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If it sounds stupid, looks stupid, quacks like stupid, but also (kinda) works, is it still stupid? The jury’s still out on this one. What we know for sure is that in the world of life hacks, even the weirdest ideas can still have merit. All it takes is a bit of creativity and the willingness to stick a broken key into a potato to make a new grip. Genius and madness are often two sides of the same coin, after all.

Our team over here at Bored Panda wanted to share some of that peculiar worldly wisdom with you, so we’ve compiled this list of the most bizarre life hacks that (sorta, kinda, surprisingly) work. Scroll on down and remember to upvote the ones that impressed you the most, as well as the ones that got you giggling so hard, you had to take a five-minute break. Got a particular fave hack that you can’t wait to share with all of your friends semi-seriously? Let us know which one it was in the comments.

Who better to help navigate the world of silliness than a comedian? Comedy writer and musical stand-up comedian Ariane Sherine put an end to the age-old discussion about whether or not something's dumb if it works. "It’s actually very smart, and it’s a shame if people don’t use it through fear of looking dumb!" she told Bored Panda. Read on for the rest of our interview with Ariane.

In the mood for some more hacks and even more laughs to boost your mood? You’ll find our earlier posts about silly but functional life hacks over here and right here. Bon appétit.

#1

Relationship Hacks 101

Relationship Hacks 101

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    #2

    Get Your Roommate To Clean The Apartment

    Get Your Roommate To Clean The Apartment

    austinlockedup Report

    #3

    Solve Your Problems

    Solve Your Problems

    LeBearGirdle Report

    British comedian Ariane explained that human beings tend to look down on ideas that sound dumb on a theoretical level because we want to appear much more intelligent than we might actually be. It's all to do with our (perceived) reputations!

    "Everybody wants to think they’re smart (even if they’re actually Donald Trump!) and people hate feeling stupid or being duped. If a piece of advice doesn’t sound helpful, I guess people who see themselves as clever will automatically reject it rather than try it and risk feeling dumb," she shared with Bored Panda.

    #4

    How To Get A Free Gift For Your Wedding

    How To Get A Free Gift For Your Wedding

    behindyourback Report

    #5

    If It's Stupid And It Works It's Not Stupid

    If It's Stupid And It Works It's Not Stupid

    cindaysaur Report

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    #6

    My Dad Apparently Sneaks His Remote Into A Local Bar So He Can Change The Channel When He Doesn’t Like What’s On. I’m Equally Embarrassed And Impressed

    My Dad Apparently Sneaks His Remote Into A Local Bar So He Can Change The Channel When He Doesn’t Like What’s On. I’m Equally Embarrassed And Impressed

    BandoLou Report

    Meanwhile, Ariane, just like us, is a huge fan of avocados. Not surprisingly, her favorite life hack has to do with them and how they have an "inbult ripeness sensor" that lets you tell if the avocado is overripe or still green (yes, yes, they're always green, but you know what we mean!).

    "You know how hard it is to tell whether an avocado’s ripe before cutting into it? Simply twist the stem. If it doesn’t come off, it’s underripe; if it comes off and is green underneath, it’s ripe; if it’s brown underneath, it’s overripe. Voila—no more rock hard or mushy grey avocados!" she shared, adding that she has, just us, found that supermarkets promoting 'ripe' avocados tend to lie about just how ripe they really are.

    #7

    Life Hack 100

    Life Hack 100

    Jeffjjsjz Report

    #8

    Unethical Life Pro Tips

    Unethical Life Pro Tips

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    #9

    If You Stain A Shirt, You Can Simply Outline The Stain With A Sharpie And Give It A Name. This Will Make It Seam Like You Visit Islands

    If You Stain A Shirt, You Can Simply Outline The Stain With A Sharpie And Give It A Name. This Will Make It Seam Like You Visit Islands

    joecool32 Report

    Life hacks come in all shapes and sizes. From tiny modifications to how you go about your day for increased efficiency to some seriously out-of-the-box thinking that stays with you, changing your entire perception about life and how you’ve been living it.

    #10

    Learn When To Cry

    Learn When To Cry

    lawyerman_ktk Report

    #11

    Modify Your Online Workout By Turning It Off

    Modify Your Online Workout By Turning It Off

    morgan_murphy Report

    #12

    Shark Attack

    Shark Attack

    DrakeGatsby Report

    In short, life hacks are concentrated bits of worldly wisdom that people have picked up during their lives. We’ve all got at least a few pearls of wisdom that we can share with others, but we’re sometimes not aware that it’s something that others wouldn’t know about.

    #13

    If It Works It's Not Stupid

    If It Works It's Not Stupid

    personathethird Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Raine Soo
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you can keep your herd together with minimal effort, it is not stupid.

    tomruns12
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Smart people don't care what stupid people think about their looks.

    Sharon Collier
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Who cares if people think you look like a dork? If it works, you're a genius!

    ASHRFOX
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    as someone who has herded sheep, I think this is genuis. it wouldn't work for goats though, they'd just jump over it.

    Alditekim
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Next, figure out how to make it double decker. You can shepard more sheeps within the same area.

    tmw
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    who is in charge here? are the goats pulling or the man pushing?

    My O My
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is a similar thing for cows. You can simply attach it to the tractor

    Dilly Millandry
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Grew up on a farm and never needed things like that for cows - they like routine and will plod along the same routes day in, day out. Sheep are another matter.

    Load More Replies...
    StrawberryParfait
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What kind of idiot goes to another country (the UK in this instance), sees the ingenuity utilized by a farmer to move his flock safely, and calls it "stupid" in the first place? What would you suggest, Einstein?

    Hermione
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is brilliant, but right now I am worried for this guy. Looks like they drive on the left. Is something coming around the corner? Sacrificial lambs?

    John C
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm kinda surprised they don't jump through the huge holes, but what do I know - I'm not a farmer.

    M O'Connell
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think you've missed the mesh between the poles. It's there, just tough to see in low resolution.

    Load More Replies...
    Mary Rose Kent
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    ...and you don’t look like a dork-o-matic in the least...

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    #14

    How To Hack Life

    How To Hack Life

    human_dis4ster Report

    #15

    How To Be "Productive"

    How To Be "Productive"

    gwatsky Report

    While some life hacks we pick up from others, improving them to fit our needs, others are, as Bob Ross would say, “happy little accidents.” It just goes to show that even when we think that we’ve got life all figured out, a small slip or mistake can actually be an opportunity to live life better. I mean, I probably won’t use a potato as a key handle until I absolutely have to, but it’s good to have the idea about how flexible I can be somewhere in the back of my head.

    #16

    Smart

    Smart

    marklutchman Report

    #17

    Gym Tip

    Gym Tip

    ronnui_ Report

    #18

    How To Avoid Conversations

    How To Avoid Conversations

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    For the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, practical wisdom (also known as practical rationality or ‘phronesis’) was the highest intellectual virtue. “Phronesis is the complicated interactions between general (theory) and practical (judgment),” one paper explains.

    #19

    I Figured Out You Don’t Actually Have To Assemble These Things

    I Figured Out You Don’t Actually Have To Assemble These Things

    ImWadeYo Report

    #20

    My Brother Wanted To Measure The Trees In His Yard. This Is How Did He Did It

    My Brother Wanted To Measure The Trees In His Yard. This Is How Did He Did It

    Shwnwllms Report

    #21

    Well If It Works It Works

    Well If It Works It Works

    Potter_Pegasus Report

    While we might not immediately link life hacks to something as profound as Aristotelean philosophy, they do hold some things in common, specifically the practical and correct application of theoretical knowledge. And considering that some of these life hacks help solve real-world issues (however small they might be), they shouldn’t be dismissed despite how dumb they might sound on a purely theoretical level.

    #22

    Zip It Up

    Zip It Up

    doublewenis Report

    #23

    Test Your Hairstyles On Your Kids

    Test Your Hairstyles On Your Kids

    momjeansplease Report

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    #24

    If You’re Broke And Can’t Afford Coasters Grab Some Flooring Samples From Home Depot. They Are Free And Come In A Variety Of Colors And Finishes

    If You’re Broke And Can’t Afford Coasters Grab Some Flooring Samples From Home Depot. They Are Free And Come In A Variety Of Colors And Finishes

    Jaunt- Report

    Life hacks might not be as mighty as author John Bradshaw explains in his book ‘Reclaiming Virtue’ (i.e. practical wisdom being “the ability to do the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason”), but they are a reflection of humankind’s ability to adapt and overcome challenges, from the tiny and ridiculous to the profound and consequential. There’s nothing wrong with MacGyvering a solution if conventional knowledge fails us!

    #25

    Life Pro Tip

    Life Pro Tip

    StagnantSoldier0947 Report

    #26

    Started Staining The Deck And Needed To Keep The Dog Off The Deck Boards. Solution Found

    Started Staining The Deck And Needed To Keep The Dog Off The Deck Boards. Solution Found

    brotatohead Report

    #27

    When Your Landlord Says "No Dogs!"

    When Your Landlord Says "No Dogs!"

    Belazur Report

    But what life hacks do you have to share with all the other Pandas? Are they something that you discovered by accident or did you see them somewhere? Do you believe that life hacks can be considered to be successful if they’re really dumb but work? What’s the absolute stupidest life hack you’ve ever seen that still (kinda, sorta, surprisingly) works? Let us know what you think below.

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    #28

    If It's Stupid And It Works It Ain't Stupid

    If It's Stupid And It Works It Ain't Stupid

    mrbik225 Report

    #29

    How To Have Fun As A Parent

    How To Have Fun As A Parent

    i-like-to-be-wooshed Report

    #30

    Meanwhile This Person Is Living In 3018

    Meanwhile This Person Is Living In 3018

    Report

    #31

    Finally A Useful “Life Hack”

    Finally A Useful “Life Hack”

    UltraThiccBoi69 Report

    #32

    5 Second Rule

    5 Second Rule

    life_lamp Report

    #33

    Vaccinate Your Computer

    Vaccinate Your Computer

    soap86882 Report

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #34

    A Flood Can Be A Great Opportunity To Turn Your Home Into An Aquarium

    A Flood Can Be A Great Opportunity To Turn Your Home Into An Aquarium

    MarticZtn Report

    #35

    Stay Thin Y’all

    Stay Thin Y’all

    knightsglow Report

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    #36

    Because It’s Sunny I Want To Work Outside But It’s So Bright I Can’t Really See The Screen. Putting Your Laptop In A Box Blocks Out The Light, So Your Laptop Screen Is Bright. It Also Keeps Laptop Cooler

    Because It’s Sunny I Want To Work Outside But It’s So Bright I Can’t Really See The Screen. Putting Your Laptop In A Box Blocks Out The Light, So Your Laptop Screen Is Bright. It Also Keeps Laptop Cooler

    benlouislebu Report

    #37

    Hmmm

    Hmmm

    worx777 Report

    #38

    In Todays Episode Of Slavic Science

    In Todays Episode Of Slavic Science

    Report

    #39

    Efficient Way To Get Drunk During Quarantine

    Efficient Way To Get Drunk During Quarantine

    BennyWillard Report

    #40

    My 12 Year Old Son Modified His Bike With Carpet For Barefoot Riding

    My 12 Year Old Son Modified His Bike With Carpet For Barefoot Riding

    flaglerite Report

    #41

    Independent Fact Checkers Show This Is True

    Independent Fact Checkers Show This Is True

    JackWilliamRtF Report

    #42

    Afraid Those Lottery Tickets You Got For Stocking Stuffers Might Actually Be Winners?

    Afraid Those Lottery Tickets You Got For Stocking Stuffers Might Actually Be Winners?

    udunn0jb Report

    #43

    You Have The Power

    You Have The Power

    kuttymcwrists Report

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    #44

    The Man Sitting In Front Of Me On The Train Is Using A Twix As A Pillow

    The Man Sitting In Front Of Me On The Train Is Using A Twix As A Pillow

    star_man_u Report

    #45

    Steal Big

    Steal Big

    seangentille Report

    #46

    Shopping Life Hack

    Shopping Life Hack

    derekedwardsgb Report

    #47

    If Your Key Breaks In Half, Just Stick It Into A Potato Like My Friend Did This Morning

    If Your Key Breaks In Half, Just Stick It Into A Potato Like My Friend Did This Morning

    sgape Report

    #48

    Cool Your Backside Off On A Hot Day By Pressing It Against The Cold Door

    Cool Your Backside Off On A Hot Day By Pressing It Against The Cold Door

    _ThatSynGirl_ Report

    #49

    The Real Aristotle

    The Real Aristotle

    venusianbabie Report

    #50

    Cutting Your Tennis Balls In Half Allows You To Store Two More Balls In Each Can, Saving Space

    Cutting Your Tennis Balls In Half Allows You To Store Two More Balls In Each Can, Saving Space

    fantafano Report

    Note: this post originally had 108 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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