This thread on the joy of not being perfect has gone viral for good reason

We live in a world where perfection is glorified. From social media and influencers showcasing their perfect life to the pressure we place on ourselves when it comes to trying to keep up with the Jones. There’s never been more weight placed on success or achievement and it can be lonely when the truth is a little more chaotic.

That’s why this wonderful humorous thread on Twitter took us by surprise. It began when a PhD student with a tenure (Paul) admitted that even those considered to have their sh*t together can do some of the ditziest things. Suddenly everyone wanted to share their Faulty Towers moments, resulting in almost 15ok likes.

“Hi.” The original poster wrote. “My name is Paul. I have a PhD and tenure. Today I decided to test if a bottle of super glue was open by squirting it on my hand. Then I tried to clean my hand by wiping it on a box.”

Thousands began relating.

“This reminds me of the time I got a new shredder” a poster called Martin De Rid wrote. “I shredded some bank statements and was enjoying myself so much that I ran out of things to shred so I put the instruction manual in the machine. It got stuck. I couldn’t work out how to open it up and didn’t have the instructions.”

‘I’m crying laughing” wrote Jane Spenser. “This tweet has brought me so much joy”.

“I have degrees in Microbiology, Human Resources and a certificate in Health and Safety. I also spent 35 minutes trying to get into the wrong car in a parking lot at my grocery store. Called CAA, and when they showed up and went to jimmy the lock I noticed MY car one row over”.

Korey Kruse took over the baton at this point.

“I’m an aerospace engineer. I have on at least three occasions come out of a convenience store and opened a car door and sat down into someone else’s unlocked car while wondering why the interior looked weird and where my stuff went”.

‘Dude” Laurie-Ann chimed in. “My grandson superglued his head and my cocker spaniel to a couch pillow. You’re good. ”

Johanna Klein is a graduate of both Harvard and MIT. She confessed to this embarrassing moment. “I have had to have hotel staff come into my room to explain to me how to operate the shower. Have also asked on Facebook how to uncap a bottle of laundry detergent.”

“My spaghetti just caught fire” Abby Statler wrote. “Not burnt, actual fire. I work in the space programme.”

In fact, even those without PhDs got involved.

“I once blew on my ice cream because it was too cold and also reached for my seatbelt when I sat at my desk.”

“I often try scrolling on books” Sheryl admitted, while people relayed stories of others they’d seen do silly but hilarious things, despite being smart people; “I used to work in a pool bar. I once had to call an ambulance for someone who got a cueball stuck in their mouth for a bet. When paramedics arrived they asked what happened and his friend demonstrated and got one stuck in his mouth too”.

But we saved the best for last, obviously.

“This gives me hope” Loraine Hirson wrote. “A while ago there was a funny compilation of scientists errors on social media. My favourite was the field zoologist who accidentally superglued herself and her camera to a live crocodile.”

This article was originally published in July 2022.