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Life is not always easy. People are not always nice. While we can’t avoid life. We can avoid people. Sometimes. One way to do this is to stay home and scroll through social media. We might have found the perfect place for you to visit during your self-imposed social distancing.

Instagram page x__antisocial_butterfly__x has over 2 million followers and has shared thousands of memes since it started. From the funny to the infuriating, there should be something for anyone who is sick of being a social butterfly. Keep scrolling to see our top picks. And don’t forget to upvote the ones you find painfully relatable.

Many of us have been there. It’s Friday night, and we've made plans to go out with friends. Suddenly we realize we just don’t feel like being around people. Or, we don’t like people. Not tonight anyway. So, we stay in. It happens again on Saturday. And on Sunday. Maybe even the next weekend too. We might be called anti-social. But we probably aren’t.

The words “antisocial”, “asocial” and “introverted” are often used interchangeably in everyday life. But in the world of psychology, each has a very different meaning. Here’s how Healthline breaks it down: “Asocial people prefer to be alone, while antisocial people are actively against others and may lack empathy. Introverts, meanwhile, gain most of their energy from their inner world.”

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Only about 1% of women and 3% of men are truly antisocial. If we’re going by the clinical definition of the word. Antisocial behavior runs a lot deeper than what some people might think. It’s not about not wanting to be around others. It’s not about preferring our own company. It’s not about getting anxious in social situations. And it's not about never going out.

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You might have heard of Ted Bundy. One of America’s most notorious serial criminals. He terrorized dozens of women to death in the 1970s. His crimes have made it into several movies and books. His mind has been studied by psychiatrists. The title of Netflix’s 2019 movie about him says it all: "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile". Bundy was a psychopath.

In the psychiatric world, “psychopath” is not an official diagnosis. According to Healthline, it’s “an informal term often used for a condition called antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)”. And because the word “antisocial” is in the title of the disorder, it can get a bit confusing.

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Dr. Prakash Masand is co-founder of the Centers of Psychiatric Excellence. He told Healthline, “Most people might assume this describes someone who is reserved, a loner, keeps to himself, etc. However, this is not the case in ASPD. When we say antisocial in ASPD, it means someone who goes against society, rules, and other behaviors that are more commonplace.”

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PeachPossum
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not crying. You're crying.... that is a beautiful and precious thing. hang onto that.

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Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My!
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I first got to prison, the guards' winter uniforms were navy blue. Several of us who hung out together, being silly, would sight guards, and say, "Oh no! The blue people are coming!" A few years later, the blue uniforms were replaced by black ones. One can NOT say, "Oh no! The black people are coming!" It just really doesn't work out well.

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So what is ASPD? Healthline defines it as “a mental health condition involving longstanding patterns of manipulation and disregard for others.” Adding that those with ASPD often “don’t care if they break the law. They may lie and place others at risk without feeling any remorse.” 

Science Direct notes “affected individuals may use an alias instead of their real name, and do anything they wish in order to achieve money, power, or sex. Their impulses do not allow for planning ahead or considering the consequences of their actions, as well as the safety of others and themselves." Click here for more Bored Panda mental health content.

The Cambridge Dictionary describes a “social butterfly” as someone who “likes to attend parties and other social events, often not having serious relationships with other people.” While the Urban Dictionary definition of “anti-social butterfly” is: “a term that is used when a social butterfly has been put into enough situations or trauma to become anti-social. This means they want to be social but feel like they can't or shouldn't for several reasons.”

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The same site describes itself aka "urban dictionary" as "a place for you to lie about the amount of sexual knowledge/experience you have." And we felt that was important to note since all these terms can get a bit confusing.

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chrnh@metrocast.net
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never got any birds but the seeds that were dropped from my feeder produced a couple of sunflowers!

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The next time someone calls you "antisocial", you have every right to correct them. And feel free to school them with some of the terms you've read about today. There's nothing wrong with not wanting to be around people. Or not liking them. Sometimes. But if you, or someone you know, might have ASPD, reach out to a qualified mental health professional.

What's your definition of antisocial butterfly? Are you one? Let us know in the comments.

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Aleksandras Tvardauskas
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the background of each call you can hear the moms telling the dads what to say :D

LilLemon
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was in a very small fender bender as a teenager and before I got out of the car to talk to the other driver, I called my dad to ask him what to do.

Mez
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this, how nice to have your dad to call upon, so sweet for you both.

Sharkbait1313
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly! I would go into hiding. When I got into a fender bender as a teen I was terrified to tell him. As I recall he screamed into the phone " Jesus, your going to make me have to move into a f#$@ing tent!!!" Never even asked if i was ok. It makes me sad that I can't confide in or turn to him when things like this happen. I am always so jealous of people who have close, open relationships with their dads.

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Laserleader
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Age alert: I was taught share insurance info after checking safety, and hope no one runs to call the cops. We didn't have cell phones so you hoped there was no nosey neighbors nearby.

Eugenia
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A woman crashed into my parked van while I was inside waiting for my husband and reading a newspaper. She told me how sorry she was, that she would write to her insurance company because it was entirely her fault and so on. Her mom was with her in the car and agreed with her. Nobody was hurt, so we exchanged phone numbers and left. Later that night, her father called to say that I had crashed into her daughter's car in reverse leaving the parking spot. It ended in court, and since it was not possible to determine who was right the judge decided for concurrence of fault. At least in Italy, insurance companies raise the costs in case of an accident so I had to pay more money even if I had literally done nothing.

Beth Wheeler
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Call 911 dummy then your parents. Parents should always tell their kids to call 911 when they have in an accident and then the parents. My kids were taught that, son called me 1 day after school he was taking a friend home. There was this little pothead hellion that passed my son on a double yellow line on a hill then hit the brakes so that my son would hit him. When I got there and saw the other car it was best up and 1 look at his Mama and I thought oh God... turned out she's a Karen. The day we went to court for the ticket which the Judge threw out the Asst Principal was in line behind us outside for a speeding ticket and told me that kid had done the same thing to him 1 day but he was able to miss him. That kids license was revoked and Mama Karen tried screaming she was gonna sue the insurance company because they denied the claim after they got the police report, all the statements and the driving records. Her beat up car wasn't fixed! HA Ha b***h!

Julia Mckinney
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did that! I called my dad, my friend who saw the idiot hit my right back bumper called the cops, my sister came with dad to calm him down (they thought it was my fault) and EVERYONE (including the cops and my dad) got mad at the guy who hit me (he tried to pass me on the right, on a wide 2 lane street, as I was moving to turn right) because he was so belligerent and actually used the phrase "don't you know who my father is?". So, his very expensive little car with the reverse opening hood that now looked like an upsidedown "V" needed a tow and lots of work, he got multiple tickets and almost got an "interfering with cop" ticket because he was so belligerent. I got- a cup of tea from my friend because obviously I needed one after such an ordeal, an admission that this wasn't my fault from my dad, and a sort-of warning from cop that the next time I'm carrying a cord of wood in my pick-up truck, make sure I can see better out of the back window. Oh and I got a great story/laugh.

ano nym
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's just sad, why don't you know what ... seriously girl, get your sh*t together

JessieJ&LilyLovebug
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a car accident in 2020 (of course), and I was 37 years old...first thing was check on the occupants of the other car, then call 911, then call my dad...some things should never change.

Chelsea McKee
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now you know what to do next time "is everyone okay?" ... "May we exchange insurance information?"

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Paul Brown
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not gonna lie, when I first read it I thought they actually meant a club for people with black Jeeps. I'm an idiot! 🤣

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panther
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3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The game developers need a reminder of this. I'm looking at you EA!

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XenoMurph
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One is a breach of your terms and conditions, the other is an arrestable offence, voyeurism is illegal in many countries

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mhoulden
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Roald Dahl suggested she should have got a long sentence for burglary.

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jon gilbertson
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of that quote from Full Metal Jacket: " You're so ugly, you could be a modern art masterpiece"

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Cindy Brick
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I tried speaking French in a Quebec McDonald's. The clerk looked at me with an annoyed expression and said, "Whaddya want??"

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OneWithRatsAndKefir
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can see how a very literal person could make that mistake, though that is a rather sweet compliment. I, too, would legitimately change my mind about going to the cinema if I couldn’t bring in my own chips and drinks.

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Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.