# The Phantom Sock and other inanimate objects with minds of their own

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phantom-sock-and-other-inanimate-objects-with-minds-of-their-own/1031005>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 18, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phantom-sock-and-other-inanimate-objects-with-minds-of-their-own/1031005 "2026-06-18T17:17:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phantom-sock-and-other-inanimate-objects-with-minds-of-their-own/1031005/21 "2026-06-23T00:41:36Z")

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A couple decades ago, we had to have a new belt for the dryer drum, which involved opening the surrounding box. When we did so, there were a couple of very linty socks there, on the _outside_ of the drum.

Yeah, I don’t know either. It’s not like they could’ve been sucked through those little holes…

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phantom-sock-and-other-inanimate-objects-with-minds-of-their-own/1031005/22 "2026-06-23T02:16:30Z")

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😯

Very weird.

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**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phantom-sock-and-other-inanimate-objects-with-minds-of-their-own/1031005/23 "2026-06-23T04:25:15Z")

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@LSLguy, You ever see lone shoes on the shoulder of the road?

Now you know the rest of the story.

Notice too. They are always left shoes.

Weird right?

Maybe Thelma’s sock is in one.

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**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phantom-sock-and-other-inanimate-objects-with-minds-of-their-own/1031005/24 "2026-06-23T21:09:08Z")

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I’d like to point out that, since electrons are not distinguishable from each other, it’s possible that ANY single electron is actually ALL the electrons in the universe. Or something like that…

Just saying. I’m not a physicist.

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