20+ Times People Didn’t Realize Something That Was Absolutely Obvious

Sometimes we need a lot of time to realize something seemingly simple because it may actually look like something very complicated. And when we finally have this epiphany, we can’t wait to share our discoveries with the world.

We at Bright Side decided to collect stories about sudden discoveries Internet users made and now want to share them with you.

• I realized what I am. I came to the office of a company for some service and paid for it in full. The manager says, “Come again. You’re a good guy, we can do it for 65% off the price next time.” I asked, “What? But you won’t earn anything.” And he said, “We will. Only fools pay for it in full.” There I was, holding my 100% receipt and slowly realizing what I was... © DimaVershinin / Pikabu

• I kept seeing the same Chinese characters on restaurant signs and I always wanted to know what it meant. A week ago, I found out: they mean “restaurant.” © TiredOstrich / Reddit

• Cat toes. I knew they existed, I’ve seen them and everything. It’s an extremely obvious thing. A few weeks ago, I touched a cat’s paw and started laughing like it was the craziest thing ever. Then proceeded to make my discovery known. © Tinymaffy / Reddit

• When I was a kid, my mom told me my rabbit Rosie went to live on a farm. In my early twenties, I saw an episode of The Sopranos where everyone makes fun of Tony when he realizes his dog didn’t really go to live on a farm. That’s when I realized Rosie had not gone to a farm either. © tweak0 / Reddit

• In the new building where I live, there’s a lobby where people leave the devices, furniture, and clothes they don’t need. I picked up some plates, utensils, a broom, and a lamp. The next day, when I came back from work, I saw a lot of stuff there and asked the girl, “I took some of the stuff from here yesterday, why are throwing all of this away?” She said, “Actually, I’m just moving.” And then I said, “Oh, okay, I hope you like your new place.” And then, I went into the elevator feeling like a very good neighbor. Only now, 1 year later, I’ve realized that she was just moving and I took her stuff. I feel really really bad... © kolakovskijj1 / Pikabu

• I was looking at my wife in a mirror and asked if she could see me. She could. I moved to the side more, looked at her in the mirror again, and asked if she could see me now. “You...you know that if you can see me in a mirror I can see you, right?” So so so obvious and yet it blew my mind. © WannieTheSane / Reddit

• I recently realized I was allergic to carrots. I just thought they made everyone’s mouth numb, you know, just like almonds... I also learned recently that I have an almond allergy. © Canwerevolt / Reddit

• It happened when I was in my second year in college. At the time, I was communicating with a very nice girl. One time, she invited me to her place for tea. When I came there, I gave her some candy and she asked, “Did you come here for tea?” I had a silly smile and said that I also came to have a nice talk and went to the kitchen. The evening was great, we were talking till late and drank several cups of tea and then I went home. We communicated all the time until I finished college. Only now, when I remember that day, I realize that she was hinting and I missed it... © Tvoi.gospodin19 / Pikabu

• There was an old guy living next to us and he did all kinds of small stuff: cut some branches, sawed something, painted a patch... And then I stopped seeing him regularly. Today, I’ve collected some branches, changed a hook in the wall, filled in some holes in the walls, and then suddenly realized that I’m the old guy now. © shipilev / Twitter

"I had no idea what this random slot in my hotel room was for. I may have figured it out..."

• One time, I was at a restaurant with a friend, sharing salsa and chips. I commented that the salsa had a very strong cilantro flavor, and she commented she couldn’t taste anything other than coriander. We debated the issue for a few minutes, in disbelief that the other person was tasting something completely “different” and couldn’t pick up on the taste the other thought was prominent. When I saw coriander seeds at the store a few weeks later I bought them to see what taste she had been talking about was... And then the truth clicked. © Growinlove / Reddit

• I saw a guy walking toward me. And I thought, “Wow, he’s stylish.” He was wearing a long black robe with some necklace, it was dark. And then I realize he was a priest. © crmwllwll / Twitter

• When I was little, for some reason, I hated toast. Just hated it. My parents always tried to make me eat it but I always refused. My grandma decided to try something different. She took toast, cut it up into tiny squares, put some butter on them, and called them “little pillows.” I ate them all the time. Only now, at 22 years old, did I realize it was just toast. © Cosplaybaby13 / Reddit

• As a child, I was confused as to why Mary, Kate, and Ashley were referred to as the Olsen twins and why ads on TV only ever showed 2 of them at a time. And then 16-year-old me found out about Mary-Kate. © PM_ME__RECIPES / Reddit

• My boyfriend did not know that his electric toothbrush had a timer on it that could go off at 1 minute and 2 minutes. He actually returned it and got a new one thinking it was broken since the “timer” is just a brief sort of pause/reduction in the vibration. He would be like “I literally just charged this thing” thinking that the battery was already dying. One day, and I can’t remember exactly what the conversation was, I brought up how I liked that my toothbrush let me know when I had brushed long enough, and it was like a lightbulb went off in his head and suddenly he put it together that that was what his toothbrush was doing all along. © rileyjw90 / Reddit

• My brother is a taxi driver. He came to the client and the client wouldn’t leave for a long time. Then, a woman got into the car. She said, “Have you been here long? I was at the door waiting and the map said you were a long way away. And then I looked around and saw your car.” My brother said, “You should have called and asked.” The woman said, “I didn’t order the car. It was my colleague and he sent me the screenshot of the app.” Pause. And then she realized that was staring at the screenshot all along. There was just a car, not moving. © IsAlex87 / Pikabu

What small discoveries have you made in your life? Can you share them with us?