Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
We're all born with a clean slate. Growing up, we soak up our surroundings, filling our brains with information, most of the time without even being aware of it. At one point we start looking at the world with a little helper on our shoulder, called "common sense." And while some "truths" don't stand the test of time and change when they are challenged, we're talking about more mundane things today.
One Reddit user was curious about the most "out of touch with reality" people that others have witnessed, and let's just say people were eager to share their bizarre experiences. Over 33.6k users shared stories of meeting people who surprised them with their sheer ignorance, wild beliefs that have no support, and lack of what seems to be basic know-how needed to just stay alive.
Bored Panda's selected the most captivating stories that left us wondering how these people managed to miss the learning opportunities throughout life, and while most of the answers seem ridiculous, maybe some will actually add to the pile of knowledge in your subconscious. And if you are intrigued by the delusion, you can check our last post on this topic right here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
As a public defender I was defending a Chinese woman charged with prostitution at a massage parlor. I suspected she might be a victim of sex trafficking and spoke to the judge in her chambers about it (some counties have programs designed to help victims, instead of punish them). Not only did the judge not believe my client was a sex slave, she didn't think sex trafficking even existed and told me that everyone needs to be responsible for their own actions. I eventually convinced the DA to drop the charges but was astounded by how out of touch the judge was. It's one thing not to believe that my client was a victim, but it's incomprehensible that a judge would not be aware that sex trafficking is a thing.
Nancy T 1 year ago
I was in family court this year. I explained to the judge that my daughter had Ehlers Danlos syndrome and autonomic dystonia. The judge looked at me like I was a crazy liar and said "I do have a little medical knowledge and have never heard of this mumbo-jumbo" and "Did a real doctor actually diagnose her?!". Freaking God...we had spent the last two years trying to figure out what was ailing my daughter. Multiple specialists provided diagnoses. The obstinate ignorance of that judge shattered me. I have no faith in the justice system.
#2
Had a coworker ask me what denomination I am. I replied I don't believe in god.
She was so dumbfounded that she didn't have a reply. 3 days later she came back and asked if I was worried about going to hell, or what jesus would think. Had to explain I didn't believe in those either.
She had no idea atheism existed. She was told in church that atheists were just people who were mad at god, but she thought that still meant they were religious.
She was 43 years old.
#3
Some years ago, I worked in a mailroom. The boss of my boss was talking about one of her family members, who had some kind of emergency, and had to come up with $30,000. She said to my boss and I...and I'll never forget this: "I don't understand the problem..I mean, who DOESN'T have $30,000 saved for an emergency?!?" .....B***h, I work in a mailroom.
Epilogue: I have been out of the mailroom for 8 years....I still don't have an extra $30,000 lying around.
#4
I live in london as a welfare rep for American students. Knowing that American college costs a bundle, and the programme to come over costs a load too, these students tend to be the richest and whitest of suburbia.
One day the WiFi went down and I may as well have told them that there was no drinking water in the U.K.
About 40 students were knocking on my door telling me it wasn't acceptable and that they were calling their 'daddys' to sort it "My daddy is a lawyer, so if you think you're getting money for this accomodation when I haven't had WiFi you've got another think coming." (that sorta thing!)
I tried to calm them down, let them know it would be back on in an hour or two when one of them said the following line;
"You can't blame us for being upset, we grew up in 'THE FIRST WORLD'"...
I was flabbergasted, not only did she talk about being from 'the first world' (who does that) like that is something to be proud of. But her entire arguament was 'Everything in my life has always been easy and perfect... how dare you take away the most minor of utilities for 3 hours'
I despair
#5
We were at a table, 6 of us, eating.
The conversation turned to jobs/employment. One of the guys, a rich kid that had most of his life handed to him, including his tech job at mommy's company, made the comment that he didn't understand why if someone couldn't find a job, they just didn't go back to school, get a degree, and try some more.
He couldn't understand two things.
One, *most* family's cannot support an unemployed adult student for the time it takes to get a degree.
Two, the jaw dropping one, was he thought that ALL colleges, EVERYWHERE, were FREE.
His 'logic' was that students go to college straight from high school and 'they don't have money' so how else could they afford school.
We live in the U.S. and this guy was *27 years old*!
And we had to tell him school costs money......
Pound Cake 1 year ago
Through my school system’s program I can take community college classes and even after all the county’s deductions I still have to pay! Unless you can bribe quite a few people, your college will not be free in the US
#6
My brother's best friend married a pretty rich girl. He said the first time he saw her do laundry she was going through her pockets and throwing her loose change in the garbage. She had no idea that people kept their change. Genuinely thought everyone just threw it away.
#7
I had to give my friend the sex talk... Junior year of high school.
Before that, he thought you took your wife to the hospital, they put you in a room, you peed on her and the baby would be conceived... Sweet Jesus.
TotallyNOTaFox 1 year ago
I'm so glad that i got my education in a country with proper sex-ed. Sex differences in 4th grade, detailed anatomy, pregnancy, STDs and protection methodes in 6th/7th grade and finally genetics and biochemical processes in 10th grade
#8
Went on a trip with an ex to Asia. She didn't like it because she couldn't understand why people didn't speak English. So she would just yell at them, I need a napkin! Bathroom, where?!
I pretty much told her to have some respect for people. Talk to them politely. She got all mad and fussy at me the whole trip.
#9
My dad was in the US Marines for Desert Storm and Desert Shield and had to escort a fallen soldier home for his funeral. When he attended the wake, the family was understandably upset except for the father. After talking to him, he explained that he knew his son had been selected to be a secret agent and that the body in the coffin couldn't possibly be his son. Very sad.
#10
Knew a guy who was really into rage against the machine, and getting pretty radicalized about government.
One day thought he was being tailed by the FBI, so he threw it in reverse and rammed the car.
Turns out it was the FBI. He was on a watch list, and now he's in prison.
#11
Oooooh this question is perfect for me.
I grew up in the richest and whitest of suburbia. Everyone I knew had a doctor/lawyer/CEO for a dad it felt like. Where do I even start?
- I knew a girl who didn't want to go to school in the 8th grade... So her parents paid her. $400 a week just to *show up* to middle school. She's now addicted to pills and not going to college.
- One time I was at a friend's lake house and they asked if they could come to mine next weekend. When I told them I didn't have one they were actually floored. Everyone has one of those, right? Similar thing happened a few times with country clubs.
This one is the best:
- I went to France on a school trip (I know, I know) with another school from my area. I saw one of the girls from the other school who I had made friends with over the course of the trip crying. I went and asked her what was wrong and she said she found out her maid got deported back to Bolivia. I was like "that sucks was she really cool or something?"
Nope. She didn't even speak English. The girl was just pissed she'd have to clean for herself until they got a new one. Then come to find out that wasn't even their only maid... They were going from 2 maids to 1 for like a week or two and it was the worst thing that had ever happened to her.
Allison B 1 year ago (edited)
My dad's a doctor and honestly I'll admit to having been quite spoiled as a child but this is insane! I think the only "rich kid" moment I had was being confused when I visited a friend at their apartment since the setup reminded me of a hotel with the entry doors in a hallway. I had never seen that before and was confused if they were living in a long term hotel or something. I was like 20. Not my smartest moment. He's my best friend and im still teased about it 15 years later.😂🤦♀️
#12
My father, by far. But the coin incident was the farthest from reality he's ever been.
My dad collects coins, because his extremely Hungarian immigrant grandfather convinced him that the Bank (capitalizing it because to him, all banks are just one huge world bank) is determined to steal all his money from him, so he has to have a backup plan. This in and of itself isn't too extreme; plenty of people choose self-sustenance due to a distrust in government and economics, but the real kicker happened when he tried to roll his coins.
He has to order his coin rolls online because he doesn't want to go to the bank and get coin rolls because then the bank will know how much money he's hiding from them. I'm not kidding. Anyway, he ordered a bag of coin rolls and waited about a month for them to come before he started getting curious where they were. He asked my mom to check the order tracking while he was at work one day, which led to this conversation:
Mom: [Dad's name], it says here that the package made it to [town we live in] two weeks ago, but got sent back. It says you gave no delivery address.
Dad: Yeah, why would I do that? I don't want them to know where I live, they might tell everyone.
RedBadgerCan'tSwim 1 year ago
I've never heard of a store shipping product without an address.
#13
Got a good one. I went to school in At UBC for a year and lived in the dorms. One of the super rich Chinese kids that populated my school lived on the same floor as me. Her first day there she took a shower in the public bathroom and then just left all her clothes strewn about. She assumed the maid would come pick them up an wash them.
YetAnotherSarah 1 year ago
I looked it up. OP specifies "Chinese" because the students from China make up a very large and specific (exceptionally rich to the point of being culturally distinct) demographic at the University of British Columbia. OP's shorthand description doesn't translate well for those of us that had to even look up "UBC".
#14
About 3 years ago and I had a young woman, probably early 20s, come into the cafe I work at. She ordered herself and drink and a pastry of some sort. Her total around $6. She proceeded to hand me a 1 dollar bill and 6 quarters. I took the money and waited for her to procure more but she just stood there staring at me. I told her, "I'm sorry, it's $6.87," or whatever. She says, "I know I gave you 7." I said, "No, this is only $2.25." She took the money from my hand and counted each item in front of me like I was stupid, counting each item as $1. I pointed to the quarters ans told her, "Those are quarters, not dollars." Keep in mind this person was obviously not foreign or anything. She had no accent and seemed completely American. Anyway, her response was, "I know they're quarters, but they're dollars." She then proceeded to pick up one of the quarters and point to the word "dollar" inscribed on the bottom beneath George's head. At this point I was thinking, this is the single dumbest person I've ever seen or this is the worst con ever conceived, but she didn't give up. She demanded to speak to a manager. I got the manager and he told her the same thing. She started getting visibly upset, and holding back tears. She might have been embarressed. Best I can figure is that she somehow never learned about money and change somehow and used it so rarely that she assumed quarters were dollars because technically the word "dollar" was on the coin.
#15
"You don't have to go to college and I'm not helping you with fafsa because Armageddon is coming soon and we'll all be in a heavenly paradise. You should spend your time going door to door in the field ministry until Armageddon comes instead." - my mom.
Weim Central 1 year ago
It's hard when you come to the realization that one or both of your parents are dumb as a stump.
#16
I had a friend who was going to Greece with her family and asked me to come. I told her "sorry, I'd like to but that's too expensive." She responded with "just ask your parents to pay, I'm sure they will." I could not for the life of me convince her that no, my parents would not pay to send me to Greece. She literally could not wrap her mind around the fact that some people's parents would not pay for them to go on vacation.
#17
My grandmother told me women especially moms can't be alcoholics. It's just not possible. Only men are alcoholics because no matter what women don't have it in them and don't have time to be alcoholics. And that everyone always know who is an alcoholic and who isn't. If someone is an alcoholic they always show it in some way you can't act happy and be an alcoholic! My moms an alcoholic and obviously grandma is in denial and struggling to accept it despite the fact that her own sister died from health issues caused by drinking. But yeah women can't be alcoholics.
censorshipsucks 1 year ago
I dated a girl who was an alcoholic and it was a nightmare. Fine when sober but when drunk most unreasonable and aggressive and frankly stupid.
#18
I work at a recording studio. The amount of people who think they're going to be the next big thing is scary.
#19
I have a co-worker who once got visibly upset because I said he was about the same age as my parents.
He's 51. My parents are 53.
I'd like to point out that I didn't just say this out of the blue. He asked how old my parents were, and I knew his age, so I made the comparison. He also said things like "I work out you know, I'm stronger than guys half my age". Very much a man child in denial.
#20
I've met a few people who are really brilliant in one field, yet lack even the most basic level of sense in certain areas outside of it. Sort of like the thing about Einstein not being able to tie his shoes (if that's true).
My favorite was a university professor: absolutely brilliant knowledge of middle eastern politics, particularly around the Israel-Palestine conflict. He could remember insanely precise historical details going back thousands of years, and seemed to understand the subtlest of nuances on both sides of the conflict. His lectures were amazing. Or they would have been, if he had turned off his cell phone. He simply couldn't figure out how to silence his phone, or even turn it on and off. He had let his TA do it for him a couple of times, but then he'd leave with it still off and couldn't figure out how to turn it back on until he came back the next day, so after going through that twice he decided he would just leave it on. And it appeared that every telemarketer on earth had his number, because it would ring at least 5 times an hour at full volume, and he'd just talk over the top of it like it wasn't happening. He also never answered his email, because he apparently didn't realize that he had one or might need to use it.
One day he'd forgotten to bring his little water jug, and sent his TA to the vending machine in the middle of a lecture to bring him a bottle of water. She brought it back and handed it to him, and he turned red in the face trying to get it open, before handing it back to her and declaring that something was wrong with it. She opened it quickly and easily: he'd been turning the cap the wrong way.
I should specify here that this was not a super old guy who you'd expect to have issues with technology and life in general: he was in his mid or late 40's.
Lynne Hammar 1 year ago (edited)
Oh, I worked in academe for years as a secretary. All of the secretaries shared stories about the faculty's cluelessness. One of the funniest was when a visiting professor asked for some Wite Out, then proceeded to white out the expiration date on her driver's license, put it into the typewriter, and type in a new date.
#21
I used to work in a pizza place and my boss (the owner) was one of the strangest guys I've ever met.
He used to tell me that the world was run by "reptilian aliens" and that the moon was their base. He knew this because NASA once hit something off the moon and it "sounded like a bell" and thus must be hollow and full of lizard people.
Left that job after 3 weeks.
#22
A guy I know once told me that dinosaurs were a hoax. And dinosaur bones were floating in space when God formed the Earth, that's why they're trapped in the ground.
#23
My friend during high shool had all the videogame consoles from the current generation as soon as they were released. Along with a bunch of games. My parents could afford new consoles only 2 years after release (in Brazil, games are EXPENSIVE). My friend would argue why my father didn't work more to make more money, because whenever his father wanted more money, he'd make extra hours. His father was a director of a big car tires company.
#24
Ok. so I was 15, and working at McDonalds. I was at the back window where you take peoples money. A customer came, and blew past the back speaker where you order. That was pretty typical, so I figured it was just a normal mistake.
When they get to my window it is the very old lady. She smiles at me, holds a grocery bag up, with frozen chicken and a two liter of soda. She holds out a 20$ bill and asks "how much for the chicken and soda?"
15 year old me didn't have the coping skills for this. I stared at her for what felt like forever. Finally I said "Uh, I think you're confused".. She drove off, with her car half way over the curb.
What do you think ?
Full of Giggles 1 year ago (edited)
I have the misfortune of knowing American politician, Wendy Rogers. The woman is absolutely bat s**t crazy and stupid. She makes Trump look like an actual stable genius. Anyways. A few years back, a group of pro-lifers burnt down the Planned Parenthood in a severely impoverished community. A year later, the number of government assistance recipients almost doubled from the previous year. Wendy couldn’t put two and two together. I had to explain that many families in the community relied on PP for free condoms and birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Without those services women were having babies they couldn’t afford to feed and thus, needed government assistance. Wendy said that wasn’t an excuse because condoms are only 25 cents at the gas station and everyone has 25 cents. I then had to explain that most of these people can’t afford a $1 loaf of bread so there’s no way they have 25 cents to spare. Her reply? “Surely preventing pregnancy is more important than feeding their kids.”
Full of Giggles 1 year ago (edited)
I ran out of room. I highly recommend googling Wendy. She frequently pops up on Reddit because of the stupid s**t she says.
Load More Replies...
Shannon Epps 1 year ago
When my daughter was about 13 years old I had a friend who had a 9-month-old baby. My daughter asked if she could hold the baby and my friend asked if she was on her period. Of course I was confused and asked her why that would matter. She looked at me like I was the crazy one and proceeded to tell me the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!! She said," Don't you know that if your daughter is on her period and has cramps she can give them to my son?" Of course I had a lot of questions! I asked her how she thought my daughter possibly having cramps would affect her son. She explained that the hormones my daughter would be giving off would cause him to have cramps too. I asked her where would he be getting cramps on his body because he doesn't have the same parts as her. She then fumbled around trying to explain that the same place my daughter would get cramps her son would get cramps. I then open my laptop and some of my nursing school books and gave her a full health lesson! I had to explain to her what a uterus was or babies come out how babies are made the difference between the two genders. And after 45 minutes of that she still said that she doesn't quite believe it and that she seen it happen before. We weren't friends after that. It's one thing to have never learned something it's another thing to dig your heels in on stupid and die on that hill of crazy!
Stump Rumpersonne 1 year ago
I've removed every dumb mf'er and vaguely bigoted person from my life and I've been incredibly happy since. Sometimes it's not about bringing good into your life, it's about removing the bad.
Load More Replies...
Lara Verne 1 year ago
My cousin once dated girl from very rich family. She was like child. Never been in public transport before, so she was all excited about it. Until she found out that public transport does not stop in front of her house.
Irma 1 year ago
I had this friend who did not know how to open a bottle of wine cause he had people do it for him. When my toilet broke he also said 'why dont you go to the one upstairs' i dont have a second bathroom heck i dont even have an upstairs
Load More Replies... Full of Giggles 1 year ago (edited)
I have the misfortune of knowing American politician, Wendy Rogers. The woman is absolutely bat s**t crazy and stupid. She makes Trump look like an actual stable genius. Anyways. A few years back, a group of pro-lifers burnt down the Planned Parenthood in a severely impoverished community. A year later, the number of government assistance recipients almost doubled from the previous year. Wendy couldn’t put two and two together. I had to explain that many families in the community relied on PP for free condoms and birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Without those services women were having babies they couldn’t afford to feed and thus, needed government assistance. Wendy said that wasn’t an excuse because condoms are only 25 cents at the gas station and everyone has 25 cents. I then had to explain that most of these people can’t afford a $1 loaf of bread so there’s no way they have 25 cents to spare. Her reply? “Surely preventing pregnancy is more important than feeding their kids.”
Full of Giggles 1 year ago (edited)
I ran out of room. I highly recommend googling Wendy. She frequently pops up on Reddit because of the stupid s**t she says.
Load More Replies... Shannon Epps 1 year ago
When my daughter was about 13 years old I had a friend who had a 9-month-old baby. My daughter asked if she could hold the baby and my friend asked if she was on her period. Of course I was confused and asked her why that would matter. She looked at me like I was the crazy one and proceeded to tell me the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!! She said," Don't you know that if your daughter is on her period and has cramps she can give them to my son?" Of course I had a lot of questions! I asked her how she thought my daughter possibly having cramps would affect her son. She explained that the hormones my daughter would be giving off would cause him to have cramps too. I asked her where would he be getting cramps on his body because he doesn't have the same parts as her. She then fumbled around trying to explain that the same place my daughter would get cramps her son would get cramps. I then open my laptop and some of my nursing school books and gave her a full health lesson! I had to explain to her what a uterus was or babies come out how babies are made the difference between the two genders. And after 45 minutes of that she still said that she doesn't quite believe it and that she seen it happen before. We weren't friends after that. It's one thing to have never learned something it's another thing to dig your heels in on stupid and die on that hill of crazy!
Stump Rumpersonne 1 year ago
I've removed every dumb mf'er and vaguely bigoted person from my life and I've been incredibly happy since. Sometimes it's not about bringing good into your life, it's about removing the bad.
Load More Replies... Lara Verne 1 year ago
My cousin once dated girl from very rich family. She was like child. Never been in public transport before, so she was all excited about it. Until she found out that public transport does not stop in front of her house.
Irma 1 year ago
I had this friend who did not know how to open a bottle of wine cause he had people do it for him. When my toilet broke he also said 'why dont you go to the one upstairs' i dont have a second bathroom heck i dont even have an upstairs
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
