Skip to content

John Oliver Expertly Rips Family Of Man Pardoned By Trump After Defrauding Nursing Home

Search AI Powered
Human content, AI powered search.

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
Eric Spring
By Eric SpringMay 14, 2020
Eric Spring
Eric Spring lives in New York City. He has poor vision and cooks a good egg. Most of his money is spent on live music and produce. He usually wears plain, solid color sweatshirts without hoods because he assumes loud patterns make people expect something big. Typically, he'll bypass a handshake and go straight for the hug.
See Full Bio

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

Latest News

Jonathan Joss
LGBTQ

'King Of The Hill' Star's Husband Claims He Was Killed By Neighbor In Homophobic Attack

Donald Trump
Political News

Photo Of Trump's Eyeroll-Worthy Phone Lock Screen Goes Viral—And It's So On-Brand

Fans Furious After Video Of SZA Getting Hit In The Face With A Bracelet Goes Viral
Celebrities

Fans Furious After Video Of SZA Getting Hit In The Face With A Bracelet Goes Viral

alien spaceship abducting a cow
Trending

ICE Epically Trolled Over Tweet Asking People If They Were Ever 'Harmed By An Alien'

More from People

Kimberly Landry Coates; chemtrails
WVUE Fox 8 New Orleans/YouTube

MAGA Lawmaker Tries To Explain What 'Chemtrails' Are After Proposing Bonkers Ban—And It Doesn't Go Well

MAGA Republican lawmakers in the Louisiana House of Representatives passed state bill 46 (SB46) on May 29 to ban "chemtrails" in Louisiana airspace.

One of the bill's major proponents, MAGA Representative Kimberly Landry Coates, claimed SB46 was necessary because "chemtrails" are altering the weather. Speaking on the House floor, Coates said she is concerned about the white streaks she has seen in the sky, claiming they create clouds and affect weather patterns.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bert and Ernie from "Sesame Street"
Lennart Preiss/dpa (Photo by Lennart Preiss/picture alliance via Getty Images

MAGA Is Melting Down After 'Sesame Street' Shared A Sweet Post About Pride Month

Sesame Street was attacked by homophobic conservatives after the program took to X to celebrate the start of Pride Month by stressing that "everyone is welcome."

The beloved children's program published the following message to accompany a picture showing Sesame Street characters' clasping each other hands to represent its commitment to inclusivity:

Keep ReadingShow less
Lindsey Graham; Greta Thunberg
Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images; Fabrizio Villa/Getty Images

Lindsey Graham Slammed For Posting Casually Cruel Threat Aimed At Greta Thunberg

South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was widely condemned on X after he tweeted a threat aimed at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who is part of a flotilla that's attempting to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The vessel, named Madleen, is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), a nonprofit known for organizing maritime missions to challenge Israel’s control over Gaza’s coastal access. Organizers of the effort described it not as a charitable delivery but as a form of nonviolent protest against what they called “Israel’s illegal siege and escalating war crimes.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Man whispering 'Shh' with a finger pressed against his lips
Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash

People Reveal Their Biggest F**k Ups They Refuse To Admit Until Their Death Bed

Everyone makes mistakes, but sometimes we make a mistake that we'd rather take at least to our deathbed, if not even our grave.

Already cringing at the possibilities, Redditor deadend-decendant asked:

Keep ReadingShow less
The Fifteenth Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa attending the 2025 Met Gala celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images

Ncuti Gatwa's Emotional Exit

Haydi ama!

Ncuti Gatwa’s stint as the groundbreaking Fifteenth Doctor has come to a surprising end in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The Rwandan-Scottish actor was first announced as the next regeneration of the Time Lord, marking the first time an African-born and openly queer actor had been cast in the role.

Keep ReadingShow less