Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

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

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

Donald Trump with King Charles III in the Oval Office
Samir Hussein/WireImage

Someone Asked What Trump's Oval Office 'Interior Style' Is Called—And The Responses Are Hilariously Brutal

Following President Donald Trump's meeting with King Charles III in the garishly-decorated Oval Office, X user Volodymyr Tretyak, who offers regular commentary on the Ukraine war, asked others to name the "interior style" of the space to hilarious effect.

Charles addressed a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday, becoming only the second British monarch to do so after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who spoke in 1991. His speech came as Trump has repeatedly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over Britain’s refusal to back the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hilary Duff
TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Hilary Duff Shares Simple Yet Powerful Mantra Amid Worrying Weight Loss Trends—And Fans Are Applauding

Content Warning: Body-Shaming, Weight-Shaming, Body Image Issues, Eating Disorders, Skinny Trends

Millennials who saw Cheaper by the Dozen, The Perfect Man, and A Cinderella Story have always known that Hilary Duff was that girl.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jimmy Fowlie
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Netflix

'SNL' Writer Reveals His Sister's Disappearance Has Now Been Ruled A Homicide In Heartbreaking Post

On December 22, 2025, days before Christmas, actor and Saturday Night Live writer Jimmy Fowlie shared an Instagram post about his sister, Christina Downer, who had been declared missing.

Fowlie asked people to reshare the missing person flyer from the Los Angeles Police Department.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jeff Bezos; Donald Trump Jr.
Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Amazon Slammed Over Potential 'The Apprentice' Reboot Hosted By Don Jr.—And The Grift Is Real

Amazon is facing criticism after The Wall Street Journal reported it is considering rebooting the reality competition series The Apprentice for Prime Video and eyeing President Donald Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., to serve as the show's host.

Amazon has increasingly aligned itself with Trump through sponsorship of several Trump-linked events, including his inauguration—which founder Jeff Bezos attended—and the proposed White House ballroom project. The company also began streaming the original The Apprentice last year, a move the president actively promoted.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Donald Trump and Jared Isaacman
CNN

Trump Praises NASA Official's 'Beautiful Ears' In Awkward Viral Clip—And It's A Big Yikes

During the Artemis II crew's visit to the White House on Wednesday, President Donald Trump had people cringing after taking a moment to comment on NASA administrator Jared Isaacman's "beautiful ears."

Artemis II is the first mission to bring astronauts toward the Moon in over half a century, launching successfully on April 1 to the delight of space enthusiasts and the general public alike. The mission's success raised hopes that a Moon landing could be achievable by 2028.

Keep ReadingShow less