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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

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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

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

Also when you wave at someone you think is waving at you but was really waving at someone behind you.

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

I say hi in this situation anyway. I was flattered when someone I didn't know well thought to say hi to me when we passed, so I began saying hi to other people as well. It's one of the easiest ways to build-up good relationships with other people, and you don't even need to have a conversation with them.

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

Yes! Or it might just brighten their day. When other people look like they feel awkward I just feel bad for them. I was trying to give them a smile, and we all need those so much right now!

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

Ahhh yes, the tight stranger smile and slight head nod...know it well :)

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

That used to be me, but since the coronavirus lockdown I smile and say hi to EVERYONE. And I thought I was an introvert. Haha

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Tezdon Robinson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

its not so much that i dont want to say hello its just that it takes to much energy to say hello.

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

I do this regardless of who looks or smiles at me because years of paying attention to true crime media has taught me that if you're too friendly looking, someone will follow you home and murder you and if you're too mean to someone, they'll take offense and follow you home and murder you.

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Lyn
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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

OMg there is a famous dude that lives in my little town, we usually say hi to each other, not really sure why. Last week he was doing his groceries and I was basically following him around the supermarket trying to keep the social distancing thing up and looking like I was stalking him. Eventually, I passed him the bread isle, we both said hi and he asked how I was. I squeaked 'good' and then walked off. A minute later I was kicking myself for not asking how he was, how rude could I be?!

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DuckDuckGooseberry
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did exactly this face yesterday when I was in a shop which has the ‘shop’ on the ground floor, and stairs leading upstairs to what I presume are store rooms. I was standing at the counter opposite the door to the stairs, when two very ruffled looking men came down from the store rooms. One was very flushed & still putting his shirt back on, but I’d already made eye contact by the time my brain processed what I was seeing.

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

Or you hope they won't notice you and when they don't acknowledge you - wonder why they don't like you?

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

Worst is when you are staring at a direction with your head far away and then you "wake up" and realize that you are actually staring at a person. 😭

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

Douglas Adams had words for this. https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/dbnox/douglas_adams_corridor_etiquette/

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GumShoe359
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With the virus, if you're wearing a mask, it's not an issue anymore! Sweet!

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

Yes! This smile- works if u dont know the person enough and want to pass of as a person with pleasant face and also if you know, passes as a friendly enough smile.

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#23

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

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#26

Well Deserved Rest

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#27

Just Do Nothing

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#28

Silent Mode

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#30

Sleeping Pose

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#33

Blanket Choice

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hispanic! at the disco
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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

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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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