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If morbid curiosity is the name of the game, then the subreddit r/WTF is the cheat code that unlocks all of its levels.

As you might've already understood from our first publication on this online community, it has plenty (and I mean plenty) of things that you probably haven't seen before.

Only this time, we'll focus on the macabre. Like an octopus with 32 tentacles. Or a huge sinkhole opening up in someone's living room. You know, the kind of stuff that nightmares are made of.

#1

Started Work This Morning, Put My Headset On, Felt Something Furry In My Ear, Looked And There Is A Bat In My Headset

Started Work This Morning, Put My Headset On, Felt Something Furry In My Ear, Looked And There Is A Bat In My Headset

soulhacler Report

#2

Seagull Riding On Another Seagull. Wait What?

Seagull Riding On Another Seagull. Wait What?

louyplays Report

Author and behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner, who is a research fellow at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University, and has pioneered the psychological study of morbid curiosity, says that our initial instinct is to avoid looking at these things because we fear that what we see will not be pleasant.

But just think of horror movies. There's a jump scare and the bad guy is on the screen. Half the audience covers their eyes in terror, while the other half is glued to the screen. However, even the people that are covering their eyes peak through their fingers from time to time to keep an eye on the killer. 

Why do we do this? Why do we subject ourselves to fear and anxiety?

#3

A Small Herd Of Cows Found Their Way Into A Newly Built Home In Montana And Lived Inside For About A Month Before Being Noticed

A Small Herd Of Cows Found Their Way Into A Newly Built Home In Montana And Lived Inside For About A Month Before Being Noticed

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#4

A Guy Comes Back From Work To Find This In His Living Room

A Guy Comes Back From Work To Find This In His Living Room

jacklaros Report

#5

I Am Not In Danger. I'm The Danger

I Am Not In Danger. I'm The Danger

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To understand it, Scrivner suggests starting with real situations. "The car wreck story is a bit old and tired, but it's a good example because it's something that almost everyone has experienced and can intuitively understand," he writes.

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"It's true for almost everyone that you don't want to see someone injured and you don't hope anyone died in the wreck. But, if they did, you do feel compelled to look at it."

#6

I Freaked Out A Little When I Met This While Cross Country Skiing

I Freaked Out A Little When I Met This While Cross Country Skiing

Dronas Report

#7

My Dad Cleans Out Hoarders Homes After They Pass Away. He Discovered This Collection Under All The Trash

My Dad Cleans Out Hoarders Homes After They Pass Away. He Discovered This Collection Under All The Trash

pilatesbody Report

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#9

Sleep Outside, They Said... It'll Be Fun, They Said. I'm Never Sleeping Again

Sleep Outside, They Said... It'll Be Fun, They Said. I'm Never Sleeping Again

whoanellie418 Report

That's mainly due to the simple fact that our ancestors lived in dangerous places. "The world today can also be dangerous, but even the most basic treatments that are available today can severely decrease the seriousness of an injury. If you got injured 10,000 years ago (or even 100 years ago), your chances of surviving were far less than they are today with modern medicine," Scrivner explains.

"Even if the blood loss didn't kill you, an ensuing infection might. This placed a premium on avoiding danger—or at least avoiding the consequences of danger."

#10

John Wayne Gacy Did Construction For My Grandparents And We Found His Business Card While Going Through Some Stuff Today

John Wayne Gacy Did Construction For My Grandparents And We Found His Business Card While Going Through Some Stuff Today

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#12

I Have Been Losing My Mind Over How My Work Shoes Are Always Spotless In The Morning After Being Out On My Porch Overnight, I Wore Different Shoes To Work Last Night And I Found Out Why When I Came Home

I Have Been Losing My Mind Over How My Work Shoes Are Always Spotless In The Morning After Being Out On My Porch Overnight, I Wore Different Shoes To Work Last Night And I Found Out Why When I Came Home

megawaveoven Report

#13

Coconut Crabs Are Attracted To The Smell Of Food

Coconut Crabs Are Attracted To The Smell Of Food

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

so what the actual hell are you doing sitting there those mfs ate amelia earhart

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But to avoid danger, you must first know something about it. You have to recognize it. After all, the more you know about something, the better you can predict it. And the better you can predict it, the better you can deal with the consequences if it does occur.

"This is where curiosity steps in. I don't want to be in a car wreck myself to find out how bad a car wreck is. I also don't want someone else to be in a car wreck. But if they are, I do want to know how bad it is. This could inform my current decisions and behavior," Scrivner says.

#14

The Aftermath Of Recent Flooding In Germany

The Aftermath Of Recent Flooding In Germany

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#16

Just Learned That Standing This Close To A 380 Feet Waterfall Is A Thing (Devil's Pool - Victoria Falls)

Just Learned That Standing This Close To A 380 Feet Waterfall Is A Thing (Devil's Pool - Victoria Falls)

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For example, if the car wreck is particularly gruesome, it might cause a person to slow down or be extra cautious the rest of the day, which will decrease the chances of the same unfortunate event happening to them. (If it's just a fender bender, it may not affect their driving behavior very much.)

#18

Found In Random Estate Sale Box - Pile Of Notepads Full Front And Back Of Obsessive Notes On The Next Door Neighbors Every Move. Meticulous Detail. Several Times A Day For Years

Found In Random Estate Sale Box - Pile Of Notepads Full Front And Back Of Obsessive Notes On The Next Door Neighbors Every Move. Meticulous Detail. Several Times A Day For Years

EarnSneakySneaky Report

#19

Found In Downtown Fresno, Ca. Someone Covered A Geo Metro With Pennies. Possibly Doubled The Value Of The Car

Found In Downtown Fresno, Ca. Someone Covered A Geo Metro With Pennies. Possibly Doubled The Value Of The Car

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"The consequences of threats have left their mark on our psychology and influence our behavior in response to 'morbid' situations," Scrivner says. "This has resulted in most of us having some morbid curiosity, and some of us having a lot of it."

This psychological tendency has also played out in large-scale human behavior numerous times. Whether we're talking about the Roman gladiatorial games or the presence of death in rituals and religion. The spectacle of public executions. Or the massive fan base surrounding the true crime and horror genres. Coloring each of these phenomena, according to Scrivner, is a tendency for humans to be morbidly curious.

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#22

Martin Laurello Could Turn His Head 180° & Was Known As The Human Owl. He Was A Sideshow Performer Who Lived From 1886 To 1955

Martin Laurello Could Turn His Head 180° & Was Known As The Human Owl. He Was A Sideshow Performer Who Lived From 1886 To 1955

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

"Eyes in the back" becomes a whole new meaning here. But seriously, it's a cool thing. Have to read about him more!

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#23

A Postman With A Baby In His Mailbag, When It Was Legal To Send Children Through The Us Postal Service, 1913

A Postman With A Baby In His Mailbag, When It Was Legal To Send Children Through The Us Postal Service, 1913

raffaele2406 Report

So now we know that the best way to avoid the consequences of a threat is not to simply avoid it. "Avoidance might get you away once or twice, but it's not a good way to deal with future encounters," Scrivner explains. "It's more efficient and more productive to first learn something about the threat. This way you can know how to identify, avoid, or deal with it in the future."

#26

Garter Snake Mating Ball Found In Manitoba, Canada

Garter Snake Mating Ball Found In Manitoba, Canada

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#27

The Beginning Of A Disaster?

The Beginning Of A Disaster?

HattoriHanzo983 Report

#28

Someone In Oregon Caught This Ling Cod, Complete With A 'Belly Full' Of Octopus...

Someone In Oregon Caught This Ling Cod, Complete With A 'Belly Full' Of Octopus...

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#29

An Octopus With 32 Tentacles

An Octopus With 32 Tentacles

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#30

Met This Guy Who Had His Wife's Eye Professionally Turned Into A Ring

Met This Guy Who Had His Wife's Eye Professionally Turned Into A Ring

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#31

It Is Made Out Of Cat Hair

It Is Made Out Of Cat Hair

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

Some people have too much time. Like me, commenting on crazy stuff on the internet:D

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#34

A Shoebill Visiting You Literally Sounds Like A Shootout At The Arcades

A Shoebill Visiting You Literally Sounds Like A Shootout At The Arcades

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#35

Coax Cable Removed From A Man's Bladder. "It Had Become Encrusted With Phosphate And Had Coiled To The Anatomical Curves Of The Bladder." Only One Way It Got Up There

Coax Cable Removed From A Man's Bladder. "It Had Become Encrusted With Phosphate And Had Coiled To The Anatomical Curves Of The Bladder." Only One Way It Got Up There

jimrob4 Report

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

As I'm sure he told the doctors, there's perfectly reasonable explanation. He was using his coax cable, in the nude, when he slipped and fell. Happens all the time.

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#37

Found A Scorpion Under A Gas Hob In Our Kitchen (Photo With It Under UV Light)

Found A Scorpion Under A Gas Hob In Our Kitchen (Photo With It Under UV Light)

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

Some have cockroach, some have scorpions. Grew up with scorpions in the house (in France). Looks pretty normal to me 🙃

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#39

Finger Turned White After Staying Out In The Cold Rowing

Finger Turned White After Staying Out In The Cold Rowing

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#40

Just Moved Into A New Apartment And Happened Upon What I Thought Was A Piece Of Painted Over Tape Stuck To A Bookshelf. Peeled It Up To Find It Was Concealing A Mystery

Just Moved Into A New Apartment And Happened Upon What I Thought Was A Piece Of Painted Over Tape Stuck To A Bookshelf. Peeled It Up To Find It Was Concealing A Mystery

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Note: this post originally had 129 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.