Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Lifestyle
Ieva Pečiulytė

“Wait, What?”: 57 Posts With Plot Twists So Unexpected You’ll Probably Have To Read Them Twice (New Pics)

Browsing online can take you to different emotional states. Some of the stuff you read may leave you in a state of utter annoyance, while others can overwhelm you with the warm fuzzies

But sometimes, you will encounter something that makes you do a double-take. It’s the kind of posts you will see when you scroll through the “Wait… What?!” subreddit. As for why you might get stopped in your tracks, go ahead and see for yourself. 

We collected some of the funniest posts from the page that stood out. Don’t forget to upvote your favorites!

#1 Honestly, A Fair Response

© Photo: @qntm

#2 Totally Game Changer

© Photo: ImMortal_SD

#3 Doctor Or CEO

© Photo: @Iron_Cub

Ever wondered what exactly goes on in our brains when we encounter something that surprises us? In this case, it could be looking through these photos that made you go, “wait, what?” 

According to Berkeley’s The Greater Good Science Center, there are four stages of surprise response: freeze, find, shift, and share.

#4 Hot Girl

© Photo: austinlockedup

#5 She Got Played By Her Own Words

© Photo: Wensted

#6 Fooled Me Twice

© Photo: Call_Me_Liv0711

As Greater Good explains, the freeze stage happens the moment we are stopped in our tracks for seeing or hearing something unexpected. The “Find” stage that follows is when we begin to decipher what’s going on and try to understand how it all happened. 

The Shift stage is when our perspectives begin to take shape and shift, typically in response to conflicting findings. The final stage, Share, is when we begin to share the feeling of surprise with others.

#7 Supporting The Local Economy

© Photo: GreenDoomsDay

#8 Truly A Wait What Moment

© Photo: GreenDoomsDay

#9 Roses Are Red, Sloths Like To Rest,

© Photo: JustAConcreteBridge

Surprising events also make learning new information much easier. According to Psychology Today, unexpected events trigger a surge of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter and hormone partly responsible for the fight-or-flight response. 

With the surge in norepinephrine comes increased focus and alertness, which ultimately promotes better learning.

#10 3rd R, Not Present 😂

© Photo: hyperactiveHD

#11 Our What?

© Photo: GreenDoomsDay

#12 Job Well Done Adt

© Photo: Certified_Brony2

Of course, no one wants ugly surprises. So if you want to invite more pleasant ones, here are some ways, as suggested by the Greater Good: 

  1. Mix up your routines. Take the bus instead of driving to work or eat at a new restaurant. Unexpected changes may lead to new insights. 
  2. Do something random for someone. Offer to wash the dishes, then clean out the fridge. The goal is to under-promise and over-deliver. 
  3. Make a “struggle sandwich.” Simply put, take a big risk sandwiched between smaller risks that will likely go well. Doing so helps you connect risk-taking with something positive.

#13 Magic Pizza

© Photo: GreenDoomsDay

#14 Not Sure AI Should Be Recommending These Things

© Photo: AshamedAnteater4912

#15 I Don't Have A Keyboard... Oh! I'm Gonna Open The On-Screen Keyboard! "Windows Key + Ctrl + O"... Wait... I Don't Have A Keyboard

© Photo: TheRock7479

How about you, dear readers? Which of these images made you do the hardest double-takes? What about these photos caught your attention? We’d love to hear your insights in the comments below!

#16 I'm Not Shure If This Is How It Works

© Photo: Maleficent_Hawk9407

#17 Lil Torn

© Photo: @leonardcowalski

#18 Dehydrated Water

© Photo: Fresh-Palpitation-72

#19 Wait, What?

© Photo: CosmicChameleon45

#20 You Want Me To Do What Now?

© Photo: Unlikely_Ad_7333

#21 'your' Makes It Less Weird

© Photo: reddit.com

#22 Even Copilot Has Some Secrets Of Its Own

© Photo: Bravery_delta_sans00

#23 My Hotel Room Had Another Small Empty Room Inside It

© Photo: IntelligentCheese622

#24 Bench Facing Towards A Tree

© Photo: qankz

#25 Ummm.. Thanks, I Will

© Photo: VoidFoxi

#26 Saw This Car Magnet At The Store This Morning...🤔😵

© Photo: reddit.com

#27 They... Switched?

© Photo: Nervous_Ad_4761

#28 Wait A Minute

© Photo: PikaQuin

#29 Why Are There Peaches?

© Photo: Little_Leshy

#30 I Guess Some People Really Hate Ron.... Poor Ron

© Photo: cheapskategeek

#31 A Puzzle My 4 Year Old Was Doing. Please Finish

© Photo: Gauntix1

#32 I Thought They Outlawed That In The 1970's?

© Photo: geomorphster

#33 So Many... Flavors?

© Photo: Besttkk6

#34 Gets Worse The More You Read!

© Photo: bunnyboy131313

#35 Wait, What Are You Selling?

© Photo: cmdrico7812

#36 Couldn’t Figure Out Why My Phone Was Out Of Storage. Turns Out X Takes Up A Lot Of Space

© Photo: GreenDoomsDay

#37 This Promoted Reddit Post Made Me Literally Say, "Wait, What?!"

© Photo: Garrod_Ran

#38 What

© Photo: RailwayFan2728

#39 Guys I Think Something Is Wrong

© Photo: Narrator_Chara

#40 Dogs Can’t Eat Food?

© Photo: ghost-of-a-fish

#41 Grandma Flavor?

© Photo: reddit.com

#42 How Did That Happen

© Photo: logichurts21

#43 This Fits Into My Budget Perfectly

© Photo: lupicustodi

#44 What Is Even Going On In Wyoming

© Photo: reddit.com

#45 This Came Out My Knee

© Photo: NoxArmada

#46 Literally A Casino Ad In My Fortune Cookie, I'm Done

© Photo: Automatic_Royal_833

#47 Who's On Who's Back

© Photo: MrBloodyKiller

#48 Wait, Who Is Jerry And Why Did He Sign My Mushroom?

© Photo: DiveCatchABaby

#49 I Was At My Kid's Soccer Game And Then

© Photo: imma_go_take_a_nap

#50 Do People Really Struggle With This?

© Photo: modern_aftermath

#51 What In The Math

© Photo: Lala_S_Deviluke

#52 Wtf Kind Of Product Description Is This?

© Photo: Delphine39

#53 Uh… What?

© Photo: Haunting_Ant_5061

#54 Is Our Friend A Psychopath?

© Photo: jdn-za

#55 Tax On Delivery Fee?

© Photo: WltrRR

#56 Who Took That Left Pic?

© Photo: Low-Investment-6482

#57 This Was A Drake’s Crowd Surfing After The Leak

© Photo: 5gearz

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.