Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Share Their 'I Just Learned This And Now I See It Everywhere' Experiences

People Share Their 'I Just Learned This And Now I See It Everywhere' Experiences

The following has nothing at all to do with Bernie Madoff, the white collar criminal.

But it has everything to do with new discoveries and they way they seem to haunt you, appearing everywhere the minute new knowledge has you taking note.


The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon describes when something you've just seen, experienced, or learned about suddenly seems to appear everywhere you look. It's otherwise known as the "recency illusion" or "frequency illusion.

"The whole thing is really an ever-growing, vicious spiral of brain activity.

When your brain learns something knew it subconsciously decides to look for that thing, and uses selective attention to do so. Whenever that selective attention successfully finds the thing it seeks, you experience confirmation bias and irrationally conclude that the thing occurs more frequently than it ever has. Really, you've just become better at seeking it.

Nevertheless, that irrational conclusion of greater frequency serves to jazz up your brain, so you look even harder.

Aaaaand paranoia.

u/oditogre asked, "What have you been experiencing [the Baader-Meinhof Phenonemon] with, lately?"

So Much for Trend-Settin’

Giphy

This always happens to me when I buy a new coat or when I bought my car. All of a sudden I'm noticing them everywhere.

u/redpatchedsox

Impressive to Pull Out at Parties, Though

I could swear I've read the word 'Liverpudlian' (somebody / thing from Liverpool) like 6 times this weekend and never before then.

u/oditogre

It's About Time, Friend

Giphy

I watched the Princess Bride for the first time recently. I'm now seeing references to it everywhere.

It Does Not Mean What it Says it Means

The word "gaslighting." I learned what it meant couple of weeks back and the amount of times I see that word everyday is insane.

u/ww3000

Gahhhh Inception

I literally explained what this phenomenon was to my husband when I was experiencing it yesterday. And then I said that I'd probably start hearing about the phenomenon itself.

And......here it is.

u/Miles2GoBefore1Sleep

Too Many Babies, Not Enough Earth!

Giphy

Pregnant women. I'm pregnant and now everyone is pregnant.

u/sprkleyes420

It is Real. It is Doing Stuff. 

Connecticut. One day i was in the car and i was like "why don't i ever hear any new stories that mention Connecticut? I'm pretty sure it's made up."

I even googled Connecticut just to make sure it is a state. Now i see Connecticut everywhere in the news.

u/lilhorso

Not Baader-Meinhof. Just Excellent, Relevant Children's Programming.

Man, in grade school I used to constantly learn about a new subject only to go home and have the exact same subject come up in a Magic School Bus episode.

u/Wanderson90

"Where's My New Jersey Plates Log!"

Giphy

My wife has started noticing that the letter L is the fourth position on an NJ license plate. I have no idea what to make of this.

u/malex930

One Single Time Would've Sucked. Several is the Pits. 

I keep seeing and hearing about a two-headed goose.

Saw a little statue at the store, heard a random story from someone at the next table over, saw one in a book, etc.. there have been about 6 encounters so far.

u/bingbong1234

More from People

Screenshots of Donald Trump and Taylor Rehmet
Fox News; @taylorforTexas/X

Trump Claims Not To Know About Election In Texas After Dem Flips GOP Seat—Despite Posting About It The Day Before

President Donald Trump has people raising their eyebrows after he claimed not to know about Democrats flipping a Republican-held state Senate seat in Texas just a day after encouraging his MAGA followers on Truth Social to go out and vote in the special election.

On Saturday, Taylor Rehmet, a Fort Worth machinist and Air Force veteran, prevailed over Republican Leigh Wambsganss of Southlake to claim the open seat in Senate District 9. The district had strongly backed Trump in 2024 by a 17-point margin. The contest advanced to a runoff after no contender earned more than 50 percent of the vote in November.

Keep Reading Show less
Pattie Gonia; Pete Hegseth
@pattiegonia/Instagram

Drag Queen Throws Some Epic Shade At Pete Hegseth's Kettlebell Swinging Form After His Military Workout

Environmental activist, human rights advocate, and drag queen Pattie Gonia gave MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, workout tips and other advice over his latest attempt to "cosplay masculinity."

Hegseth had posted another video of himself working out, poorly, with another branch of the military.

Keep Reading Show less
Screenshot of Molly Ringwald; Donald Trump
@mollyringwald/Instagram; Win McNamee/Getty Images

Molly Ringwald Urges Fans To Speak Out Against ICE And 'Fascist' Trump In Powerful Video

Actor Molly Ringwald—best known for her roles as a member of the "Brat Pack" in films like Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club—denounced President Donald Trump and ICE, telling fans she "can’t stay silent and neither should you."

Ringwald, speaking out mere days after ICE agents murdered ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, told her followers in a post on Instagram that she had previously "been so proud to be an American but right now this is a fascist government.”

Keep Reading Show less
Screenshots of Liam Conejo Ramos receiving pilot wings
@johnquinones/Instagram

5-Year-Old Boy Abducted By ICE Gets Wings From Pilot On Flight Home To Minneapolis In Sweet Viral Video

5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was taken to an ICE detention facility in Texas along with his father, finally returned home to Minneapolis on Sunday and received his pilot wings thanks to Delta Air Lines pilots on the flight from San Antonio.

Ramos and his father were abducted by ICE agents on their way home from preschool in the Minneapolis area last month; Ramos is the fourth student from the Columbia Heights School District to be swept up in the Trump administration's nationwide immigration crackdown.

Keep Reading Show less
Screenshot of Carlson in pink jacket and Carlson from interview
MPR News

Woman In Pink Jacket Who Filmed Alex Pretti's Murder Speaks Out In Emotional Interview

Stella Carlson, better known online as the "woman in the pink jacket" who recorded the murder of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis, is urging Americans not to let ICE "intimidate" them.

Calls for an investigation have intensified from across the political spectrum after analysis of multiple videos showed ICE officers removing a handgun from Pretti—a weapon that authorities said Pretti was permitted to carry but was not handling at the time—before fatally shooting him.

Keep Reading Show less