Mildly Interesting
January 6, 2013 11:16 PM Subscribe
/r/mildlyinteresting is where to go if you want things which are, you know, neat. Or pretty cool. Or something else which is better than boring but not quite as intense as fascinating. Things like snow meeting high tide, or uniformly-sized bubbles. A bear face or a llama face on a piece of wood. An observation about Tic Tac containers. A poorly-designed drawer. A belligerent tree. An amusing Google trend. Cross-product branding on cereal boxes. Caution: weirdly effective as a time sink.
If you say NSFW out loud it is actually longer than the complete sentence it abbreviates.
"Not safe for work" is not a complete sentence.
posted by caryatid at 11:23 PM on January 6, 2013 [2 favorites]
"Not safe for work" is not a complete sentence.
posted by caryatid at 11:23 PM on January 6, 2013 [2 favorites]
Coworker's cat looks like something out of Lovecraft.
Oh man, yes, this is a time sink.
posted by davidjmcgee at 11:28 PM on January 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh man, yes, this is a time sink.
posted by davidjmcgee at 11:28 PM on January 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
A friend's mildly interesting observation of my bike ride route yesterday.
posted by Rory Marinich at 11:36 PM on January 6, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Rory Marinich at 11:36 PM on January 6, 2013 [2 favorites]
Sorry, I prefer my content DAMN INTERESTING.
Or at least Quite Interesting.
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:36 PM on January 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
Or at least Quite Interesting.
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:36 PM on January 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
My uncle's cat looks like its being humped by another cat
posted by mannequito at 11:38 PM on January 6, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by mannequito at 11:38 PM on January 6, 2013 [4 favorites]
"Not safe for work" is not a complete sentence.
Every time I see that phrase I think of some old grizzled safe-cracker who has been lured into one more heist but has poor grammar skills.
posted by twoleftfeet at 11:44 PM on January 6, 2013 [9 favorites]
Every time I see that phrase I think of some old grizzled safe-cracker who has been lured into one more heist but has poor grammar skills.
posted by twoleftfeet at 11:44 PM on January 6, 2013 [9 favorites]
ok, so... I will bare my soul and just say it:
Reddit always seems like such a complicated mess to make my way through. I can never really get into it (although I want to, and there seems to be a lot of valuable content that eventually filters its way through to here, or Boingboing, or Gawker, or the mass media). Am I doing it wrong? Are there userscripts (for, say, greasemonkey) that make it more user-friendly?
posted by Auden at 11:51 PM on January 6, 2013 [9 favorites]
Reddit always seems like such a complicated mess to make my way through. I can never really get into it (although I want to, and there seems to be a lot of valuable content that eventually filters its way through to here, or Boingboing, or Gawker, or the mass media). Am I doing it wrong? Are there userscripts (for, say, greasemonkey) that make it more user-friendly?
posted by Auden at 11:51 PM on January 6, 2013 [9 favorites]
Auden: the metafilter guide to reddit
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:58 PM on January 6, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:58 PM on January 6, 2013 [10 favorites]
This feels like someone aggregately tapped into my brain. I think next time I want someone to understand how I perceive the world, I'll just show them this.
posted by threeants at 12:11 AM on January 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by threeants at 12:11 AM on January 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
Also, this makes me really mad that I never took a picture of this amazing sidewalk depression I used to pass all the time, that whenever it rained, filled up to look EXACTLY like North and South America. It was uncanny.
posted by threeants at 12:17 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by threeants at 12:17 AM on January 7, 2013
This is horribly addicting. They are like salted potato chips.
You just keep clicking and clicking till you start to feel nauseous.
...Here is my MeFi contribution of mildly interesting things...
Say zero over and over while thinking of the word rosy. Or
say rosy over and over while thinking of the word zero.
posted by quazichimp at 12:26 AM on January 7, 2013 [3 favorites]
You just keep clicking and clicking till you start to feel nauseous.
...Here is my MeFi contribution of mildly interesting things...
Say zero over and over while thinking of the word rosy. Or
say rosy over and over while thinking of the word zero.
posted by quazichimp at 12:26 AM on January 7, 2013 [3 favorites]
So, this is how it ends. Not with a bang but with a mildly interesting whimper.
posted by deo rei at 12:41 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by deo rei at 12:41 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
NSFW Art
Awkward
A man begs forgiveness in the Chicago divorce court. 1948
Cat & dog
Shark toilet
Clinton & his mom
Son watching TV
Real samurai
Chaplin 1918
Sleeping with the fishes
Giant leaf insect
Trump hair insect
Proper goldfish burial
Pizza cat
Freemasonry Origami
Fishing
Bird
Chillies
Sushirito
A grilled sandwich
Grandpa's 1968 Zippo
Please stop
Etc.
posted by growabrain at 1:05 AM on January 7, 2013 [10 favorites]
Awkward
A man begs forgiveness in the Chicago divorce court. 1948
Cat & dog
Shark toilet
Clinton & his mom
Son watching TV
Real samurai
Chaplin 1918
Sleeping with the fishes
Giant leaf insect
Trump hair insect
Proper goldfish burial
Pizza cat
Freemasonry Origami
Fishing
Bird
Chillies
Sushirito
A grilled sandwich
Grandpa's 1968 Zippo
Please stop
Etc.
posted by growabrain at 1:05 AM on January 7, 2013 [10 favorites]
This the decent enough of the web.
posted by MartinWisse at 1:07 AM on January 7, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by MartinWisse at 1:07 AM on January 7, 2013 [10 favorites]
70% of the viral videos on the web involve cats.
The ancient Egyptians were right all along.
posted by twoleftfeet at 1:52 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
The ancient Egyptians were right all along.
posted by twoleftfeet at 1:52 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
It has to be done.
Metafilter: better than boring but not quite as intense as fascinating.
posted by jaduncan at 2:03 AM on January 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
Metafilter: better than boring but not quite as intense as fascinating.
posted by jaduncan at 2:03 AM on January 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
An amusing Google trend
Strictly speaking, that's not a trend. But it is amusing.
(A "trend" is a progression over time. This is a cyclically recurring pattern.)
Every New Year people make resolutions that they only keep for a few weeks. You see that in Google Trends if you look at "quit smoking", for example.
It's a pretty consistent pattern. There's a huge volume in search queries that relate to healthy living habits at the beginning of each year, and this lasts about a month.
posted by twoleftfeet at 2:14 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Strictly speaking, that's not a trend. But it is amusing.
(A "trend" is a progression over time. This is a cyclically recurring pattern.)
Every New Year people make resolutions that they only keep for a few weeks. You see that in Google Trends if you look at "quit smoking", for example.
It's a pretty consistent pattern. There's a huge volume in search queries that relate to healthy living habits at the beginning of each year, and this lasts about a month.
posted by twoleftfeet at 2:14 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Please stop
It would take superhuman willpower.
posted by louche mustachio at 2:20 AM on January 7, 2013 [31 favorites]
It would take superhuman willpower.
posted by louche mustachio at 2:20 AM on January 7, 2013 [31 favorites]
The best part is that he shares an office complex with Dr. Rabb, Dr. Porcupi, and Sir Pigsinablan. Their office is in a neverending war against graffiti.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:53 AM on January 7, 2013 [13 favorites]
posted by Ghidorah at 2:53 AM on January 7, 2013 [13 favorites]
Auden: Reddit is all about which "subreddits" you subscribe to. Make an account and spend some time customizing these, and you will start to see the power of the site.
posted by sophist at 3:22 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by sophist at 3:22 AM on January 7, 2013
Growabrain, there's some great pics there but most are not really in the spirit of r/mildlyinteresting.
posted by panaceanot at 3:38 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by panaceanot at 3:38 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Cross-product branding on cereal boxes.
Okay, this is going to be bugging me all day. Who's wearing the yellow shirt?
posted by marsha56 at 3:41 AM on January 7, 2013
Okay, this is going to be bugging me all day. Who's wearing the yellow shirt?
posted by marsha56 at 3:41 AM on January 7, 2013
The lemon-flavoured Chex muppet.
posted by blue_beetle at 3:57 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by blue_beetle at 3:57 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Growabrain, there's some great pics there but most are not really in the spirit of r/mildlyinteresting.
This is so reddit.
posted by Meatbomb at 4:10 AM on January 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
This is so reddit.
posted by Meatbomb at 4:10 AM on January 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
r/mildlyinteresting is easily the most interesting part of Reddit. It's hypnotic.
posted by Sticherbeast at 4:38 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by Sticherbeast at 4:38 AM on January 7, 2013
I've been told that there's a very valuable MacGuffin in that drawer.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 4:44 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by RonButNotStupid at 4:44 AM on January 7, 2013
The best part is that he shares an office complex with Dr. Rabb, Dr. Porcupi, and Sir Pigsinablan. Their office is in a neverending war against graffiti.
Especially since his first name is Soni.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 5:35 AM on January 7, 2013
Especially since his first name is Soni.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 5:35 AM on January 7, 2013
Hey, I have one of those drawers too! Carefully installed by the 'skillful' Japanese carpenters who built my home!
posted by woodblock100 at 5:36 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by woodblock100 at 5:36 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh dear. My life is full of mildly interesting observations, as my collections of digital pictures (and my family and friends) can attest.
"Hey, filthy light thief, what are you taking a picture of now?"
"Just the way the light hits the sidewalk here."
"Oh, OK. Well, don't take too long."
"OK."
Are you trying to get me to join reddit?
posted by filthy light thief at 5:48 AM on January 7, 2013
"Hey, filthy light thief, what are you taking a picture of now?"
"Just the way the light hits the sidewalk here."
"Oh, OK. Well, don't take too long."
"OK."
Are you trying to get me to join reddit?
posted by filthy light thief at 5:48 AM on January 7, 2013
Reddit in its entirety is mildly interesting. It's the internet's number one source for mediocre humour.
posted by Napierzaza at 6:07 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by Napierzaza at 6:07 AM on January 7, 2013
Okay, help an idiot out: what was I supposed to notice about the Tic Tac container and the belligerent tree?
posted by Kit W at 6:11 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by Kit W at 6:11 AM on January 7, 2013
Tic tacs - the underside of the lid has a little rim that is perfectly sized to hold one Tic tac.
Tree - it looks like it's holding up a fist with a finger extended. It's the tree to the left of the billboard.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:16 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Tree - it looks like it's holding up a fist with a finger extended. It's the tree to the left of the billboard.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:16 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Tree - it looks like it's holding up a fist with a finger extended. It's the tree to the left of the billboard.
My first thought was "Statue of Liberty"
posted by achrise at 6:22 AM on January 7, 2013
My first thought was "Statue of Liberty"
posted by achrise at 6:22 AM on January 7, 2013
Shark toilet
I wish I could explain why I was expecting that to be a toilet for sharks. I was so excited clicking the link, too.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:33 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I wish I could explain why I was expecting that to be a toilet for sharks. I was so excited clicking the link, too.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:33 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Okay, this is going to be bugging me all day. Who's wearing the yellow shirt?
Reddit solved this one. And before anyone asks, here's who's wearing the purple shirt. And also, the whole thing animated.
posted by FJT at 6:33 AM on January 7, 2013 [5 favorites]
Reddit solved this one. And before anyone asks, here's who's wearing the purple shirt. And also, the whole thing animated.
posted by FJT at 6:33 AM on January 7, 2013 [5 favorites]
Thank you, EndsofInvention.
I still don't think the tree looks very much like it's flipping the bird, but that, as a thought to share on the Internet, isn't even mildly interesting, so I'll stop there. :-)
posted by Kit W at 6:45 AM on January 7, 2013
I still don't think the tree looks very much like it's flipping the bird, but that, as a thought to share on the Internet, isn't even mildly interesting, so I'll stop there. :-)
posted by Kit W at 6:45 AM on January 7, 2013
It's a complete sentence if it is a command to work directed to a person named "Not Safe For".
posted by Flunkie at 6:53 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by Flunkie at 6:53 AM on January 7, 2013
cyclotronboy: möbius chextipede?
By strange coincidence, that's the name of my electro-synth Kix cover band.
posted by hanov3r at 6:55 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
By strange coincidence, that's the name of my electro-synth Kix cover band.
posted by hanov3r at 6:55 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I wish I could explain why I was expecting that to be a toilet for sharks. I was so excited clicking the link, too.
I think you forgot the qualifier, "mildly". See, a shark toilet, as in a toilet for sharks, would actually be very interesting, whereas a urinal shaped like a shark is just mildly so.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 6:56 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think you forgot the qualifier, "mildly". See, a shark toilet, as in a toilet for sharks, would actually be very interesting, whereas a urinal shaped like a shark is just mildly so.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 6:56 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Funny, isn't it, how thin is the line between "mildly interesting" and "totally boring."
Although the first link of the sack of potatoes, grown into a virtual potato tree, makes me wonder what kind of person can let a half a year go by before he bothers to look into the back of his refrigerator. I guess that's mildly interesting. One and a half lifesavers stuck together? Sorry, most of these make me depressed about how people spend their time.
posted by kozad at 7:16 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Although the first link of the sack of potatoes, grown into a virtual potato tree, makes me wonder what kind of person can let a half a year go by before he bothers to look into the back of his refrigerator. I guess that's mildly interesting. One and a half lifesavers stuck together? Sorry, most of these make me depressed about how people spend their time.
posted by kozad at 7:16 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I spend too much time on reddit. All but two of those links were previously-clicked. /r/mildlyinteresting is fantastic.
posted by Buckt at 7:22 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Buckt at 7:22 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Indeed it's mildly interesting, which makes it a pity it's part of reddit and hence tainted by association. It's like looking through a klansman's papers and seeing he has some really sweet knitting patterns.
posted by happyroach at 7:23 AM on January 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by happyroach at 7:23 AM on January 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
sudo echo "127.0.0.1 www.reddit.com" >> /etc/hosts
Works like a charm.
posted by Napierzaza at 7:27 AM on January 7, 2013
Works like a charm.
posted by Napierzaza at 7:27 AM on January 7, 2013
Oh, man. Looks like a reddit sign up is in order. I've been seeing stuff like "angry barn needs orthodontia" for years and boring my friends with it.
posted by Tchad at 7:36 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by Tchad at 7:36 AM on January 7, 2013
This is the most human thing I'm going to see all day.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 7:43 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 7:43 AM on January 7, 2013
This being Metafilter, when I saw The Whelk's link to this photo , I read it as BJ Condom.
posted by QuakerMel at 7:47 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by QuakerMel at 7:47 AM on January 7, 2013
Somehow, when I looked down the pages, deciding which to click on, I started hearing Ralphie Wiggum's voice reading them in my head. Especially "I found chocolate flavored skittles at the grocery store" and "My scab that came off looks like West Virginia" and yes, even "My GF's rabbit food looks like dicks."
posted by peagood at 7:51 AM on January 7, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by peagood at 7:51 AM on January 7, 2013 [3 favorites]
Is it just me or does Clinton's mom look like Bette Midler in a Jay Leno wig?
posted by looli at 7:53 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by looli at 7:53 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I look at these and I say to myself, "Why, yes, these are mildly interesting."
posted by scratch at 7:59 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by scratch at 7:59 AM on January 7, 2013
Although the first link of the sack of potatoes, grown into a virtual potato tree, makes me wonder what kind of person can let a half a year go by before he bothers to look into the back of his refrigerator. I guess that's mildly interesting.
You don't have to ignore your potatoes for that long to see that happen. My seed potatoes were in the cupboard for around four months, waiting for planting season.
posted by Katemonkey at 8:12 AM on January 7, 2013
You don't have to ignore your potatoes for that long to see that happen. My seed potatoes were in the cupboard for around four months, waiting for planting season.
posted by Katemonkey at 8:12 AM on January 7, 2013
Sorry, I prefer my content DAMN INTERESTING.
Or at least Quite Interesting.
Ah, but see, both "damn" and "quite" serve to stimulate the mind, get it churning a little bit, and when my mind is sleepy or bored it often doesn't like to be stirred. The trick to the mildly interesting is that it must entice the mind, but simultaneously offer little enough by way of relevance or insight that the mind is enticed and little more. It's like a massage, a series of enticing patterns that require no resolution or further engagement. A celebration of thought at its -- no, pipe down, Rory! You're moving dangerously close to "quite" territory!
posted by Rory Marinich at 8:13 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Or at least Quite Interesting.
Ah, but see, both "damn" and "quite" serve to stimulate the mind, get it churning a little bit, and when my mind is sleepy or bored it often doesn't like to be stirred. The trick to the mildly interesting is that it must entice the mind, but simultaneously offer little enough by way of relevance or insight that the mind is enticed and little more. It's like a massage, a series of enticing patterns that require no resolution or further engagement. A celebration of thought at its -- no, pipe down, Rory! You're moving dangerously close to "quite" territory!
posted by Rory Marinich at 8:13 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Are there userscripts (for, say, greasemonkey) that make it more user-friendly?
Absolutely (though I don't think the greasemonkey version is available anymore). There are versions of RES for chrome, safari and opera, though, so it has most major browsers covered.
posted by madajb at 8:18 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Absolutely (though I don't think the greasemonkey version is available anymore). There are versions of RES for chrome, safari and opera, though, so it has most major browsers covered.
posted by madajb at 8:18 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Growabrain, there's some great pics there but most are not really in the spirit of r/mildlyinteresting.This is so reddit.
Missing: a grammar-nazi correction by a person with the username "FARTBLADDERHITLERPANTS."
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:22 AM on January 7, 2013
This being Metafilter, when I saw The Whelk's link to this photo , I read it as BJ Condom.
I used to work with someone with that same surname. On my first day my boss told me to "be careful how you spell that".
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:26 AM on January 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
I used to work with someone with that same surname. On my first day my boss told me to "be careful how you spell that".
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:26 AM on January 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
Also, this makes me really mad that I never took a picture of this amazing sidewalk depression I used to pass all the time, that whenever it rained, filled up to look EXACTLY like North and South America. It was uncanny.
I did take a picture of the tree outside my old office that kind of looks like Crow T Robot.
posted by dirigibleman at 9:00 AM on January 7, 2013
I did take a picture of the tree outside my old office that kind of looks like Crow T Robot.
posted by dirigibleman at 9:00 AM on January 7, 2013
Just in time for the subreddit of the year competition.
posted by surplus at 11:03 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by surplus at 11:03 AM on January 7, 2013
That bear face is crazy, by the way. If I was a messianic ursinist I would be calling up every news agency right now.
posted by threeants at 11:37 AM on January 7, 2013
posted by threeants at 11:37 AM on January 7, 2013
"Condom" is also a surname, though it's probably a variant of "Condon". There are a couple dozen people in the US whose surname is Condom; there are at least four people in the UK with that surname.
/r/notreallyinteresting
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:23 PM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
/r/notreallyinteresting
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:23 PM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
If I was a messianic ursinist I would be calling up every news agency right now.
I'm sure Jean Auel would have something to say about that too!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 12:43 PM on January 7, 2013
I'm sure Jean Auel would have something to say about that too!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 12:43 PM on January 7, 2013
Metafilter: Mildly Interesting
Is this what we've become? Bland and milquetoast?
After Creepshots, Jailbait, and only reading Shit Reddit Says, Reddit creeps me out and confuses me.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 1:33 PM on January 7, 2013
Is this what we've become? Bland and milquetoast?
After Creepshots, Jailbait, and only reading Shit Reddit Says, Reddit creeps me out and confuses me.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 1:33 PM on January 7, 2013
Unusually compelling for being marginally unusual!
posted by Phyllis Harmonic at 1:52 PM on January 7, 2013
posted by Phyllis Harmonic at 1:52 PM on January 7, 2013
As one who has long been recognized as a connoisseur of the humdrum and tedious, these little deviations of quiet majesty please my soul.
"My crisps inflated at 3000m." Yes, yes they did.
posted by Kafkaesque at 4:09 PM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
"My crisps inflated at 3000m." Yes, yes they did.
posted by Kafkaesque at 4:09 PM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
How about this bizarre-ass elevator button layout? /self-link
posted by davidjmcgee at 8:15 PM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by davidjmcgee at 8:15 PM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
How about this bizarre-ass elevator button layout?
Odd, but I'm guessing the building is divided between the owners who occupy the basement levels, the 3-9th floors, and a 19th floor conference/executive area; and the tenants who have the rest of the floors (though there is no 13th).
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 4:38 AM on January 8, 2013
Odd, but I'm guessing the building is divided between the owners who occupy the basement levels, the 3-9th floors, and a 19th floor conference/executive area; and the tenants who have the rest of the floors (though there is no 13th).
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 4:38 AM on January 8, 2013
I find using Alien Blue on my iPad/iPhone completely revolutionized my reddit surfing. I find their web interface, even with RES to be soul-crushing, but have become a reddit-addicted dweeb since I started using my iPad.
posted by mckenney at 6:34 AM on January 8, 2013
posted by mckenney at 6:34 AM on January 8, 2013
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posted by davidjmcgee at 11:23 PM on January 6, 2013