1. What is this site really about?
We dig up the bizarre, forgotten, and “wait, that actually happened?!” stories behind everyday things. Yes, we use AI to help research, but don’t worry – a human (usually) remembers to fact-check before hitting publish.
2. Who writes this stuff?
A team of history nerds with trust issues (toward both AI and each other). We let AI do the heavy lifting, then argue over whether to include the weird tangents it suggests about alien involvement in toaster development.
3. Can I request a topic?
Sure! But if you ask about the history of dirt, we’re outsourcing your question directly to ChatGPT and not reading the 5,000 word response it generates.
4. How accurate is this?
We aim for “mostly right” with occasional “that can’t be true… oh wait it is” moments. Our fact-checking process involves 30% research, 50% debating Wikipedia edits, and 20% hoping nobody notices the typos.
5. Do you steal content?
Only from history itself. And sometimes from obscure 19th century pamphlets that definitely don’t have copyright anymore. Everything gets our special “AI remix” treatment before publishing.
6. Why should I trust you?
You shouldn’t! We’re just some randos with a website. But we do try to link to actual sources when we remember to check them.
7. Can I use your articles for my school paper?
Technically yes, but your teacher will absolutely know when you cite “the website that claimed staplers were invented to punish paper.”
8. How can I support the site?
Keep reading! Every click pays for approximately 0.0001% of our hosting fees. Or you could send coffee – the human writers need it to override the AI’s crazier suggestions.
9. Will you write about [my specific obsession]?
Maybe! Our editorial process involves:
- Putting your topic into an AI
- Seeing if what comes out is “ok”
- Debating whether it’s too weird to publish
- Publishing it anyway
10. How do I complain?
Use the contact form! We read all complaints right after the AI summarizes them for us in 50 words or less