{"id":28474,"date":"2026-08-05T11:00:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T06:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=28474"},"modified":"2026-08-05T11:00:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T06:00:51","slug":"45-everyday-items-that-are-way-more-sinister-than-people-realize","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=28474","title":{"rendered":"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>How much do you really know about the items that you use every day? If you were playing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/quizzes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener \" class=\" staff-link\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trivia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> game, would you be able to pinpoint who <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/cool-diy-inventions-ideas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener \" class=\" staff-link\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">invented<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the air fryer or explain why treadmills were first created? Most objects probably have a pretty boring origin story: there was an issue, so someone sought out to solve it and make their life easier.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But there are some seemingly innocuous items that have surprisingly <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/people-saw-scary-creepy-situations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener \" class=\" staff-link\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dark<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> origin stories. And this list is dedicated to all of those. Netizens have been <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\" staff-link\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sharing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the \u201csick and twisted\u201d backstories of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/weird-things-pics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener \" class=\" staff-link\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">objects<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that you probably encounter every single day. Enjoy reading through these stories, and be sure to upvote the ones that will definitely make you view those items differently from now on!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976579\">\n<p id=\"10976579\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2090411868_b20b6c75fa_k-6a68a357afb42__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"454\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">The CPR doll that we use to practice CPR in most work places in the UK has the face of an unknown French cadaver found d**d in the Seine river in the 1800s. She is known as The Most Kissed Woman in History. Bleugh!<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3rymc\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Adi3m <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dejahthoris\/2090411868\/in\/photolist-4bHUBW-4nGAL-dMR84w-7YAjeo-71V6V9-8cBkF5-JD27uu-8cxVhV-ahpaiD-zei9eU-fYpRfo-87KZXQ-nLoWhL-5X4CZ2-Uwzmsp-2hL9N6i-7GQuhL-4rsniW-ahVJne-Aci5qx-4PbubE-oY9ky-bWDE1g-2s5ZU6Q-EMXJo-PwfaFg-ahYx5J-2jtSPHM-coigBd-ahYx5f-ahYx39-ahYx3G-4EG91D-7tZNTL-ahVJqx-ahpamF-ahVJnZ-6wVQy-ahVJop-7VQJcE-ahpaqg-eUi5C-4yYSK9-4ELCLN-ahYx4f-8cz9Gy-3aXW3R-49dzk4-5KjnKA-QJJzed\" target=\"_blank\"> dejahthoris <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-5\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976594\">\n<p id=\"10976594\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/getty-images-fXRD7PO8VKc-unsplash-6a68a536ec233__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">Birth Control Pills<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Puerto Rico women were used a guinea pigs without their knowledge of any of its possible side effects to test out BCP in its early stages. Something I only recently found out. <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht2xw7x\/\" target=\"_blank\"> SaltyLicksOfTheOcean <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/high-angle-of-an-obese-latin-woman-using-contraceptive-pills-while-checking-her-menstrual-calendar-app-on-the-smartphone-fXRD7PO8VKc\" target=\"_blank\"> Getty Images <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-20\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix text-block \"> <span id=\"list-text-3\"><\/p>\n<p>Some of the objects mentioned on this list have extremely disturbing origin stories, including the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/BLACK-DECKER-LCS1020-Lithium-Chainsaw\/dp\/B00OC9WSDC\/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wtGiOJwpDJpbqHj7yzH9tueC6ChqjT0ZF3rzNXeB6JHCAEQIwzW2nO72jQtsc5oYPFFTeUQlrZSsNbVSP2LGQfQYh3-tc204xJ6y6Nf6yqRNHBMCtexU6osqKvaOHOj6eKCGaxFDf4Kma5o_MjP1gHnxQMwhussu8eQivuPud6-tyWU4oTHnjP47eOcSoIzqo5zffsiu_zom9vS_7CCLD6cUwfkru-IMZfmtLZA7Yic.cLVILf59Yz616-P6hajrl43S5e3FRY-6v6x5vVoTTpo&amp;amp%3Bdib_tag=se&amp;amp%3Bkeywords=chainsaw&amp;amp%3Bqid=1785844313&amp;amp%3Bsr=8-1&amp;amp%3Bth=1&amp;tag=vilofjoy-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\" staff-link\">chainsaw<\/a>. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mjelectrical.services\/why-were-chainsaws-invented\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\" staff-link\">MJ Electrical<\/a>, this tool that\u2019s primarily used today for chopping down trees or slicing through wood was once used in medical surgery.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Originally, chainsaws were hand-cranked devices invented to cut through bone and widen the pelvis during childbirth. Obviously, this practice sounds barbaric today. But back in the late 18th century, people had far less knowledge about medical safety and hygiene. And unfortunately, pain management was not a priority during childbirth.<\/p>\n<p><\/span> <\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976576\">\n<p id=\"10976576\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ChatGPT-Image-Jul-28-2026-03_38_48-PM-6a68a2df661a0-png__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"484\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">The protective seal on OTC medications were a result of a round of m*rders caused by cyanide-laced Tylenol in the 80s.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht22cbm\/\" target=\"_blank\"> anon <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-2\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976578\">\n<p id=\"10976578\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1280px-Graham-Cracker-Stack-6a68a55f2ea40__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"434\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">Sylvester Graham believed unwholesome foods created &#8220;impure&#8221; thoughts. So he created Graham Crackers to keep women from becoming sl*ts.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht38g3v\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Superlite47 <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Graham_cracker\" target=\"_blank\"> Evan-Amos <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-4\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix text-block \"> <span id=\"list-text-6\"><\/p>\n<p>Another item with a very unsettling backstory is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/programmes\/articles\/4w8bVrKRqQDP4fKl0b8XzdW\/the-dark-history-of-the-treadmill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\" staff-link\">treadmill<\/a>. It\u2019s featured on this list, but here\u2019s the full story. Apparently, it was invented in 1817 by engineer William Cubitt. He was actually inspired by prisoners to create the device, as he thought it might \u201creform offenders by teaching them habits of industry.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, it was used as more of a torture device than workout gear during those times. Prisoners who were sentenced to \u201chard labor\u201d had to use them as a punishment. In fact, treadmills were considered the \u201cperfect punishment\u201d at the time because using one was absolutely pointless. The only purpose was to tire out a prisoner; they weren\u2019t actually accomplishing anything. And some people were forced to use them for up to 6 hours a day.<\/p>\n<p><\/span> <\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976585\">\n<p id=\"10976585\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/8444923407_8f5c6d81ca_k-6a68a67939d37__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">The modern speculum was created by a man named J. Marion Sims who performed invasive experimental surgeries on enslaved women without anesthesia.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3bpd2\/\" target=\"_blank\"> beerandbuds <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/matthewjsimpson\/8444923407\/in\/photolist-UFXii7-25DcTFq-rMhTAH-5CQv8J-dSfrvH-51iw6w-CGF1p-2mr7byd-2kSFPT1-2kUmbev-n4Bce1-2r3ByZZ-c5ksAf-2s2RW8d-a5fjBs-24KiRq7-GcJoqD-235uJfS-HGukjA-235tMA1-25QthLZ-25LzPS9-24KnDV5-Hivogk-GbbK8R-UsCk9T-2igpgHf-24t6n9D-HGtbDm-235zTtm-24KmR37-25QjxG8-25QtcY2-25QgU5t-24tfaAa-2r8mTyw-25QtcAi-cRkYcf-nyYkNK-2mLjtbS-a6NVZ2-2sq5tMR-n9J6RK-DEBRP-dXtBKA-XaCdZm-QsAbXf-6gKrbP-LGiKgW-eYiH2\" target=\"_blank\"> Matthew Simps <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-11\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976586\">\n<p id=\"10976586\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/getty-images-pxC3KXeYnKk-unsplash-6a68a438c3dfa__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">I think I heard that the treadmill was once used as a way to punish prisoners. Some apparently died from exhaustion from running on it for hours on end.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht2wdb9\/\" target=\"_blank\"> GoGoWolf <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/mature-athlete-warming-up-for-sports-training-and-walking-on-treadmill-in-a-gym-pxC3KXeYnKk\" target=\"_blank\"> Getty Images <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-12\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix text-block \"> <span id=\"list-text-9\"><\/p>\n<p>We hope that this list doesn\u2019t ruin any essential items for you, pandas. But it is a good reminder that you never know where things come from. Keep upvoting the stories that you find particularly shocking, and let us know in the comments if you\u2019re aware of any other objects with dark origin stories. Then, if you want to check out another list from Bored Panda featuring items with eerie backstories, look no further than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/most-cursed-objects-thehistoricalinsights\/\" class=\" staff-link\">right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/span> <\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976588\">\n<p id=\"10976588\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/aiva-apsite-3QVpFwWvCgc-unsplash-6a68a6c4b8d58__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">Chiquita (banana company) is both directly and indirectly responsible for political violence and human rights ab*ses in south america.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht4erwf\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Cheesydilfdog <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/a-bunch-of-green-bananas-hanging-from-a-tree-3QVpFwWvCgc\" target=\"_blank\"> Aiva Apsite <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-14\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976592\">\n<p id=\"10976592\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3061013307_fdaf76d4a9_b-6a68a8b94869a__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"402\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">Not necessarily &#8220;sick and twisted&#8221; but the red and white pole outside of barber shops use to be used to identify barbers who could perform bloodletting during the Middle Ages especially through the course of the Black D***h.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht484tg\/\" target=\"_blank\"> OneOddOtter <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/starquake\/3061013307\/in\/photolist-65vRax-bpiebT-6SXxHm-PYqtop-6rxPkF-eRn2a2-huBdDX-FnDYSE-jVSf-2phpizZ-5EuuBv-einTyj-dPwaBc-cgYHi-7iiYds-tca25-4zBuWG-gGo3pa-8GSDKZ-dHjZFx-2p34A6b-76nkNv-9H7wfh-61mkXh-57F4Ky-2mWza8j-9CY8wL-gtcZdi-21A1n4S-aD8cVm-2iwVhKQ-4SJYbg-5DNqB1-4SPcCC-Qz8vtr-2osp9SJ-7936aw-6Mm6cU-9r9QXU-CFWwoN-9r9QCy-7fK86f-2naCsiU-69mxLq-PoNGq-6vG9M8-FSHgo-9JSXeX-cbeX3S-2osyMtN\" target=\"_blank\"> Paul Cantrell <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-18\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976593\">\n<p id=\"10976593\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/52525614350_ebc1b6c21f_b-6a68aa10b620c__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"404\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">Four hundred years ago on the planet Earth, workers who felt their livelihood threated by automation flung their wooden shoes called\u00a0sabots\u00a0into the machines to stop them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Hence the word\u00a0sabotage. <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3xp5t\/\" target=\"_blank\"> bothanspied <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/photofield3\/52525614350\/in\/photolist-2o2vvbw-TB4Eym-niwp2a-sR6g1A-fDScBf-D88bXs-dT24CZ-t4RoZb-oWTDXs-EVkcFJ-6e9n7T-gyGdvx-edHn4E-8HP56n-mwcTdp-pynnbf-rWpuYA-eibZZT-sT9p4N-kemFpW-26RPg1j-66euLT-28qHoFf-dXNNDa-2b9upJv-iywJSa-rt2CFF-35d2Zu-DRzD1Q-rbupwC-32BxD1-4o8s1J-sdcvRa-dnyLmh-23wVSz5-dAjqUr-2onB8Jb-2qSRtYt-dfXB94-2hDGnua-jCQSio-aeB2VN-6MC2tS-d2ro7s-2n7jT3V-2qq351m-2no3aFA-B63heT-dwGj1T-dqxxw3\" target=\"_blank\"> Jean-Fran\u00e7ois A <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-19\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976604\">\n<p id=\"10976604\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/jeongim-kwon-sqWzP97H_bo-unsplash-6a68ab35b4505__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">Engagement rings originated in Ancient Rome as a sign of ownership. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>Diamonds are artificially inflated in value by DeBeers who have created a false value of diamonds. Do not support DeBeers in this effort. Avoid diamonds. <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht47ty0\/\" target=\"_blank\"> anon <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/man-holding-gold-ring-on-womans-finger-sqWzP97H_bo\" target=\"_blank\"> Jeongim Kwon <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-29\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976583\">\n<p id=\"10976583\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mishaal-zahed-meschael-zahede-KDJ1TbLDoOo-unsplash-6a68a5fb6ab20__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"340\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">Listerine mouth wash was originally designed as a floor cleaner and surgical anti septic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The paintball gun was designed for marking sheep.<\/p>\n<p>Edit: yes they were also used to mark trees as well as livestock. <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht2un31\/\" target=\"_blank\"> mayners <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/listerine-cool-mint-mouth-wash-KDJ1TbLDoOo\" target=\"_blank\"> Mishaal Zahed (Meschael Zah\u00e8de) <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-9\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976590\">\n<p id=\"10976590\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/anto-meneghini-YiaDJAjD1S0-unsplash-6a68a6fbab96b__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">Not quite everyday, but Charcuterie boards were served at mass during the Spanish I*********n in order to out fake converts (Muslims and Jews don\u2019t eat pork). Deliciously evil history!<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3iu46\/\" target=\"_blank\"> anon <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/sliced-fruits-on-brown-wooden-bowl-YiaDJAjD1S0\" target=\"_blank\"> Anto Meneghini <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-16\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976591\">\n<p id=\"10976591\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/getty-images-adPM2gC2knU-unsplash-6a68a75be1f59__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">BPA was originally used as a treatment for menopausal women. Later chemists found that it was also good as a plastic hardener. It is a hormone disruptor and why it was banned in baby bottles in the US, and pretty much in use at all in other countries. It\u2019s still used in US to line metal food and soda cans and also in water bottles. Heat and acidic foods can cause the BPA to leach out of the plastic.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3mg44\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Environmental-Car481 <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/a-portrait-of-an-attractive-senior-woman-sitting-on-a-sofa-at-home-with-a-headache-adPM2gC2knU\" target=\"_blank\"> Getty Images <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-17\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976609\">\n<p id=\"10976609\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/358577165_fb7beab260_c-6a68b3bf39a6a__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"404\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">The Bonne maman jam family helped hide Jews from N*zis in the Second World War. I always happily buy their jam.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht51g8b\/\" target=\"_blank\"> steviekristo <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/benboaz\/358577165\/in\/photolist-xFNuV-5Dy8nj-2ohSbXx-8jk2JU-9jxjSX-2qGgSZy-73xM5D-9Zty6y-2oEXBeX-atUKZ1-dGGzwe-2hM2R3J-2dj2rLy-nNv9U3-9Z86qY-CuJNnL-34jj8Z-dTYAm1-dH1vxP-dLtm2H-dKp3nr-yWohwN-9Z8tE4-2hq9cBt-2h4ub5B-4qS2XJ-2HGi68-9wAwFt-7Cha1e-4pCVnd-2fBJBFR-cDhAcw-AHHYh-7sbqhi-bSTQM4-2g2XiUj-9Xmn9M-2m2w1NT-2giPoFs-2oGPdHw-tg71m8-wweo54-2oEZpQn-dUp58V-btLBD7-cwobEQ-2r9qW2j-dEZMku-2kMf2yP-GVhoxS\" target=\"_blank\"> I Ben Boaz <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-34\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976610\">\n<p id=\"10976610\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4105582457_6cc8b4b601_k-6a68ac1b5b337__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"402\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">The microwave. Saw an episode of Tom Scott. It was used to defrost hamsters (or another small animal) in laboratories.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht2oatx\/\" target=\"_blank\"> KalashniKorv <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/donabelandewen\/4105582457\/in\/photolist-7fNbCr-5UcNV-2XFyo-2mCPAo-7fFTUh-7fC1dk-2kLe1r-7fC29F-arAWVG-FnoRCU-sc2Qu-dzUFY-5ki97B-6wrcjV-4iA853-4zMaPs-ZtnM1-2mCPAu-85bqN7-858joe-Kc88mN-SayYTU-3Ukbqj-koMjH-4vCPqC-4vyHxv-cbbAiQ-9hZFYZ-8ohnDY-dzUG1-dzUFZ-5TSezF-5TSePR-t21MX-4BdnSY-7ECWnW-6dM8mp-5ojAbb-5UH7x7-VWi2ES-vmGJ9N-agGpTu-5LQHa9-4qApUT-4CiAjs-t21EN-7fxDvG-2QTjsq-aw43Qu-6xBeCd\" target=\"_blank\"> Ewen Roberts <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-35\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976589\">\n<p id=\"10976589\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/getty-images-t5ItfWRLJM0-unsplash-6a68ac7f50b3c__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">A lot of pharmaceuticals have roots in very unethical human testing. Also, n*zis pretty much invented m**h. In fact, n*zis broke a lot of ground in the medical field due to their complete lack of ethics in the name of a master race.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht39rqh\/\" target=\"_blank\"> FunctionBuilt <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/female-apothecary-worker-with-backs-turned-standing-at-pharmacy-and-looking-at-medicines-and-drugs-t5ItfWRLJM0\" target=\"_blank\"> Getty Images <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-15\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976596\">\n<p id=\"10976596\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/roman-vsugon-wu4UtPdcYb8-unsplash-1-6a68afdb8bbff__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">Bild Lilli which inspired Barbie was a doll based on a German cartoon and originally sold as a gift in adult stores. Eventually it was sold as a kids&#8217; toy. The inventor of Barbie came across this doll and Barbie is a redesign of Lilli.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht2uac9\/\" target=\"_blank\"> gourmet_fried_rice <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/a-person-with-pink-hair-wu4UtPdcYb8\" target=\"_blank\"> Roman Vsugon <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-22\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976601\">\n<p id=\"10976601\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/natracare-9EzjxPo8WyA-unsplash-6a68b153ee88c__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">Not exactly sick\/twisted, but tampons were originally developed as bandages for soldiers<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Not an &#8220;everyday&#8221; item, but the Gatling Gun was invented by a doctor<\/p>\n<p>Edit: I should have said &#8220;kotex and\/or disposable pads&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht2ulgj\/\" target=\"_blank\"> GundamMaker <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/a-person-is-putting-something-in-a-basket-9EzjxPo8WyA\" target=\"_blank\"> Natracare <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-26\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976602\">\n<p id=\"10976602\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/getty-images-Ry2zR1Lp5qw-unsplash-6a68b19a3cdf3__700.jpg\" alt=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" title=\"45 Everyday Items That Are Way More Sinister Than People Realize\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\"\/> <span class=\"bordered-description with-image\">I looked thru the thread first but, there&#8217;s the one about superglue, it was invented to seal gaping wounds during vietnam.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3h4aa\/\" target=\"_blank\"> ridicrule <\/a> <span class=\"open-list-submission-source-separator\">, <\/span> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/young-man-using-glue-for-fixing-the-drawer-of-bed-in-the-kids-bedroom-Ry2zR1Lp5qw\" target=\"_blank\"> Getty Images <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-27\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976603\">\n<p id=\"10976603\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">IBM was responsible for calculating devices that would aid the N**i&#8217;s in the orderly cataloging and m****r of Jewish people. So, while the computer itself wasn&#8217;t a product of an IBM\/N**i collaboration, the money earned before and during the Final Solution definitely went on to fund IBM&#8217;s foray into personal computing. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht2mc0j\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Quijanoth <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-28\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976613\">\n<p id=\"10976613\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Coca cola used to contain c*****e which was used to treat common diseases in those days.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht1qsy8\/\" target=\"_blank\"> blastoise327 <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-38\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976614\">\n<p id=\"10976614\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Not terribly sick, more \u201cwhat in the name of OSHA violations is this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>the slinky was invented because a guy working in a metal shop saw some spring-shaped metal scraps and said \u201cah yes, free toys for my kids, this is perfectly safe.\u201d. <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3c6ql\/\" target=\"_blank\"> poachels <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-39\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976617\">\n<p id=\"10976617\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Bayer Aspirin<\/span><\/p>\n<p>They were a part of the German chemical conglomerate known as IG Farben and we all know how Germany loves chemicals during the first two World Wars. <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3n0j7\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Due-Lawyer1664 <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-41\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976618\">\n<p id=\"10976618\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">A**l gland secretions from a beaver are a source for \u201cnatural raspberry &amp; strawberry flavors\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Shnapps in Sweden flavors its alcoholic beverages with \u201cbeaver-derived castoreum\u201d. <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3uz4r\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Twenty5_og <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-42\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976619\">\n<p id=\"10976619\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Macaroni and cheese was developed by sl*ves.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht2waxk\/\" target=\"_blank\"> anon <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-43\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976620\">\n<p id=\"10976620\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Don&#8217;t know if this qualifies as an everyday item, but Japanese Genmaicha tea is said to have gotten it&#8217;s name from some poor servant who accidentally dropped rice in the emperors tea. The emperor supposedly k****d him in anger, then drank the tea and, liking the flavor, named it in Genmai&#8217;s honor.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3rv1y\/\" target=\"_blank\"> pamelaperejil <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-44\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976622\">\n<p id=\"10976622\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Cornflakes were invented to stop people from j*rking off.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht2i1st\/\" target=\"_blank\"> _mdg <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-46\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976623\">\n<p id=\"10976623\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Ketchup was invented to cover the taste of rotting meat prior to refrigeration.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3ei3p\/\" target=\"_blank\"> fititalia <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-47\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976624\">\n<p id=\"10976624\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Glyphosate (Round Up) was initially patented as a commercial descaling agent for pipes and water heaters. We now spray it on our food and in our yards.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3ack2\/\" target=\"_blank\"> craftybeerdad <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-48\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976625\">\n<p id=\"10976625\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Nitrate fertiliser invented by Fritz Haber who was actually experimenting with various poison gases for the Germans to use in WWI. His wife was so horrified she k****d herself.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht38xes\/\" target=\"_blank\"> anon <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-49\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976627\">\n<p id=\"10976627\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Tipping in restaurants. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>Tipping came about because of all of the freed sl*ves working steward kinda jobs on the railroads and in restaurants, and they didn\u2019t want to pay them. So, they made the workers rely on tips only. <\/p>\n<p>You see how many restaurants in the South still have a reduced minimum wage of like $2 an hour or some borderline wage s***e amount. <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht3w9kb\/\" target=\"_blank\"> pimpbot666 <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-51\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976628\">\n<p id=\"10976628\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Parmesan cheese is made with the inside of a d**d calf&#8217;s stomach.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht2pe79\/\" target=\"_blank\"> mrongo <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-52\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976630\">\n<p id=\"10976630\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Not that twisted but the reason american chocolate tastes like puke is because during WWII, chocolate was rationed to soldiers; which isn&#8217;t that bad, until you find out that milk was basically banned from being used and the chocolate that was used in the chocolate bars was spoiled. When the ban was lifted after WWII ended, people complained the chocolate tasted weird so they artificially made the flavor. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>TLDR: Chocolate is engineered to taste like puke because americans thought spoiled milk chocolate tasted better than actual chocolate. <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht2f7rx\/\" target=\"_blank\"> oddeyesies <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-54\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"open-list-item open-list-block clearfix \" data-submission-id=\"10976621\">\n<p id=\"10976621\" class=\"post-content-description text-open-list\"> <span class=\"bordered-description\">Thalidomide was used for nausea in pregnant women through the 1950s. But had a few adverse effects.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-bottom-meta-links clearfix \"> <span class=\"sources\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/AskReddit\/comments\/s66ohs\/what_everyday_item_has_a_sick_and_twisted_origin\/ht43s2o\/\" target=\"_blank\"> anon <\/a> <\/span> <span class=\"report\"> <a class=\"open-list-submission-report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories\/javascript:void(0)\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/contact-us\/?report-post=https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/reddit-post-15590-45\/\">Report<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"didomi\/javascript\">\nwindow._fbSDKPromise = window._fbSDKPromise || new Promise((resolve, reject) => {\nwindow.fbAsyncInit = function () {\nFB.init({\nappId  : '887842622821495',\nversion: 'v17.0',\nstatus : true,\ncookie : true,\nxfbml  : false\n});\nresolve(FB);\n};\n\/\/ Load SDK only once\nif (!document.getElementById('facebook-jssdk')) {\nconst script = document.createElement('script');\nscript.id = 'facebook-jssdk';\nscript.async = true;\nscript.src = `https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/${BoredPanda.Config.wp_lang}\/sdk.js`;\nscript.onerror = reject;\ndocument.head.appendChild(script);\n}\n});\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How much do you really know about the items that you use every day? If you were playing a trivia game, would you be able to pinpoint who invented the air fryer or explain why treadmills were first created? Most objects probably have a pretty boring origin story: there was an issue, so someone sought&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/everyday-items-twisted-origin-stories-fb.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}