At first glance, the internet is dominated by funny cat pictures and nostalgic memes, but make a few wrong turns and this place instantly starts raising your eyebrows. Just like the real world!

The subreddit r/weird is full of examples that highlight this similarity. Without resorting to gore and maintaining their content safe to scroll even at work, the members of this community share everything from ridiculous products to surprising discoveries from their home.

However, it’s quite difficult to accurately describe their content with just a few words. So continue scrolling and take a look at it yourself.

#1 When You Find Yourself At 3am In The Wrong Side Of Town

Image credits: izacktorres

#2 Snow Covered Mushroom Tree

Image credits: CrisperKoleslaw

What separates this subreddit from other similar ones is its focus on authenticity. As the moderators of r/weird wrote in its rules, this community is not a substitute for ‘What is X’, AI-generated content, and artwork “you” made subreddits.

So to get a better understanding of it, we contacted the team looking after r/weird, and one of its members were kind enough to have a little chat with us.

“Maintaining the subreddit clean is an important task,” they told Bored Panda. “While r/weird embraces the unconventional and the bizarre, there are still certain guidelines and rules in place to ensure a positive and respectful environment for everyone.”

#3 Just Some Rust, Keep Scrolling

Image credits: Antelope-Feisty

#4 Found This Inside The Wall In My Hallway. I’ve Lived In This House For All Of My 46 Years

Image credits: BeginningSir2984

#5 A Family Took A Photo Of A Massive, Purple Jellyfish Washed Up On An Island In Maine Over The Weekend

Image credits: yasirulakshitha

According to the moderator, some common problems that require their attention include:

Spam: “Removing repetitive or irrelevant posts and comments that are purely self-promotional or aim to manipulate the subreddit for personal gain.”

Inappropriate content: “Addressing posts or comments that contain explicit or offensive material, including hate speech, personal attacks, or explicit imagery.”

Off-Topic posts: “Keeping the subreddit focused on weird and unusual content by removing posts that do not align with the subreddit’s theme.”

Low-quality posts: “Encouraging users to share content that sparks curiosity and discussion, and removing low-effort or low-quality posts that don’t contribute to the overall experience.”

#6 Middle New Yorkish Owlcat

Image credits: bil-sabab

#7 Flooding Recently Uncovered Three Tomb Stones In My Backyard

Image credits: cutmylifeintofleecez

#8 A House I Pass Walking To School

Image credits: sasha_matrosov

#9 My Friend Asked Me To Bake A Pie For His Wife’s Birthday. I Made Them This

Image credits: Kapornacis

If we ask ourselves what scares us, what keeps us up at night after we watch a horror movie or has us rushing to lock our doors after reading a scary novel, we might come up with an easy and obvious answer to these questions: we are afraid of things and people we don’t understand.

And this subreddit is full of them.

“The community of r/weird is diverse and passionate about exploring the unconventional and the peculiar,” the moderator of the subreddit said. “Members are often intrigued by the strange, the unexplained, and the outlandish. 

#10 Devils Tower Is A Geological Wonder Located In The Black Hills Of Northeastern Wyoming In The United States. It Is A Massive Rock Formation That Rises 867 Feet Above Its Base And Is Considered Sacred By Several Native American Tribes

Image credits: Cleverman72

#11 My Friend Found This Sign In A Cabin Which Freaks Me Out…? Any Idea…?

Image credits: shingooshmoojiii

#12 Lent My Notebook To My Friend And She Gave It Back With This Written In It

Image credits: _Prefer_Not_To_Say_

#13 A Tree I Parked In Front Of Looks Like It Has Eyes

Image credits: Snivern

However, when you’re dealing with 938k people, naturally, not all of them have the same definitions.

“While there is a general understanding of what qualifies as ‘weird,’ interpretations may vary among individuals,” the mod said. But that’s not a bad thing. On the contrary.

“This diversity of perspectives adds to the richness of the community, as members often share their own unique findings, experiences, and opinions, expanding the boundaries of what is considered weird.”

#14 Actual Pastafarian At Santa Monica (California) Dmv

Image credits: zionbwoy6

#15 What Dentists Use For Training

Image credits: TheCabbageGuy82

#16 A Magnet On My Dad’s Fridge

Image credits: kidzbop100gecs

#17 An Artichoke I Was Eating Had Teeth Of Its Own!

Image credits: kadavids23

“In terms of engagement and interest, r/weird members typically respond well to posts that capture their curiosity and challenge their understanding of the world,” the moderator said.

Some types of posts that tend to receive significant engagement include:

Unusual or supernatural experiences: “Stories and accounts of paranormal encounters, strange coincidences, or other inexplicable phenomena often attract attention and spark discussions among members.”

Rare and bizarre discoveries: “Unearthed artifacts, odd historical facts, or peculiar occurrences that are not widely known tend to generate interest, as they offer new and intriguing information.”

Unique art and creativity: “Original artworks, sculptures, music, or other creative endeavors that embrace the weird and unconventional can garner appreciation and inspire conversations within the community.”

Scientific and historic oddities: “Scientific discoveries or phenomena that defy conventional explanations or challenge existing knowledge often capture the interest of r/weird members who enjoy exploring the boundaries of what is considered normal.”

#18 I Found 93 Copies Of Forrest Gump In A Closet At The Inspection For A House I’m Looking To Buy

Image credits: Lacroix_boiii

#19 I Noticed Something Strange In A Photo I Took Last Winter Around 3 Am. I Think A Man Crawling In The Middle Of The Road Towards The Mist

Image credits: lovewilltearsusapart

#20 Found This On A Mountain In Ireland

Image credits: reddit.com

#21 Fiance Accidentally Left A Pot Of Simple Syrup On The Stove To Burn And Made An Asteroid

Image credits: chillreptile

“Overall, r/weird is a community that thrives on the unconventional and encourages members to embrace and share their own peculiarities, fostering an environment of open-mindedness and fascination for the strange,” the moderator concluded.

#22 How My Wife Sits

Image credits: HoldTheRope91

#23 Graveyard From The 1800’s

Image credits: GummiShark52

#24 This Is America!

Image credits: Smartercow

#25 The Sleeping Girl Of Turville: On The 28th March 1871, 11-Year-Old Ellen Sadler Went To Bed And Did Not Wake Up For 9 Years

Image credits: LifeisALove

#26 What Is Wrong In This Picture?

Image credits: StructurePrize221

#27 I Woke Up To A Pickle On My Front Door?

Image credits: kuromifan333

#28 Something’s Wrong With My Ceiling

Image credits: velocolizard

#29 What Happened? Suddenly, The Skies Above South Dakota Turned Green. A Rare Phenomenon That Is Like Being In A Magical World

Image credits: puffthezCloud

#30 What The Hell??

Image credits: BreakRules939

#31 Something I Found In A Tree On The Way Back From A Hike

Image credits: Zerrrg

#32 Were Pants Really This High Back Then?

Image credits: valleylog

#33 My Hand After A Shower

Image credits: TX_Sized10-4

#34 This Guy With Horns Who Stands On The Side Of The Highway By My House

Image credits: forthunt

#35 Spotted In A Public Bathroom

Image credits: toejam78

#36 My Wallet Went Missing For 3 Months, Then Appeared In My Hall And Today I Found This Lock Of Blonde Hair Inside

Image credits: wavelength303

#37 This House In Germany

Image credits: Phlogistoned

#38 Yikes. Came Outside This Morning To Find This On My Front Step. Just Moved Out Into The A Rural Area Of Central Indiana. ?

Image credits: TheDadChef

#39 A Terrified Festival-Goer Says He Was Being Offered As A Human Sacrifice To Mother Earth After He Woke Up Trapped In A Coffin Following A Drinking Binge

Image credits: LifeisALove

#40 Wife Showed Me What Her Coworker Found Near The Register While Closing Sporting Goods Store In Small Town

Image credits: pantsarenew

#41 This Was Spotted In Alabama—what Even Is This?

Image credits: SinVerguenza04

#42 Opened A Can Of Peaches And They Were Black And Smelt Like Fish??

Image credits: Elly_frog

#43 A Picture Of My Grandma And Her Friend At A Party In 1971

Image credits: Altruistic-Good-4883

#44 Found Flies Dead Making A Circle Near My Window. I Dont Use Traps, Bug Sprays Etc. There Was No Pesting Either. What Could Be Causing This?

Image credits: BesimTibuk74

#45 When Your Alcohol Problem Gets Weird

Image credits: bil-sabab

Source: boredpanda.com