Life Fails 101 - #035

Banned from the Pool for Underwater Breathing Experiment

The guest recounts how, in his teens, he attempted a self-optimization experiment involving submerging himself underwater for cumulative one-hour daily sessions over three weeks, based on a dubious claim that it would increase blood flow to the brain and boost IQ. He was kicked out of his local pool after lifeguards noticed his unusual behavior.

• Experiment involved submerging underwater for one hour per day over three weeks.
• Claimed benefit: increased carotid artery surface area and 10-point IQ boost.
• Lifeguards ejected him from the pool after observing his routine.
• He continued the experiment at another pool, though he never tested results.

Teenage Panic After Writing Arabic in Pool Changing Room

As a teenager, the guest wrote Arabic script in a pool changing room with a permanent marker. The next day, police were outside and the pool was closed, leading him to believe authorities had discovered his writing and suspected a terrorist threat. He feared his life was over, though nothing came of it.

• Wrote Arabic-looking text in a pool changing room as a teen.
• Returned the next day to find police and a closed pool.
• Assumed authorities linked his writing to terrorism.
• Felt intense fear of arrest despite no actual wrongdoing.

Joining a Cult Called the Grumpy Book

The guest describes joining a fringe group he calls the 'Grumpy Book Cult' in 2017, attending weekly sessions where older men spoke in tongues and claimed to be possessed. Despite his open-minded approach, he never experienced any effects and eventually gave up after 10 weeks.

• Joined a cult-like group after a recommendation.
• Attended dark-room sessions where men spoke in tongues.
• Participated for 10 weeks, hoping for spiritual experience.
• Never felt any effects and concluded it didn’t work.

Apple Watch Wakes Friend During Deep Sleep

The guest shares a story where his friend, Johnny, overslept for a competition because his Apple Watch, detecting prolonged inactivity, buzzed loudly at 4 a.m., waking him. Johnny turned it off and went back to sleep, causing them to arrive late.

• Apple Watch alarmed at 4 a.m. due to sedentary warning.
• Johnny woke up, turned it off, and fell back asleep.
• They arrived late to a scheduled meet.
• Illustrates over-reliance on wearable tech for behavior nudging.

Eating Raw Spinach Without Knowing Why

The guest recalls eating a massive bowl of raw spinach simply because he once read it was beneficial, though he couldn’t remember the reason or expected benefit. He continues such habits based on blind trust in past decisions.

• Ate large bowl of raw spinach without knowing the purpose.
• Acted on a vague memory of a health benefit.
• Relies on past self’s judgment without verification.
• Highlights irrational adherence to unverified health tips.

Accidentally Carrying Drugs Through Dubai and Thailand

The guest accidentally carried a gram of unknown white powder—confiscated by bouncers and slipped into his pocket—through Dubai and Thailand, countries with severe drug penalties. He only realized mid-trip and panicked, eventually throwing the drugs into a river.

• Received a bag of unknown drugs from a bouncer before a night out.
• Forgot to secure it and flew through Dubai and Thailand with it.
• Faced potential life imprisonment or death penalty due to drug laws.
• Threw the drugs into a river after realizing the danger.

Motorbike Crash in Bali and Pain Management Experiment

While riding a moped in Bali, the guest crashed and suffered severe road rash. Instead of panicking, he used mindfulness techniques to dissociate from the pain, inspired by a book on African runners who embrace suffering. He found the experience excruciating but not traumatic.

• Crashed on a moped, scraping skin off one side of his body.
• Felt intense pain but primarily experienced embarrassment.
• Used mindfulness to 'open up' to the pain, reducing its emotional impact.
• Drank beers afterward and dressed wounds at a beach club.

Accidentally Using 500MB of Data Mid-Flight

The guest fell asleep on a flight without enabling airplane mode. Mid-flight over the UK, his phone connected to an aeroplane network, used 526MB of data, and showed a projected bill of £3,700. He panicked for hours until customer service later waived most charges.

• Forgot to enable airplane mode on a long-haul flight.
• Phone connected to in-flight network, using 526MB of data.
• Faced a potential £3,700 roaming bill.
• Eventually charged only £36 after contacting customer service.

Ten Years of Diary Lost to File Corruption

The guest kept a daily journal in a Microsoft Word document from age 11 to 19. One day, the file corrupted and became unreadable, erasing a decade of personal history. He never resumed journaling.

• Wrote a daily journal for ten years in a Word document.
• File became corrupted and unrecoverable.
• Lost all entries without a backup.
• Never restarted journaling afterward.

Man Asks for Worn Shoes Due to Foot Fetish

A stranger knocked on the guest’s door claiming a foot fetish and politely asked for his worn shoes. The guest agreed and told him to return Friday. The man never returned, leaving the guest to wonder about the odd encounter.