A side-by-side meme: left, a rock labeled “ROCKS DON’T REFLECT LIGHT, NEITHER DOES THE MOON”; right, a tweet about a Sesame Street Muppet experiencing homelessness, with a reply about Oscar the Grouch living in a trash can.

There is a special kind of confidence that makes people believe nothing can possibly go wrong, right up until everything does. We’ve all seen someone ignore good advice, skip the instructions, or insist they know exactly what they’re doing despite all evidence to the contrary. Sometimes it ends with a harmless laugh. Other times it creates the kind of photo that lives on forever.

The people in this collection remind us that confidence and common sense do not always go hand in hand. Their decisions range from questionable to completely baffling, and every image is a perfect example of what can happen when enthusiasm gets way too far ahead of judgment. They may not have been thinking things through, but they definitely left us with some unforgettable moments.

1. The oldest pub in London dates back to 1520

confidence.
anon-zer0-quazar/via reddit.com

2. Their math isn’t adding up

borizwithaz/via reddit.com

3. Actually, exactly 50% of people make below the median income

i-am-a-passenger/via reddit.com

4. “This rock is literally reflecting light”

4xtsap/via reddit.com

5. The ignorance is quite literally destroying me

heiligerjacobus/via reddit.com

In case you were wondering, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States.

6. How could you forget about Oscar?

userdeleted/via reddit.com

7. Someone needs an update on their geography

strengthfabulous3492/via reddit.com

8. It was a valiant effort

diariess/via reddit.com

9. “The water is not afraid of the feathers”

callphysical/via reddit.com

10. I feel bad for people who were born in January

renegade_prince/via reddit.com

11. How did all of the Apollo missions return home then?

key_bread/via reddit.com

12. “Wrong flag then”

thebatman/via reddit.com

13. I don’t think your right

alpacalover718192/via reddit.com

14. You’re = you are

okuroishimoto/via reddit.com

15. Simple math, you say?

dengoy-px/via reddit.com

16. I don’t think they understand what they’re saying

gr3mtheory/via reddit.com

17. You go ahead and take $6 a day, I’ll take the million

18. “What are those signs?”

supercrazestar/via reddit.com

19. Gathering is just vegan hunting

samrphgue/via reddit.com

20. The emojis and exclamation points are really the cherry on top

fragasaurus_rex/via reddit.com

21. All the downvotes on this comment make it so much better

wis91/via reddit.com

22. The country of Alaska

spoktorwho83/via reddit.com

23. Time is hard for some people

fallriver1221/via reddit.com

24. Merriam-Webster had to shut this guy down real quick

brutalproduct/via reddit.com

25. This guy is on to something

litecoinaddict/via reddit.com

Want to see more funny internet content?

Check out 21 People Who Clearly Lost a Battle With Common Sense (And the Internet Noticed), or take a look at 18 People And Their Failed Tries to Spread Lies On The Internet. Finally, if you want to see some hilarious examples of backyard engineering, take a look at 20 Examples of Backyard Engineering That Aren’t Risky At All.

Meet the Writer

Patrick is a writer based in upstate New York, where he grew up and still calls home. Over the past year, he’s been diving deep into storytelling, especially tales rooted in history, the Wild West, lost treasures, and ancient artifacts. He’s also drawn to unsolved mysteries and whatever the internet can’t stop talking about.

Whether it’s a centuries-old legend or a bizarre internet rabbit hole, Patrick is always chasing the threads of a compelling story. When he’s not chasing stories, Pat’s probably hiking mountain trails with his dog, exploring new corners of the U.S., or doom-scrolling between hangouts with friends and family. He finds inspiration in nature, forgotten places, and random conversations—anything that sparks curiosity. Whether it’s city streets or backcountry paths, Patrick’s always on the lookout for the next great story.