Relatable Culture

Your Appliances Are Listening — And They Know When You're Shopping for a Replacement

A malfunctioning washing machine made a miraculous recovery the moment its owner announced a trip to the electronics store.

· 5 min · Togetter

What's going on

You've probably experienced it: a beloved appliance starts acting up, and you reluctantly tell a family member you're going out to buy a replacement — only for the thing to spring back to life as if nothing happened. One Japanese Twitter user shared exactly this moment, and the replies flooded in with the same story told over and over again, with washing machines, cars, printers, microwaves, sewing machines, and kitchen cabinets all apparently in on the conspiracy.

The thread turned into a kind of collective confession: people have started talking to their appliances out of desperation, or gratitude, or just habit — and quietly reporting that it seems to work. Whether it's the power of vibration settling a loose connection, or pure coincidence, the experience feels universal enough that no one is willing to rule out that these things are, somehow, listening.

Comments

They’re definitely listening. I said “I’m heading to Yamada Denki (a major Japanese electronics retail chain) to buy a new washing machine” — and my washing machine, which had been acting up, suddenly started working perfectly.
I get it (・o・)
They really do listen.
It’s so weird, but it really does happen 💦
Same thing when you call a repair person — it immediately starts working fine again.
Washing machine: “Alright, that buys me another year.”
I feel the same way! So whenever an appliance starts acting up, I just announce that I’m replacing it — to give it a chance to reconsider.
Treat them well and they’ll work hard for you. That’s what mine do.
“Guess we don’t need to go to Yamada after all.” “…Dad, it won’t turn on.”
Same… cars are listening too…
Smartphones, PCs, washing machines — they’re all absolutely listening 🤔
Happens all the time. Weird as it is. Cars, washing machines, computers — all of them. ☺️
The shared copy machine on our floor just did exactly this.
Not just appliances — cars too. I’m convinced they understand words.
Walls have ears, appliances have ears — and eyes.

The original is a play on the Japanese proverb 壁に耳あり障子に目あり (kabe ni mimi ari, shōji ni me ari) — “walls have ears, paper screens have eyes” — meaning: be careful what you say, someone may always be watching or listening.

The first time I sent a fax as a new hire, I muttered “please take care of it!” out loud. I became a legend that day.
Oh god, I get it. I thought my washing machine was done for, so I said something like “thank you for everything, sorry I pushed you so hard” — and the next day it was completely fine. Now I tiptoe around its feelings.
I’ve had a large kitchen cabinet for nearly 20 years. The main drawer had been sticking badly for over a year. The moment I told my husband I wanted to replace it — it slid open perfectly smooth. Turns out the cabinet was listening too.
My microwave. Been using it for 30 years, so I gave it a little pat and said “yeah, I think it’s time” before heading to the store. Came back and it was working fine. That was three years ago. I think it was just sulking 😌 — hasn’t acted up since.
Absolutely, they’re listening. So I talk to them every day — I tell the fridge “count on you 🎵” and the washing machine “I’m counting on you again today~”. They’re old, but my appliances really do their best. “Take care of your things” — I feel that in my bones 🎵
When I got lost in my car, Apple Music played “Mayoi Michi” (a 1977 J-pop ballad by Machiko Watanabe meaning “lost road”) — it must have picked up on my GPS location.
My sewing machine too. Three years ago I went to the store ready to buy a new one, pulled out cash and said “if it can’t be repaired I’ll buy one right now” — and it somehow started working. The staff asked me what had been wrong with it. It’s still running to this day 🤣
Same here. The day my washing machine stopped turning on, I kept talking to it: “You’re my favorite, I love you, you’re my absolute fave” (推し / oshi: the term fans use for their most beloved idol or character). Three days later it turned on. Worked for another six years. Last year it stopped again — and passed away of old age.
ꉂꉂ(ᵔᗜᵔ*) The shredder at work did the same thing. “Excuse me, this one seems to be done for…” CLUNK rattle rattle rattle “I called the extension and it came back to life…”
A friend’s car — after they decided to trade it in, it got hit by a stone on the highway requiring a windshield replacement, and on the very day of the sale, all four tires got a flat. That car was a yandere (an obsessive character type who turns destructive when faced with abandonment) …
This happens so much. When I search “washing machine malfunction” it ignores me completely, but search “washing machine latest model reviews” and it fixes itself. Pretty sure it’s in cahoots with Google.

My take

We really shouldn't forget to appreciate the appliances that work hard for us every day. And just like with people, it's probably wise to save the complaints for when they're not around to hear.

Comments loosely translated for tone.

Source https://togetter.com/li/2703733