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#2

I Thought I Was The Coolest Cat There Ever Was. 1994

Final score:

400points

POST

Nor 3 years ago

You were definitely the coolest dinosaur

154points

#3

Late 70's. No Idea What I Was Thinking. Made The Suit Myself

Final score:

381points

POST

The Cheshire Cat 3 years ago

Wow, you made the suit incredibly well!

200points

We’ve all been teenagers at some point, although the memories of the blunder years are fading away with every grey hair strand we find. That carelessness and craving for independence is something most of us have experienced in many shapes or form, some by protesting against our parents and dressing as goths, others by finding shelter in a geek circle.

#4

My Girlfriend's Childhood Family Picture. She Was Really Excited About Being A Rat In The Nutcracker

Final score:

379points

POST

SomePeopleCallMeMaurice 3 years ago

Grandma looks so proud!

89points

#5

I Was Evidently The Reference Model For The Kid From Up! Circa 1985

Final score:

377points

POST

KJ 3 years ago

Perfect caption.

95points

#6

Middle School Was... An Interesting Time

Final score:

364points

POST

Ryan Deschanel 3 years ago

Call a priest.

14points

Previously, we spoke with Lenore Skenazy, the president of Let Grow, the nonprofit promoting childhood independence, about blunder years and how unique they really were when you look at them from our current perspective.

According to Lenore, the urge to be independent is something we've all carried since the dawn of time. “Think of what used to happen during the teen years throughout most of human history. Those young people weren’t going to high school. They weren’t making TikTok videos. They weren’t eating candy bars and playing Call of Duty. They were foraging for food, trying not to become some other species’ food, and they were having babies."

#7

Matronly 40-Year Old Korean Librarian? Nope! Just Me, A 12-Year Old Boy

Final score:

354points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

Ha. Hilariously perfect description.

128points

#8

Me Back In 2005... Techno Interested Me

Final score:

331points

POST

Serial pacifist 3 years ago

Hey, you rocked it. Very dramatic hairstyle.

124points

#9

Groovy Baby!

Final score:

318points

POST

Sandy D 3 years ago

Makes me laugh to know you wore that tie for what I'm assuming was your bar mitzvah!

134points

Nicole Sundquist 3 years ago

That tie is killing me. I freaking love it!!!

11points

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Moxxidude 3 years ago

Oy Vey Baby. Very Oy Vey.

8points

James016 3 years ago

I had that exact same book when I was learning the torah piece for my Bar Mitzvah

8points

Jonathan 3 years ago

I think we all did lol

11points

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Sinéad Quinn 3 years ago

Hahaha!! Awesome!

6points

Simon Kwan 3 years ago

If you must wear a tie, that's not a bad choice :-)

5points

Thomas Sweda 3 years ago

Well, I DON’T think it was a First Holy Communion.

3points

Elise Hansen 3 years ago

that was such a great movie

1point

survivalrhino 3 years ago

Was it a bar or bat mitzvah?

1point

Tori Williams 3 years ago

yes just yes

1point

Kelli Lindsay 3 years ago

Jacob!!

1point

Zey-Zey 3 years ago

my only answer:What the heck bro!

1point

Kimu but she’s inactive 3 years ago

I’d wear this everyday

0points

Riley Quinn 3 years ago

Someone's taking their bar mitzvah seriously, but not too seriously.

0points

Moreover, according to her, teenagers' desire to create a fresh, new, unique persona might also arise from the disconnect "between being ready for adulthood and being grounded because of your C- in algebra." What if the search for identity during the blunder years is really a wish to detach oneself from a culture that keeps treating teenagers as kids?

Hence, “they sometimes adopt a new look, one they probably hope makes them look much older and more sophisticated or sexy—that is, adult. Need a real-world example? See a timeline of Miley Cyrus," Lenore told us.

#10

Mall Rat Days

Final score:

313points

POST

Helen Haley 3 years ago

Actually, maybe outdated, but that is a solidly thought-out look.

126points

#11

4 Going On 40 With This 90s Glamour Shot

Final score:

294points

POST

KJ 3 years ago

A "unique" look for a child / granny.

96points

#12

I Had Embraced My Nerdy Outcast Status And Went To School Like This, Sadly The Trench Coat Was Soon Banned After '99

Final score:

288points

POST

Helen Haley 3 years ago

Hello inspector gadget

178points

Lenore continued about how our desire for independence comes after we become accepted by others: "At the same time, that longing comes from a desire to connect: 'Don’t write me off—get to know me!' As humans, we are acutely attuned to what others think of us—and particularly attuned to any put-downs or humiliation. So we may adopt some styles that we hope will keep the scorn at bay. People are wearing a certain shoe? So will I. Everyone’s growing their hair long? I’ll grow mine, too. We want to be accepted, so we look at what others are doing/wearing/saying and adopt some of these things. But once accepted, we also want to be seen for the real person we are, not just a 'type.'"

#13

Got A Disposable Camera As A Child And Decided To Take A Selfie. I Was Very Pleased With It After Getting It Developed

Final score:

285points

POST

Helen Haley 3 years ago

This is delightful

94points

#14

1993 Senior Pic, I Wore Those Boots To Hs The Entire Year. Iowa Winter And All

Final score:

284points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago (edited)

Looks like a model for a Harlequin novel. 'The dusk watcher'

148points

#15

I Was So Proud When I Made The Yearbook. When I Got Home And Showed My Mom She Said I Would Regret That Later In Life

Final score:

277points

POST

Don't read my username 3 years ago

Well, was she right?

75points

#16

My Husband (Right) And His Brother (Left). Prom 2006

Final score:

264points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

They had dates?

146points

#17

That Year My School Photos Fell On The Day I Had To Get 2 Teeth Removed

Final score:

262points

POST

Andy Acceber 3 years ago

I'm glad you convinced the photographer that no, you weren't in fact having a stroke.

112points

#18

Welcome To My Weird Childhood

Final score:

258points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

This looks like the beginning of a horror movie. 'Little did Betty know that her look alike doll.....'

143points

#19

I Legit Don’t Even Cringe On This One, 2006, I Want To Learn To Channel That Spirit

Final score:

251points

POST

Happiness is Hippo 3 years ago

So many stripes - Love it!

46points

#20

I Wanted To Be A Child Actor So Mom Took Me To Sears For Some Dope Headshots

Final score:

245points

POST

Diana Strassburg 3 years ago

Looking sharp!

53points

#21

My Parents Built Me A Cross So I Could Play Christ In 1998

Final score:

243points

POST

Scagsy 3 years ago

Nailed it.

348points

#22

Unintentionally Brought Back The Heavy-Hairspray Hairstyles Of The 80’s While Trying To Cope With My Receding Hairline During My Senior Year In High School

Final score:

240points

POST

Helen Haley 3 years ago

Worst comb-over ever.

125points

#23

We Were Allowed To Bring An Object To Hold For Class Picture Day. Some Kids Used A Football, Tennis Racket, Musical Instrument... I Chose A Hamster. It Wasn’t Even My Hamster

Final score:

235points

POST

Monday 3 years ago

Okay but whose hamster was it? Don't leave us hanging like that!

90points

#24

10 Year Old Me Idolised Avril Lavigne

Final score:

235points

POST

Happiness is Hippo 3 years ago

This isn't cringey, it's just cute.

105points

#25

My Mom Just Wanted A Nice Picture In Paris

Final score:

233points

POST

Chucky Cheezburger 3 years ago

Damn...were they planning in stealing the Effiel Tower in those pants?

202points

#26

Circa 2010. No It Was No Halloween. I Was Going To The Airport. Yes The Iron Man Triangle Lit Up

Final score:

231points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

If you squint, she kinda looks like the female version of Ed Sheeran.

74points

#27

Senior Photo...

Final score:

229points

POST

Lydia Dean-Melchior 3 years ago

Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!! Beetlejuice!!!

219points

#28

Spent An Hour Doing My Hair Every Day. Circa 2006

Final score:

225points

POST

YoyoSthlm 3 years ago

You looked great though!!

58points

#29

Friend Shared This On Facebook; I'm Sharing All Of Her 90s Glory With Reddit (With Her Permission)

Final score:

222points

POST

Diana Strassburg 3 years ago

Did an animal die in the hair?

97points

#30

I Remember Thinking I Was The Absolute Coolest Chick Walking Around La On Fam Vacation. Circa 2002

Final score:

211points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

Damn! Those boots!

74points

#31

7 Years Old In 1997, Growing Out What Was A Bowl Cut That My Mom Loved, Rocking My Pink Power Ranger Shirt To Make Sure People Knew I Was In Fact A Girl

Final score:

210points

POST

Sarcastic Cow 3 years ago

Niles Crane, early years

78points

#32

I’m Not The Cute Cat Or The Little Chef... I’m The Sandwich!

Final score:

207points

POST

Helen Haley 3 years ago

The sandwich is the most creative one.

98points

#33

13 Year Old Me In 2011, Right Smackbang In The Middle Of The “I’m Soooo Random :3” Phase

Final score:

207points

POST

James016 3 years ago

"Psst, hey you, wanna buy a fork?"

121points

#34

As A Kid I Was Really Obsessed With The Amish

Final score:

203points

POST

Helen Haley 3 years ago

The random things kids will fixate on is fascinating.

153points

#35

Me, 1995, In Venice, Backpacking Across Europe In Search Of My True Identity. At Least I Wasn't Too Obvious About The Whole Situation

Final score:

201points

POST

Mad Dragon 3 years ago

And now all the theatre people are inwardly singing, "I'm Jean Valjean!"

7points

#36

Circa 3rd Grade, 1980: My Dad Cut My Hair And I Wore A Shirt With My Own Face On It

Final score:

199points

POST

Jonathan 3 years ago

The tshirt looks more like Danny from The Shining.

93points

#37

Me (In The Middle) At 17... Dudes Wanted Nothing To Do With Me Until 21. In Retrospect, This Makes Sense, As My Biggest Fashion Inspiration Was Tank Girl...

Final score:

189points

POST

Elvira Kreft 3 years ago

Tank girl was great 😁

69points

#38

I'm Not Sure What's Worse. The Hair Or The Suspenders. It's Probably The Hair

Final score:

182points

POST

Helen Haley 3 years ago

Ah, the mushroom hair. I had this inflicted on me by mother.

68points

#39

I Got A Lot Of Love For My Pigtails, So Here's Some More! Cheers!

Final score:

179points

POST

Lunar Rat 3 years ago

I'm getting Bugsy Malone vibes, love it.

42points

#40

I Will Raise Your 2nd Grade Picture With This. In High School

Final score:

178points

POST

Aria Whitaker 3 years ago

Nothing says "badass" like a flaming tiger background and cheap katana acquired from the mall kiosk....

52points

#41

My Mom Cut & Styled My Hair For Picture Day. I Never Let Her Touch My Hair Ever Since

Final score:

173points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

Duchess in front, party at the back.

72points

#42

My Mom Paid Money To Have This Very Professional Photo Taken At An Anime Convention In 2006. The Page Protector It Was Put In Really Helped Preserve The Quality

Final score:

170points

POST

Kathleen Suileabháin 3 years ago

The flip-flops really pull this whole look together.

91points

#43

Me (Left) And My Friend, Just A Couple Of 13 Year Olds Being Cool Guys, Not Looking At Explosions. Please Do Notice The Horrible Editting I Did Back Then

Final score:

169points

POST

Happiness is Hippo 3 years ago

That's such a cool photo! I love it and I don't think it belongs on this list at all

67points

#44

Me, A Straight Female, Trying To Impress My Crush By Being One Of The Guys. I’m On The Right

Final score:

166points

POST

Al Cook 3 years ago

You look like jay, from jay and silent bob strike back!

32points

#45

I See Your Tuba And I Raise You One Saxophone

Final score:

166points

POST

Scagsy 3 years ago

Never mind the saxophone, why aren't we talking about the hair?

122points

#46

One Thing I Still Believe: Always Dress Up, Whether You're Going Out Or Just Doing Chores!

Final score:

160points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

Preach sister!

25points

#47

Me Showing Off My Vampire Books In My Mr. Bean Shirt

Final score:

156points

POST

DaVo 3 years ago

Ehrmagerd! Vurmpurrs!

105points

#48

Me, Around 12 Years Ago. Emo Phase Hit Me Hard

Final score:

156points

POST

Mallory m. Brewer 3 years ago

They look like that sim from the Sims 4 vampires pack. I think his name was Caleb.

35points

#49

Year 2 In 2003, That’s My Teacher On The Left. Nothing Says Cool In Primary School Quite Like Having An Identical Haircut To Your 60 Year Old Teacher...

Final score:

146points

POST

YoyoSthlm 3 years ago

On the right though?

71points

#50

2004. This Still Keeps Me Up At Night...

Final score:

137points

POST

SomePeopleCallMeMaurice 3 years ago

YOLO!

27points

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#51

In High School, I Lost My Driver's License And Was Really Into Alfa Romeos. So, I Thought This Senior Picture Would Be Both Funny And Cool

Final score:

51points

POST

Jill Pulcifer 3 years ago

At least you were half right.

27points

#52

Back In 2013 I Liked Doctor Who Instead Of Having A Personality

Final score:

50points

POST

Jonathan 3 years ago

Dr Who is the ultimate personality

41points

#53

My Mom Had To Go To Walmart After She Picked Me Up From A Convention

Final score:

50points

POST

Jonathan 3 years ago

owned it!

22points

#54

Yup, Full Mullet And A Tux For The School Prom, Honestly Thought I Was Rocking It Too

Final score:

47points

POST

Chris Miller 3 years ago

You did rock it. \m/

9points

#55

Did Someone Say Dance Class? 15 Years Ago I Participated In An Ice Age Themed Competition

Final score:

45points

POST

Jonathan 3 years ago

Damn... 15 years ago and that was Ice age 2... I suddenly feel very old

26points

#56

My Mom Insisted I Show Off My Braces. I Think She Was Hoping For Better Results

Final score:

45points

POST

Jill Pulcifer 3 years ago

Im fairly certain "Hide the Pain Harold" is your spirit animal.

46points

#57

Why The Hell Did I Think Any Of This Was Okay? The Shirt, The Hair... Oh God

Final score:

45points

POST

Helen Haley 3 years ago

This isn't even remotely bad.

50points

#58

My Godmother Just Sent Me This. Circa 1985 Dampier, Australia

Final score:

45points

POST

Al Cook 3 years ago

There are just too many unfortunate things about this photo to comment on just one!

20points

#59

My Sister Was Really Interested In Fashion In The Mid-2000s. Our Mom And Grandma Maybe Encouraged Her Too Much

Final score:

43points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

I see models wearing stuffs like this on the runway all the time.

15points

#60

2007, Taking Back Sunday T-Shirt, Dickies Backpack, Skinny Jeans, Converse, Gas Station...?

Final score:

41points

POST

Scagsy 3 years ago (edited)

Did you scout around for that location or was it simply an inspired choice?

13points

#61

Circa 1999... I Know That Hair Clip Still Thinks About Me

Final score:

41points

POST

John Smith 3 years ago

Hillary Swank

2points

#62

Senior Prom. We Thought We Were So Cool

Final score:

41points

POST

Helen Haley 3 years ago

This seems like a humblebrag

18points

#63

Not Terrible, But I Spent 4th Grade Cosplaying As Jimmy Neutron With That Helmet Of Hair. I’m A Girl Btw

Final score:

40points

POST

Inga Paškevičiūtė 3 years ago

Those lashes...I'm jealous

12points

#64

I Thought I Nailed That Edit Lmao. Translated Caption : "I'm Really Black And White In The Deepness Of My Heart, I've Never Really Seen Colors, Except Black, White And Gray"

Final score:

40points

POST

DaVo 3 years ago

I didn't see color until I was already a man.

7points

#65

This Is The Better Quality Shot Of My Christian Rock Band In 2007. Surprisingly We Were Not Very Successful

Final score:

40points

POST

Jill Pulcifer 3 years ago

You guys look like a Buzzfeed article detailing bad fashion trends of the 70's, 80's, 90's and 2000's.

44points

#66

Class Of ‘07 Represent

Final score:

40points

POST

Thistle 3 years ago

Well, back in 2007, I would have had a crush on you.

28points

#67

Puka Shell Necklace And Spiked Hair For My School Photo! I Think This Was 2002

Final score:

38points

POST

Al Cook 3 years ago

Yes, I remember this look! Had something very similar myself at that time!

10points

#68

I Thought I Was So Cool And Sophisticated (Ft. Family Portrait In My Mom’s Bedroom)

Final score:

38points

POST

Shelby P 3 years ago

Looks like he just watched Risky Business.

0points

#69

Posing In A Tree With My Cousin’s Bike, Trying To Look “Casual”

Final score:

37points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

'He's coming. Act natural.'

12points

#70

My Facebook Profile Picture In 2014. The Caption Was “Yasuo Incarnate”...i Played A Lot Of League Of Legends

Final score:

35points

POST

Lunar Bicycle 3 years ago

I thought Napoleon Dynamite was cosplaying as a samurai.

43points

#71

In 3rd Grade I Really Wanted To Be Sonic The Hedgehog For Holloween. This Was The Result

Final score:

35points

POST

Happiness is Hippo 3 years ago

Good job! I think you looked awesome

15points

#72

I Wish I Still Had The Confidence Of 2010 Me. I Think The Jacket Was From Avril Lavigne's Collection And I Wore It Everywhere.... All The Time

Final score:

34points

POST

Inga Paškevičiūtė 3 years ago

Man, I think we all want to have that confidence we had when we were kids lol

13points

#73

This Indian-Ass "Photoshoot" I Had. My Mother Sent It To Me To Humble Me And Remind Me Of My Origins

Final score:

34points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago (edited)

This doesn't belong here. It looks nice.

19points

#74

White Girl Dreads, Speed Dealer Sunglasses, Slogan Tee And Zip Capri Pants. The Year 2000 Was Glorious

Final score:

34points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

My respect for a fellow dreadhead.

8points

#75

My Shirt Says "I'm A Dinosaur, So Like Rawr And Stuff." And The Hello Kitty Ears. So Random

Final score:

34points

POST

Happiness is Hippo 3 years ago

What an amazing toy shop though

2points

#76

Back When 8 Year Old Me Discovered The Morphing Function On My Ds Camera, So I Morphed Myself With Our Bathroom Tiles. Graphic Design Is My Passion

Final score:

32points

POST

James016 3 years ago

The bathroom of the Matrix

11points

#77

Here’s Me At 12, Going To See Good Charlotte And Eve 6 With My Dad. I Thought I Looked Very Badass

Final score:

31points

POST

Helen Haley 3 years ago

Again, for the time, you did. This is nowhere near out there or awkward.

24points

#78

Instead Of Braces, My Grandpa Gave Me His Bb Gun And My Grandma Gave Me Her Receding Hairline

Final score:

31points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

Who needs braces when you have a gun?

18points

#79

Me On My Very First Date. Pretty Sure She Went Because My Mom Rented A Limo

Final score:

31points

POST

Frauke Knothe 3 years ago

The size ratio between them is really strange. Not only the height, comparing their heads, he looks like a giant.

0points

#80

First Day Back To School 2008. I Was An Ugly Child But I Felt "Trendy" For Once In This Outfit

Final score:

28points

POST

Happiness is Hippo 3 years ago

I don't think you were an ugly child at all. I zoomed in on you to double check! I hope you feel better about yourself now x

24points

#81

The Year Was 2008, And I Had Just Discovered How To Find A Scene Hair Tutorial On Youtube

Final score:

27points

POST

Tristan J 3 years ago

Best hairstyle ever

2points

#82

My Middle School Quote Was So Bad The School Actually Added The Last Sentence Without Telling Me

Final score:

25points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

It's funny how many countries allow their students to write anything on their yearbook. Here, you have to have a very meaningful quote. Mine was 'Hardwork is best' or something along that line.

9points