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
Make us preferred on Google

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

DJ Fievel Crane
@fievel42/Instagram

Trans Radio DJ Quits Live On Air After 'Most Traumatic Work Experience I’ve Ever Had' In Viral Video—And We're Applauding

Earlier this month, radio DJ Fievel Crane, former host of Morning Mixtape on 106.1 FM The Corner in Charlottesville, Virginia, announced their immediate resignation live on air.

They later shared a video of the moment on their Instagram, captioned:

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of JD Vance
Newsmax

Vance's Latest Advice To 'Frustrated' Midterm Voters Is A Glorious Self-Own For The Ages

Vice President JD Vance's suggestion that "frustrated" midterm voters not give power to the "crazy people who started these problems" was widely mocked for giving Democrats a gold mine of material to criticize the Trump administration's failures with mere weeks to go before the midterm elections.

A Politico poll published Thursday found that Americans were more likely to hold President Donald Trump responsible for the country’s economic conditions than his predecessor Joe Biden.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Karoline Leavitt; Donald Trump
Hang Out with Sean Hannity; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Karoline Leavitt Just Tried To Claim That Trump 'Respects' Women More Than Men—And Was Instantly Called Out

Speaking on the Hang Out with Sean Hannity podcast, former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made the outrageous claim that President Donald Trump "might listen to women more than men" because he has "such respect" for them."

Leavitt reflected on her tenure within the Trump administration. She recently resigned after giving birth to a child and has decided to take a step back from the round-the-clock schedule in the White House to focus on motherhood.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chuck Grassley
Finn Gomez/Getty Images

93-Year-Old MAGA Senator Sparks Alarm After Refusing To Rule Out Running For Reelection In 2028

Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has reignited calls for congressional term limits after he refused to answer a reporter's question about whether or not he'll run for reelection in 2028.

Grassley, the Senate's president pro tempore, is 93 years old and has been in the Senate since 1980; before that, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives for several years. He was first elected to political office in 1958, serving in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1959 to 1975. He will be 95 years old in 2028.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Trump Throws Bonkers Tantrum After 'Demented' Reporters Show Up To UN Despite His Media Ban

President Donald Trump lashed out at members of the press in a post on Truth Social after clashing with CNN's Kaitlan Collins and other journalists for showing up to his speech on Tuesday at the United Nations despite his White House media ban.

Criticism has rained down on the president since his decision to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, citing what he characterized as unfavorable and false coverage.

Keep ReadingShow less