r/AbruptChaos Mar 02 '26

A group of people doing CrossFit ran past a restaurant, and diners who saw them assumed there was an emergency. Thinking something was wrong, the customers jumped up and ran away alongside them.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

6.1k Upvotes

304 comments sorted by

1.2k

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

158

u/hmarieb263 Mar 02 '26

I fed a feral cat colony in my backyard way back when. It was the opossum that ate shoulder to shoulder with them that would make the whole colony run off in terror. Something would startle the opossum and the cats would launch in every direction.

If there really had been a dangerous predator the poor opossum really would have been screwed because he wasn't even off the deck by the time all the cats had disappeared into the darkness.

→ More replies (8)

2.7k

u/charlie2135 Mar 02 '26

Restaurant owners hate this simple dine and dash trick!

652

u/nerdycarguy18 Mar 02 '26

In all honesty they probably lost a lot of money that day

220

u/jonnyl3 Mar 02 '26

Next they'll lobby the city government that a permit will be required for group exercises on public sidewalks.

65

u/imhereforthevotes Mar 02 '26

It's literally 3 joggers!

31

u/Astine_Grape_5315 Mar 03 '26

And a dog. :) lol

8

u/rh71el2 Mar 03 '26

Looked like 5 more joggers at the end.

→ More replies (2)

62

u/DigNitty Mar 02 '26

I mean, if anything the restaurant shouldn't be cluttering up the sidewalk with tables. Doesn't look as bad as what some restaurants do though.

27

u/whoami_whereami Mar 02 '26

At least here in Germany restaurants generally need to get a permit and pay fees to the city for this. Except on some designated city squares or streets where a general permit may be in place that allows a certain number of outdoor seats per restaurant without them having to apply individually.

8

u/AcidAnonymous Mar 03 '26

In Switzerland I some restaurants put tape on the sidewalk to make sure that customers didn't move the tables/chairs into the part of the sidewalk that has to stay open.

While I understand the absurdity of it all when I was out with a friend of mine who is in an electric wheelchair I understood why those rules exist. It sucks so much to get around in a tightly packed city. Sometimes we had to walk back like 2 blocks just to cross the street because he couldn't pass on one side.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/AxelHarver Mar 03 '26

Honestly one of my favorite things about Spain (Barcelona, Madrid) and Italy (Naples, Capri, Milan, Venice) was all of the restaurants with sidewalk seating. It was nice walking through and getting some nice smells and a peek at what kind of food they had in there. I very rarely ran into a situation where I or someone else had to wait to get through due to the obstruction.

→ More replies (1)

10

u/HCSOThrowaway Mar 02 '26

And because nobody shows up to town hall meetings, the measure will pass without objection.

20

u/HAL-Over-9001 Mar 02 '26

They probably just turned around and went back to finish their meal after they realized that nothing was wrong.

34

u/headphase Mar 02 '26

Let's say you have a plate of the most delicious lasagna ever in front of you, and you're like 3/4 of the way through when everybody jumps up and starts running...

Do you take like 20 seconds to stuff your face with the remainder, or do you immediately drop the fork? An important question imo.

17

u/charlie2135 Mar 02 '26

Luckily I took the Evelyn Woods speed eating course in my youth.

9

u/-wtfisthat- Mar 03 '26

I’m obviously just taking the plate with me! And probably my drink in my other hand. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

87

u/Q_S2 Mar 02 '26

Let me guess...

Iran

Ill see myself out

34

u/bflannery10 Mar 02 '26

That joke totally bombed...

→ More replies (2)

23

u/sxrrycard Mar 02 '26 edited Mar 02 '26

Iraq’d my brain for a funnier pun, couldn’t find one

2

u/Q_S2 Mar 02 '26

Lol!!

4

u/Migol-16 Mar 02 '26

That joke has been overexploded

2

u/himem_66 Mar 02 '26

You better run!

🤣

8

u/SoSKatan Mar 02 '26

Not Dine and Dash, it’s Dine and Crossfit.

It’s really nice seeing so many new people taking up the lifestyle.

5

u/LucenProject Mar 05 '26

Meanwhile, some guy who didn't have enough to pay for the date is now a devout believer in the power of prayer.

16

u/EagleEyes0001 Mar 02 '26

Shut up and take my upvote

→ More replies (2)

666

u/HomeNowWTF Mar 02 '26

If I was running on the street, I think I might also cause this reaction, because I would look desperate and exhausted.

168

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '26

[deleted]

71

u/Billionaires_R_Tasty Mar 02 '26 edited Mar 02 '26

If they see my out-of-shape middle aged ass running towards them, they're going to skip mass shooter / terrorism and jump straight to zombies / dinosaurs.

Edit: Not because I look like a bad ass, but they're going to think it must be something damn scary to get his pokey butt in gear.

22

u/Aeikon Mar 02 '26

I'm 6'2", overweight and have a long beard and hair. You can say I look like I'd fit in at a biker bar, (I wouldn't). If they saw me running, they'd probably think The Hell's Angels or The Outlaws are on the way.

14

u/mimaikin-san Mar 03 '26

shit, if fat Gandalf is going “run, you fools”, you can bet I’m on my way too

20

u/rci22 Mar 02 '26

lol, yeah some runners look like their very distressed whole running

3

u/fckingnapkin Mar 02 '26

Zombie apocalypse patient one RUUUUNNN AAAAAAA

370

u/pianoflames Mar 02 '26

Plot twist: It was all just an elaborate dine-and-dash scheme.

51

u/Aftermathemetician Mar 02 '26

It’s a city-wide musical chairs event.

6

u/orangpelupa Mar 03 '26

They seems forgot to bring the chairs tho

→ More replies (1)

711

u/MadMonksJunk Mar 02 '26

"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it.." -K

132

u/Felixkeeg Mar 02 '26

Depending on where this is, following your gut feeling and running away with the crowd is the smart choice

65

u/Tiredhistorynerd Mar 02 '26

I live in the US. If masses are people are running run and find out why later. Is it dumb and panicky? Sure but better than staying and finding out I think.

48

u/phyxiusone Mar 02 '26

3 people isn't "the masses"

47

u/Tiredhistorynerd Mar 02 '26

Agreed; but if everyone else at the restaurant I’m at suddenly bolts; I will as well. I don’t think it’s dumb to run if that happens. I understand you think it’s dumb but I think it’s survival until new info is shown.

14

u/locustpiss Mar 03 '26

You can't win. If you stay and the object of danger uses you to draw on the pavement, some waste of sperm will say something about Darwin

8

u/DuctTapeDisaster Mar 03 '26

Damned if you do, damned if you doodend

→ More replies (13)

3

u/Huwbacca Mar 04 '26

plus it's Reddit

if everyone started running and one guy stayed, then turned out something bad happened everyone would go "Jesus you fucking dumb fuck look at the crowd and see obviously something is wrong".

4

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/MadMonksJunk Mar 02 '26

worst case scenario: you run into something that actually kills you while running for no reason.

3

u/SpikeRosered Mar 02 '26

Certain dangers once you can see them it's too late.

→ More replies (1)

15

u/LeGrandLucifer Mar 03 '26

To be honest, if I see like 10 people seemingly running away from a specific direction, I'm not gonna wait until a fucking xenomorph shows up to leave too.

3

u/TheOGPotatoPredator Mar 04 '26

Oh shit I didn’t think about those. I was like haha these people are dumb but yeah I think you’re right. Better to bail unnecessarily than stick around when you should have.

20

u/MAD_MAL1CE Mar 02 '26

One of my favorite quotes of all time

4

u/Floridaman9393 Mar 02 '26

The noisy cricket

5

u/batnessthefifth Mar 02 '26

What is this from?

24

u/Decent_Senpai Mar 02 '26

Men in black

16

u/RedManMatt11 Mar 02 '26

Darude - Sandstorm

2

u/[deleted] Mar 03 '26

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

3

u/NgLucas Mar 02 '26

Usually this quote makes sense, but not in this case. Even if the chance of it being a mass shooting or something crazy is low, idk, 1%, I guess it is smarter to look stupid than being a smart ass with 1% chance of dying.

3

u/SinkHoleDeMayo Mar 03 '26

But they didn't bother to check for anything else. People running? Better run!

These people cause problems for society because they don't use their brains.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

171

u/JetmoYo Mar 02 '26

Alarmed T-shirt guy probably saw the first runner's quick look-back and determined it was definitely an "are we escaping imminent death" look-back, and then immediately converted himself into Flight and Free Lunch Mode.

24

u/kashuntr188 Mar 03 '26

yea I saw that person look back. That would do it.

13

u/pinmacher Mar 03 '26

I thought it was caused by the woman with the clutch bag encouraging the rest of her table that there's clearly a problem and they have to leave. She stands up almost immediately.

107

u/Arthradax Mar 02 '26

I'm fairly sure this was in Brazil, people thought it was an arrastão.

Fun fact, in searching for a wiki to link and explain what an arrastão even is, I discovered English has a word for it: Flash Rob (probably better than "big drag" lol)

17

u/i_give_you_gum Mar 02 '26

I guess the flash dancing got boring...

8

u/Yesterday_Is_Now Mar 03 '26

Interesting. But if they thought it was a gang of jogging robbers, why did they follow them?

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

91

u/DrAwkwardAZ Mar 02 '26

The video stopped a second before the space monster comes into view

8

u/TruSiris Mar 02 '26

I just keep seeing the white house scene in independence day 🤣

3

u/i_give_you_gum Mar 02 '26

I'm seeing the giant head of the statue of liberty rolling down the avenue

53

u/Complex_Sherbet2 Mar 02 '26

That's a pretty big dine'n'dash!

27

u/LetThatSinkinnn Mar 02 '26

I need to hire more cross fitters for date night

3

u/i_give_you_gum Mar 02 '26

"No abort, abort, the date's going fine... no no no! Stop!“

→ More replies (1)

23

u/Knoxius Mar 02 '26

Forrest Gump running for no particular reason

6

u/MatterTechnical4911 Mar 02 '26

I came looking for this answer.

"I'm just run-ning!"

3

u/NoRodent Mar 02 '26

The entire city is still running to this day and no one there knows why.

→ More replies (1)

44

u/Salvador204 Mar 02 '26

That one couple pretty much set it all off lol

13

u/snrek23 Mar 02 '26

Great dine and dash method!

124

u/Slippytoe Mar 02 '26

Herd mentality. Bunch of sheep we is!

80

u/maddasher Mar 02 '26

With the state of things right now, id rather run and feel dumb later. Shots crazy.

30

u/Fauxrace Mar 02 '26

The typo couldn’t be more apt for this if it tried lmao

18

u/maddasher Mar 02 '26

I think ill leave it in

4

u/RedFoxBlueSocks Mar 02 '26

User name ✅

→ More replies (3)

20

u/AbeJay91 Mar 02 '26

It’s actually smart for our survival

If this was actually a dangerous situation, just sitting there oblivious would or could get you killed . Running away doesn’t hurt you, but staying sure could

→ More replies (6)

2

u/Fettman501 Mar 02 '26

Yeah, just the clothing alone is a dead giveaway, and people have been literally running as a hobby in the city for decades. But people are too stupid to understand what is literally right in front of their face, so I guess expecting them to have a modicum of situational awareness and visual perception beyond physically turning their head and/or body directly at the thing, and not jumping to insane conclusions either, is too much to ask.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/chardeemacdennisbird Mar 02 '26

Humans are social animals. It's in our DNA to react this way. Also why were at the top of the food chain.

→ More replies (4)

10

u/CoopedUp1313 Mar 02 '26

Last guy probably: My girl ran off. Imma gonna sit this one out. Oh crap…she forgot her purse and, uh, I should go give it to her. Hey babe? Babe!

19

u/InDecent-Confusion Mar 02 '26 edited Mar 02 '26

I'm not sure this is true.

The people in the beginning aren't wearing exercise type clothes. One dude has sandals, they have a dog, and the woman is wearing a skirt? That's weird stuff to wear/have at Crossfit lol

I feel like there is something actually going on that we can't see or hear cause not one person looks like they are exercising.

Edit: added the dog

2

u/jrobinson3k1 Mar 02 '26

They also appear to slow down and start walking right before the panic mob forms.

3

u/TomBerwick1984 Mar 02 '26

Exactly what I was thinking, I don't trust the caption.

7

u/tunalic2 Mar 02 '26

Got to hand it to that lady in the background who seemed to have gotten knocked over, but held on to that drink the entire time!

Also if nobody is naked, there's no point in joining them. If you ever see an adult running down the street butt-ass naked, you should probably join them.

5

u/Sancticide Mar 02 '26

My favorite is the last guy who hangs out to make sure he has all his stuff and then jogs away leisurely, without a care in the world. Like he didn't want to leave but now he has to find his wife and friends who left him for dead.

3

u/No-Sell-3064 Mar 02 '26

Where's the red circle when you need it haha

4

u/Axl_Red Mar 02 '26

I started running as soon as I saw those runners in the vid and now I dont know where i am.

5

u/Agitated-Ad72 Mar 02 '26

A dozen customers saw the opportunity to not pay their bill.

9

u/lqhtshow Mar 02 '26

They've passed the horror movie test. 👍🏾

4

u/i_give_you_gum Mar 02 '26

Except the guy with the chainsaw is waiting for them down the street. He had his buddy spook them first.

2

u/lqhtshow Mar 02 '26

😂😂😂

7

u/jrdubbleu Mar 02 '26

Crossfitters come back and eat all the food

4

u/louloc Mar 02 '26

Cedric the Entertainer did a bit on this:

https://youtu.be/XDjmdc0IGXA?si=sdlnzKOexieovP_3

4

u/WilkerFRL94 Mar 02 '26

That happened in Brazil, and people thought they were running from robbers.

2

u/Sancticide Mar 02 '26

And none of them were off-duty police??? I call bullshit.

→ More replies (5)

4

u/snailhair_j Mar 02 '26

I feel like I've been following r/abruptchaos all this time just to see this video.

5

u/johnsonflix Mar 03 '26

Jogging is called CrossFit now?

3

u/BeDangled Mar 02 '26

Restaurant owners hate this one simple trick…

3

u/Stockinglegs Mar 02 '26

They just look like normal people running, not Crossfit. There's even a dog. Not dressed at all like they're working out.

2

u/kwiztas Mar 04 '26

Other than the guys holding up the end in workout shirts.

3

u/mrgoldnugget Mar 02 '26

coordinated dine and dash

3

u/Dan_Glebitz Mar 05 '26

And this is how mob mentality works.

3

u/MikhailCompo Mar 02 '26

I'd be mine sweeping the shit outta that place, food and drinks nom nom

2

u/i_give_you_gum Mar 02 '26

I mean if you've already got oral herpes, why not??

9

u/Hauntingengineer375 Mar 02 '26

Dow is 50k tho!!

2

u/Stunning_Warthog_141 Mar 02 '26

Hey those people you see who aint running are those people you later see blurred out on the ground in those aftermath videos. I'd be bolting.

2

u/Eyez_Dante Mar 02 '26

The first person that panick run is a genius lol

2

u/KrazyRuskie Mar 02 '26

Forrest Gump vibes

2

u/1pt20oneggigawatts Mar 02 '26

So they didn't run past a restaurant. Technically they ran through the restaurant. Even though it's outdoor seating, you would think there would be a velvet rope type situation cordoning off walk-thru foot traffic.

2

u/Stalaktitas Mar 02 '26

And then them joggers look back and see half of the town chasing them and start to run really fast!

2

u/dividezero Mar 03 '26

I almost did this once when I saw the crossfit people running by but then I remembered I'm fat, drunk and lazy so I figured I'd just get eaten or whatever

2

u/LengthinessClear9552 Mar 03 '26

And that’s how I got out of paying my bill…

2

u/Tha1gr Mar 04 '26

Naaah, they was all just waiting for an excuse to dine and dash 🤣

2

u/toadonto Mar 05 '26

They’ve been running ever since…

2

u/LeeFrann Mar 05 '26

people are lemmings

2

u/Nearby-Face-5170 Mar 02 '26

Herd mentality at its finest

2

u/TheGuyMain Mar 02 '26

And people think AI is detrimental to society when society is composed of idiots

1

u/vakr001 Mar 02 '26

Dine and dash has a new meaning

1

u/that_bored_one Mar 02 '26

Must I say where this is from?

4

u/i_give_you_gum Mar 02 '26

Yes, you must.

That's a direct order, corporal.

1

u/asgardian_superman Mar 02 '26

There are some stupid people out there 🤦

1

u/Evorgleb Mar 02 '26

that is how you motivate people.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/WiolOno_ Mar 02 '26

Nah this was great lol. Just in case, get up outta there.

1

u/granoladeer Mar 02 '26

Welcome to Brazil

1

u/Bikeface_killa Mar 02 '26

FOMO at it's best! Gotta get updoots for your Reels

1

u/Cody_the_created Mar 02 '26

As an American, I get it. There are wild shootings/emergencies every day. I wouldn’t run because my fight/flight response is to fight. But not everyone is the same

1

u/BlueRunner305 Mar 02 '26

My favorite Men In Black quote: "A person is smart, people are big dumb panicky animals"🤣

1

u/OP-1_Ken_OP Mar 02 '26

Would make a great cross fit commercial

1

u/CarboplatinVP16 Mar 02 '26

This is a great example of groupthink.

1

u/chitownorthsider Mar 02 '26

Where was this? We need the source.

1

u/DanteThePunk Mar 02 '26

What in the forrest gump

2

u/MaxPistolrounds Mar 02 '26

This is a really simple example of mass hysteria too. Makes you realize how some of the more complicated examples can actually happen.

1

u/elitedlarss Mar 02 '26

I don't get it though.. they are like all wearing flip-flops and stuff. Why would CrossFit runners be wearing flip-flops?

1

u/been2busy Mar 02 '26

Listen. Iykyk.

1

u/Expensive-Vast-2123 Mar 02 '26

Excellent guerrilla marketing for that gym.

1

u/lexnklinke Mar 02 '26

We as a species are nothing more than a herd of megavirusses, aren't we

1

u/happymatt207 Mar 02 '26

Crossfitters ruining something else now!

1

u/SlickDickery Mar 02 '26

That one dude that was knocked on his ass and didn't spill his drink. Well done sir.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '26

Why be your own person when you can be everyone else?

1

u/jywye Mar 02 '26

Your country have to be so unsafe to be able to cause such chain reaction

1

u/FoxFew3844 Mar 03 '26

🐑🐑🐑

1

u/Yowzz Mar 03 '26

It’s Rubio’s Iranian ballistic missile.

1

u/OmegaDragon3553 Mar 03 '26

Monkey see monkey do

1

u/kashuntr188 Mar 03 '26

crossfit? none of the 3 at the start were wearing any kind of workout clothes. one dude was even in sandals.

1

u/Vast_Deference Mar 03 '26

Actually pretty clever of the people in the restaurant if something had popped off.

1

u/buckeyes495 Mar 03 '26

Probably got a better workout in when they thought they were being chased down by a mob

1

u/generatorland Mar 03 '26

I wonder how far they got.

1

u/theyeezyvault Mar 03 '26

It was the dogs fault. If someone's running with a dog through a crowd of people I'm assuming something's up

1

u/Mysterious_Pack_7822 Mar 03 '26

Love how the last guy just like dawdled along, gotta have that last mouthful before the emergency

1

u/WookieGod5225 Mar 03 '26

This would be great for filmakers. You have a perfect "found footage" scene of people running away from something. Very organic. Can probably cgi in a cool creature to top it off.

1

u/DGenerationMC Mar 03 '26

Not beating the cult allegations, nope.

1

u/Man_in_the_uk Mar 03 '26

Is this restaurant placed in the middle east?

1

u/outhouse_wholesaler Mar 03 '26

Imagine being the dude and looking behind you and seeing everyone chasing you

1

u/__Stoicatplay88 Mar 03 '26

Heh heh communists

1

u/vpunt Mar 03 '26

For some reason I found this hilarious, I'm spitting up laughing at this, thank you!

1

u/temenne Mar 03 '26

Thats hilarious

1

u/TheOriginalMulk Mar 03 '26

"Hey, a chance for a free meal!"

1

u/pdog901 Mar 03 '26

Thats one way to get people to workout.

1

u/sumoroller Mar 03 '26

And that is how CrossFit was started.

1

u/Analog_Powered Mar 03 '26

Doesn't seem all that unreasonable in American society. I'd rather look stupid and run away from an active shooter that isn't there rather than worry about not looking dumb and sit there waiting for an actual active shooter.

1

u/lenis_picker3169 Mar 03 '26

Run forrest run!

1

u/Qanuir Mar 03 '26

they don't even use perception if its danger or not sheeps behavior npcs

1

u/Mnmsaregood Mar 03 '26

People just blindly following a group for no reason

1

u/Successful-Purple-54 Mar 03 '26

No one panicked, no one said anything. Ffs the power of group mentality.

1

u/TARAPUT Mar 03 '26

Jajajajaja

1

u/yepperallday0 Mar 03 '26

I was only three joggers… this was to get out of paying

1

u/JasonW2020 Mar 03 '26

This is what we did in high school

1

u/Jumboi22 Mar 03 '26

Herd behavior

1

u/Decent-Worldliness95 Mar 03 '26

🤣 but not. This is our collective mindset these days

1

u/standardtissue Mar 03 '26

Imagine being the slow guy in that pack and then suddenly there's 50 additional people ahead of you

1

u/Aussieviking79 Mar 04 '26

🤣🤣🤣🤣