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It's a bit disconcerting when you catch yourself zoning out while doing something. Seconds, maybe even minutes go by as your mind drifts off, and your body, hands and perhaps even feet just keep going. Hopefully, this happens while you are doing something safe or unimportant, but fortunately, internet users have compiled the times' something a bit more silly happened.

People were asked to share their own stories with mental autopilot in a Twitter thread that went viral. So make sure you are seated somewhere comfortable, scrolling through and upvoting your favorites. And if you want to learn about more bizarre things people have done, you can find more stories on this topic here and here.

Image credits: UberFacts

#2

Weirdest-Things-People-Did-While-Brain-Autopilot

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Uncanny
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a good idea. When all machines become self aware and take over the world, they’ll remember your good manners. 👍

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Firstly, you might wonder why our brains decide that we shouldn’t be concentrating at a given time. Scientists refer to this feature (or bug) as Default Mode Network or DMN, though the less-specific mind-wandering can also be used. Basically, if the correct circumstances are met, like doing an activity you have ample experience with, your brain will “push” the taste to the background, allowing you to start thinking about something else, even when you don’t actually want this to happen. 

Driving is one of the most common activities that causes people’s minds to wander. If the individual is an experienced driver and isn’t generally stressed while on the road, they may quickly enter an auto-pilot-like state. This isn’t necessarily a danger to other drivers or pedestrians, but the individual might end up driving to the wrong location or missing an exit or turn. But some studies indicate that up to half of road accidents are the result of one or more parties not paying attention behind the wheel. 

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#5

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James016
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did this after I just moved into my house, picked up a takeaway and drove back to the old flat. I didn't realise until I tried to park the car in my old space.

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As people age, their mind tends to wander less, as researchers have found evidence that older adults are more conscientious than younger adults. This is directly linked with less mind-wandering, however, other personality traits can still influence how “present” or not a person is when doing a familiar task. For example, people with ADHD are more prone to spontaneous mind wandering.

#8

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Pheonixvatoreii
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I the only one who finds it irritating when your glasses steam up, and then some person goes 'your glasses are steaming up!' No genius I just thought it was foggy inside!

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#9

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Edgar Rops
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did that while talking on the phone. And the guy I was talking to was giving me tips where to look.

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But this shouldn’t be construed to mean that one’s mind wandering is a sign of attention deficiencies in general. We spend almost a quarter of the time thinking about things that are completely unrelated to the task or situation in front of us. This is somewhat frightening, considering the amount of time we spend, driving, cooking with fire and knives, and other activities where even a minor slip-up can have grave consequences. 

#11

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#12

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Brocken Blue
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh I feel this. My spouse and I had a bad round of Covid in March 2020 and were sick for months. Our tv remote was lost for 9 damn months afterwards and we *still* occasionally run into movies we 100% forgot we watched while sick.

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Similar to mind-wandering, many people also have stories of general absent-mindedness. During this time, their body starts to do something automatically. These processes are called automatisms to reflect how the body performs them naturally. Interestingly, when we make a mistake during automation, we tend to blame the body part, not ourselves. So if you are daydreaming about a vacation while sorting papers and get a papercut, you might consider your hand, not your lapse in attention, responsible. 

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#14

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Robert T
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mum used to joke about having some idiot pull out in front of her and washing her windscreen at him. :D

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#21

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Alexia
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Put my wallet in the fridge, along with the food. Desperately looked for the wallet for the next 40 minutes. Opened the fridge again to get a refreshing drink before staring to look again, and my wallet greeted me from behind the eggs box =)))

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#25

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SuperChicken
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I used to wear contacts, sometimes I'd forget that I already took it out. So there I was pinching my eyes, trying to remove it.

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#27

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FrostMoon Willow
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once put a plate in the fridge (empty plate) but I don’t remember doing it. Not really autopilot because I may have been having an absent seizure lol

Julie Zugz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I put a bag of frozen fruit in the cabinet after making a smoothie, instead of the freezer. Didn't find it until the next day.

Patti Disbennet
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw an episode of the Cosby show where Bill Cosby put the juice in the cupboard after pouring a glass while saying his lines. Apparently no one else caught it.

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#33

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troufaki13
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm picturing your stomach giving you instructions "turn left, now right... aahh I see the arches! We are here! hehehe"

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#34

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meowi.anne
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do this sort of thing regularly. Most of the time i forget what i just said and have to ask, "wait what did i just say"

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#35

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JoJo Anisko
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, if that wasn't a common occurrence, they wouldn't have built in the safety feature.

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#37

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Dr
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You probably need to get out of your car and walk a little more often.

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#38

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waddles
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

once i did this when i was slightly younger but it was on purpose i was trying to see what happened to the fridge light

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#39

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meowi.anne
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once i put my remote in my purse and took it to work. Took me forever to find that damn remote later that night

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#42

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Thee8thsense
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While in high school, went two stops too far on the bus because I was zoned out.

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#45

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#47

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#49

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#51

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Nurichwersonst
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thats a psychic phenomenon and actually has a name but i really can't remember what it's called. 😅

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#55

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#56

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Libstak
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why I only listen to the radio if I know I am alert. I'm terrified of zoning out at the wrong place and wrong time and having an accident.

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#58

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Andrew Roop
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The nj turnpike is not state long. Only the parkway goes all the way to the southern tip.

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#62

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