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Fake it till you make it! Whether you’re terrified to ask out your crush or you’re worried about finally taking the practical exam to get your driver’s license, you’ll feel much better once you finally have the courage to go through with it. Pretending to exude confidence might also be the perfect way to land your dream job or trick yourself into riding a rollercoaster. But there’s a time and place for being extremely sure of yourself, and the internet will not be very forgiving if you’re overly confident and incorrect…

Below, you’ll find some of the best posts of all time from the Confidently Incorrect subreddit. This community, which has 1.1 million members, is dedicated to calling out people who should really check their facts before posting online. So enjoy scrolling through these screenshots, and keep reading to find a conversation with communication expert Dr. Michael Gerharz!

#2

Well Maybe That’s Her Favorite Kind Of Yogurt

Yogurt jar lists cow names, sparking hilariously cringe commentary on identity and product origins.

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We’ve all been there. You swear that one actor is in that film- no, you’re not mixing them up with someone else! Or you know for a fact that this song came out in 1997, not a year earlier or later. But sometimes, we’re just wrong! Everybody makes mistakes, and as embarrassing as it may be to have to own up to them, it’s even worse to dig your heels in and get called out online.

That’s where the Confidently Incorrect subreddit comes in. If you respectfully try to correct someone, and you’re actually right, you don’t need to worry about ending up here. But if you’re incredibly smug and simultaneously wrong, well, you might end up learning the hard way that you should be careful what you post online. 

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To find out why people are so inclined to believe that they’re correct, even when they’re not, we reached out to communication expert and author Dr. Michael Gerharz. He was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and break down why confidence is so important.

“Confidence is the duct tape of communication — it can patch over a lot of holes, at least temporarily,” Dr. Gerharz shared. “Speak boldly enough, and people might just overlook the fact that you’ve built your house on sand.”

#7

Yea, No They Haven’t

Hilariously cringe Twitter exchange highlighting unshakable confidence gone awry.

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Fembot
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Countries with decent sex education (and, measuredly, from an early age) have the lowest teen pregnancy numbers.

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#9

There's No "I" In Happiness

Two tweets showing hilarious cringe posts: misspelling "happiness" corrected humorously.

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CanadianDimes
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sentiment behind this is also BS. You're not going to be happy if you never put yourself first, if you are always putting others first. Not prioritizing yourself gets you burnt out, disappointed, overlooked, and stressed. We need to stop romanticizing the idea of giving selflessly all the time. That's a recipe for misery, not happiness.

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So why do we become overconfident even when we’re wrong? “Because it works – at least in the short term,” the communication expert says. “Confidently stated nonsense can sound convincing, and it often leaves others too uncertain to challenge it.”

“Plus, when we project certainty, it’s easier to convince ourselves that we’re right, even when we’re not,” Dr. Gerharz explained. “You could call it a psychological safety blanket: ‘If I sound confident, no one will notice I might be wrong—even me.’"

"As the saying goes: ‘A bold assertion beats weak evidence.’ It’s a quick fix for uncertainty that creates the illusion of truth,” he added.

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#12

Smart Enough To Lead... Smart Enough To Breed?!?!

Two cringe tweets showcasing unshakable confidence gone awry in social media discussions.

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the weirdest false equivalency I've ever seen. It makes my brain hurt analyzing this. Greta isn't guiding anything. She's an advocate and a protestor trying to save the world. She's famous but she has no political power. Epstein was a disgusting POS who abused undergage women for fun and profit. This isn't apples to oranges, it's apples to used tires.

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Clearly, the people featured on this list didn’t do a great job of correcting others. But is there a polite and respectful way to do so?

“Correcting someone is a delicate art, like defusing a bomb,” Dr. Gerharz says. “If you’re too blunt, it blows up; too cautious, and it still blows up. The trick is to snip the ego wire first. Keep the conversation focused on the idea, not the person. For example, saying ‘That’s wrong’ can feel like a personal attack.”

#13

Flag Code? In My America?!

IKEA post displaying unshakable confidence in response to flag comment, promoting a store opening.

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David Morgan
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I demand you do it the way I half-understand it to be, not the way it actually is".

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#15

But We've Been To The Moon

Family photo meme humorously showing metric system pride with flags.

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Penguin Panda Pop
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also saying that the UK uses the metric system is an oversimplification. We do use it mostly, but then we travel miles to avoid it sometimes.

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Instead of immediately telling someone they’re wrong, Dr. Gerharz recommends instead trying, “That’s interesting—I’ve always heard it differently. What do you think about this perspective?” 

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“Questions like these gently nudge toward the truth. They invite a conversation instead of launching a debate,” he explained. “Also, remember: nobody likes a know-it-all, especially one who doesn’t. If you’re swooping in to correct someone, make sure you’ve done your homework. Otherwise, you might end up as the next feature on the subreddit.”

#17

Hercules Doesn't Know What The Word Boycott Means

Screenshot of a tweet exchange showcasing hilariously cringe confidence with a misunderstanding about boycotts.

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#18

Mistakes Were Made

Hilarious cringe post of a confident assertion about Church of Satan and tax exemption debunked.

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Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
Community Member
1 week ago

This comment has been deleted.

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And if you realize that you’re made a mistake, Dr. Gerharz suggests simply taking accountability. “We’ve all been there: halfway through a passionate argument, only to realize we’ve been confidently—and gloriously—wrong. The best approach? Own it. Fast,” he told Bored Panda.

“Something like: ‘Wow, I totally goofed there. Let me set the record straight.’ This not only clears the air but shows you value getting it right over saving face,” the expert explained. “Bonus: it also makes you more relatable. People trust those who admit their flaws more than those who act flawless.”

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#19

Økay

Tweet exchange illustrating hilariously cringe posts with unshakable confidence gone awry.

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James016
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is Pepys’s one of the people who gets offended by the thumbs up emoji and correct punctuation?

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#20

America Didn’t Import Slaves

Twitter exchange showing a post with unshakable confidence and a critical reply discussing labor and history.

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Hidalgo
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Witzke knows full well that US imported slave, etc. She’s a right wing denialist and propagandist. In four years her view will be common in US

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“Think of it this way: correcting yourself is like rebooting your reputation. It might be a little awkward in the moment, but it keeps the whole system running smoothly in the long term,” Dr. Gerharz added. “Mistakes are inevitable, but doubling down on them? That’s optional.”

#23

Hmm... Yes. That Sounds Right. Zeus, Mr Horny Year Round, Has Only One Son

Text exchange humorously highlighting unshakable confidence gone awry with a comment about Zeus and Disney's Hercules.

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#24

What Kind Of A Monster Writes Their Memoir In The First Person?

Twitter posts with hilariously cringe replies showcasing unshakable confidence gone wrong.

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“The next time you’re tempted to speak confidently without really knowing, ask yourself: ‘Am I trying to be right, or am I focused on getting it right?’ One feeds the ego; the other feeds the truth,” Dr. Gerharz noted. “And only one of those is going to keep you out of the Confidently Incorrect subreddit.”

#26

On How To Be Cool, And Not A Fool

Confident cringe post claiming "Food" is the only English word with double "OO," humorously debunked in comments.

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mandy the capibara
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be honest, the original post feels like a prime example of baiting or intentionally using Cunningham's law ( stating a wrong statement to get a correct answer quickly). I'm not sure why he'd want that, but it doesn't seem to be genuine ignorance

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We hope you’re enjoying your scroll through these facepalm-worthy pics, pandas! Keep upvoting the ones that you find particularly hilarious, and let us know in the comments below what the most ridiculous “confidently incorrect” thing you’ve ever heard someone say was. Then, if you’d like to check out even more screenshots like this, you can find Bored Panda’s last article featuring this group right here

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#28

And He Mixed Up Black Bear vs. Brown Bear Behavior

Hilariously cringe social media exchange about bears between wildlife biologist and other users.

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Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
Community Member
1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For the BP women, mansplaining is defined as the explanation of something by a man, typically to a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronising.

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#30

Basic Math

Receipt with incorrect math using pi as a tip, sparking hilariously cringe online comments on confidence gone awry.

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CanadianDimes
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many years ago, I took a training class in which we had to solve a maths problem. Everyone - including the trainer! - got the wrong answer because they did the equation left to right without following the order of operations. When I explained why it doesn't work that way and explained the order of operations, one of the other participants tried to claim they didn't have the order of operations when they were in school.

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#32

Hunting Vegies

Cringe post with mushrooms and berries captioned "hunting but make it vegan" followed by a humorous comment.

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LillieMean
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, if we think about languages ​​other than English, the matter is no longer so clear-cut. The best example is the Japanese term キノコ狩り (kinoko kari) whose translation is literally mushroom hunting. I also wouldn't say in Finnish that I go to collect mushrooms, but it has its own word that contains the word mushroom, sienestys. You can also say that you are going to a berry forest, marjametsälle or a game forest, riistametsälle. The word hunting is completely missing even though both are about it. the Finnish term metsästys contains the word forest and does not really explain what is being hunted there in the forest. Stones, plants, berries or people. who knows.

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#33

Glenn Beck Is Bad At History

Glenn Beck tweet on constitutional rights with a response highlighting women's voting rights history for hilariously cringe posts.

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Rahul Pawa
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does he not understand what the word "amend" means? They included a whole process for amending the document, thus allowing it to evolve over time.

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#35

When Americans Think English Is The Only Language

A cringe Twitter exchange about a user's name being offensive and their confident response.

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Nilsen
Community Member
1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

According to BP there are entire countries that are offensive: N***r and Nigeria - N I G E R and N I G E R I A, two of the biggest in Africa (they seem to have changed their policies regarding Nigeria...)

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#38

Do The Basic Math, People!

Cringe post of a Twitter user incorrectly saying kids born in 2010 are 18 in 2018, followed by a humorous comment.

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WindySwede
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So someone born in 1999 is now, checks excel spreadsheet, 123 years old..

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#40

Who Controls The Control Group?

Two social media posts with contrasting opinions on vaccination.

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David Morgan
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I do not understand science or it's methods, but I have a strong opinion on it".

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#43

Still My Most Favorite One Yet

Social media post with unshakable confidence, debunked by scientific explanation on uranium-238 decay.

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Child of the Stars
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is scientific proof, but they will still deny it and tell you that God created the Earth as "mature" and "fully-formed," just as Adam was created as a full-grown adult from dust. Trust me, there's no actual, real proof you can give these people that they won't have some answer for.

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#46

What’s The Welsh Word For ‘Overconfident’?

A tweet critiquing Welsh language policy with a poll showing 96% support for maintaining Welsh, illustrating unshakable confidence gone awry.

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CanadianDimes
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What about a language that is fairly widely spoken in its country of origin makes it dead?

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#49

Someone Doesn’t Understand How The Food Supply Chain Works... Or Agriculture, For That Matter

Field with tractor and a cringe post questioning the need for farmers when grocery stores exist.

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Marianne
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here in Germany, I remember a discussion about whether agriculture is an essential part of ecomony, because it only makes up about 1% of our gross domestic product. Like people actually seem to think that we could just stop doing agriculture and only lose some money. Imagine a country that has to import 100% of food from others.

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#50

Communism Is When You Are Only Allowed To Buy One Share Of A Stock

Three tweets discussing Robinhood's stock limitations with humorous takes on capitalism and communism.

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Rizzo
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always chuckle when I see Americans argue about things they got no freakin' clue about.

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#53

Wireless PC's Don't Exist

Wireless PC's Don't Exist

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Dirk Daring
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been in IT 30 years. A laptop is a PC. It's a computer that you own personally. That big boxy tower computer is called a desktop computer, and it is also a computer that you own personally. Laptops and Desktops are both PCs.

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#54

"I'm Not Sure If I Agree But Ok"

"I'm Not Sure If I Agree But Ok"

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David Morgan
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why (apart from stupidity) isn't the obvious counter-answer 'I'll drive at more than 75mph then'? And for those asking where you could possibly do that, this screenshot doesn't state that it's point-to-point. It could be laps on a NASCAR race circuit. They do an average of 180mph, so 11.1 hours continuously.

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#56

Almost Like They Was Wrong

Almost Like They Was Wrong

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WubiDubi
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even heart damage is extremely low and benefits outweigh risks by normal medical standards. 1 in 10,000 and only for Pfizer. Read any medicine pack for context.

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#57

1) Star Is A Shape And 2) Oranges And Blackberries

1) Star Is A Shape And 2) Oranges And Blackberries

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OneWithRatsAndKefir
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blackberry, sure, is like blueberry that it is a fruit called after a colour. But orange (colour) was named after orange (fruit); before then we called the colour ‘red-yellow’.

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