Even those with great people skills at times have trouble interacting with others. We all know how awkward and painful it can be to go through misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and lost opportunities.
But every once in a while something beautiful happens; we connect to another human being. We know exactly what they mean, and — even better! — we're certain they get us too.
Since these magical moments are so rare, we need to treasure them. Which is what the subreddit r/OddlySpecific is trying to do. Kinda.
From the fantasy equivalent of pangolins to fast walkers passing other fast walkers, it collects very specific comments that also somehow feel really relatable. Continue scrolling and check out some of the stuff they have.
This post may include affiliate links.
Miracle Whip N Slide
u/UndeadCaesar, a moderator of r/OddlySpecific, thinks this online community is really focused on separating out the oddly-specific content from the just-general memes. "Since implementing the 'does it fit here' bot comment at the top of every post, I feel the quality of content has really improved, as usually if enough people are passionate enough about something not fitting in to open the comments and downvote the bot comment, the community is usually right," they told Bored Panda.
"I don't have to do a lot of manual moderation of the community even though it's fairly large now (Top 150 if I recall correctly), usually only stepping in to remove frequent reposts that aren't caught by the repost bot."
Sometimes, Sometimes Sex Is Cooler
Why Pangolins Are Cute
u/UndeadCaesar took over r/OddlySpecific after the original creator abandoned the sub and it got overrun with t-shirts saying 'This dad was born in AUGUST, loves GUNS AND BBQ, hates COMMIES, and has a CRAZY WIFE WHO BOUGHT HIM THIS SHIRT' and reposts. "I think it's a much better place now, higher quality content and a more active community," the mod said.
"I think what separates posts that go viral from ones that don't are the ones that hit that fine line of being specific enough that it's striking but about a topic general enough that anyone can relate to it."
From what u/UndeadCaesar has seen, they believe people connect to oddly specific content because it can accurately convey an emotional state with all that "extra" info and seem almost irrelevant at the same time — this duality is really entertaining.
The Different Types Of Badgers
Yes but once they do they turn out to be serial killers and bury you in their garden.
Existence Is Pain
It’s Just Me
With 676K members, r/OddlySpecific is an excellent example of just how well we humans talk to one another. A sentiment philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, who studied how easily communication between people goes wrong, would probably still be wary of.
While living in Norway, he wrote a book that was published in 1931. The book, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, asked a really big question: how do human beings manage to communicate ideas to one another? According to The School of Life, Wittgenstein's answer was that language triggers within us pictures of how things are in the world.
Seems Like This Fits Here
Now I Have This Fear
Annoying
Wittgenstein thought of this while reading about a court case. During the proceedings, in order to explain with greater efficacy the details of an accident at a road junction, the court organized a visual representation of the accident using models.
In Wittgenstein's view, much like in these r/OddlySpecific posts, words enable us to make pictures of facts. Something tells me he would be a member of the subreddit were he still alive.
Hmmm
Cementry Job
Doggo
Why Do I Feel Attacked
Found This Guy On Facebook. Thought It Belonged Here
I Also Can't Stand Them
That's usually when I realize my windshield is particularly dirty and needs a spritz.
Okay, Then
Yep. All my vehicles have names. Some even have vanity plates with their names on them because they deserve a little bling.
Specific Indeed
Such A Specific Fear
Respecc To All Teachers
We are sadists. We get to mess with your minds for a whole year, you never know if I'm actually telling the truth because I'm also the one making the test so you'll just have to trust me I'm not lying to you. Nah, just kidding. I love teaching because young adults are the most amazing people out there. They're kind, curious, talkative, epic fun, and just naive enough for me to have a little fun with every now and then.
Catholism
Dad's, Start Taking Notes
I Like Frank The Spider
Hoas Violate Your Property Rights
I've never understood people wanting to buy property that they knowingly have limited control over.
Most people don't want to, they just don't have a choice.
Load More Replies...
I had a bottle rocket wear with my HOA once. Got a serious fine, because neither fireworks nor aiming them at the neighborhood hood Karen was legal. It was two very small bottle rockets. Leftovers. Then I ordered 23 plastic flamingos from Florida (why 23? They didn't have 50) from a place and at midnight,flamingoed her yard. In 1999. And filed a complaint about her yard. I did.
If I was super-rich, I would get a house with a HA, and break all the rules just to f**k with them. "Only approved shades of house paint are white, cream, and beige? Nice try Karen; this one is royal blue with white trim." After they fine me (who cares, I'm super-rich) and repaint it beige and bill me "I can repaint too: now it's teal, with purple trim, and I've planted the yard in blue hydrangas, and put up a flock of flamingos. Still care if number 27 has their grass half-an-inch too long, Karen?" and if you take my flamingos, I'll get a life-size concrete elephant, just try stealing that at 5am, Karen.
You just for real made me lol!!! As a person who has to deal with an awful HOA, I now wish I was super rich so I could do everything you just said...and more! Haha!
Load More Replies...
Well this doesn't exist everywhere, certainly not in Europe, Africa or Asia, so maybe it's just in America?
I don't find it in the countries where i lived and where I'm living. There are associations of people who lives in the same building or same complex but certainly not to criticize people over their house decoration. Unless the decoration or design hurts people (which i think quite an irony, since i think this organization exist mostly in the US where halloween decoration can be a bit over the top) or break other people's property.
Load More Replies...
I once worked for an HOA management company in Texas that handled over 20 HOAs. Never again. The owner of the management company thought she was God. The property managers had to do inspections twice a month. Any infraction of the rules, the homeowner gets a letter, if the infraction continues, they get fined. If the homeowners wanted to add to their house, do landscaping, put a swing or pool in the backyard, change the color of the house's trim/door...they had to submit a request into the management company for approval or not. Late on your fees? You get a fine. Can't pay your dues? Your HOA can put a lien on the home & eventually sell it on foreclosure. I would never, ever live in an HOA controlled area.
Our HOA says we can only have 2 pets. They only give fines to certain people. You can get fined for having your garbage cans on the side of your house, but your neighbor, who has their cans in the same spot against their house, doesn't get a fine. Buying a house in a Deed Restricted neighborhood was the worst decision we ever made.
Load More Replies...
It is crazy, years ago when my sister and husband bought their first house, she hung some laundry out back, and some lady knocked on her door to take it down because it brings down the property value to the neighborhood, what??
Our current HOA , in a semi wealthy neighborhood paying huge HOA fees , not only did they not build the playground they were supposed to , but they literally do nothing for the neighborhood. Some a-hole just moved in here and decided to make war on people who park at the curb. I'm in Texas, and I've never seen a neighborhood where people didn't park at the curb. Anyways, we bought our house as the neighborhood was being built , we bought a corner lot because we knew we would soon have a lot of teenage drivers , and our HOA didn't have any parking rules until last year. So this douche canoe gets so riled up. He goes out and takes pictures of people's license plates and houses and sends it to the HOA. They said they going to start towing cars at the street. So yeah, HOAS are shite
They are weird. Would have a snowball in hells chance of working in my country.
That being said, my country has zero regulations (or at least it isn't enforced), making the place look rather.... Eclectic. Sometimes I wish we had UK-style regulations so you can't tear down a beautiful historic building in the middle of a street full of them, only to build a glass-and-concrete monstrosity.
Ours is a bit more necessary because it’s a condo so there is a lot of shared space that needs management. But god they’re a nuisance. Obsessed with cutting down trees, one of the main selling points of the location.
About 53% of private property is controlled by HOAS so a lot of people do not even have a choice. Either they join the mandatory HOA or they can't buy the house. But it's still weird that in the land of the free a hoa can dictate that you can't grow roses, paint your frontdoor yellow, park your own car in your own driveway or can't have any pet in the house you just bought.
I'm not sure where you got 53%. https://www.ikocommunitymanagement.com/blog/13-statistics-about-hoa-communities-thatll-make-you-proud.. says 24% of American homes have HOAs so being in an HOA is absolutely a CHOICE. And most will choose an HOA where there are amenities to be used like a pool, gym, landscaping, etc. and helps to hold property value.
Load More Replies...
Come to live near me, but only if you bring your antique frog statuette
My hubs and I are older and live in a condo with an HOA... It's only a little frustrating once in a while... It provides a " safety net " when major outside disasters happen... They will repair any damages ( like to the roof , and plumbing and painting ) plus do all the lawn maintaining that is required. They also supply some of the major utilities , and security needed in our city... They are dog friendly , and provide the ness supplies to keep areas clean. They do limit holiday décor to keep everyone's different religious views " worry free " and there's no grilling on site for fire safety , but for the most part ... We are happy .
It is a way to manage the exteriors of buildings, paint, landscaping, parking etc. in condos or flats.
Load More Replies...
FL is rampant with this BS. I am not living in any neighborhood that tells me what color I can paint my house! They are all shades of beige!
And the best part? You have to pay fees for the privilege of getting a fine for your froggy heirloom
I would NOT want to live in this place. I also would not want to live in a place where all my neighbors want to live in this place.
hence my reason for NEVER living in one... I have no intentions of painting my house mauve but if I want to... I damn sure can!
HMOs could do so many good things if the little Hitler's didn't run them. We live in an older but really nice neighborhood and one of our neighbor's kids moved in with him during the pandemic and parks his freakin' semi in our culdesac. It is technically next to his dad's house and he goes on deliveries every few days so it's not breaking any laws but it's an eyesore and it block half the road. It's the only time I've ever wished for an HMO.
Absolutely. I wouldn't live in a neighborhood with a homeowner's association if you gave me the house and paid me to live in it.
Agreed! Would NEVER buy a home in one of those places. My home, my choice. Precisely why I live in the country with no close neighbors.
Display the frog in her yard, then report her, or call the cops & tell them she stole it from you.
We live in a house that's in a tiny pocket of non-HOA, surrounded by HOAs. This means that all of the medians, sidewalks, and public spaces, are really well cared for, but we don't have to pay, or follow their rules. We can't go to the HOA swimming pools, but there's a great public one within a bike ride for the kids to go to. Win-win.
I understand cleanliness. Dont have a junk yard, mow your grass. Keep the front of the house looking kempt. but beyond that... I live in one no parking on the street at night. Always a car in front of us beloning to someone else but nobody says anything. So they dont check.
🐸🐸🐸FROG SUPERIOR TO HOOMAN🐸🐸🐸 Hey sorry a frog took my phone what did I miss
Same. and sadly in my state you have no choices unless you want to live in a s**t house in a s**t neighborhood.
i hate HOAs because i live with one and they wont allow a pet wabbit :(
Yeah, HOAs can go suck an egg. Not only can they fine you for nonconformity but they can actually kick you out of a home you actually paid for!
They can't kick you out, but they can put a lien on your home. If you go to sell your house you have to take care of the lien with them first. We stupidly bought our home in a HOA neighborhood, worst decision EVER. They even tell us how many pets we're allowed to have (2). They have a bunch of stupid rules, but not as bad as other neighborhoods.
Load More Replies...
Just like any other Union. You get a job and the union not your boss tells you when you can get a promotion. I live in the USA, a union of states, and there is stupid running that too. Supposedly elected officials (HOA and others) but some how the person I vote for doesn't ever win the election. And so, I am left to "not modify the outward appearance of my unit"
Am I wrong to think this is a conservative thing. They want to control everyone to do as they want and this is the basic difference between Cs and Ls.
Having lived in a white-trashed subdivision, I will whole heartedly defend an HOA. Real experiences: - neighbors across the street were meth-addicts. They disassembled their cars in the front yard, then realized that they had no idea how to put them back together. - one neighbor decided he didn't want to work for the Man no more and had the bright idea that he was going to have chickens in his yard for eggs, and he was going to raise hound dogs. No s**t. Breeding hunting hounds. That didn't work out, so the house fell into disrepair and the yard grew ass-high until he abandoned the place. He left the roosters and the meth-heads dispatched them with a pellet gun because they crowed all night. And all day. - the neighbors next to me were nice enough and I had no issues with them, but the other neighbors took exception to them gutting goats and hanging them in the trees to bleed out. It was a nice house though, and I'd still be there if there were an HOA.
You don't need a HOA to stop illegal activities. There is enough legislation to stop people from setting up businesses in residential areas and to get them evicted when they display anti-social behavior.
Load More Replies...
Hopefully He's Ok
Oh Whale
I Mean He's Not Wrong
I pretty much always eat alone. I have noticed that when the hostess asks how many, I say "just one" and I am trying really hard to stop using "just".
Adam Sandler
This I Found From Another Subreddit
The Bison *will* Kill You
Is this for real? If it is, it's pretty terrible that there are people stupid enough to go into the animal enclosure. Although I shouldn't be surprised.
Pretty Accurate
This Is Quite Specific
It's their snack though. As long as they're not giving it to some kids but not others I don't see a problem.
Not A Bad Gig
LOL, that must be true seeing all those mystic album covers where some guys are in the middle of a forest looking like boy scouts who got lost.
Or, You Know, Something Else
My father's father was Adda. Because I tried to call him Dadda (my father was away on national service) and that was all I was prepared to concede. Because I was first grandchild, all the others called him that too.
I'm Ashamed To Say I've Done This Before
Well... That Is A Description
Too Meta?
That's Actually Good To Know
Roooxaaaaanne!
If he shot you to the beat of Roxanne you would get the 16th bullet about the time the guys laughing in the song.
Found This Gem Today On Instagram
Of Course We Do Bro
Aight Who Wants To Do A Triathlon With A Shark
In real life the deadliest animal is the mosquito, followed closely by humans who are the deadliest mammals on this planet. Just one example; The tangerine toddler with a dead count of over 500 000 people.
Worse Than A Breakup
That's A Good Plan...
This is such a stupid comment, and it's made so often I just wish it would die. Shows like Friends and The Big Bang Theory are recorded in front of a live studio audience. It's not a "laugh track" like you would hear in MASH, for example. Any actor playing comedy learns to pause when there is laughter, and to not say the next line (or punchline) until the laughter is starting to subside. If you take a show like this and deliberately and artificially remove the laughter, of course the show seems weird and unfunny, because the pace seems wrong. Secondly, laughter is a shared experience and is always greater than when alone. Seriously, if you don't like the show, then don't watch it. Don't bitch about it on the internet.
Note: this post originally had 118 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.
