Speaking of balls; is that a Johnson I see? (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson)
Mike F 1 month ago
Well, if you're grabbing someone's balls you're probably going to see a Johnson.
Load More Replies... #54
Editor Knew
Hobby Hopper 1 month ago
Officially, yes, but like many organizations it was "don't ask, don't tell".
Load More Replies... RomanceRadish 1 month ago (edited)
If I'm seeing this correctly, the year is 2013. Just for anyone who is curious about the timeframe.
#55
This Ad Placement
Oskar vanZandt 1 month ago (edited)
There was plenty of room to the right of the guy to place the text 🤔
#56
Government Ad In Brussels Airport
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 month ago
The text being primarily over the child makes it look like the child is an unwanted souvenir.
Load More Replies... Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
Nobody : harhar, c****m joke, BADUM-tssss. Me : Is nobody going to mention the "mother" in this picture is too young to be the mother of a child that age?
#57
Sounds Like They Have A Kinky Furry On The Design Team
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
Yeah, save the shaming for the animal k!llers at PETA, not the graphic designer.
#58
The Stocker Knew
Wang Zhuang 1 month ago
Side note, I didn't know about this honeycomb flavor of M&Ms, I need to try it
#59
The Cleveland Indians Have Been Officially Renamed The Guardians
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 month ago (edited)
I am surprised so many men have made the effort to find it.
#60
This Has To Be Intentional
Angie May 1 month ago
Really you could remove "fast food" from that and it would likely still apply
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Fat Harry (Oi / You) 1 month ago
Well, yes... POS is "Point of Sale". They mean to go to the next till.
#61
“Designed The New Closet Rod Bracket, Boss”
#62
She Knew
#63
Nice
Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
Anyone that thinks carpet stays that colour in a house with tokers, has never touched a joint in their life. The tile above it is a lot more realistic
#64
Nice
Blue Bunny of Happiness 1 month ago
Used to rent a house numbered 69. Dad found it hilarious, Mum claimed not to understand why…
BookFanatic 1 month ago
My mom refused to acknowledge that particular age. When asked, she would say "I'll be 70 next year."
Load More Replies... #65
Aquarium Employee Is An Anime Fan
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
Yeah, I've seen enough Hentai to know where *that's* going...
Load More Replies... Blue Bunny of Happiness 1 month ago
Why am I thinking of a documentary I once saw (think it was S*x actually with Alice Levine), where they had a massive tentacle ‘toy’….
#66
Never Thought Of It Like That
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 month ago
In today's news Microsoft have announced a pretending due to the possible sexual connotations of their original name. From today Microsoft will be known as Tinyflaccid.
Jaya 1 month ago
This made me wonder what the meaning of the name is. Apparently Microsoft is named after 'micro-computer' and 'software'.
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
Actually, Microsoft was a step up from the original name, back in the days of the Homebrew Computer Club, when Bill Gates and Paul Allen had a small outfit that worked with gadgets to measure traffic flow on local roads - "Traf-O-Data".
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#67
There Are No Accidents
Riccola Tesla 1 month ago
low key kinda goes hard as a quote. "i think therefor i am" "to err is to be human" "mistakes are proof that you are"
#68
Oh They Knew
Riccola Tesla 1 month ago (edited)
a local place near me has kinda weird menu names for their stuff, thats kinda their gimmick, but its funny choosing the spice level on door dash because it goes from "im too white for this" to "abuelas plantain chips" to "possible cookout invite" to "definite cookout invite" to "hosting the cookout" to "i was raised cajun" to "mama aint raise no b***h" to finally "f**k me up papi" and theres even one more on its own seperate list that i havent tried yet thats just called "hospital" and i am in tears every time i order seafood from them.
Der Kommissar 1 month ago (edited)
There's a place near me, Lucifer's, that has pizza with chiles which is called the Ring Burner.
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#69
Entertainment Weekly
Lily bloom 1 month ago
My kid goes to a school with the initials EW. My calendar makes it look like I'm grossed out by school events
Inservio Smurf 1 month ago
I agree. Pandering to pride like it's some global issue instead of a niche first world inconvenience, is EW.
#70
They Knew
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 month ago
Hmm, I believe some of these posts could be misconstrued as being sexual in nature.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 month ago
Hmm, I believe some of these posts could be misconstrued as being sexual in nature.
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