The hashtag #SeinfeldTaughtMe, trending this morning on Twitter, shows that the seminal NBC sitcom Seinfeld is a surprisingly good source of life hacks, or at least life advice and stupid human tricks. Here are some of the most useful lessons.
Image: Seinfeld
As a “show about nothing”, Seinfeld was really about all the things that make up daily life.
#SeinfeldTaughtMe to always check for toilet paper first, because some people can't spare a square pic.twitter.com/k3wAmwJmck
— Morgendorffer 0819 (@MabryMundy) November 3, 2017
Its characters dared to violate the norms. They played out heightened versions of the little tricks we all try.
#SeinfeldTaughtMe it's not a lie if you believe it pic.twitter.com/U6gXbN61LT
— Jamie Manzi (@jmanz327) November 3, 2017
These tricks were social, mental and physical.
#SeinfeldTaughtMe how to drink and smoke at the same time pic.twitter.com/6I9WDEiiAb
— mr cooldude (@lostinmusic1975) November 3, 2017
Sometimes this aberrant behaviour worked, but sometimes the cons outweighed the pros.
#SeinfeldTaughtMe not to eat anything from the trash can. pic.twitter.com/cSd2G2kdJr
— Timmy Little (@TimmyLittleSays) November 3, 2017
In punishing characters for their wrongs, the world of Seinfeld was more just and fair than the real one.
#SeinfeldTaughtMe that you can't return a book after you've read it in a restroom. pic.twitter.com/zwuVUCWr4T
— Naasir (@TouchedPrawn) November 3, 2017
But sometimes bad things happened to good people.
Write down your parking spot number. #SeinfeldTaughtMe pic.twitter.com/RUIPm8e88W
— Hello Felicia (@hellofelicia14) November 3, 2017
Really bad things.
#SeinfeldTaughtMe not to skimp on the invitations pic.twitter.com/PLTizCAqBH
— Robyn Your ???? (@robyndwoskin) November 3, 2017
The show even commented on that difference between the usual glamorised world of fiction, vs. the mundanity of Seinfeld‘s “reality”.
#SeinfeldTaughtMe to always have a drink with pretzels pic.twitter.com/LPlKPC7VCI
— johnny Blaise ???????? (@Double_Dogg) November 3, 2017
Sometimes the characters pulled insane gambits that no one would ever try in real life – no one except Seinfeld co-creator Larry David.
#seinfeldtaughtme You can quit your job and go back in on Monday and act like it never happened. pic.twitter.com/PCANiT4TaI
— ????Norma Bates???? (@bluelighttv) November 3, 2017
Most importantly, Seinfeld reminded us that what makes us interesting isn’t our strengths but our weaknesses. It even presented a model of friendship based on celebrating those weaknesses, counter to the aspirational “BFFs who would die for each other” relationships of other shows.
#SeinfeldTaughtMe how to break in a winter coat. pic.twitter.com/qSQtpMRRFC
— Richie Rich (@RichieRichietwo) November 3, 2017
I lied, the most important lesson is that anything can be a napkin if you don’t give a damn.
#SeinfeldTaughtMe – It's ok to have a little snack before bedtime… pic.twitter.com/zxXgzOpHcI
— Brushing Off (@BrushingOff) November 3, 2017
#SeinfeldTaughtMe [Twitter]
Log in to comment on this story!
Log in