1 00:00:16,967 --> 00:00:19,066 ♪ (CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 2 00:00:19,133 --> 00:00:20,500 JOHN WILSON: Hey, New York. 3 00:00:22,300 --> 00:00:24,300 Life is filled with precious moments. 4 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,567 Ones, uh, that we wish we could hang on to forever. 5 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,500 But our ability to recall everything, 6 00:00:35,567 --> 00:00:37,667 no matter how much it means to us, 7 00:00:37,734 --> 00:00:40,834 gets worse and worse over time. 8 00:00:40,900 --> 00:00:43,433 And if you don't have an accurate record, 9 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:45,300 you may never be able to, uh, 10 00:00:45,367 --> 00:00:47,700 trust your own version of events. 11 00:00:49,066 --> 00:00:51,900 And then you'll just end up remembering things 12 00:00:51,967 --> 00:00:54,000 the way that someone else wants you to... 13 00:00:55,734 --> 00:00:57,667 but it doesn't have to be this way. 14 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,066 So stick with me, 15 00:01:00,133 --> 00:01:03,266 and I'll show you how to turn every waking moment 16 00:01:03,333 --> 00:01:05,767 into something that's impossible to forget. 17 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:10,633 ♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 18 00:01:11,633 --> 00:01:13,233 Now, a good memory is 19 00:01:13,300 --> 00:01:15,867 one of the most attractive qualities a person can have. 20 00:01:16,900 --> 00:01:18,734 My memory's not very good, 21 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,433 and it's always made me feel insecure. 22 00:01:22,500 --> 00:01:25,300 This is kind of why I started shooting so much video. 23 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,200 I've also been writing down every single thing I do 24 00:01:29,266 --> 00:01:32,700 every single day for over a decade now. 25 00:01:32,767 --> 00:01:35,233 Whenever I do something or go somewhere, 26 00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:36,934 I put it right here in these books. 27 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:38,767 ♪ (CHEERFUL MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 28 00:01:38,834 --> 00:01:41,367 On January 10th, 2018, 29 00:01:41,433 --> 00:01:45,233 I woke up at 8 a.m. and ate four strips of bacon. 30 00:01:46,867 --> 00:01:49,734 On August 22nd, 2014, 31 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:53,000 I got a haircut at, uh, Home Run Barbershop. 32 00:01:53,066 --> 00:01:55,367 And on March 12th of the same year, 33 00:01:55,433 --> 00:01:57,166 uh, I got a salad for lunch 34 00:01:57,233 --> 00:02:00,266 and accidentally dropped it all over 32nd Street. 35 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:03,166 It's kind of like time traveling. 36 00:02:03,233 --> 00:02:05,133 If I ever need to remember something, 37 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,734 I can just go back to my book and read about that day, 38 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:09,433 and I'm immediately transported. 39 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,934 But unfortunately, this isn't memory, 40 00:02:14,033 --> 00:02:16,767 because the second I look away from these books, 41 00:02:16,834 --> 00:02:19,266 everything just begins to blur together 42 00:02:20,533 --> 00:02:24,834 and I can barely remember who I am or how I got there. 43 00:02:25,967 --> 00:02:27,400 And if I'm not careful, 44 00:02:27,467 --> 00:02:31,033 one day all these records could just go up in smoke. 45 00:02:34,100 --> 00:02:36,967 But New York can be a painful place 46 00:02:37,033 --> 00:02:39,100 to have a good memory 47 00:02:39,166 --> 00:02:41,600 because the better you remember it, 48 00:02:41,667 --> 00:02:44,533 the less, uh, you recognize over time. 49 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,700 There used to be a-- a bar on 2nd Avenue, uh, 50 00:02:48,767 --> 00:02:51,400 called Mars Bar that I used to go to. 51 00:02:51,467 --> 00:02:54,433 But now it's a TD Bank. 52 00:02:55,533 --> 00:02:57,700 Um, thankfully, it looks like 53 00:02:57,767 --> 00:03:01,500 some of the regulars, uh, still hang out there, though. 54 00:03:03,233 --> 00:03:05,166 They also recently demolished 55 00:03:05,233 --> 00:03:08,800 one of my favorite, uh, movie theaters. 56 00:03:08,867 --> 00:03:13,300 There aren't many left quite like it in New York City. 57 00:03:13,367 --> 00:03:15,400 But at least it, um, looked like 58 00:03:15,467 --> 00:03:17,867 they were having a good time destroying it. 59 00:03:20,633 --> 00:03:22,367 A friend told me recently about 60 00:03:22,433 --> 00:03:24,000 someone who lives in my neighborhood 61 00:03:24,066 --> 00:03:25,333 who has such a good memory 62 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,367 that she actually competes in memory competitions. 63 00:03:28,433 --> 00:03:31,000 And she let me come over to look at some of her awards. 64 00:03:31,066 --> 00:03:32,200 JOHN: Let me see this-- 65 00:03:32,266 --> 00:03:34,900 -YANJAA WINTERSOUL: Oops-- Yeah. -JOHN: Oh my god, sorry. 66 00:03:34,967 --> 00:03:38,934 Yes, this is... yeah, World Memory Championship 2017. 67 00:03:39,467 --> 00:03:42,200 These are Singapore, 68 00:03:42,266 --> 00:03:45,066 and then there are some from, I guess, Sweden, Fra-- 69 00:03:45,133 --> 00:03:47,700 not France, what is this? 70 00:03:47,767 --> 00:03:50,633 JOHN: She seemed a little bored, but maybe that's because 71 00:03:50,700 --> 00:03:53,734 this was her third interview in 24 hours. 72 00:03:54,567 --> 00:03:55,700 Were there any methods of yours 73 00:03:55,767 --> 00:03:57,800 that you used to improve your memory? 74 00:03:57,867 --> 00:04:00,433 Uh, most competitors use a technique called 75 00:04:00,500 --> 00:04:02,200 the memory palace technique. 76 00:04:02,266 --> 00:04:03,567 For example, if you want to know 77 00:04:03,633 --> 00:04:05,900 the periodic table of elements in order, 78 00:04:05,967 --> 00:04:08,300 then you can place them in the memory palace 79 00:04:08,367 --> 00:04:12,667 and go, like, "H, hydrogen," so maybe on your bed 80 00:04:12,734 --> 00:04:15,133 you put... like, lots of water. 81 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:16,967 Your bed is suddenly just made of water, 82 00:04:17,033 --> 00:04:20,100 and then your nightstand might be made out of balloons 83 00:04:20,166 --> 00:04:22,133 so then you remember helium balloons. 84 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:25,500 I mean, you kind of just move along in a logical pattern. 85 00:04:25,567 --> 00:04:29,033 JOHN: The technique she told me about sounded like a good idea. 86 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:31,066 All you have to do is close your eyes 87 00:04:31,133 --> 00:04:33,467 and imagine you're walking through a physical space 88 00:04:33,533 --> 00:04:34,800 that you know really well... 89 00:04:34,867 --> 00:04:36,767 ♪ (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 90 00:04:36,834 --> 00:04:39,734 ...and mentally place the things you want to remember, 91 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,834 uh, all along your path. 92 00:04:44,500 --> 00:04:46,133 ♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 93 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:47,934 JOHN: So I tried to use it to remember 94 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,033 my, uh, grocery store list. 95 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:55,133 And I'll use my commute to work as, uh, the memory palace thing. 96 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,900 So, here's what it looks like in my head. 97 00:04:57,967 --> 00:05:00,400 ♪ (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 98 00:05:00,467 --> 00:05:01,800 I leave my apartment, 99 00:05:01,867 --> 00:05:04,000 and I almost slip on a banana peel. 100 00:05:04,367 --> 00:05:05,500 (WHISTLES) 101 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,033 Then, on my way to the subway, 102 00:05:08,100 --> 00:05:11,233 uh, I'm reminded that I need to buy some broccoli. 103 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:14,133 I also need drumsticks... 104 00:05:15,433 --> 00:05:17,700 And some brea-- chicken breasts. 105 00:05:18,767 --> 00:05:20,133 When I get on the subway, 106 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:24,233 I'm reminded of the fresh baguette that I want 107 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:27,533 and the dandruff shampoo that I also need. 108 00:05:28,734 --> 00:05:31,734 A few stops later, I remember to buy Fuji apples. 109 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:34,133 But when I get off the train, 110 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:36,600 I realize that I actually want, uh, Granny Smith. 111 00:05:37,934 --> 00:05:40,200 I also need a pack of playing cards, 112 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:42,800 acne cream, 113 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,033 and also, some, uh, donuts. 114 00:05:47,367 --> 00:05:50,033 A couple of hunks of cheese wouldn't hurt, either. 115 00:05:51,300 --> 00:05:53,533 I also needed... uh... 116 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:55,633 ah, grapes. 117 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,200 And a... Snickers bar. 118 00:06:00,367 --> 00:06:02,333 Nutella was on my list. 119 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,700 And a good old Zagnut. 120 00:06:04,767 --> 00:06:06,533 -Perfect. -♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 121 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,433 Now that I had my list memorized, 122 00:06:08,500 --> 00:06:11,500 I went to the supermarket to buy everything. 123 00:06:11,567 --> 00:06:13,867 But even though I knew exactly what I wanted, 124 00:06:13,934 --> 00:06:15,133 I had a really hard time 125 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:16,900 finding some things in the store. 126 00:06:17,967 --> 00:06:21,333 The only available employee was a security robot. 127 00:06:22,233 --> 00:06:24,266 The rest of the staff was preoccupied 128 00:06:24,333 --> 00:06:26,834 because someone had actually just run out of the store 129 00:06:26,900 --> 00:06:29,200 with a bunch of groceries without paying, 130 00:06:29,266 --> 00:06:31,033 and nobody knew what to do. 131 00:06:32,533 --> 00:06:34,633 The robot looked trustworthy and wise, 132 00:06:34,700 --> 00:06:35,900 and I couldn't believe 133 00:06:35,967 --> 00:06:38,533 that such a sophisticated piece of technology 134 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:42,200 would allow a robbery to take place in broad daylight. 135 00:06:42,266 --> 00:06:45,900 But maybe that's not what it was, uh, programmed to do. 136 00:06:48,166 --> 00:06:50,467 So I got as much as I could off the list... 137 00:06:50,533 --> 00:06:53,467 but, uh, I still couldn't find any Zagnut bars. 138 00:06:54,633 --> 00:06:57,800 Unfortunately, this fucking machine 139 00:06:57,867 --> 00:07:00,266 could not accept questions, 140 00:07:00,333 --> 00:07:02,800 but I finally spotted an employee 141 00:07:02,867 --> 00:07:04,633 uh, who didn't seem too busy. 142 00:07:04,700 --> 00:07:06,500 -CHRIS ANATRA: What's that? -JOHN: A Zagnut bar? 143 00:07:06,567 --> 00:07:07,667 No. 144 00:07:07,734 --> 00:07:09,433 JOHN: Uh, it's like a candy bar. 145 00:07:10,734 --> 00:07:11,667 Okay. 146 00:07:11,734 --> 00:07:12,834 JOHN: It turned out, uh, 147 00:07:12,900 --> 00:07:14,967 he didn't actually work at Stop & Shop, 148 00:07:15,033 --> 00:07:18,500 but he was the creator of the inventory software 149 00:07:18,567 --> 00:07:21,000 used to organize everything. 150 00:07:21,066 --> 00:07:23,500 CHRIS: Pretty much, from A to Z, all of their needs, 151 00:07:23,567 --> 00:07:25,200 anything that needs traceability, 152 00:07:25,266 --> 00:07:27,433 is what our software is really good at. 153 00:07:27,500 --> 00:07:30,533 JOHN: I told him I was making a student film about memory, 154 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,600 and he started sharing some of the weird experiences 155 00:07:33,667 --> 00:07:37,567 he's had in the world of supermarket inventory. 156 00:07:38,633 --> 00:07:39,867 I specifically remember 157 00:07:39,934 --> 00:07:42,967 this being called Stouffer's Stovetop Stuffing. 158 00:07:43,033 --> 00:07:45,934 But it's always been, now, Kraft Stovetop Stuffing. 159 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:47,900 And it's always been that way, it wasn't-- 160 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,900 From the 1970s, it's always been Kraft. 161 00:07:50,967 --> 00:07:52,367 But I remember the commercials, 162 00:07:52,433 --> 00:07:54,066 I remember everything about being it 163 00:07:54,133 --> 00:07:56,400 called Stouffer's Stovetop Stuffing. 164 00:07:56,467 --> 00:07:59,667 So, here's another one, too. The Raisin Bran guy? 165 00:07:59,734 --> 00:08:02,233 I know he always used to have sunglasses, 166 00:08:02,300 --> 00:08:05,066 but now, he's never wore sunglasses, ever. 167 00:08:06,033 --> 00:08:09,100 Febreze, I always remember it being spelled 168 00:08:09,166 --> 00:08:11,066 with two e's, "Febreeze." 169 00:08:11,133 --> 00:08:12,834 Now it's "Feb-rez." 170 00:08:12,900 --> 00:08:15,667 And it's always been this way. Like, that's the point... 171 00:08:15,734 --> 00:08:17,800 that I want to make. It's always spelled this way, 172 00:08:17,867 --> 00:08:20,200 it's never been spelled with the two e's. 173 00:08:20,266 --> 00:08:22,867 JOHN: Not everything he said resonated with me, 174 00:08:22,934 --> 00:08:27,266 but I definitely thought, uh, "Febreze" had more e's in it. 175 00:08:27,333 --> 00:08:30,066 So, when he invited me back to his, uh, office 176 00:08:30,133 --> 00:08:32,266 to check out his inventory software, 177 00:08:32,333 --> 00:08:35,100 I said, uh, "Yes, sir." 178 00:08:35,166 --> 00:08:37,500 There's no... there's no Stovetop Stuffing 179 00:08:37,567 --> 00:08:40,500 -for Stouffer's in... -CHRIS: No stuffing. 180 00:08:40,567 --> 00:08:42,800 However, I'm gonna bring one up 181 00:08:42,867 --> 00:08:44,233 that myself and my dad 182 00:08:44,300 --> 00:08:47,066 got into, like, a little kerfuffle about. 183 00:08:47,133 --> 00:08:50,800 Um, it was about the JFK assassination. 184 00:08:50,867 --> 00:08:52,700 Like, if you look at the picture of the car here, 185 00:08:52,767 --> 00:08:54,233 there's, like... 186 00:08:54,300 --> 00:08:56,300 all these extra people in the car. 187 00:08:56,367 --> 00:08:58,500 I-- I always remember there distinctly being 188 00:08:58,567 --> 00:09:00,200 four people in the car, 189 00:09:00,266 --> 00:09:03,133 and then as I was searching to try to find an answer, 190 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,300 because every video was the same Zapruder film, 191 00:09:06,367 --> 00:09:09,567 I saw, "JFK assassination Mandela effect." 192 00:09:09,633 --> 00:09:11,934 I'm like, "Mandela effect? 193 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:13,567 What the heck is a Mandela effect?" 194 00:09:13,633 --> 00:09:15,166 ♪ (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 195 00:09:15,233 --> 00:09:17,967 Some people have a very distinct memory 196 00:09:18,033 --> 00:09:22,800 that Nelson Mandela was killed in prison in the late 1980s, 197 00:09:22,867 --> 00:09:26,533 and then, I think around 2009, were kind of shocked to find out 198 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,066 that Nelson Mandela was still alive. 199 00:09:29,133 --> 00:09:34,033 So that was the first recorded group remembering of an event 200 00:09:34,100 --> 00:09:36,433 that did not match the historical record. 201 00:09:36,500 --> 00:09:38,166 JOHN: Oh, okay. 202 00:09:38,233 --> 00:09:40,967 So, is-- is there, like... 203 00:09:42,133 --> 00:09:43,166 What, uh... 204 00:09:43,233 --> 00:09:44,433 The more you look into it, 205 00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:46,233 the more you see these different things, 206 00:09:46,300 --> 00:09:51,533 not just in food service, but in geography of the planet. 207 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:55,834 For example, I remember when South America 208 00:09:55,900 --> 00:09:57,734 used to be under North America, 209 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:00,133 not pushed all the way out towards Africa. 210 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,500 Or your heart used to be offset to the left. 211 00:10:03,567 --> 00:10:06,066 Now, it's just about in the center of your chest. 212 00:10:06,133 --> 00:10:08,133 From what I remember, it used to be Sex in the City, 213 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:09,967 and now it's Sex and the City. 214 00:10:10,033 --> 00:10:14,600 Is the word "a lot" one word, a-l-o-t, or is it two words? 215 00:10:14,667 --> 00:10:18,533 "Sometimes," is it s-o-m-e-- Is it two different words, or-- 216 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:20,533 I actually called the Scotchgard company, 217 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,900 and I'm like, "When did you guys change your product name 218 00:10:22,967 --> 00:10:26,266 from 'guard,' g-u-a-r-d, to g-a-r-d?" 219 00:10:26,333 --> 00:10:30,033 "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." 220 00:10:31,467 --> 00:10:33,066 Is there a hidden meaning? 221 00:10:33,133 --> 00:10:35,333 Are we being communicated with 222 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,400 somehow regarding these Mandela effects? 223 00:10:38,467 --> 00:10:40,700 Is it trying-- Are we trying to be taught something 224 00:10:40,767 --> 00:10:43,066 that we haven't quite grasped yet? 225 00:10:43,133 --> 00:10:46,133 So, myself and others are, like, really looking into that, 226 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,467 and we're starting to find patterns. 227 00:10:48,533 --> 00:10:50,533 JOHN: I still didn't have all my groceries, 228 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,500 but I was hypnotized by his elaborate theories. 229 00:10:53,567 --> 00:10:55,834 JOHN: Were you afraid of Y2K when it was about to happen? 230 00:10:55,900 --> 00:10:58,066 No, actually, I really wasn't. 231 00:10:58,133 --> 00:10:59,500 JOHN: And I soon learned that 232 00:10:59,567 --> 00:11:01,867 this was more than just a hobby for him. 233 00:11:01,934 --> 00:11:03,600 The first official 234 00:11:03,667 --> 00:11:06,400 Mandela Effect Conference is being organized, 235 00:11:06,467 --> 00:11:10,066 so that people can feel at ease about their memory, 236 00:11:10,133 --> 00:11:12,300 in that, "Don't worry, there's a lot of people 237 00:11:12,367 --> 00:11:14,734 that have the same type of memories that you have, 238 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:16,333 and they're-- and they're shared." 239 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:18,066 So there's gonna be a group of people 240 00:11:18,133 --> 00:11:19,633 coming together to talk about that. 241 00:11:19,700 --> 00:11:22,033 I think it's gonna be an-- an historic event. 242 00:11:22,100 --> 00:11:24,200 ♪ (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES♪ 243 00:11:24,266 --> 00:11:27,467 JOHN: After I left, I couldn't stop noticing, uh, 244 00:11:27,533 --> 00:11:30,600 little inconsistencies, uh, everywhere that I looked. 245 00:11:30,667 --> 00:11:32,834 Is there always a dash in the "Coca-Cola"? 246 00:11:32,900 --> 00:11:34,033 TRUCK DRIVER: Huh? 247 00:11:34,100 --> 00:11:35,734 JOHN: The "Coca-Cola," is there always a dash in there? 248 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:37,033 TRUCK DRIVER: Yeah. 249 00:11:37,100 --> 00:11:39,200 JOHN: Oh, okay, but what about on the back of your jacket? 250 00:11:39,266 --> 00:11:40,333 There's no dash on there. 251 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:41,834 -TRUCK DRIVER: There's no dash? -JOHN: Yeah. 252 00:11:41,900 --> 00:11:43,800 I've never seen it without the dash before. 253 00:11:43,867 --> 00:11:46,200 Nah, it's 'cause I had it-- I had it made up. 254 00:11:46,266 --> 00:11:47,667 -JOHN: Oh, okay. -I had it made up. 255 00:11:47,734 --> 00:11:49,333 That's the only reason it don't have the dash. 256 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:51,066 JOHN: Oh, okay. 257 00:11:51,133 --> 00:11:54,667 I wasn't sure what was related to the Mandela effect or not. 258 00:11:56,033 --> 00:11:57,834 But there was definitely something going on. 259 00:12:00,900 --> 00:12:02,900 ♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 260 00:12:02,967 --> 00:12:04,967 I walked outside of my apartment recently, 261 00:12:05,033 --> 00:12:08,700 and I noticed that the city changed out all the garbage cans 262 00:12:08,767 --> 00:12:12,166 to the older, uh, "Oscar the Grouch" style, 263 00:12:12,233 --> 00:12:14,734 uh, which I thought was weird. 264 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,333 As I kept walking, my neighbors looked different, too. 265 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:21,834 I was-- I was getting really confused, 266 00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:23,734 but I soon realized 267 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:27,633 I had actually just stumbled onto the set of a movie. 268 00:12:27,700 --> 00:12:31,333 It was Stephen Spielberg's remake of West Side Story. 269 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,300 And they were pretending that Queens 270 00:12:33,367 --> 00:12:36,133 was the Upper West Side in the early '40s. 271 00:12:37,567 --> 00:12:39,066 For the rest of the week, 272 00:12:39,133 --> 00:12:42,166 it was hard to tell who was a human and who was an actor. 273 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,700 And I kept getting in trouble walking around 274 00:12:45,767 --> 00:12:47,533 because I was from the wrong era. 275 00:12:49,367 --> 00:12:50,467 A week later, 276 00:12:50,533 --> 00:12:53,200 I thought my neighborhood was back to normal, 277 00:12:53,266 --> 00:12:56,834 but it turned out they were, uh, just shooting another movie. 278 00:12:58,367 --> 00:13:02,000 After that, I had trouble trusting anything I saw. 279 00:13:02,066 --> 00:13:05,400 And I just started assuming that everything was a movie. 280 00:13:06,734 --> 00:13:08,200 This looks like a good one. 281 00:13:09,066 --> 00:13:10,767 Excited for this one to come out. 282 00:13:11,467 --> 00:13:13,033 But the more I paid attention, 283 00:13:13,100 --> 00:13:16,367 the more I wondered if some of this confusion was by design. 284 00:13:16,433 --> 00:13:17,667 ♪ (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 285 00:13:17,734 --> 00:13:19,667 I was walking by the Thanksgiving Day parade, 286 00:13:19,734 --> 00:13:21,600 and I saw that there was a malfunction 287 00:13:21,667 --> 00:13:23,800 with the Ronald McDonald balloon, 288 00:13:23,867 --> 00:13:27,367 and it had to be pulled in the middle of the event. 289 00:13:27,433 --> 00:13:29,567 But later, when I mentioned this to a friend 290 00:13:29,633 --> 00:13:31,700 who had watched the parade on TV, 291 00:13:31,767 --> 00:13:34,567 they had no idea what I was talking about. 292 00:13:34,633 --> 00:13:36,233 It turned out, the live broadcast 293 00:13:36,300 --> 00:13:38,567 had spliced in footage from last year's float 294 00:13:38,633 --> 00:13:40,333 to make it seem to viewers at home 295 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,066 that everything was normal, 296 00:13:42,133 --> 00:13:44,900 while in reality, Ronald's deflating carcass 297 00:13:44,967 --> 00:13:48,066 was being pulverized in the middle of 42nd Street 298 00:13:48,133 --> 00:13:50,834 while spectators watched in horror. 299 00:13:52,500 --> 00:13:55,500 This act of deception created two groups of people 300 00:13:55,567 --> 00:13:58,834 with completely different memories of the same event, 301 00:13:59,667 --> 00:14:01,333 and neither of them is wrong. 302 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:06,433 The conference that the guy mentioned was happening soon. 303 00:14:06,500 --> 00:14:09,734 And I was starting to feel like I shouldn't miss it. 304 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,633 So I caught a cheap flight to, uh, Ketchum, Idaho, 305 00:14:13,700 --> 00:14:16,734 where the first-ever Mandela Effect Conference 306 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:22,066 was being held at a Best Western, uh, "Plus" 307 00:14:22,133 --> 00:14:24,800 in the, uh, Pow Wow Room. 308 00:14:24,867 --> 00:14:27,934 The conference organizers were just getting set up. 309 00:14:28,033 --> 00:14:31,867 But once they installed their, uh, custom sign 310 00:14:31,934 --> 00:14:33,834 that they had shipped in, 311 00:14:33,900 --> 00:14:37,734 uh, the host took a moment to chat with me. 312 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,633 So, in my head, it's always been "Berenstein" Bears. 313 00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:42,567 I learned to read on those books. 314 00:14:42,633 --> 00:14:46,033 I was as sure as my next breath that it was an e. 315 00:14:47,467 --> 00:14:48,967 Turns out it's never been an e, 316 00:14:49,033 --> 00:14:50,667 it's always been an a. 317 00:14:50,734 --> 00:14:52,633 And that bothers me a lot. 318 00:14:52,700 --> 00:14:55,000 That was my first one I ever found. 319 00:14:55,734 --> 00:14:57,867 And I couldn't let it go. 320 00:14:57,934 --> 00:15:01,800 When you know what you know, you can't deny your memory. 321 00:15:01,867 --> 00:15:03,400 ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 322 00:15:03,467 --> 00:15:05,066 JOHN: Everyone started to file in 323 00:15:05,133 --> 00:15:07,867 and sample free veggies and dip. 324 00:15:08,934 --> 00:15:11,333 The guy from the supermarket showed up, too. 325 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:14,133 There was a lot of literature there. 326 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:17,934 And, uh, custom apparel and decals. 327 00:15:19,033 --> 00:15:21,266 People were having very animated discussions 328 00:15:21,333 --> 00:15:22,800 about their different theories. 329 00:15:22,867 --> 00:15:24,100 Like, I was just hearing that 330 00:15:24,166 --> 00:15:26,467 -somebody remembered having a dog... -Right. 331 00:15:26,533 --> 00:15:28,934 ...and then their mother's like, "No, we never had a dog, 332 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,233 -we were a cat family. Never." -Right, right. 333 00:15:31,300 --> 00:15:33,600 And she has all these memories of this dog. 334 00:15:33,667 --> 00:15:34,800 You know, where did they come from? 335 00:15:34,867 --> 00:15:36,433 -This happens a lot? -Yeah. 336 00:15:36,500 --> 00:15:37,867 JOHN: All the presenters talked about 337 00:15:37,934 --> 00:15:40,567 some of the most well-known, uh, Mandela effects. 338 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,800 Minds were being absolutely obliterated 339 00:15:43,867 --> 00:15:46,567 with all of this forbidden knowledge. 340 00:15:46,633 --> 00:15:48,834 Now, when you look at this picture, do you see a Mandela effect? 341 00:15:48,900 --> 00:15:51,100 -AUDIENCE MEMBER 1: Yes. Yes. -AUDIENCE MEMBER 2: Yeah. The stripes. 342 00:15:51,166 --> 00:15:53,633 The stripes! Those were never there before. 343 00:15:53,700 --> 00:15:55,166 Not-- not that I remember. 344 00:15:56,100 --> 00:15:58,266 JOHN: But the more I talked with people, 345 00:15:58,333 --> 00:16:01,100 uh, the more I realized that they didn't think of this 346 00:16:01,166 --> 00:16:03,567 as a memory problem at all. 347 00:16:03,633 --> 00:16:05,567 What do I think the Mandela effect is? 348 00:16:06,433 --> 00:16:10,233 Um, I would say it's a timeline shift, 349 00:16:10,300 --> 00:16:13,233 you know, um, proof of the multiverse... 350 00:16:14,033 --> 00:16:16,734 you know, different timelines. 351 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:21,533 It's like evidential existence of parallel timelines. 352 00:16:22,233 --> 00:16:23,467 JOHN: Everyone there, 353 00:16:23,533 --> 00:16:26,100 no matter their individual experience, 354 00:16:26,166 --> 00:16:27,800 was on the same page about this. 355 00:16:27,867 --> 00:16:29,233 So, the Mandela effect 356 00:16:29,300 --> 00:16:32,633 is the consequence of jumping timelines 357 00:16:32,700 --> 00:16:37,734 while holding memories of the previous timeline. 358 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,166 JOHN: In their minds, their memories were perfect, 359 00:16:40,233 --> 00:16:43,200 and they were the chosen few who could remember details 360 00:16:43,266 --> 00:16:46,967 from alternate dimensions that they once inhabited. 361 00:16:47,033 --> 00:16:49,500 PRESENTER: And I remember Benicio del Toro, 362 00:16:49,567 --> 00:16:51,600 he died around 2001. 363 00:16:51,667 --> 00:16:54,467 I think both of them are still alive right now, I hope, 364 00:16:54,533 --> 00:16:56,033 and I'm not sure what that's about, 365 00:16:56,100 --> 00:16:57,533 but it is interesting. 366 00:16:58,667 --> 00:17:00,600 JOHN: They were using the most complicated 367 00:17:00,667 --> 00:17:04,166 scientific theories possible to explain what most people 368 00:17:04,233 --> 00:17:07,200 would consider, uh, everyday forgetfulness. 369 00:17:07,266 --> 00:17:09,533 Personally, I think-- I've-- I've done this. 370 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:12,133 Literally, I'll have a pen that I'd like to write with. 371 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:15,300 I put it down, I stood up, turned around, 372 00:17:15,367 --> 00:17:17,834 and went, "Oh, I want the pen," and it was gone. 373 00:17:17,900 --> 00:17:19,767 It was not there. 374 00:17:19,834 --> 00:17:21,400 And I just... looked on the floor, 375 00:17:21,467 --> 00:17:23,166 looked on the table, nothing. 376 00:17:23,233 --> 00:17:26,100 Three days later, I'm sitting at the computer 377 00:17:26,166 --> 00:17:27,567 like this with the pen, 378 00:17:27,633 --> 00:17:29,667 and I have no idea where it came from. 379 00:17:30,900 --> 00:17:33,767 Um... no. 380 00:17:33,834 --> 00:17:35,567 JOHN: I purchased his book to learn more 381 00:17:35,633 --> 00:17:38,433 about his, uh, quantum timeline theory, 382 00:17:38,500 --> 00:17:40,433 and I took it back to my room, 383 00:17:40,500 --> 00:17:43,133 which was conveniently on the other side of the wall 384 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:44,800 from the convention space. 385 00:17:45,834 --> 00:17:48,300 There wasn't a lot of, uh, science in there, 386 00:17:48,367 --> 00:17:50,400 but in the first 30 pages, 387 00:17:50,467 --> 00:17:53,000 the author claims to have invented Pokémon... 388 00:17:53,066 --> 00:17:56,033 and met Mark Twain in a hot tub. 389 00:17:57,166 --> 00:17:58,500 This didn't explain much, 390 00:17:58,567 --> 00:18:01,000 and I was hoping to get more of an explanation 391 00:18:01,066 --> 00:18:02,700 when the Q&A began. 392 00:18:12,767 --> 00:18:14,500 CHRIS: It's usually, um, some kind of, like, 393 00:18:14,567 --> 00:18:16,700 um, hard drive technologies. 394 00:18:18,166 --> 00:18:19,834 CHRIS: What's that? 395 00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:21,867 -AUDIENCE MEMBER 3: Silicon. -CHRIS: Yeah, I think ultimate-- 396 00:18:21,934 --> 00:18:23,667 yeah, ultimately silicon. 397 00:18:24,633 --> 00:18:26,200 CHRIS: Yeah, yeah. 398 00:18:26,967 --> 00:18:28,233 AUDIENCE MEMBER 3: 399 00:18:32,333 --> 00:18:33,633 CHRIS: Okay. 400 00:18:37,500 --> 00:18:39,734 JOHN: The conference was almost over. 401 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:41,567 Uh, but before leaving, 402 00:18:41,633 --> 00:18:45,767 I decided to spend some time with the organizer, Jerry. 403 00:18:45,834 --> 00:18:49,333 He wanted to show me the town's, uh, other Best Western, 404 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:51,567 where he worked as a night manager 405 00:18:51,633 --> 00:18:53,967 and, uh, actually lived there too. 406 00:18:54,033 --> 00:18:55,367 According to science, 407 00:18:55,433 --> 00:18:57,734 we're in the Orion Arm of the Milky Way. 408 00:18:57,800 --> 00:18:59,633 Generally speaking, the dash was always 409 00:18:59,700 --> 00:19:01,500 in the middle on the Coca-Cola logo. 410 00:19:01,567 --> 00:19:05,166 The company Costco lost their t. 411 00:19:05,233 --> 00:19:07,233 Another strange thing about the flip-flops 412 00:19:07,300 --> 00:19:10,867 is all evidence of the flip disappears after the flop. 413 00:19:10,934 --> 00:19:12,834 JOHN: So, are your coworkers gonna be in there? 414 00:19:12,900 --> 00:19:14,300 JERRY: They will be. They will be. 415 00:19:14,367 --> 00:19:16,800 And all of them are affected, too. 416 00:19:16,867 --> 00:19:18,967 They were actually affected before I ever got here. 417 00:19:19,033 --> 00:19:20,467 'Cause people asked them the questions, 418 00:19:20,533 --> 00:19:22,633 and they realized that things 419 00:19:22,700 --> 00:19:24,700 aren't the way they remember 'em either. 420 00:19:27,700 --> 00:19:29,700 One of our amazing front desk managers, 421 00:19:29,767 --> 00:19:31,400 Miss Brooklyn. 422 00:19:31,467 --> 00:19:34,467 JOHN: Uh, have-- have you been, uh, affected? 423 00:19:34,533 --> 00:19:36,066 Yeah, actually because of him, 424 00:19:36,133 --> 00:19:39,000 I've realized that a lot, I have, yeah. 425 00:19:39,066 --> 00:19:40,300 -Absolutely. -JOHN: Like what? 426 00:19:40,367 --> 00:19:42,767 Well, like "Kit Kat." "Febreze" blew my mind. 427 00:19:42,834 --> 00:19:44,166 "Froot Loops." (CHUCKLES) 428 00:19:44,233 --> 00:19:45,767 JOHN: Oh, so it's, like, the spelling of things? 429 00:19:45,834 --> 00:19:48,033 Yeah, just the spelling, and the way I remember it. 430 00:19:48,100 --> 00:19:50,133 JOHN: Do you think this has a lot to do with memory, 431 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:51,333 or is it something different? 432 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:53,800 I personally think it's memory. That's me. 433 00:19:53,867 --> 00:19:55,767 But I know these guys think a little bit differently, 434 00:19:55,834 --> 00:19:57,200 but I think it's memory. 435 00:19:57,266 --> 00:19:58,834 -No, please be honest, whatever you think. -No, yeah. (LAUGHS) 436 00:19:58,900 --> 00:20:00,700 -(JERRY LAUGHS) -We talk. (CHUCKLES) 437 00:20:00,767 --> 00:20:01,767 -JERRY: Absolutely. -JOHN: Yeah. 438 00:20:01,834 --> 00:20:02,867 Yeah. 439 00:20:07,166 --> 00:20:08,667 JERRY: Not gonna lie, I'm a bachelor. 440 00:20:10,700 --> 00:20:12,033 JOHN: Me, too. 441 00:20:12,100 --> 00:20:14,000 -JERRY: Really? Very nice. -JOHN: Yeah. 442 00:20:14,066 --> 00:20:16,133 JERRY: It's the way to be, man. 443 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:17,567 Save a lot more money that way. 444 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:21,934 ♪ (GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 445 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,000 So, let me turn the question on you. 446 00:20:24,066 --> 00:20:25,266 Are you affected? 447 00:20:26,266 --> 00:20:28,066 JOHN: Yeah, I mean, I-- 448 00:20:28,133 --> 00:20:30,400 Which ones just really grabbed you and said, 449 00:20:30,467 --> 00:20:32,734 "Oh my god, some-- That's not right"? 450 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:34,433 JOHN: Uh, the rearview mirror. 451 00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:36,934 Uh, "Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear." 452 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:38,300 Right! 453 00:20:38,367 --> 00:20:40,333 JOHN: It seemed like I had found the one place 454 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:44,834 where the worse your memory was, the more people liked you. 455 00:20:44,900 --> 00:20:46,433 And they would go to great lengths 456 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:48,700 to make you feel accepted. 457 00:20:48,767 --> 00:20:49,800 JERRY: Here we go! 458 00:20:51,033 --> 00:20:53,633 "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." 459 00:20:53,700 --> 00:20:55,467 JOHN: 'Cause you remember "may be," right? 460 00:20:55,533 --> 00:20:56,633 JERRY: Yes, sir! 461 00:20:56,700 --> 00:20:58,700 (BOTH LAUGHING) 462 00:20:58,767 --> 00:21:02,033 JOHN: It felt kind of nice to be validated so easily. 463 00:21:02,100 --> 00:21:05,100 And I was almost sad that it was time to go back home. 464 00:21:06,367 --> 00:21:08,500 When I landed in New York, I was hungry, 465 00:21:08,567 --> 00:21:09,867 so I stopped for lunch 466 00:21:09,934 --> 00:21:14,233 at an airport restaurant called CBGB. 467 00:21:14,300 --> 00:21:17,300 It seemed like it had a lot of music-themed decor, 468 00:21:17,367 --> 00:21:19,934 but I was here for the food. 469 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,333 I ended up getting their, uh, signature hot dog 470 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:23,533 for twelve dollars, 471 00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:26,100 and it wasn't half bad. 472 00:21:29,266 --> 00:21:31,533 When I got home, I tried to write everything 473 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,967 from that weekend down in my calendar, 474 00:21:34,033 --> 00:21:37,767 but I got distracted and started looking at old entries. 475 00:21:37,834 --> 00:21:40,166 And I eventually read everything, uh, 476 00:21:40,233 --> 00:21:42,200 from the beginning, chronologically. 477 00:21:43,433 --> 00:21:45,266 It was the first time I had ever done that, 478 00:21:45,333 --> 00:21:48,100 and it felt like I was reading about a different person. 479 00:21:49,300 --> 00:21:52,467 I remember being spontaneous in my 20s, 480 00:21:52,533 --> 00:21:56,700 but everything I read proved that I was a slave to routine. 481 00:21:56,767 --> 00:21:59,433 And I noticed relationship patterns 482 00:21:59,500 --> 00:22:01,433 that I had been trying to ignore. 483 00:22:03,133 --> 00:22:05,467 By the end of it, I was in a terrible mood. 484 00:22:05,533 --> 00:22:07,934 And I realized that maybe it's unnatural 485 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,400 to try to preserve some things. 486 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:15,967 The way the past exists in our head 487 00:22:16,033 --> 00:22:18,934 is not always the way that we experienced it. 488 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:20,567 And at the end of the day, 489 00:22:20,633 --> 00:22:22,400 there will always be distortions 490 00:22:22,467 --> 00:22:24,233 as long as humans are responsible 491 00:22:24,300 --> 00:22:25,934 for remembering everything. 492 00:22:26,900 --> 00:22:30,367 So enjoy this fantasy while you can, 493 00:22:30,433 --> 00:22:32,834 because if you're having a bad day today, 494 00:22:32,900 --> 00:22:36,367 you can always remember it being better tomorrow. 495 00:22:36,433 --> 00:22:39,533 ♪ ("OBJECTS IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR" BY MEAT LOAF PLAYING) ♪ 496 00:22:40,567 --> 00:22:44,600 ♪ May appear closer Than they are ♪ 497 00:22:45,533 --> 00:22:48,700 ♪ And objects In the rear-view mirror ♪ 498 00:22:48,767 --> 00:22:52,767 ♪ May appear closer Than they are ♪ 499 00:22:53,667 --> 00:22:56,667 ♪ And objects In the rear-view mirror ♪ 500 00:22:56,734 --> 00:23:01,633 ♪ May appear closer Than they are ♪ 501 00:23:01,700 --> 00:23:04,767 ♪ And objects In the rear-view mirror ♪ 502 00:23:04,834 --> 00:23:09,233 ♪ May appear closer Than they are ♪ 503 00:23:11,300 --> 00:23:12,800 ♪ They are ♪ 504 00:23:12,867 --> 00:23:15,667 (CHOIR VOCALIZING) 505 00:23:15,734 --> 00:23:18,467 ♪ Objects in The rear-view mirror ♪ 506 00:23:18,533 --> 00:23:22,100 ♪ May appear closer Than they are ♪ 507 00:23:22,166 --> 00:23:26,100 -♪ They are closer ♪ -♪ And objects In the rear-view mirror ♪ 508 00:23:26,166 --> 00:23:29,834 ♪ May appear closer Than they are ♪ 509 00:23:29,900 --> 00:23:33,400 -♪ They are closer ♪ -♪ Objects in The rear-view mirror ♪ 510 00:23:33,467 --> 00:23:37,233 ♪ May appear closer Than they are ♪ 511 00:23:37,300 --> 00:23:40,834 -♪ They are closer ♪ -♪ And objects In the rear-view mirror ♪ 512 00:23:40,900 --> 00:23:44,767 ♪ May appear closer Than they are ♪ 513 00:23:44,834 --> 00:23:48,367 -♪ They are closer ♪ -♪ And objects In the rear-view mirror ♪ 514 00:23:48,433 --> 00:23:52,033 ♪ May appear closer Than they are ♪ 515 00:23:54,500 --> 00:23:57,667 ♪ (SONG CONCLUDES) ♪ 516 00:23:57,734 --> 00:24:00,433 JOHN: This is John Wilson. Uh, thanks for watching. 517 00:24:01,467 --> 00:24:04,967 ♪ (JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 518 00:24:57,967 --> 00:24:59,700 ♪ (FLITTERING MUSIC PLAYS) ♪ 519 00:25:08,333 --> 00:25:11,667 I sat here eating a tub of coffee ice cream 520 00:25:11,934 --> 00:25:13,200 and I-- I spilled it 521 00:25:13,266 --> 00:25:14,700 (LAUGHS) on the furniture. 522 00:25:17,567 --> 00:25:19,300 What about you? What have you spilled here? 523 00:25:19,367 --> 00:25:21,500 Oh, I have never spilled anything. 524 00:25:21,700 --> 00:25:23,000 -JOHN WILSON: Oh, really? -Yeah. 525 00:25:23,066 --> 00:25:25,066 -JOHN: Oh, wow. -I'm very careful.