#1
It still blows my mind that people some people don't.
#2
During the annual dentist trip my older brother and sister never had cavities, but I always had 4-5 or more. So the visits were pretty hellacious. I would complain about the procedures and how badly they hurt (I was 6ish) but my family were “hard a*s” and “tough love” people. So my complaints were dismissed as whining and worse, told that I deserved it for not brushing my teeth better.
So, I stopped complaining. 27 years later while going through my 5th root canal I was shaking and tense and sweating. The dentist kept asking if I was ok, like they always did. I said “ya I’m fine” like I always said.
This time though, the dentist stopped the procedure, pulled his mask off and said “are you experiencing any pain? You seem like you are.” I said “of course I am, it’s a root canal, these always hurt terribly, but I’ll be ok, let’s just push through it.”
He said “You shouldn’t feel anything at all. Only some pressure, but ZERO pain. Root canals shouldn’t hurt.” Then he numbed me more, started again and kept numbing me until I felt NOTHING.
5 minutes in he stopped again because I was crying and he asked if it still hurt. I said “no, not all” and smiled crookedly through my completely numb face.
I thought dental procedures were supposed to hurt. I was 33 when a dentist finally realized I was suffering but self-reporting I was fine. There was always more numbing they could have done. I suffered for 3 decades because I was told to stop complaining as a 6yo.
If you feel pain, any pain at all, tell your dentist. Zero pain is normal. Advocate for yourself. Also, don’t tell young children to stop complaining about pain, because they might listen and you cause them to hurt for a lifetime.
#3
On that day I learned not everyone can smell ants.
Edit: apparently I have a superpower. If any entomologist wants to reach out I would love to work with you. Insects are amazing. I always had a very strong connection with bees I had one riding around with me the other day in the car I stopped traffic because it wouldn't leave me alone I had to pick it up and leave it outside my car on some foliage. Bugs are friends, do not kill.
Out of the many interesting responses in this thread, one particularly caught our eye. Redditor u/Velghast shared his unusual ability to smell insects, which intrigued us so much that Bored Panda reached out to him to learn more about his ‘superpower.’
“I didn’t realize I was smelling insects at first,” he explained. “As a kid, I thought it was just part of the outdoor smell. Then I started noticing that ant mounds smelled different, and so did the areas where ants traveled. It was like a burning citrus scent in the air.”
Growing up, he assumed everyone could smell these odors. “Since we didn’t have ants in our home, I just thought it was a normal part of life. But one day, while in my friend’s kitchen, he mentioned he couldn’t smell anything unusual. That’s when I realized maybe this wasn’t something everyone could detect.”
#4
Turns out most of you just listen to one conversation at a time. My way is actually a consequence of growing up around an explosive parent, deep down I don't want anything to happen that will lead to an angry person yelling at us. This also explains why I have a hard time in groups bigger than 10 or so, there tends to be too many voices having different conversations, and I get overwhelmed processing it all. If I can't keep up, I feel vulnerable and exposed, and things cycle downward from there.
#5
The curious case of someone who can smell insects highlights the unimaginable uniqueness of human perception, subtly reminding us that our senses often perceive reality in ways others may not comprehend.
This aligns with the concept of people experiencing visions differently, as seen in the recent viral comparison between distorted vision due to astigmatism and regular sight. You can explore more about how vision conditions affect perception by reading about the visual differences introduced by such conditions.
#6
Also genuinely enjoying being alone. I told a friend that I will just lock myself in my flat for a few days to relax and he said that's a "bit extreme". For me it's really nice and relaxing. I need my alone time and don't 'miss' social contact as fast as other people.
The citrusy scent that u/Velghast noticed ants giving off is actually a natural defense mechanism. According to Clint Penick, an assistant professor of entomology and plant pathology at Auburn University, ants release this odor to make themselves unappealing to predators.
For u/Velghast, however, the ‘citronella’ scent, as entomologists call it, has a surprising appeal. “It almost burns your nose,” he said, “but to me, it’s quite nice—kind of like gasoline.”
Interestingly, not all ant species produce odors strong enough for humans to detect. Some can only be smelled when crushed or if present in large colonies, but u/Velghast’s nose seems unusually sensitive.
Other bugs, u/Velghast describes, have their own signature scents. For example, some insects carry a dingy, earthy smell, while others have a deep, musty aroma. Roaches, he added, are the exception—they give off a faint almond-like scent, almost reminiscent of grass.
#7
#8
I still do this to some extent. The last time I was able to drive down to Florida, I looked at the trip time and thought, "Oh! That's not too bad! That's two Hamiltons and a Lion King!"
I didn't realize that other people didn't memorize scripts down to the actor's inflections until I took an acting course and monologues and cold reads came really easy to me. It turns out most people remember certain lines that they like or remember a funny scene is coming up.
I felt like the biggest dork when I explained it.
#9
Since posting his reply and receiving so much attention on Reddit, u/Velghast has reached out to professionals and done some research to understand why he can detect insect scents so clearly.
“I talked to my GP about it, and her response was pretty funny. She said, ‘Sir, you’ve been smoking for 15 years—I’m surprised you can smell your own flatulence or a baked cookie at this point,’” he shared with us.
“She mentioned that while she’s not an ENT, it’s possible I have a genetic sensitivity to certain pheromones. After doing some research, I found that I might actually be picking up on insect pheromones—something humans are technically capable of, though ours are usually scentless. Insects, however, use a different chemical mixture.”
Later, he saw an ENT and decided to get a second opinion. “During my next wellness exam, I asked him if my theory could be possible. His response was pretty entertaining. He said, ‘Your throat’s fine, but stop picking your nose and shoving Q-tips so far into your ears. I don’t watch Animal Planet, so if this is some kind of Doctor Dolittle gift, awesome. I don’t know—go work for Terminix, maybe it’s your calling.’”
“Gotta love the doctors of Baltimore City.”
#10
#11
I say "used to" because once I developed tinnitus the ringing has taken place of the music. Pretty c****y trade off.
#12
Found out several years later that I had exercise induced asthma, and cold weather was my main trigger.
#13
Nope. Turns out I was trans. Took me 34 years of my life to realize that.
#14
#15
#16
How much I over analyze every social encounter
How just imagining my sister dying will bring tears
How much I try to mentally prepare for my family members dying.
#17
No, that’s called autism.
#18
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#20
Edited to add:
WOW I had no idea so many people experienced this! I feel for each and every one of you. When I was younger - maybe into my 20s - they were just a weird annoying inconvenience. Yeah I felt a little c****y afterward, but nothing debilitating. Unfortunately they progressed to being a harbinger of doom. Full migraines with all the awful pain, nausea, light sensitivity, aphasia, brain fog, the works. Besides evil fluorescent light, I’ve identified lack of sleep, too much sleep, dehydration, exercise, stress, and sudden positional changes (standing up too quickly) as triggers. Yay for trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle? 🙄recommendation: find a doctor who will refer you to a good neurologist. I’m working my way through a series of preventative meds that work for awhile until they don’t. But we keep trying! My neurologist said ‘well, you know we’re basically guessing. We just keep guessing until something works’. Good luck out there!