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Original poster

Things You Thought You Invented

139 replies

StayGoldenPonyGirl · 13/04/2023 18:18

I invented Nihilism when I was 8 or 9. My parents told me to shut up talking nonsense. I remember reading about it as a teenager in Reader's Digest and thinking someone had ripped my ideas off - I came up with that by myself years back😆

I also invented the sanitary towel around 5 or 6- my mum just used tampons so i didn't know what pads were. I overheard her moaning about getting stains on her knickers so I made a wad of loo roll with improvised sticky back plastic (looped black electrical tape) and presented it to her. Her and her friends found it hilarious...I was most disgruntled.

I had the idea for the kindle too as a kid in a cold house who wanted to read but keep hands snuggly and warm. But mine was wall mounted and you would blink to turn pages so I still might take that one to Dragon's Den.

Have you ever sworn you've invented something that already exists?

OP posts:
Agitatethebumcrack · 13/04/2023 18:21

I invented the in car cup holder a couple of years before they came out and were suddenly everywhere.
I was furious someone had stolen my idea and my fortune!

BasiliskStare · 13/04/2023 18:22

Not quite but years ago a friend of mine & I laughed our heads off at removing the back seat of the car and having photographs of where you wanted to go being brought out by long grabbers in order so you knew where you were going. Bit like Sat Nav , but rubbish.

CremeEggsForBreakfast · 13/04/2023 18:34

I had an absolute brainwave in the shower about 10 or so years ago. Why didn't shops exist where you could take in your own shower gel/shampoo bottle and just refill it? So much better for the environment!

I told my best friend immediately as I knew she'd love to go into business with me. She very gently explained that this model already existed.

And now refill shops are everywhere and I missed my chance!

lemmein · 13/04/2023 18:52

I invented the iPad long before it was a thing 🤓

I also invented cruise control - I mean, it had already been invented years before but I didn't know!

This post is quite outing really because I brag about 'my' inventions often.

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 13/04/2023 18:54

Ten years ago I posted on FB that somebody needed to invent a vacuum cleaner that could handle long hair. That was after years of saying it to myself and DH but having no other outlet for my moans. (And years of taking scissors to the roller brush of various vacuums.) Hey presto - we now have vacuum cleaners that can cope with hair.

Elisheva · 13/04/2023 18:57

I invented money. I was shopping for a birthday present and talking to a friend about how great it would be if you could buy a gift voucher that would be accepted anywhere 🤦‍♀️

Original poster
StayGoldenPonyGirl · 13/04/2023 18:58

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 13/04/2023 18:54

Ten years ago I posted on FB that somebody needed to invent a vacuum cleaner that could handle long hair. That was after years of saying it to myself and DH but having no other outlet for my moans. (And years of taking scissors to the roller brush of various vacuums.) Hey presto - we now have vacuum cleaners that can cope with hair.

You are owed royalties! Although, we need to split them because I came up with that too 😉

OP posts:
Spottymushroom · 13/04/2023 18:59

Christmas Eve boxes.

20 years ago when mine were little I used to wrap up a basket that contained new pyjamas, a video, Christmas mugs and some sweets.

I did it to keep them occupied whilst I finished getting things done and it curved a bit of their excitement

gingersnappz · 13/04/2023 19:05

Not me but my kids thought they'd invented bulldog in the school playground and didn't believe that I'd played it 30 years earlier.

Primroseprimula · 13/04/2023 19:22

I thought I'd invented those cat beds that are shaped like donuts, I painstakingly hand sewed one out of pink fur fabric for my cat, spending about 40 quid on materials and stuffing, then started seeing them everywhere

Heatherjayne1972 · 13/04/2023 19:47

Pictionary
before it was an actual board game my family used to play it regularly
( of course it’s a simple idea and probably loads of people played too but I like to think we invented it )

FelicityBeedle · 13/04/2023 19:51

I was convinced I would save the planet around eight years old, I realised we could harness the energy from a car’s wheels turning and use that power to move the car again. I didn’t know the fallacy of perpetual motion or of the existence of alternators! I didn’t even tell anyone in case my idea was stolen before I was old enough, which was quite selfish thinking back

CaptainCallisto · 13/04/2023 20:03

I was convinced I'd invented blackhead removers when I was about 13. I was most put out when my best friend, to whom I'd carefully explained how my new invention would work, went and got her big sister's out of the bathroom cabinet!

newrubylane · 13/04/2023 20:09

A specific method of recording one's ancestors in genealogy. Apparently it was totally already a thing. I hadn't seen it anywhere, I genuinely did come up with the idea myself, it just was far less original than I thought it was!

LaviniasBigBloomers · 13/04/2023 20:13

A drunk credit card. Back in the day when you had to cash a cheque at the student union bar to keep boozing, this was a special credit card that you could only use when drunk. Your signature would have to match your drunk signature, and to qualify you'd have to come on a night out with the co-founders. Interest rate would be 25% but that would be ok, because you'd only need it on the nights you were getting rilly, rilly, rilly drunk.

Then some fool invented contactless.

Indiaplain · 13/04/2023 20:13

The word 'chillax'

CaloriesShmalories · 13/04/2023 20:16

I invented post it notes.

Only joking.

I actually thought I’d invented birth control for rats instead of poisoning them. Had a proper excited feeling about it until I googled and found it’s already a thing!

tatteddear · 13/04/2023 20:18

Reusable cutlery in a little carrying tin. I said years ago this would be brilliant for the environment instead of getting a new plastic fork with your salad etc-now you can buy them all over the place.

Original poster
StayGoldenPonyGirl · 13/04/2023 20:31

CaloriesShmalories · 13/04/2023 20:16

I invented post it notes.

Only joking.

I actually thought I’d invented birth control for rats instead of poisoning them. Had a proper excited feeling about it until I googled and found it’s already a thing!

Never heard of this! I understand it, but I hate cruel pest control. Well done on your invention!

OP posts:
Dontlistitonfacebook · 13/04/2023 20:31

The toaster. Growing up we only had a grill at home, so the bread had to be turned over to toast the other side. I was really chuffed with my invention that would speed up the process by toasting two sides at once.

Most disappointed when my parents explained that such a gadget already existed!

Cinnamon23 · 13/04/2023 20:36

Chocolate spread.

When I was a child, I randomly decided to melt some chocolate in the microwave and started spreading it on crackers. Thought it was genius.

Didn’t realise actual chocolate spread was a thing until my early teens! 😳

DappledThings · 13/04/2023 20:41

Not me but my grandad swore he'd had an idea for an.orange flavoured drink and called it Kia Ora. Said he'd pitched it and everything!

Hoppinggreen · 13/04/2023 20:42

A brilliant new method for applying mascara.
You put it on the top of your lashes BUT then underneath too so they get double coated and also curl up.
I explained it to DD and she looked at me with that mixture of contempt and pity only a teen can do.

Kindledino · 13/04/2023 20:44

Elisheva · 13/04/2023 18:57

I invented money. I was shopping for a birthday present and talking to a friend about how great it would be if you could buy a gift voucher that would be accepted anywhere 🤦‍♀️

GENIUS 😂

TragicMuse · 13/04/2023 20:48

I invented the caffè latte when I was about 6 or 7. I had a cup of milk and added a small bit of coffee to it. I actually called it a coffeemilk!!

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