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There’s nothing quite like being in your own company. It’s a pure judgement-free zone⁠—no pressure to show off, no expectations met by reality, no strange looks given as you’re voicing all the nonsense out loud in an empty room.

And interestingly, some of the most unusual behavior happens while we’re on our own. In fact, the things we do are so random, we don’t really talk about them. Ever. Like doing a remote trace or aligning your feet to the tiles so you won’t die.

Bored Panda has compiled a list of all the odd things we all do but never dare to tell, not even in truth or dare. And you know what? It's better off that way.

Humor plays a vital role in younger generations’ communication and media consumption. But Gen Z and millennials are renowned for what’s called absurdist, surrealist, and often dark comedy full of dank memes and observational one-liners.

In order to get this sense of humor, one has to understand the context in which the youngest generations came to live. In the past decade, the world has been bursting with information which is “both more accessible and less reliable,” writes The Washington Post. “Brands pose as a friend on social media to millennial consumers, and the line between real and artificial matters less than it once did.”

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Another explanation is that such surreal humor is a response to a world that has stopped making sense. According to Andrew DeYoung, the director of 555 and editor on The Eric Andre Show, the Adult Swim school of comedy is designed to “reflect the frenetic distribution of information on the internet.” And that’s why most of their shows are so chaotic and absurd.

Since there’s no time for a narrative joke to be said online, traditional punchline structure doesn’t work. “Instead, things are funny because they are willfully jarring and strange,” writes Rachel Aroesti for The Guardian. Weird Twitter and bizarre dank memes are perfect examples of how millennials break down the joke, decontextualize it, and create utter randomness.

#7

Picking A Song

Picking A Song

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is definitely a hard one but considering the situation I would be in that I had 6mins to live, I would probably listen to Always look on the bright side of life from Monty Python.

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#8

Things Causing Anxiety

Things Causing Anxiety

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Liam Walsh
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When the cashier gives you the change by placing notes on your palm and then the coins on top... awkward shuffling around of money ensues.

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#9

Standing In The Way

Standing In The Way

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If a person is there trying to make a decision or taking too long I just say excuse me please and grab what I want.

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#13

Security Sensors

Security Sensors

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Peter Korpershoek
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once got 'caught' by a store manager after the alarm went off, i was 12. I patiently waited right after the sirene, but nobody showed up. I got some angry faces from customers and personnel. I tested the alarm again by swinging my plastic bag trough the gates, it went off again. Nobody showed up... After one minute i started walking back to my bike, and right then someone grabbed me by the neck. He dragged me roughly to a small office where i had to empty my pockets and bag. He checked the receipt and saw that I didn't steel anything. He tested the alarm with my bag, it went off. They seem to have forgotten to remove a tag. I was 19 when i had the guts to enter that store again.

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#14

Sleep Time

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Kaisu
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the best feeling ever, knowing you can have lots more sleep! Like waking up at 7 but then remembering it's the weekend and you can go back to sleep

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#15

Auto Pilot

Auto Pilot

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Foxxy (The Original)
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s a bit dangerous. Although I have walked to the shops and as I am almost half way home I have thought “I don’t even remember walking to the shops”. It’s like I was just suddenly placed there without knowing how I got there. Does that make sense? Kind of like I was on auto pilot.

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#19

Just Adult Things

Just Adult Things

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#21

Walking By

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juice
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

also works when you make awkward eye contact with strangers and don't want to be perceived as rude

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#23

Leaving Without Buying

Leaving Without Buying

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Nea
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So often i buy things that will eventually be used like kitchen towels just to avoid this...

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#24

Shipping Rates

Shipping Rates

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#26

Well Deserved Rest

Well Deserved Rest

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#27

Just Do Nothing

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#28

Silent Mode

Silent Mode

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Luisa Vasconcelos
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG, I thought I was the only person in the world that have the phone on silent since I stop use my Nokia 3310.

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Enea
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This Is how I realised that the alarm can still go off even if your phone is turned off: sitting in the third row of a theatre. Not a movie theatre but the actual thing. Ot started peeping during the play, and while I was wondering which self-important idiot hadn't had the curtesy tp turn their phone off, the main actress stopped acting fpr a second and openly stared at me. It's been 10 years and I still cringe at the thought.

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Cathleen Morris
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We were at anew church — a huge Texas congregation (several thousand people and multiple clergy!) On the first Sunday after the “summer break” — when everyone gets back after their vacations, we celebrated with a special gathering one Sunday, to honor all the service, & outreach work done by the various church groups. Suddenly, in the middle of the pastor’s presentation, a phone near the front began ringing VERY loudly❗️It continued — ringing & ringing! It went on and on and on, ringing & ringing. People began snickering. Suddenly. the pastor pulled out HIS phone, held up his hand for silence, answered it and then.listened for a moment looking very puzzled. Finally, he said, “Yes. Well, okay. Sure! Thank you very much. Yes, I will.” He stood there for a minute an, in his East Texas drawl said, “That was the Lard, and He said y’all done real good!”

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

I always keep the silent mode on because I always use speakers or headphones for better quality sound which works with silent mode. I also feel better believing that I’ll save battery this way, even though this is prolly not true.

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Hannah Marshall
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My phone ALWAYS lives on silent. I have set the main ringtone, and contact ring tones, but I never hear them, bc it's always on silent!

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Cheryl Burst
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had it ring at mass last month~~~~~so nervous the damn thing rang twice~~~~felt like I had to go to confession

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

This is me because I never play sound just like this. I use a speaker or headphones and it works with silent. And I still believe it saves battery like that. :D

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Niall Allen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My phones have been on silent since the first one I bought in the late 90s!

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Sharon Hahn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That part of my phone doesn't work since I dropped it so I have to turn down the volume.

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Vinniegret
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never seen anyone able to get through an entire movie without looking at their phone. I haven't been to a movie theater in 5 years. I can't stand (the generalized) your phones lighting up ghe darkness.

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Unicorncat767
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was at the movies with a friend once, I completely forgot to put my phone on silent. it went off in the middle of the movie. i was so embarrassed. i felt horrible!

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Katherine Gilleland
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always just turn it completely off to make sure it’s silent but I’m still afraid it’ll make noise

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#30

Sleeping Pose

Sleeping Pose

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#33

Blanket Choice

Blanket Choice

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hispanic! at the disco
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always put one foot in and one foot out. I remember reading it controlled the temperature of your body.

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#34

Package Tracking

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#38

Checking Yourself Out

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#39

Forgetfulness

Forgetfulness

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Kaisa
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is almost like forgetting that the same thing was posted already

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Note: this post originally had 63 images. It’s been shortened to the top 39 images based on user votes.