# What mundane thing have you only seen once/one of? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 5, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788 "2016-08-05T00:19:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/1 "2016-08-05T00:19:35Z")
We’ve had threads where we’ve discussed seeing rare things before, like endangered animals, but I’d like to take this particular thread in another direction: What totally ordinary thing have you only ever seen once (or one of if you’ve seen that specific object multiple times)? In all my life I’ve only seen this object once- a sign that says that a traffic light is being studied for possible removal. I think it’s pretty neat because all the damn traffic lights make my commute of 30 miles take nearly an hour, but I’ve never seen a traffic light removed before. A sign hinting that it might be removed, wow. So… what totally ordinary object have you only seen one of? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/2 "2016-08-05T00:22:20Z")
Similar to yours, a very small town near me got their first(and only) traffic light about 15 years ago. There were signs up noting when the light would be activated. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/3 "2016-08-05T00:33:46Z")
Since you’re on street signs, I’m still trying to figure this one out: Before you turn onto the road that takes you to the Jim Beam distillery, there is a sign hanging between the two stop lights that says, “Part Time Signal.” ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/4 "2016-08-05T00:36:09Z")
A Pet Rock. My uncle owned one. I’ve never met anyone else who had one. ---
**Author:** ![IT\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3ec8ea/32.png) [@IT\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IT_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/5 "2016-08-05T05:51:34Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Since you’re on street signs, I’m still trying to figure this one out: > > Before you turn onto the road that takes you to the Jim Beam distillery, there is a sign hanging between the two stop lights that says, “Part Time Signal.” If it is like my home town, it means that since there is so little traffic on the side road at night, they switch the signal to flashing yellow on the main road and flashing red on the secondary road. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/6 "2016-08-05T09:42:59Z")
“I’ll take ‘mundane yet odd road signs’ fo $200, Alex.” I was driving to a Real Estate appraisal Ten or so years ago. I was on a small country road. Came across: (sign on top) DEAD END (sign underneath it). NO “U” TURN I was briefly perplexed. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/7 "2016-08-05T12:20:30Z")
I grew up in Missouri, where the state bird is the eastern bluebird. You’d think if something was the state bird, it would be common enough that you’d see it fairly frequently, but I’ve only seen one once and it was long after I had moved to Kansas. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/8 "2016-08-05T16:51:37Z")
> [@IT\_Guy](#): > > If it is like my home town, it means that since there is so little traffic on the side road at night, they switch the signal to flashing yellow on the main road and flashing red on the secondary road. Sounds good, thanks; alas, the sign is no more (as of Sep 2015 Google maps. July 2008, the sign’s there, though almost unreadable and it was there in Apr 2013). > [@Shoeless](#): > > I grew up in Missouri, where the state bird is the eastern bluebird. You’d think if something was the state bird, it would be common enough that you’d see it fairly frequently, but I’ve only seen one once and it was long after I had moved to Kansas. My first 37 years were lived just south of Baltimore but I didn’t see my first Balto Oriole (the bird) 'til I moved to Florida (migration pattern?). They’re hard to miss–purple back and yellow belly. Let the jokes begin. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/9 "2016-08-05T18:31:43Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > A Pet Rock. > > My uncle owned one. I’ve never met anyone else who had one. I still have my Punk Rock. It’s a smooth stone with a fun-fur Mohawk. I got it when I was like 12. I saw a street sign in Montreal one time and I have no idea what it meant. It was two circles with a line across the top. Not a bicycle shape, just two circles and a line. Haven’t seen one before or since and never found out what it means. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/10 "2016-08-05T19:31:58Z")
I’ve seen all of the Star Wars movies. One time apiece. During their original theatrical runs. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/11 "2016-08-05T21:11:23Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > In all my life I’ve only seen this object once- a sign that says that a traffic light is being studied for possible removal. I remember one of those signs in some little mountain town that only had 2 lights. I’m pretty sure it was the state trying to stop some tinpot city council from sticking it to big city folk again. The funny thing was the sign had been there for at least 20 years, and was faded to hell. The smartass part of me wanted to put up a sign next to it saying “This sign indicating this traffic light is being studied for removal, is being studied for removal” But of course I never did. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/12 "2016-08-06T01:01:25Z")
Years ago, at the house I now live in, I walked out the front door at night and there was a tiger salamander. I had never seen one before and have never seen another. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/13 "2016-08-06T03:49:19Z")
I’ve only seen the Aurora Borealis once, more than 60 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/14 "2016-08-06T11:20:44Z")
Despite being a year round resident, and listed in many birding books as “common”, I’ve seen a pileated woodpecker exactly once. And despite being a hobbyist level birder who has spent entire weekends walking trails specifically looking for birds, I saw the damn thing on a hickory tree in my own back yard. Literally 30 feet from my house. ---
**Author:** ![grammarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@grammarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grammarian)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/15 "2016-08-06T12:28:20Z")
an irish person ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/16 "2016-08-06T14:39:24Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Despite being a year round resident, and listed in many birding books as “common”, I’ve seen a pileated woodpecker exactly once. > > And despite being a hobbyist level birder who has spent entire weekends walking trails specifically looking for birds, I saw the damn thing on a hickory tree in my own back yard. Literally 30 feet from my house. Interesting. They’re one of the common visitors to our birdfeeder, as are a few other woodpeckers on [this list](http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/species-list.html#birds). They’re not something I see daily, but at least several times a year. However, like **Shoeless** , though, until there was a temporary influx of them and goldfinches last summer or fall I’d only seen our state bird, the purple finch, once. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/17 "2016-08-06T15:58:14Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Interesting. They’re one of the common visitors to our birdfeeder, as are a few other woodpeckers on [this list](http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/species-list.html#birds). They’re not something I see daily, but at least several times a year. However, like **Shoeless** , though, until there was a temporary influx of them and goldfinches last summer or fall I’d only seen our state bird, the purple finch, once. Wow, a Pilated woodpecker on a bird feeder? How freaking big is your bird feeder? The one I saw in my backyard would have been way too big to feed at any of my feeders. He was over 2 feet head to tail feather., at a minimum. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/18 "2016-08-06T17:23:05Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Wow, a Pilated woodpecker on a bird feeder? How freaking big is your bird feeder? The one I saw in my backyard would have been way too big to feed at any of my feeders. He was over 2 feet head to tail feather., at a minimum. After looking at pictures, I’ve clearly mixed up woodpeckers. That guy is the one my mother was creeped out by who pecks extremely loudly and is seen only every few years. He’s too big for a feeder, of course. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mundane-thing-have-you-only-seen-once-one-of/761788/19 "2016-08-06T21:59:59Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > After looking at pictures, I’ve clearly mixed up woodpeckers. That guy is the one my mother was creeped out by who pecks extremely loudly and is seen only every few years. He’s too big for a feeder, of course. For your viewing pleasure. [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Eg0ZpB7JBijakwlrmLv9MzltOezzSVzj1lJFBpeGc78MPS6R05naIXPeYBn6lw3JKQUKPqDh83Cq-qv8owkBav8hZZQzrHYN95H5tPdq75rySZqxAhs\_gOKWzaxWUpKFroExaE5r8eE1WA6kyVQyetviY4wsO3Osd9YrZ8KQA3ajNWvjswSOJZbJRgAU6Wtd3VFg3Tf9wMOnEc10gOGnSJZ7KrU6LmKr74LVH3VeMC00VxQ1fHpxXVP1XPEwKeZfXeucilWpZK\_Kurzwtf3ge3CMFtmOwE-NQj9erPR5MKGXVGmsRlxsT8UL3d3lharAZ-kJ5UTueEkVyXj94Oia05MFKAEBaWprSQSrkj8P3E8Bc6APK1j6guEz8f3MA73wpvhPS11K-9-mSbcA\_yojBfPQFmnY\_9x1kGShqCn\_sp2wqKm-3LsVoorvp6wPcv4iJlm0-Vjvqic6DyfLpyUtrzk9KLfqLJnkw-w9PPHvx-RYA6oVfMm\_GiI\_bfLOGBLxb85ebvsDmgOnydqHpgF7r7UnZkpNs6WPYgPb1jdYEJ0\_7qZZ5hRdyBgPn8okM4uzKN7e7Rv2qDxsH57TGhbMJkmwv7300qUA=w1400-h788-no](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Eg0ZpB7JBijakwlrmLv9MzltOezzSVzj1lJFBpeGc78MPS6R05naIXPeYBn6lw3JKQUKPqDh83Cq-qv8owkBav8hZZQzrHYN95H5tPdq75rySZqxAhs_gOKWzaxWUpKFroExaE5r8eE1WA6kyVQyetviY4wsO3Osd9YrZ8KQA3ajNWvjswSOJZbJRgAU6Wtd3VFg3Tf9wMOnEc10gOGnSJZ7KrU6LmKr74LVH3VeMC00VxQ1fHpxXVP1XPEwKeZfXeucilWpZK_Kurzwtf3ge3CMFtmOwE-NQj9erPR5MKGXVGmsRlxsT8UL3d3lharAZ-kJ5UTueEkVyXj94Oia05MFKAEBaWprSQSrkj8P3E8Bc6APK1j6guEz8f3MA73wpvhPS11K-9-mSbcA_yojBfPQFmnY_9x1kGShqCn_sp2wqKm-3LsVoorvp6wPcv4iJlm0-Vjvqic6DyfLpyUtrzk9KLfqLJnkw-w9PPHvx-RYA6oVfMm_GiI_bfLOGBLxb85ebvsDmgOnydqHpgF7r7UnZkpNs6WPYgPb1jdYEJ0_7qZZ5hRdyBgPn8okM4uzKN7e7Rv2qDxsH57TGhbMJkmwv7300qUA=w1400-h788-no) Do you follow my “Critter Cam” thread here in MPSIMS?