Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Describe The Dumbest Preventive Measure Someone Has Ever Tried That Actually Worked

Make us preferred on Google

What the hell made them think of that?

You've probably asked yourself that from time to time, especially when looking through history's weirder moments. And guess what?

Your average Joe has had to be a creative problem solver at least once or twice, too. Whether it's to avoid losing a job or to get out of a crappy meeting, we must never doubt human ingenuity.

Join us as we roll our eyes yet nod appreciatively at people who somehow made it through despite committing acts that would otherwise be seen as glitches in the matrix!


But before you do, feel free to thank Redditor KiraCosmicGod, who asked the online community:

"What is the dumbest thing humans did to prevent something and it actually worked?"

"Native Americans..."

"Native Americans who were in Florida won a battle against the settlers by using crocodiles, preventing them from taking their land."

eeepsis

Brilliant! Weaponzing the local wildlife. I will have to remember this for next time.

"Wearing a motorcycle helmet..."

"Wearing a motorcycle helmet while snowblowing. I did it because I missed riding, it kept my face warm and when snow would fly back at me the visor would protect me."

Fortknoxgaming

You probably looked like some creepy serial killer but that's okay, the snow was cleaned up!

"When I was younger..."

"When I was younger I got called into HR because I drew a very detailed picture of a penis. It was really really good."

The HR meeting happened like a week after I drew it and my only defense was 'I dont recall doing that, do you happen to have the picture? It might jog my memory.' They didnt have it of course because I had it, and because I didnt confess they couldn't do anything."

"Investigation results inconclusive, have a nice day."

Flynn_10

You're sneaky, aren't you?

Are you still employed by the same company?

"Bloody worked too..."

"A RNZAF co-pilot in WWII once climbed outside his bomber, onto the wing, to put out a fire. Bloody worked too and he got a Victoria Cross for his efforts."

light_engine

This person is braver than I will ever be. All I can think reading this is noooope.

"I forgot to bring my resume..."

"I forgot to bring a resume to a job interview, but I had an index card in my bag. I cut the index card in half and wrote my name, my contact info, and "creative problem solver" in my best handwriting, and gave a copy of my 'business card' to both the interviewers."

"I got the job."

kayification

Well, that's certainly one way to make an impression! Glad it worked out!

"Our power was out..."

"Our power was out due to a storm. I had a camp stove to use for boiling water to make a coffee pour-thru, but I couldn't use my electric grinder for the coffee beans. I tried fashioning a mortal and pestle but it was taking too long."

"So I put the coffee beans in a couple of ziplock bags, placed the bag right behind a car tire, then ran over it back and forth a couple of times to crush the beans. Worked like a charm."

EugeneStargazer

Brilliant. I might call you if I need some help during the zombie apocalypse.

"There was a natural gas mine..."

"There was a natural gas mine in Uzbekistan that had a gas leak. To fix the leak, the Soviets nuked the mine with an atom bomb. It worked."

Some-Basket-4299

When there's a problem, just throw an atom bomb on top of it.

But don't.

Please don't actually do that.

"At one point..."

"At one point in the American Revolution, a portion of the American army was completely out of gunpowder and saw British troops approaching, so they heavily fortified their position to make it appear they would win a decisive battle and prevent the British troops from engaging."

Mr_Henslee

This truly lends further credence to the saying, "Fake it until you make it."

"The security guard..."

"A friend and I once snuck 15 people into a Warped Tour by giving them some bracelets from a party supply store and clipboards full of paper. Walked up to the side gate and said we were with Rock The Vote. The security guard waved us right in."

GoodgoodGodgod

Why didn't I think of this?!

I am disappointed in myself.

"When I was young and broke..."

"When I was young and broke I bought a sofa from a used furniture store. I had no way to take the sofa home. I went to a used car lot a couple of blocks away and took a truck for a test drive."

luckyhenry

A creative solution to a big problem.

Genius.

You know, come to think of it, some of these ideas aren't dumb at all. I don't know what that says about me...

But seriously though... if you ever have the opportunity to drop an atom bomb on something, just don't do it. That's the biggest takeaway here.

Have some stories of your own? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Screenshot of Jasmine Crockett
@atrupar/X

Jasmine Crockett Just Bluntly Called Out The GOP-Led Congressional Hearing Targeting The Smithsonian For What It Is—And We're Nodding Hard

Texas Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett summed up the point of a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency's hearing on Tuesday about the National Museum of American History's alleged "extreme political activism."

Smithsonian National Museum of American History Director Dr. Anthea Hartig faced scrutiny on Capitol Hill after a White House report accused the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History of becoming a taxpayer-funded center of "ideological capture" and "extreme political activism."

Keep ReadingShow less
Ryan Gosling attends "Project Hail Mary" New York premiere at Lincoln Center.
Dominik Bindl/FilmMagic

The 'La La Land' Poster Was Just Officially Edited To Fix Ryan Gosling's Bent Hand—And Fans Have Thoughts

If you've spent the last decade unable to unsee Ryan Gosling's oddly bent hand on the La La Land poster, you're not alone. The visual quirk became an enduring talking point among fans. And now, for the film's 10-year anniversary, it's officially been fixed.

The poster for the iconic 2016 musical has been subtly adjusted ahead of its theatrical re-release on August 16 to celebrate its 10th anniversary. While the original artwork shows Gosling's character, Sebastian, with his hand tilted downward in the famous dance pose, the updated version straightens it to mirror Emma Stone's Mia.

Keep ReadingShow less
Steve Scalise, Mike Johnson, Tom Emmer, Lisa McClain, and Mary Miller
Win McNamee/Getty Images

The House GOP Just Shared A Tone-Deaf Tweet About 'Communist Regimes'—And It's Irony At Its Finest

Not getting the traction they need off their usual fearmongering, the GOP recently changed things up—in cooperation with the White House—from attacking immigrants to reviving the 1950s era "red scare," coming 70 years after the original led by Wisconsin Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy.

The change in tactics hinges on voters not knowing the difference between communism and democratic socialism.

Keep ReadingShow less
Steve Scalise; Olive Garden sign
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Brandon Bell/Getty Images

MAGA Rep. Dragged After Making Bonkers Olive Garden Comparison In Push For Voter ID

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise was criticized after he, touting the "SAVE America Act," made an oddball comparison using Olive Garden to complain about the lack of voter ID laws.

The Trump administration has pushed to eliminate no-excuse mail voting as a central goal of the "SAVE America Act," a sweeping federal elections bill that, among other things, complicates voting for individuals whose legal name does not match their birth certificate and poses a restrictive photo ID requirement for voting that disproportionately impacts minorities.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; Mehmet Oz
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images; Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Furiously Calls BS On Trump Admin's Reason For Freezing Over $1 Billion In Medicaid Funds For California And Minnesota

California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the Trump administration following its announcement that it's withholding more $867 million in Medicaid funds earmarked for California and $199 million for Minnesota due to fraud allegations.

The Trump administration said the money will remain frozen until the states submit documentation proving the payments are legitimate and free of fraud. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the funds would only be released once both states provide the requested records.

Keep ReadingShow less