Sometimes, people take "thinking outside the box" to a whole new—and sometimes completely ridiculous—level. Whether it’s wildly creative solutions or downright hilarious fails, these moments prove that ingenuity can sometimes go a bit too far. You can’t help but laugh while wondering, “What were they even thinking?”
#1
I had a coat that I absolutely loved for over a decade. I would always say I loved everything about this coat except it didn't have a hood. Its an army inspired style coat, so when I met this cute new guy he said he used to have one just liked it and loved it too. I asked him if it not having a hood was his only complaint about it too. He looked at me funny, took my coat, flipped the colar down to reveal a zipper. He unzipped it and pulled out a perfectly pristine hood that now sat attached this decade old worn down jacket. My jaw dropped. And I married that guy.
339points
#2
So, picture this: I’m at a friend’s house last night, casually sipping on a lukewarm cider (by choice, don’t @ me), when I see them load their dishwasher. And then it hits me.
THEY PUT THE SOAP IN THE LITTLE COMPARTMENT.
For SEVEN years, I’ve been just chucking the soap tablet straight into the bottom of the dishwasher, like some feral raccoon who accidentally found modern appliances. “Why isn’t my dishwasher working well?” I’d think, as I scraped dried pasta off plates. I thought it was just vibes.
Anyway, now my dishes are sparkling, my confidence is shaken, and I’m pretty sure my dishwasher has been side-eyeing me this whole time. Who else has been living a lie, and how did you discover it?
P.S. Yes, my friend laughed at me. Yes, I deserved it.
THEY PUT THE SOAP IN THE LITTLE COMPARTMENT.
For SEVEN years, I’ve been just chucking the soap tablet straight into the bottom of the dishwasher, like some feral raccoon who accidentally found modern appliances. “Why isn’t my dishwasher working well?” I’d think, as I scraped dried pasta off plates. I thought it was just vibes.
Anyway, now my dishes are sparkling, my confidence is shaken, and I’m pretty sure my dishwasher has been side-eyeing me this whole time. Who else has been living a lie, and how did you discover it?
P.S. Yes, my friend laughed at me. Yes, I deserved it.
256points
#3
I went to a garage sale and saw a pretty current model of Hoover upright vacuum for $5. I asked if I could plug it in. Sure, but it doesn’t pick up dirt was the seller’s answer.
Motor was great so I got it. And took it home to change the bag (stuffed as full as a sausage), replace the belt (broken, natch) and slice the hair packed on the brush. Really disgusting but $5!! For a virtually new vacuum!
They did zero maintenance and just bought a new vacuum instead.
Motor was great so I got it. And took it home to change the bag (stuffed as full as a sausage), replace the belt (broken, natch) and slice the hair packed on the brush. Really disgusting but $5!! For a virtually new vacuum!
They did zero maintenance and just bought a new vacuum instead.
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214points
We’ve all been there—making mistakes because we were trying something for the first time, didn’t have all the information, or maybe just had an off day. But let’s be honest, sometimes errors happen simply because we’re being a little... let’s call it “creative.”
Luckily, many complicated things in life—like appliances or gadgets—come with manuals or instructions to guide us. And if you’re still stumped, there’s almost always a video tutorial on YouTube to help. But when people skip the instructions entirely and decide to wing it, the results can range from mildly frustrating to downright hilarious.
#4
I knew a girl that thought you got tan from the heat of the sun and not the suns rays. So one day during our cold winter I see her in a bikini by the fireplace. Tells me she’s trying to keep her tan up. You’re never as stupid as the next person.
196points
#5
I overheard a conversation at work, someone was talking about how their sister found a strange plastic thing inside their dishwasher and just threw it away. For years afterward she didn't understand why her dishwasher was working so poorly. The thing she threw away was the spinny arm thing that sprays the water.
So remember: no matter how dumb you feel, there is always someone dumber.
So remember: no matter how dumb you feel, there is always someone dumber.
174points
#6
It gets worse. When I was 22, I was sharing with a girl who used to do the smallest wash loads. We’re speaking 2 socks and a blouse kinda thing.
Where I live, you don’t pay for water (at least not directly). When I confronted her she claimed that it doesn’t matter cause Water is free. I said well okay, but no, but also what about the electricity?
With a serious expression she said: “electricity? Wtf are you talking about? Washing machines run on water.”
I moved out a few weeks after.
Where I live, you don’t pay for water (at least not directly). When I confronted her she claimed that it doesn’t matter cause Water is free. I said well okay, but no, but also what about the electricity?
With a serious expression she said: “electricity? Wtf are you talking about? Washing machines run on water.”
I moved out a few weeks after.
163points
To get a better understanding of the importance of instruction manuals, we spoke with Piyush Jain, a professional manual writer who has created guides for a variety of products.
“We try to make instructions as easy to follow as possible,” he explains. “It’s all about simplifying complex tasks for users.”
#7
Not me, but my brother once complained to me that all toasters are c**p because after a few months they always smell like burning toast even though the toast wasn't burnt.
He looked at me with the blankest expression I've ever seen when asked how often he empties the crumb tray at the bottom.
He looked at me with the blankest expression I've ever seen when asked how often he empties the crumb tray at the bottom.
147points
#8
I had a cousin in her thirties who didn't know how to boil eggs. She complained that no matter how long she boiled them (up to an hour), they never got "soft." Turns out, she didn't know you had to peel them after you boil them. She threw away two whole cartons of eggs because the shells weren't boiling off of them.
145points
#9
I have a confession. I was at my sister's house a while back and while we're talking she's getting ready to put some biscuits in the oven so she grabs a brand new box of aluminum foil out of the pantry and pushes her thumb into both sides of the aluminum foil box. I ask her why she poked holes in the box and she looks at me weird then tells me it's so the aluminum roll stays in place when you're grabbing a sheet. I have been fighting with my aluminum foil for all of my adult life and never knew that there were tabs on the side that you punch in to lock the roll in place.
141points
Piyush shares that companies often have very specific requirements for what they want included in a manual. “They might want us to cover a lot of ground—from basic setup to advanced troubleshooting—while still keeping the guide user-friendly,” he says.
#10
My lawnmower just died once and I couldn’t pull the cord out to start up the motor. It was jammed. I thought it was an oil or motor issue and I’d have to get a new one or a service.
I was talking to my friend and she casually mentioned that she swept hers down and cleaned the grass out every time it went back in the garage.
I got on my hands and knees and reached underneath to feel around the blades and there was thick layers of grass that were hardened like concrete caked around the blades.
I ripped them all off and lo and behold I could pull the cord out and the mower started again.
I was so happy.
I was talking to my friend and she casually mentioned that she swept hers down and cleaned the grass out every time it went back in the garage.
I got on my hands and knees and reached underneath to feel around the blades and there was thick layers of grass that were hardened like concrete caked around the blades.
I ripped them all off and lo and behold I could pull the cord out and the mower started again.
I was so happy.
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135points
#11
I got a free office size printer because it was broken. I asked to take it and see if I could get it to work. They said sure because they had ordered a new one already. I asked what the problem was and the said it wouldn't pull the paper in. I get it home and it was tray 2 that wouldn't be work. I asked if they had tried tray 1. They looked at me funny. Still use it 5 years later.
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125points
#12
Not my personal "living a lie" moment but, like others have shared here, that of an acquaintance which I got to witness...many years ago a coworker and I drove to an afternoon event about 90 minutes away. We met at her place, and she drove us down in her car--some kind of newer model Toyota or Nissan or something.
On the way back--in the evening--she asked me to drive us back because she was tired. About 20 minutes in, during a lull in conversation, I noticed the windshield had gotten pretty dirty so I used the wiper lever to spray down the windshield and wipe it clean.
It took several tries and, after she had watched it spray and wipe for a moment, my coworker screamed "WHAT'S THAT?!" in a very confused voice.
Me, confused: "What's what?"
Coworker: "That water! Where's it coming from?!"
Me: "You mean this?" [Pulls wiper lever again]
Coworker: "YES! WHAT IS THAT? HOW DID YOU DO THAT?"
Me: "That's...wiper fluid. You pull the lever here to clean the windshield".
Coworker: "Oh my god! I had no idea!"
Me: "..."
I guess it's conceivable that she had somehow never ever used her windshield wiper fluid before--let alone *refilled* it, because why would you think about refilling something that doesn't exist in your reality?
But still...
On the way back--in the evening--she asked me to drive us back because she was tired. About 20 minutes in, during a lull in conversation, I noticed the windshield had gotten pretty dirty so I used the wiper lever to spray down the windshield and wipe it clean.
It took several tries and, after she had watched it spray and wipe for a moment, my coworker screamed "WHAT'S THAT?!" in a very confused voice.
Me, confused: "What's what?"
Coworker: "That water! Where's it coming from?!"
Me: "You mean this?" [Pulls wiper lever again]
Coworker: "YES! WHAT IS THAT? HOW DID YOU DO THAT?"
Me: "That's...wiper fluid. You pull the lever here to clean the windshield".
Coworker: "Oh my god! I had no idea!"
Me: "..."
I guess it's conceivable that she had somehow never ever used her windshield wiper fluid before--let alone *refilled* it, because why would you think about refilling something that doesn't exist in your reality?
But still...
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120points
Despite these challenges, Piyush and his team strive to create manuals that are clear and helpful. “It’s not just about instructions—it’s about making sure people feel confident and supported when using a product,” he adds.
#13
My wife thought dishwashers filled ALL the way up with water. I blew her mind when I opened it while it was running & put in a fork. Lol.
112points
#14
I dated a guy (a science teacher!) who thought all you needed to wash clothes was the fabric softener. I like to think I helped him suddenly seem much cleaner.
109points
#15
I have a mate that spent 5+ years holding the trigger on the gas pump the entire time he was pumping. When I showed him the lock and explained that it will shut off when the car is full, his facial expression was priceless. Like a man who just found an entire world inside his own house.
109points
Safety is another crucial aspect of writing manuals, according to Piyush. “We have to think about all the ways someone could potentially misuse a product and ensure those scenarios are addressed in the guide. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about keeping people safe.”
#16
My friends girlfriend used to pre-heat the microwave like you would an oven.
108points
#17
I got an old stained mattress removed by the company I bought it from after buying a big fancy new one from them after just a few pandemic years, and as they took it out to the truck they unzipped and removed the full mattress-top protector that had been on the top the whole time leaving a gleaming fresh untouched mattress underneath and I just turned around and went inside and shut the door because now I had a huge heavy new bed to make with a mattress I didn't need on it........
104points
#18
58M.
In 2018 I bought a 2yo Mazda 6 with remote keyless entry. Before that, all of my cars had keyless entry but a keyhole to open the door manually from outside the car. The 6 had no keyholes in the door but a button on the outside of the handle. I had no idea that you could remote lock/unlock one/all door(s) with a push of the button on the handle. So I constantly used the remote. Worse, the 6 would lock all the doors the moment you shut one. So I was dating this woman at the time and I'd hold the door open for her, she'd get in, I'd shut the door and they would all lock. I'd go around to my (driver's) door and fish out my keys, look for the unlock button and unlock my doors to get in. Every time. When I ended things after about 6 months, one of the last things she told me was something like, "By the way, there's a button on your car door handle to unlock the doors." She knew.
In 2018 I bought a 2yo Mazda 6 with remote keyless entry. Before that, all of my cars had keyless entry but a keyhole to open the door manually from outside the car. The 6 had no keyholes in the door but a button on the outside of the handle. I had no idea that you could remote lock/unlock one/all door(s) with a push of the button on the handle. So I constantly used the remote. Worse, the 6 would lock all the doors the moment you shut one. So I was dating this woman at the time and I'd hold the door open for her, she'd get in, I'd shut the door and they would all lock. I'd go around to my (driver's) door and fish out my keys, look for the unlock button and unlock my doors to get in. Every time. When I ended things after about 6 months, one of the last things she told me was something like, "By the way, there's a button on your car door handle to unlock the doors." She knew.
89points
Piyush also notes that while most people think of manuals as boring or tedious, creating them can be surprisingly creative. “We have to think about how someone with absolutely no prior experience can navigate a product,” he shares. “It’s almost like telling a story, guiding them step by step.”
#19
When I was a kid, I saw my mom pour some white powdery soap from a box into the dishwasher. It was in the mid-90s, soap pods weren't a thing yet, so you had to fill the dishwasher compartment with some of that white stuff I didn't know about. One day, I decided to help her by imitating her, grabbed a box that had some chunky white stuff in it that was stored in the pantry, and poured a good part of the box into the dishwasher. The thing is, the soap box wasn't reachable by a kid, but the rice box was, and it was now pretty much all in the dishwasher. I then told my mom, proud of me helping out. When she found out it was rice, tho, she was pissed, but me being a little innocent 4 years old or something saved my a*s. My parents emptied it as much as they could, but they kept finding rice grain in the dishes for quite a while.
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89points
#20
I waited in a drive thru for ten minutes before I realized I was actually just behind a parked car.
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87points