Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
Join the Fun!
Join 1.2 million Panda readers who get the best art, memes, and fun stories every week!
Thank you!
You're on the list! Expect to receive your first email very soon!
Bored Panda is Even Better on the App!
Stay Updated with Real-Time Notifications
Instant Access via Homescreen Tap
Simple Interface - Even Your Cat Can Use It!
Mark Burke
Community Member
2 posts
18 comments
127 upvotes
77 points
Mark Burke is retired from a career in Information Technology management and occasionally has bad hair days.
Mark Burke • upvoted 3 items 2 years ago
Show All 3 Upvotes
Mark Burke • submitted 2 list additions 2 years ago
Mark Burke • upvoted 26 items 3 years ago
Hey Pandas, Have You Ever Saved Someone's Life?
Well, not anyone else, but someone saved me! I don't remember much of it because I was really small, but I was in a swimming pool and my parents weren't paying attention to me. I wasn't a very good swimmer at the time and was having trouble keeping my head above water until I started to sink. I can't even describe the feeling of horror and fear that I felt when I realized I couldn't swim to the surface. When I started taking in water all of a sudden I had a feeling of peace come over me. A boy, about fourteen, maybe fifteen grabbed me and pulled me to shallow water. I got out of the water and looked around, but never found him. You can believe whatever you want, but I'm pretty sure he was my guardian angel. I can still feel him sometimes.Hey Pandas, Have You Ever Saved Someone's Life?
Well, not anyone else, but someone saved me! I don't remember much of it because I was really small, but I was in a swimming pool and my parents weren't paying attention to me. I wasn't a very good swimmer at the time and was having trouble keeping my head above water until I started to sink. I can't even describe the feeling of horror and fear that I felt when I realized I couldn't swim to the surface. When I started taking in water all of a sudden I had a feeling of peace come over me. A boy, about fourteen, maybe fifteen grabbed me and pulled me to shallow water. I got out of the water and looked around, but never found him. You can believe whatever you want, but I'm pretty sure he was my guardian angel. I can still feel him sometimes.
Photography
Sweet Photographs Of Kids With Animals That Might Make Your Heart Melt A Bit (28 New Pics)
Animals, Cats
Woman Is Asking If She Was A Jerk For Kicking Her Boyfriend Out Of Her Apartment When She Overheard Him Talking Maliciously To Her Cat
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
(I told this story in another thread before.) Me and my friend go for a drink after work, once per week or so. We have our favorite pub - small, cozy place with one room on the ground floor and two rooms with a bathroom in the basement. Well... TWO rooms. One day we went to 'our' pub. We were right after work and my friend never drinks alcohol anyway as he's usually driving, so we were both completely sober. We ordered a beer for me and cola for him and went down to the basement. And - to our incredulity - there was only ONE room, instead of two. For a second I thought there was something seriously wrong with me, but then my friend said: 'There were TWO rooms before, weren't there?' We looked at the wall - no sign indicated that there was a door before. The paint was old (there were even scratches and stains in some places), there was no trace of the doorframe... Mind you, we were there one week ago, so the paint would still be fresh. We went as far as to ask the bartender what happened to the second room. 'What second room?' she asked incredulously. We decided our minds were collectively messing with our memories, so we just finished our drinks and left. Of course, we came back one week later. And guess what? THE SECOND ROOM WAS THERE AGAIN!!! And again, no traces of fresh paint, demolitions, new doorframe... nothing. 'You see it too?' my friend asked. We are still going there for our drinks, at least when it's possible because of the pandemic. And the second room is always there. There was only this one instance when it vanished. I'd think I just went crazy but my friend also remembers that. To this day, we still don't know what the hell that was.
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
I was 16 and got lost in the woods. As dark approached, I was getting nervous about being lost all night. Out of nowhere, I saw a dog. It came right up to me and was friendly. I decided to follow it, hoping it was going home and would lead me back to civilization. After some time, we stumbled out of the woods, onto a road with a house nearby. I got help. I never saw the dog again and no one nearby owned a dog or remembered a dog like that. I still wonder what happened to it. It's like it vanished the moment I had help. I didn't even get to thank him/her.
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
My Mom passed away from breast cancer 22 years ago. I dreamed that she came to my bedroom. I stood and she wrapped her arms around me. I said, “Oh, Mom.” We stood there, her humming and swaying, and telling me it would be alright. So real I can still feel her hug.
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
The sound of my front door opening woke me from a sound sleep. I'm laying there my heart pounding and frozen with fear I can't move, thinking who came into my apartment? No one else had a key. As this is all going through my head the bedroom door opened and closed and someone laid down behind me and put an arm over me, spooning fashion. I felt the weight on the mattress and the arm across me, still not knowing who it could be. Then I really woke up. A dream within a dream?
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
When I saw my sister on a Geico commercial when I was watching TV. She wanted to surprise us, and she did.
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
Saturday morning, in bed. My dad told me to relax and not work too hard. He passed away 2 years before.
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
I was driving at dusk down an enormous hill near where I grew up. All of a sudden the moon began to rise above the trees to the right of the road at the base of the hill below me. It was huge. It looked like a giant glowing orb rising out of the forest. It was so large it spanned my entire windshield. I had to pull over to watch it, just in complete shock. On my phone it would not show up the same so I just stopped trying to record it or take pictures and just watched it. As it kept rising it shrank smaller until it was normal sized. I looked it up not long after and apparently it’s called “The Moon Illusion.” Its a known optical illusion. I think the angle of the hill and horizon somehow exaggerated it. I’ve seen the illusion since then a few times but never anything even close to that size. It did not feel real at all.
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
Definitely when I confessed my feelings to my now-wife and she told me that she feels the same way. Pretty much everything since that day has felt like it must be a dream...
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
I was like 7 or something. I dreamt that I was in an empty room and an unknown woman comes to me, I never saw her in reality. The next day, I found my grandma cleaning a photo. The person I dreamt about was my long-dead aunt (father's sister).
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
When an ex-TV show host declared that he was running for the presidency.
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
I was on a road trip with the family to attend a graduation in Colorado, and because there was a large number of us from out of town, we were staying at a rental house. We arrived at the subdivision late at night and we (there were two cars) had so much trouble finding the right street, but we finally somehow got there. The next morning, my brother and I decided to drive to another town while everyone else slept to have breakfast with the family of the graduate. We left our subdivision and just as we were about to get to the main road, I made a wrong turn that led us into another subdivision that was still being built in the middle of open fields. Some houses were done, others were being worked on, and there were some construction guys around. There were only a few streets and blocks, probably 6 or 7, but for some odd reason, I couldn’t find our way back out! When I realized the street we were on wasn’t leading us through to get to the main road, I thought it would be simple to go around a block and find the way we had come in. But somehow it led me back into the inner streets! I tried going around another block, but kept ending up in the inner part of the subdivision. So I thought I would drive through the outer streets, some of which were still under construction, but again, somehow they would lead us back in. I was getting frustrated at first, but each time we would end up in the inner streets, I started to freak out a little. My brother wasn’t saying much other than suggesting we go this way or that way. At one point I stopped by where some guys were working on a house, and sheepishly asked them how I could drive out of there to get onto the main road. They looked at me like I was nuts – after all, this was such a small subdivision. They directed me to go a way I had already tried twice, so I hesitated. I asked if that was the only way and they said yes. Got back in the car, went that way, and still got lost. At this point, I stopped the car and asked my brother what the heck was going on. He didn’t know what to say but I could tell he kept trying to find a reasonable explanation and said to try going another way, which again, we had already tried. There were only so many combinations of turns we could make, and I felt like we had tried them all. I seriously was about to cry, and I’m someone who can keep my composure and think clearly in stressful times, but this was just not something I had experienced in real life, just in my dreams (or nightmares). Also, I’m pretty good with directions and aware of my cardinal points. At one point I saw one of the construction guys get in his work truck and drive off, so I figured he was going out of the subdivision. I followed him and sure enough, we were able to get out. The way he went had been one of the ways we had already tried! To this day I cannot explain it and every time I’ve asked my brother about it, he always says that we must have just kept missing some street that led out. I’m just not so sure and I'll never forget the panic I felt!
Hey Pandas, What Do You Hate Most About Humans?
Greed. That too many people want to have everything, sometimes at the expense of other people instead of us all looking after each other. Also, they often don't care about the consequences, like the planet suffering because of their desire to make more money. I agree with a lot of the other posts, too.
Show All 26 Upvotes
Mark Burke • submitted 4 list additions 3 years ago
Mark Burke • commented on 4 posts 3 years ago
Show All 4 Comments
Mark Burke • submitted a new post 3 years ago
Mark Burke • submitted a new post 3 years ago
Mark Burke • submitted 2 list additions 2 years ago
Mark Burke • submitted 9 list additions 3 years ago
Mark Burke • submitted 8 list additions 4 years ago
Mark Burke • commented on 10 posts 3 years ago
Mark Burke • commented on 8 posts 4 years ago
Mark Burke • upvoted 2 items 2 years ago
Mark Burke • upvoted 18 items 3 years ago
Hey Pandas, Have You Ever Saved Someone's Life?
Well, not anyone else, but someone saved me! I don't remember much of it because I was really small, but I was in a swimming pool and my parents weren't paying attention to me. I wasn't a very good swimmer at the time and was having trouble keeping my head above water until I started to sink. I can't even describe the feeling of horror and fear that I felt when I realized I couldn't swim to the surface. When I started taking in water all of a sudden I had a feeling of peace come over me. A boy, about fourteen, maybe fifteen grabbed me and pulled me to shallow water. I got out of the water and looked around, but never found him. You can believe whatever you want, but I'm pretty sure he was my guardian angel. I can still feel him sometimes. Photography
Sweet Photographs Of Kids With Animals That Might Make Your Heart Melt A Bit (28 New Pics)
Hey Pandas, What Do You Hate Most About Humans?
Greed. That too many people want to have everything, sometimes at the expense of other people instead of us all looking after each other. Also, they often don't care about the consequences, like the planet suffering because of their desire to make more money. I agree with a lot of the other posts, too. Animals, Cats
Woman Is Asking If She Was A Jerk For Kicking Her Boyfriend Out Of Her Apartment When She Overheard Him Talking Maliciously To Her Cat
Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
Definitely when I confessed my feelings to my now-wife and she told me that she feels the same way. Pretty much everything since that day has felt like it must be a dream...Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
I was driving at dusk down an enormous hill near where I grew up. All of a sudden the moon began to rise above the trees to the right of the road at the base of the hill below me. It was huge. It looked like a giant glowing orb rising out of the forest. It was so large it spanned my entire windshield. I had to pull over to watch it, just in complete shock. On my phone it would not show up the same so I just stopped trying to record it or take pictures and just watched it. As it kept rising it shrank smaller until it was normal sized. I looked it up not long after and apparently it’s called “The Moon Illusion.” Its a known optical illusion. I think the angle of the hill and horizon somehow exaggerated it. I’ve seen the illusion since then a few times but never anything even close to that size. It did not feel real at all.Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
(I told this story in another thread before.) Me and my friend go for a drink after work, once per week or so. We have our favorite pub - small, cozy place with one room on the ground floor and two rooms with a bathroom in the basement. Well... TWO rooms. One day we went to 'our' pub. We were right after work and my friend never drinks alcohol anyway as he's usually driving, so we were both completely sober. We ordered a beer for me and cola for him and went down to the basement. And - to our incredulity - there was only ONE room, instead of two. For a second I thought there was something seriously wrong with me, but then my friend said: 'There were TWO rooms before, weren't there?' We looked at the wall - no sign indicated that there was a door before. The paint was old (there were even scratches and stains in some places), there was no trace of the doorframe... Mind you, we were there one week ago, so the paint would still be fresh. We went as far as to ask the bartender what happened to the second room. 'What second room?' she asked incredulously. We decided our minds were collectively messing with our memories, so we just finished our drinks and left. Of course, we came back one week later. And guess what? THE SECOND ROOM WAS THERE AGAIN!!! And again, no traces of fresh paint, demolitions, new doorframe... nothing. 'You see it too?' my friend asked. We are still going there for our drinks, at least when it's possible because of the pandemic. And the second room is always there. There was only this one instance when it vanished. I'd think I just went crazy but my friend also remembers that. To this day, we still don't know what the hell that was.Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
I was 16 and got lost in the woods. As dark approached, I was getting nervous about being lost all night. Out of nowhere, I saw a dog. It came right up to me and was friendly. I decided to follow it, hoping it was going home and would lead me back to civilization. After some time, we stumbled out of the woods, onto a road with a house nearby. I got help. I never saw the dog again and no one nearby owned a dog or remembered a dog like that. I still wonder what happened to it. It's like it vanished the moment I had help. I didn't even get to thank him/her.Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
The sound of my front door opening woke me from a sound sleep. I'm laying there my heart pounding and frozen with fear I can't move, thinking who came into my apartment? No one else had a key. As this is all going through my head the bedroom door opened and closed and someone laid down behind me and put an arm over me, spooning fashion. I felt the weight on the mattress and the arm across me, still not knowing who it could be. Then I really woke up. A dream within a dream?Hey Pandas, Tell Us About A Time You Seriously Questioned Whether You Were Dreaming Or Not
My Mom passed away from breast cancer 22 years ago. I dreamed that she came to my bedroom. I stood and she wrapped her arms around me. I said, “Oh, Mom.” We stood there, her humming and swaying, and telling me it would be alright. So real I can still feel her hug.This Panda hasn't followed anyone yet
Mark Burke • 71 followers
