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

Jake Paul; Druski as Erika Kirk
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von; @druski/X

Podcaster Jake Paul Slammed Over His Plans To Do Blackface Sketch In Retaliation Against Druski

In a rare moment of clarity, podcaster and sort of boxer Jake Paul thinks conservatives are really dumb for being so mad about Druski's Erika Kirk video! So much so that he plans to do blackface about it. Uh oh...

During an interview with comedian Theo Von on his podcast This Past Weekend w/Theo Von, Paul dragged his fellow Republicans for being so in their feelings about Druski's "hilarious" video.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jennifer Siebel Newsom
@jennifersiebelnewsom/Instagram

Gavin Newsom's Wife Has Stark Warning For MAGA Women Who Still Support Trump—And She's Absolutely Right

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, First Partner of California, shared a message for the women of MAGA in the wake of the firings of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

The two women were the first Cabinet members of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump’s second administration to get their walking papers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Screenshot of Artemis II crew
Nicholas Kamm/Getty Images; @atrupar/X

Trump Tries To Blame Awkward Silence During Call With Artemis II On Technical Glitch—But The Video Says Otherwise

President Donald Trump was not fooling anyone when he blamed a supposed technical glitch for the Artemis II crew’s silence during their historic fly-by of the Moon.

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.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dan Levy; Catherine O'Hara
CBS Sunday Morning/YouTube; Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Dan Levy Gets Choked Up While Visiting 'Schitt's Creek' Town For First Time Since Catherine O'Hara's Death

Dan Levy has been open about his grief after the loss of the late, great Catherine O'Hara.

Catherine O'Hara was a lot of things to a lot of people, with her versatility and willingness to create big, memorable characters that people love and cherish, from Kate McCallister to Delia Deetz to Moira Rose.

Keep ReadingShow less
Laura Ingraham
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images; @lauraingraham/Instagram

Laura Ingraham Gets Blunt Reminder After Awkward Video Of Her Doing The Griddy Dance Goes Viral

After sharing a video of herself doing the "Griddy," Fox News talking head Laura Ingraham was called out for appropriating Black culture after years of attacking Black people, Black Democratic leaders, sharing racist stereotypes, and attacking their basic human rights on her program.

The Griddy is a popular celebratory dance seen in the NFL, NBA, and the game Fortnite. It was popularized by NFL players Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals and Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings.

Keep ReadingShow less