Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
I have a terrible memory, but I could tell you every single time that someone made me feel inferior. In fact, I could easily repeat what they said verbatim. I will never forget when my high school acting teacher told me I had “creepy old lady hands,” and I’ll never be able to erase the memory of my grandmother commenting on my weight.
Unfortunately, the words we’d most like to forget are often the ones that stick with us forever. Redditors have been recalling the cruelest things people have ever said to them, so we’ve gathered some of their most heartbreaking stories below. It might not be easy to read through these replies, but if you have similar stories of your own, know that you’re not alone.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Not said to me directly, but I was a few feet away. My son had a liver transplant and has huge scars on his belly. He was playing at our local park where they shoot up water. Great summer fun for young kids. Another parent says, "They should cover that kid up so we don't have to see it." Thankfully, another parent spoke up snd said, "Just because that kid's gone through a lot doesn't mean he has to stay hidden to make you feel comfortable." I started to breathe evenly and smile.
Funny thing is, when kids asked him about his scars, my son would just say, "I had surgery." Then they would continue playing. Adults were more cruel.
RELATED:
#2
This will get buried but mine was hands down when a co-worker/decently close acquaintance told me to my face that maybe if I had prayed harder and put more faith in the lord my son wouldn't have died. B***h had worked with me since before I got pregnant, through the genetic dx while still pregnant, his birth, multiple surgeries etc. and knew damn well what the f**k happened and still had the gall to say that s**t. Mind you this was also like 6 years later and I'd already had two more children, countless hours of therapy, and with one statement she stabbed me in the heart all over.
In a horrid twist of fate - the eldest of her two children was k*lled in a motorcycle accident about 18 months ago. My heart broke for her and I did reach out to offer my condolences, no parent should ever experience that kind of loss.
But I would be a lying hag if I didn't admit that a hateful little voice inside me whispered to my soul 'maybe she shoulda prayed harder'.
Rayne OfSalt 5 months ago
I would have slugged her in the face, so the redditor is a better person than me.
#3
After discovering a past failed s*****e attempt, my parents said “How could you be so stupid? Do you know how bad that makes us look?” without once questioning how I got to that point. Maybe not the cruelest thing in the thread but it made me realize that my parents cared very little for me.
Edit: Thank you all so much for the kind words. I wanted to reply to everyone individually but I’m finding myself lacking the mental wherewithal right now. This incident was just shy of 10 years ago, and I’m in a much better place now, both literally and figuratively.
#4
I crashed my motorcycle quite a few years ago now. I was being stupid and didn't have my gear on. So I have some very extensive scars on my arms and legs.
I'm super insecure about them. I've worn long sleeves since they've healed.
Last summer I was feeling good about myself and not caring. So I went to the beach in a bikini. I was sitting there reading a book when a group of girls behind me starts talking about me.
There were several comments about my appearance but the one that really stuck was, "God, she should just k**l herself so we don't have to look at her."
Yeah so much for self confidence that day.
#5
My biological father came back into my life when I was 14 and had a girlfriend. Everything was great for a year until she made him choose between his new family, and me. I got a text message on Christmas Day saying "Father and daughter relationship not working out, all the best for your future. Please dont call me, it will cause me problems". I was devastated, but my Stepfather has been my REAL dad since I was 3 years old, and he was the best dad in the world - we lost him to Cancer in December. He was the best best man and I miss him very much.
Edit: I woke up this morning to so many lovely and kind comments and DM's about my Stepdad and I'm kind of overwhelmed by your lovely words. Thank you for letting me talk to you all about him, it means alot to be able to share the kind of man he was. I've really been struggling since he passed away, talking about him here has helped. The world was a better place when he was here with us. Thank you all :).
#6
When I was 16 and looking to apply at Boston Pizza which had just opened up in our town, my dad said “don’t you have to be pretty to be a waitress?”
I’ve always been complimented on my looks by others, but dad’s comments have long stayed with me and I never feel pretty enough sadly, regardless of who tells me I am beautiful.
Parents, am I right?
#7
My mom said that her life would have been better if I never existed.
#8
Me: Korean American, US army veteran
You are stealing jobs from hard working white people, you should be ashamed of yourself.
#9
Ex-wife once told me that she wished my mom had died of the breast cancer that she beat when I was in 2nd grade. Shes been in remission for 20+ years now and has always been a sweet, thoughtful and smart lady. I had to leave the house to calm down - and luckily i left the relationship eventually.
#10
There were years I worked multiple jobs to help support us while my ex was working on her doctorate. Once she had herself a tenure track university position, she let me know I wasn’t “educated enough to be married to a professor” like herself. I have my bachelor's degree. Well, I found myself sleeping on the sofa for about a week, while looking for an apartment so I could move out. During that time, every morning as she’d greet me with the phrase “Why haven’t you k*lled yourself yet?” I'm so lucky I'm out of that marriage.
#11
In middle school a girl found out I had a crush on her and decided that best way to go about dealing with that was telling everyone at lunch how ugly she thought I was because I had acne at the time. Which really sucked. Because I was already *super* self conscious about it and kind of just a shy person in general.
Was made even worse because it was a small private school. So everyone knew everyone's business and there was no getting away from it. I stopped eating lunch in the lunchroom for all of that year. It sucked and the whole thing honestly made me feel like s**t for years.
As we got older and were in high school, I think she tried to get back on my good side. But she never actually apologized and honestly, that ship had already sailed for me. Too little and *way* too late.
On the last day of senior year I let all the air out of three of her tires.
Ranger Kanootsen 5 months ago
You don't need to forgive that girl. Just keep on going about your life and leave her behind.
#12
The worst was probably in fifth grade, just after my dad died. The whole school knew, and everyone was being really nice to me except one girl. I believe the exact quote was “go suck your dads d**k. Oh wait you can’t, he’s dead”.
It didn’t even hurt my feelings, more of just bewildered me like who says something like that?
Ranger Kanootsen 5 months ago
Who says something like that? A damaged person. A person who was treated badly in life and hurt over and over. But she made the decision to take that out on others instead of turning that internal pain into external kindness.
#13
I was 13 when my mother called me a monster, a failure as a son, and herself a failure as a mother. What did I do that was so wrong?
Told the priest I believed that gay people deserve equal rights. That was in 2007.
Ranger Kanootsen 5 months ago
Gay guy here. I couldn't think of anything more inspiring than what you said to the priest.
#14
“All girls take it too far with guys sometimes.” -my mom after finding out I was r**ed.
Edit. My mom and I years later talked it out and she apologized. We’re good now. But that comment will always be with me and I still have a hard time not blaming myself for what happened.
Ranger Kanootsen 5 months ago
Really? REALLY?? How could anyone think that, let alone say it...
#15
Asked a girl out and just got "ew" as a response. So that was cool. A no would've been fine.
#16
This happened to every "unattractive" girl i went to school with. Im long out of school and stuff like that. But anyways.
It was a thing in my school where guys would go up to an "unattractive" girl in a group, infront of everyone, and ask them on a date. Just when the girl would start to believe it was real and give a response, the guys would all start laughing and the one who asked would tell her it was just a joke and that "no one would ever wanna go out with something like you". And yes. They would say something. Not someone... It hurts yeah. But its not the worst, just something i thought people should hear i guess.
Ranger Kanootsen 5 months ago
Hey, it's alright, whether or not it's "the worst", it's still hurtful and your feelings are valid. I hope they get what's coming to them.
Doctor Strange 5 months ago
Reverse for me, I was the guy that girls asked out as a prank. And people wonder why I hate April Fools day
KimB 5 months ago
I'm so sorry this happened to you. Even back when I was a teenager I saw this kind of thing happening I never even thought about being that mean to someone. I only picked on the bullies who were picking on other kids. It didn't take long for me to get a bit of a reputation for being a hard a*s. Anyone who tried to challenge me I'd call them out. The good old meet me after school...scares the c**p out of bullies when you aren't afraid of them ;)
Load More Replies...
Ronna Black 5 months ago
I had this happen to me. Of course my oblivious autistic brain didn’t realize it until much later. I didn’t like the guy and asked him why would I want to go out with him? I don’t remember what happened, but no one asked me out in high school. I was okay with that.
Michal Dolyniuk 5 months ago
That cruel. I and my friends did opposite thing. We chose the most beautiful girls in school and ask them out. One who gets the highest number of rejection will win. It was good fun hearing 'nope never' until one really cute girl say 'yes'.
TrepidMouse 5 months ago
If I was in their situation, I would turn the tables. "Do you wanna go out?" "Sure." "It was a prank! You're too ugly!" "Oh, I know. But the fact that you can't get a real girlfriend and have to resort to pranking girls says a lot..."
R.C. 5 months ago
This happened to a teen who lived a couple houses down from me. He hung himself off his backyard fence the next day. Now, I'm sure this was the straw after a big pile of other straws but whether or not you believe it's the worst doesn't dictate how the victim is going to perceive it.
Parmeisan 5 months ago
When I was in high school I had a girl I barely knew ask me if I'd go out with some dude who I also barely knew. I was like "I guess, if he asked me??" since I'd never had a boyfriend, but mostly I was just confused by the question. It wasn't suggested that he actually might ask me, just weird prodding about would I or wouldn't I. Then later in the day his actual girlfriend (no, I didn't know he had one) started in on "who do you think you are, are you trying to steal my boyfriend, he'd never go out with you" and then challenged me to fight her later. The whole thing was clearly staged from start to finish. Anyway I didn't show up to fight and it never actually came to anything. Just a weird bullying tactic I guess.
Deeelite 5 months ago
It'll get you expelled for "starting a fight" guess how I know......
Load More Replies...
I_imagine_even_worse_w***s 5 months ago
This is the theme for countless naughties teen movies. My niece was recently complaining about why all "old movies" had this trope. I was kind of shocked because variations of this happened more often than I'd like to remember when I was growing up. She was horrified so I'm hopeful that sh¹t has died out now.
Kiwi Panda 5 months ago
And of course when this happens (as it did to me), then any compliment you might receive in the future feels like a cruel attack. Even if it’s genuine.
Gary Geracci 2 months ago
My first High School Date was a girl in our class with Downs. Gosh she was such down to earth sweet person! No one could understand why I dated a "Freak"
Dangernoodle. 5 months ago
Those guys, and anyone like them, deserve their most precious ego destroyed in a fire.
Liz The Biz 5 months ago
I was the "unattractive" girl and this sort of thing often happened to me. When anyone genuinely liked me I didn't believe a word they said.
Bettye McKee 5 months ago
Adolescent boys have the strangest idea of what they think is funny. Their pranks are usually hurtful and sometimes dangerous.
Nerd Groupie 5 months ago
Sometimes I wonder if I ever missed out on someone actually liking me and asking me out for real. I always assumed it was a cruel joke and respond sarcastically.
Kaeda 5 months ago
A similar incident happened to me when I was in middle school. I got a 'will you go out with me' note in my locker from a very good-looking and very popular boy in my class. I responded 'yes' and handed it back to him in class. Turns out that his buddies had put the note in my locker and that he knew nothing about it. Hurt quite a lot and I never got over how I was openly the brunt of their prank. No one ever apologized to me nor did anyone mention it again, including me. Still hurts to this day though.
Allen Packard 5 months ago
So cruel. A group of girls did that to my youngest son when he was in 7th grade. It stayed with him a long time. Just a terrible thing to do to someone.
Valerie Brillhart 5 months ago
If you are one of the guys who did it or just watched your a POS
Disgruntled Pelican 5 months ago
I was told in high school that I was "pretty enough to f**k, but not pretty enough to date." To this day I still remember exactly where I was standing and what I was wearing and it's been 16 years.
randomhungryhamsterperson 5 months ago
this is stupid cus everyone beautiful in their on little ways
BossyHossy1 5 months ago
The worst would have been enduring an evening out with one of you a******s!!
KimB 5 months ago
Perhaps if enough of us stand up with baseball bats....jk ;)
Load More Replies...
athornedrose 5 months ago
oh yeah. had that happen a few times. only believed it the first time. after that i just stayed completely silent until the guy would uncomfortably admit it wasn't a fun prank if i didn't answer him.
HI, I'M A SHOUTY MAN 5 months ago
Hahaha that always happened to me... and see I was still learning on how to tell sarcasm and all that, generally all those things, and so I never could understand.
#17
Don't call me mom in public, call me by first name.
Sue Denham 5 months ago
WhenI was seven my mother told me I was too old to call her "Mummy" anymore so I asked if I should call her "Mum". She said that was too common and never came up with an alternative so I never had a name to call her by after that.
#18
I was in a car accident, no harm to me at all.
Told the story to a couple people.
One Litterly said, and I quote “I wish you would have died in the accident”.
Ranger Kanootsen 5 months ago
F*****g hell, this thread is making me so angry. I don't know how much more I can take. I'm sorry to everyone here, you all deserve so much better.
#19
When I was a kid, my best friend was always kind of mean or standoffish with me at school but we hung out a lot just the two of us. At some point I confronted him and said "you keep doing this, are you embarrassed to be my friend?" and he just said " Yes. ".
Sue Denham 5 months ago
He wasn't your friend. I hope you found some better people to be with after that.
#20
When I was 12 my family and I went to a farmer's market. This couple was handing out samples and the husband said
"Let the boys try some."
I said "I'm a girl."
The wife then yelled at me saying "Well grow some f*****g tits, then you'll look like a girl!!!!!"
Ouch.
#21
Was approached by a modelling agency once in a shopping centre with my best friends. I was very shocked as I'm quite self conscious at 5ft 11" and very curvy, so it was extremely flattering. Didn't have enough confidence to do anything about it so just left it as a nice memory. My best friend was bragging on my behalf to a group of kids in school the next week and one girl just looked me up and down and said "Oh I didn't know the menswear department of 'Middle aged clothes shop' were looking for models?'... I was 15f and it k*lled my confidence for years...
#22
My mom told me she was worried I would abuse her and my dad when they got old because I was abusive as a teenager. I agonized over that for a couple years before I finally convinced my parents to go to a therapy sessions with me, where I found out the teenage "abuse" she was referring to was, according to her, me pushing past her roughly once as a teenager and getting too many parking tickets.
I lived to please my parents for most of life, so hearing her accuse me of abuse when I'd sacrificed my own integrity for a long time to make them happy...that really hurt me.
Ranger Kanootsen 5 months ago
Oh, honey. I'm so sorry. I was always labelled 'manipulative' for standing up for myself, so I know how it feels.
#23
Nothing. When my best friend of 20+ years ghosted me, that was the cruelest thing.
#24
You’re a mistake and an embarrassment. You are a disgrace to this family. -My older brother in a restaurant with my parents watching. They said nothing to this but when I tried to tell him to just shut up I got yelled at. Yeah not only do I make better grades than him I also don’t ever get in trouble anywhere except for at home unlike him who is the exact opposite.
Anna Ekberg 5 months ago
I really despise parents that have favorites and show it, the whole "golden child" concept should just die out.
#25
"You've always had some excuse for why you did poorly in school" - my dear old mother
I'm 21 years old & only now getting diagnosed with ADHD because she never believed me. Thanks mom, almost getting kicked out of university was really great.
#26
My mother told me once that no one nice or decent would ever want me/be able to love me. Crazy how much stuff like this sticks on your relationships
Edit: you guys are amazing people to be willing to share your stories--I'm so sorry all of you have had to experience this nastiness. I hope you're all currently doing well and I appreciate all of you <3.
Ranger Kanootsen 5 months ago
Even after all I've been through, it still seriously blows my mind that a parent could say/do things like that.
#28
"It's a good thing you can't have kids, you would make a terrible mother."
Also:
"You won't be a real woman until you have children.".
Ash 5 months ago
This is heartless and cruel to say:(( it's horrible how seemingly grown up people refuse to take any responsibility for their words and allow themselves to bombard other people in worst ways because of their own insecurities. I had been told "Maybe you should give birth to a child and probably THAT would teach you to be capable of loving anybody" .
#30
This wasn't really said to me, but it was said to my mom about me. I had admitted to my grandma that there was a girl that we both knew that I had a crush on (I'm a girl). I said it quick so I didn't think she'd catch it. But she did. A while later, she looked my mom dead in the eye and said something like, "It's such a shame. Your daughter WAS so pretty. Such a WASTE." So I'm a shame AND a waste... And if you think she ended there oh hoho!!! You're wrong!!! She later called my sister EXTREMELY FAT in front of me (I went up against her for that one). And right after we shunned her from our family, I found out there was a chance that she was "watching" my big bro because he, "Reminds her of her dead husband." She did way WAY worse than that to my mom. Even calling my mom a parasite in the middle of a restaurant. I'm glad she left. We almost got kicked out of our home because of her f*cked up lies.
#31
Telling doctor "I have a new pain-"
Interrupts me right there with "It doesn't matter"
Being told you don't matter is cruel!
Mystery Kitteh 5 months ago
Yeah, I've been dealing with this the last 5 years. I'm afraid to actually talk to a doctor anymore
#32
"Your freckles look like you stood behind a screen door and had s**t flung on you." This was a neighbor who was looking to hook up. It never happened and I quit talking to him.
#33
My brother told me he wished I was stillbirth instead of his twin and that nobody in our family wants me
#34
Had a huge crush on a friend in high school and asked her to a dance, she said no which was fine. Nothing was weird.
Then about a week later she started telling me how upset she was that no one had asked her to the dance and when I brought up I had her response was:
You don't count
Apparently she thought I had just asked her to be nice or something. When I told her that wasn't the case she still said no but apologized for saying it. Still really hurt though.
Doctor Strange 5 months ago
Been there too. Just a few weeks ago, had a girl complaining about how she was never anyone's first choice and couldn't find anyone. I didn't say anything, but I wanted to go "I asked you out. You shot me down because I wasn't good enough."
#35
“Your friend deserved to get stabbed.” (Friend got a knife pulled on him in a fight at a party, stabbed him 7 times, critically wounded him and partially paralyzed him for life).
Ranger Kanootsen 5 months ago
Whoever said that should experience it for themselves, it might change their mind.
#36
"I'm so disappointed in you. It's like I don't even know you anymore."
-my mom, after she discovered I had online friends... who I had known for 4 years. God forbid I take a road trip to see them, I guess...
#37
"No one will love you like I love you, because you're uninteresting, boring, & annoying."
Getting past it a day at a time, but I do occasionally find myself apologizing my husband for being "boring/annoying.".
#38
"You're awkward" - coworker to me in my nervous first few weeks at a new job.
It was small but confirmed my fears that I might not fit in, the anxiety to follow was crushing.
Ended up making plenty of friends at my new job, he isn't one of them.
Alexandra 5 months ago
There you have it in a nutshell. There was nothing 'wrong' with OP: he just was in the wrong place with the wrong people. If you don't fit in or feel you don't fit in, that doesn't mean you're not able to fit in anywhere else: it just means that this environment does not suit you. Go and find the place that's right for you. If you have a toxic family, find another family: they dont' have to be blood-related. If you have a toxic spouse who makes you feel small all the time? With the right partner you have a chance to bloom. People are like plants: they will flower given the right conditions.
#39
Bully ones said to me "im glad your grandpa died of cancer"
to this day i still regret not punching him to the floor for saying that.
#40
My mom told me once after a teenage fit I had: "go live under a bridge, we'll see how long you last". That stuck with me even through adulthood. Sometimes mothers just know what to say to totally destroy you and make you and the same time. Love ya mom!
What do you think ?
Alexandra 5 months ago
When I read posts like this I am left feeling mankind should just declare bankruptcy. I just can't wrap my head around how people can be so malevolent, stupid, ignorant, selfish, malicious and without any idea what their words do to other people, the havoc they create by their mindless garbage.
Sky Render 5 months ago (edited)
We are gifted with the advantage of amazing complex brains capable of such fantastic feats of reasoning and logic, and cursed with mouths that utter complete garbage on a whim without consulting with those amazing brains of ours first. We also lack basic protocols for those brains to prevent them from becoming loaded up with delusions in place of actual knowledge.
Load More Replies...
Moosy Girl 5 months ago
How about some kittens and puppies, BP? I think we could all use them after this. :p
Ranger Kanootsen 5 months ago
"If you were a better son, your father would be alive right now" That one hurt.
Tobias Reaper 5 months ago (edited)
i was going through a really bad period of depression feeling like i didn't matter feeling lonely and was told by someone who i had known for nearly 20 years and was supposed to be my best friend if you dont cheer up we (meaning our friend group) are not going to want to talk to you anymore. They moved away a few years ago and i cut off contact and havent spoken to they in like 8 years i am better for it have an amazing bestie who always supports me.
Horosho Bodka 5 months ago
I was about 4 the first time my father told me it was my fault we were so poor. "If you'd never been born, my life would be great right now. All this is your fault." That took decades of therapy to get mostly over...
Admiralu 5 months ago
I hope you are doing better. Please do tell him that if he had used a rubber it wouldn't have been an issue. Just so he can have some payback.
Load More Replies...
René Sauer 5 months ago
Is something wrong me? For pretty much all of them my first thought was to bury my fist in their mouth...
The cats’ slave 5 months ago
Oh I have several from my darling mother. Throughout my childhood she would regularly tell me in great detail what my abusive father did to her, then tell me that I was just like him. As a child she said “you do know that you were a mistake don’t you?” As an adult after my PhD graduation, when asked by others how it had gone, replied “I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life”. Never knew that any of this wasn’t normal until I started therapy.
Giraffy Window 5 months ago (edited)
My mum directing my attention to young guys in public when I was a teen, and gleefully teasing me that they'd looked at me. Everywhere we went. I was raised churchy and was DEEPLY confused about what modesty actually meant. I thought we weren't supposed to look like anyone men would want to look at ("don't be a stumbling block") so I couldn't fathom why mum would act so pleased/proud for me about it? I already wasn't allowed to hang out alone with my guy friends because I could "cause them an erection" or we might do thesex. This only served to alienate me from making close healthy friendships, because I was too scared to give the wrong impression to potential friends.
Anička 5 months ago
I can definitely empathize! Getting over the 'i am sinful just for existing, much less feeling normal human things,' is really hard.
Load More Replies... Arlene Harris 5 months ago
yeah I should have read this one before I read the inspiring therapist one, not the other way around :-(
Salty_Sasquatch 5 months ago
The old saying 'sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me' is absolutely WRONG. It should be 'sticks and stones will break my bones but words will ALWAYS hurt me'.
Enlee Jones 5 months ago
In 5th grade I was standing up in front of the class and the teacher called on a boy to stand up with me. This boy (let's call him Cedric because that was his name) always had it out for me and I have no idea why since I was the quiet kid and kept to myself. Anyway, Cedric made a big show of sighing loudly and then shouting "I don't want to stand next to the dog!" loud enough to be heard in the next school district. F#ck you, Cedric. I hope you have a daughter who is just like me.
Ansgar 5 months ago (edited)
"You're a lazy b****h!" - I was 16, my mother had recently died, there was nobody to help with the grieving process. Nobody knew I was sliding into a depression, all I could manage was to go to school every day, after that my energy would be drained. Thanks for the comment, dad. That really made me feel better. /s
Captive 5 months ago
When I was 18 I had a scooter accident and hurt my foot, called my father to take me to clinic. Bad idea. The entire way he scolded me furiously how stupid I am to have an accident and that Noone would marry me anymore. Wth? This and other toxic traits and voila, I'm married and far away from him
Stephanie Did It 5 months ago
My grandmother to me, age four, and my brother, age six: "You only live here because no one else wanted you."
Steve Kenney 5 months ago
I'm kind of glad to read that my mom was not the only parent who was emotionally abusive to their kids. I suspect a lot of parents were forced into marrying and having kids by society and regretted then took it out on their kids. Don't get married or have kids if you don't want to, it's OK to not do it.
Makenzie McNeal 5 months ago
I have a few experiences, I was told I was the reason my parents relationship was failing, that I made my mom want to k*ll herself, and that I was just like my bio-dad. I've been name called by them with not so nice words. And so many more things.
️ ️~ lefty libra️ ~ 5 months ago
"i guess you werent as smart as i thought you were." -someone that id been through so much with, as i explained to her how i couldnt adjust to the people at my school, how much i hated them. ive know her for 5 years now, cut contact in october. i could never hate her, but i cant love her as much anymore. she was like a mother to me. it shattered my heart to hear that, but at the same time it felt nice to move on. i miss her everyday.
Adrian River 5 months ago (edited)
Worst thing that happened to me was when my mom told me she lost a son when i joined the Marines. I was out of touch with her for years and even then, her sister had to get on her case to make her attitude change, that only got me tolerated. Now she is in advanced care and my brother does not understand why I look at my own shedule before galloping off to visit her every day.
Nerd Groupie 5 months ago
Unfortunately I have a very good memory. It sucks because of things like this. Alcoholic mean grandpa when I brought him a beer he asked for: "Maybe you're not such a little b*tch, huh?" Emotionally/psychologically abusive boyfriend when asked what physical characteristic he'd change about me: "Big a$$." I'd battled my weight my entire life and basically hadn't eaten for two years at this point. Frenemy from junior high when we were adults "Remember when we called you Peachfuzz because of your hairy face?" They never called me that to my face, I didn't know until that point. A coworker gave me some business casual clothes and I wore one of the shirts to work. She goes "Can you believe I was ever that big?!" (The shirt wasn't exactly billowy on me)
Minh Chau Do 5 months ago
My mom said, "I should probably send you to the streets for a night, naked" once, and another time, said "You're a failure. All that money I spent on you, and yet you give me nothing! You only drain my energy and make me tired! I wish you were never born." after I got a C+ on my test. That was when I was like 10 or 11. Still hurts a bit.
randomhungryhamsterperson 5 months ago
my mum once called me ugly cow for not wanting to put my hamster in my ball once
ElfVibratorGlitter 5 months ago
Not sure what I was expecting. :( Sticks and stones may break my body, But words can tear me apart.
Yettichild 5 months ago
My mother told me that her husband would always come before her children. She was on her 3rd marriage and I was 14 or 15 years old. Now she wonders why I don't talk to her.
NoName 5 months ago
I don't know... maybe it's because I grew up in a family of loud Italians that didn't take s**t from anyone. But, perhaps a pop in the mouth would make people think twice before shooting it off again. Act like a belligerent a*****e, get treated like one. Folks get WAY too comfy voicing their s**t opinions like it's the Gospel. Be humane or get humbled. Ugh, disgusting people really ruin it for the rest of society.
Dreaming Spirit 5 months ago
I have one that's not awful, more like awkward, but at the time I was utterly mortified. I always looked older that I was, maybe it was my glasses, or maybe the old lady haircuts my mom gave me. When I was 11 or 12, I went to a shop with my grandma to get some new underwear. The shop assistant took a glance at me and selected a transparent lacy set with a thong saying it would be perfect for a date. I was so embarrassed I remember it almost 30 years later :D
Amy Manzanares 5 months ago
My mother has gaslighted me, made me the villain of her story, withheld love from me, played on my fears and spent my entire life trying to make me like her and my sisters. I'm adopted, they aren't. I've spent my life (54 years) trying to figure out who I am and how I can please my mother. I have several mental health diagnoses and have had a very difficult and traumatic life compared to my middle upper class sisters. I was visiting for Thanksgiving as I live in a different state from my entire family. My last night there my mother and I got into a fight. I tried to diffuse it She tried taunting me into participating. I finally asked what she wants from me. "I want you to be a normal person!" Nope. I finally saw the toxicity! No contact for you!
Yu Pan 5 months ago
When I was 20, my dad said to me, "we had thought you won't live past 16". Not sure why he (or anyone) would think that; I was a healthy child, didn't have any complications when my mom had me, and aside from the usual colds and flu, I have no serious illness. Till this day, I still can't figure it out why he said that.
Isabella 5 months ago (edited)
When I was a teenager, I had a crush on one of my brother's friend. My dear brother told.me that how can I imagine that his friend will ever look at me, because "you never looked at yourself in a mirror"? This hurt me really bad and it has ruined my confidence and selfesteem for years, although I had no reason for it, on the contrary.
Douglas Tucker 5 months ago
It is easy to say this and it took me some time to get it but never take ownership of any of the mean things directed at you. Move on or move away with the simply thought, "Is that really the best they could try to hit me with?"
Doctor Strange 5 months ago
In high school, it was report card day. I had all A's or B's, but I had 3 C's. My father's response? His exact words: "Get out of my sight. I can't even look at you. You make me sick." And then he wonders why I never believe him when he says he's proud of me.
Allen Packard 5 months ago
First off, I'm a Christian for context. Lost my triplet sons after my ex wife decided bed rest meant going to walk around a flea market for 6 hours. Then she decided then was great time to help her friend move. (I was at work, her mother was supposed to be helping her). The boys came later that evening and died at 23 weeks. My ex's aunt told me at the funeral "that's what you get for not following God's plan".
Alexandra 5 months ago
When I read posts like this I am left feeling mankind should just declare bankruptcy. I just can't wrap my head around how people can be so malevolent, stupid, ignorant, selfish, malicious and without any idea what their words do to other people, the havoc they create by their mindless garbage.
Sky Render 5 months ago (edited)
We are gifted with the advantage of amazing complex brains capable of such fantastic feats of reasoning and logic, and cursed with mouths that utter complete garbage on a whim without consulting with those amazing brains of ours first. We also lack basic protocols for those brains to prevent them from becoming loaded up with delusions in place of actual knowledge.
Load More Replies... Moosy Girl 5 months ago
How about some kittens and puppies, BP? I think we could all use them after this. :p
Ranger Kanootsen 5 months ago
"If you were a better son, your father would be alive right now" That one hurt.
Tobias Reaper 5 months ago (edited)
i was going through a really bad period of depression feeling like i didn't matter feeling lonely and was told by someone who i had known for nearly 20 years and was supposed to be my best friend if you dont cheer up we (meaning our friend group) are not going to want to talk to you anymore. They moved away a few years ago and i cut off contact and havent spoken to they in like 8 years i am better for it have an amazing bestie who always supports me.
Horosho Bodka 5 months ago
I was about 4 the first time my father told me it was my fault we were so poor. "If you'd never been born, my life would be great right now. All this is your fault." That took decades of therapy to get mostly over...
Admiralu 5 months ago
I hope you are doing better. Please do tell him that if he had used a rubber it wouldn't have been an issue. Just so he can have some payback.
Load More Replies... René Sauer 5 months ago
Is something wrong me? For pretty much all of them my first thought was to bury my fist in their mouth...
The cats’ slave 5 months ago
Oh I have several from my darling mother. Throughout my childhood she would regularly tell me in great detail what my abusive father did to her, then tell me that I was just like him. As a child she said “you do know that you were a mistake don’t you?” As an adult after my PhD graduation, when asked by others how it had gone, replied “I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life”. Never knew that any of this wasn’t normal until I started therapy.
Giraffy Window 5 months ago (edited)
My mum directing my attention to young guys in public when I was a teen, and gleefully teasing me that they'd looked at me. Everywhere we went. I was raised churchy and was DEEPLY confused about what modesty actually meant. I thought we weren't supposed to look like anyone men would want to look at ("don't be a stumbling block") so I couldn't fathom why mum would act so pleased/proud for me about it? I already wasn't allowed to hang out alone with my guy friends because I could "cause them an erection" or we might do thesex. This only served to alienate me from making close healthy friendships, because I was too scared to give the wrong impression to potential friends.
Anička 5 months ago
I can definitely empathize! Getting over the 'i am sinful just for existing, much less feeling normal human things,' is really hard.
Load More Replies... Arlene Harris 5 months ago
yeah I should have read this one before I read the inspiring therapist one, not the other way around :-(
Salty_Sasquatch 5 months ago
The old saying 'sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me' is absolutely WRONG. It should be 'sticks and stones will break my bones but words will ALWAYS hurt me'.
Enlee Jones 5 months ago
In 5th grade I was standing up in front of the class and the teacher called on a boy to stand up with me. This boy (let's call him Cedric because that was his name) always had it out for me and I have no idea why since I was the quiet kid and kept to myself. Anyway, Cedric made a big show of sighing loudly and then shouting "I don't want to stand next to the dog!" loud enough to be heard in the next school district. F#ck you, Cedric. I hope you have a daughter who is just like me.
Ansgar 5 months ago (edited)
"You're a lazy b****h!" - I was 16, my mother had recently died, there was nobody to help with the grieving process. Nobody knew I was sliding into a depression, all I could manage was to go to school every day, after that my energy would be drained. Thanks for the comment, dad. That really made me feel better. /s
Captive 5 months ago
When I was 18 I had a scooter accident and hurt my foot, called my father to take me to clinic. Bad idea. The entire way he scolded me furiously how stupid I am to have an accident and that Noone would marry me anymore. Wth? This and other toxic traits and voila, I'm married and far away from him
Stephanie Did It 5 months ago
My grandmother to me, age four, and my brother, age six: "You only live here because no one else wanted you."
Steve Kenney 5 months ago
I'm kind of glad to read that my mom was not the only parent who was emotionally abusive to their kids. I suspect a lot of parents were forced into marrying and having kids by society and regretted then took it out on their kids. Don't get married or have kids if you don't want to, it's OK to not do it.
Makenzie McNeal 5 months ago
I have a few experiences, I was told I was the reason my parents relationship was failing, that I made my mom want to k*ll herself, and that I was just like my bio-dad. I've been name called by them with not so nice words. And so many more things.
️ ️~ lefty libra️ ~ 5 months ago
"i guess you werent as smart as i thought you were." -someone that id been through so much with, as i explained to her how i couldnt adjust to the people at my school, how much i hated them. ive know her for 5 years now, cut contact in october. i could never hate her, but i cant love her as much anymore. she was like a mother to me. it shattered my heart to hear that, but at the same time it felt nice to move on. i miss her everyday.
Adrian River 5 months ago (edited)
Worst thing that happened to me was when my mom told me she lost a son when i joined the Marines. I was out of touch with her for years and even then, her sister had to get on her case to make her attitude change, that only got me tolerated. Now she is in advanced care and my brother does not understand why I look at my own shedule before galloping off to visit her every day.
Nerd Groupie 5 months ago
Unfortunately I have a very good memory. It sucks because of things like this. Alcoholic mean grandpa when I brought him a beer he asked for: "Maybe you're not such a little b*tch, huh?" Emotionally/psychologically abusive boyfriend when asked what physical characteristic he'd change about me: "Big a$$." I'd battled my weight my entire life and basically hadn't eaten for two years at this point. Frenemy from junior high when we were adults "Remember when we called you Peachfuzz because of your hairy face?" They never called me that to my face, I didn't know until that point. A coworker gave me some business casual clothes and I wore one of the shirts to work. She goes "Can you believe I was ever that big?!" (The shirt wasn't exactly billowy on me)
Minh Chau Do 5 months ago
My mom said, "I should probably send you to the streets for a night, naked" once, and another time, said "You're a failure. All that money I spent on you, and yet you give me nothing! You only drain my energy and make me tired! I wish you were never born." after I got a C+ on my test. That was when I was like 10 or 11. Still hurts a bit.
randomhungryhamsterperson 5 months ago
my mum once called me ugly cow for not wanting to put my hamster in my ball once
ElfVibratorGlitter 5 months ago
Not sure what I was expecting. :( Sticks and stones may break my body, But words can tear me apart.
Yettichild 5 months ago
My mother told me that her husband would always come before her children. She was on her 3rd marriage and I was 14 or 15 years old. Now she wonders why I don't talk to her.
NoName 5 months ago
I don't know... maybe it's because I grew up in a family of loud Italians that didn't take s**t from anyone. But, perhaps a pop in the mouth would make people think twice before shooting it off again. Act like a belligerent a*****e, get treated like one. Folks get WAY too comfy voicing their s**t opinions like it's the Gospel. Be humane or get humbled. Ugh, disgusting people really ruin it for the rest of society.
Dreaming Spirit 5 months ago
I have one that's not awful, more like awkward, but at the time I was utterly mortified. I always looked older that I was, maybe it was my glasses, or maybe the old lady haircuts my mom gave me. When I was 11 or 12, I went to a shop with my grandma to get some new underwear. The shop assistant took a glance at me and selected a transparent lacy set with a thong saying it would be perfect for a date. I was so embarrassed I remember it almost 30 years later :D
Amy Manzanares 5 months ago
My mother has gaslighted me, made me the villain of her story, withheld love from me, played on my fears and spent my entire life trying to make me like her and my sisters. I'm adopted, they aren't. I've spent my life (54 years) trying to figure out who I am and how I can please my mother. I have several mental health diagnoses and have had a very difficult and traumatic life compared to my middle upper class sisters. I was visiting for Thanksgiving as I live in a different state from my entire family. My last night there my mother and I got into a fight. I tried to diffuse it She tried taunting me into participating. I finally asked what she wants from me. "I want you to be a normal person!" Nope. I finally saw the toxicity! No contact for you!
Yu Pan 5 months ago
When I was 20, my dad said to me, "we had thought you won't live past 16". Not sure why he (or anyone) would think that; I was a healthy child, didn't have any complications when my mom had me, and aside from the usual colds and flu, I have no serious illness. Till this day, I still can't figure it out why he said that.
Isabella 5 months ago (edited)
When I was a teenager, I had a crush on one of my brother's friend. My dear brother told.me that how can I imagine that his friend will ever look at me, because "you never looked at yourself in a mirror"? This hurt me really bad and it has ruined my confidence and selfesteem for years, although I had no reason for it, on the contrary.
Douglas Tucker 5 months ago
It is easy to say this and it took me some time to get it but never take ownership of any of the mean things directed at you. Move on or move away with the simply thought, "Is that really the best they could try to hit me with?"
Doctor Strange 5 months ago
In high school, it was report card day. I had all A's or B's, but I had 3 C's. My father's response? His exact words: "Get out of my sight. I can't even look at you. You make me sick." And then he wonders why I never believe him when he says he's proud of me.
Allen Packard 5 months ago
First off, I'm a Christian for context. Lost my triplet sons after my ex wife decided bed rest meant going to walk around a flea market for 6 hours. Then she decided then was great time to help her friend move. (I was at work, her mother was supposed to be helping her). The boys came later that evening and died at 23 weeks. My ex's aunt told me at the funeral "that's what you get for not following God's plan".
You May Like “I Still Don’t Understand”: 35 Of The Most Petty Things Adults Have Ever Done To Children “This Isn’t The Woman I Married”: Man Ready To Leave Wife After She Ruins Daughter’s Wedding
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Viktorija Ošikaitė
Related on Bored Panda
