ADVERTISEMENT

We humans spend lots of time studying and analyzing the most essential moments of our history. After all, many of us strive to better understand our past and the world we live in. But knowledge also includes failure. While some people keep their factual mishaps low-key, others loudly declare their silly (and usually false!) opinions, making people smack their foreheads in disbelief.

Whether it's thinking that the Berlin Wall worked or that learning about WWII is bad for your mental health, some people clearly had a hard time with history, and it shows. Enter the subreddit r/FacePalm, self-described as "a gallery of inexplicable stupidity". The moderators ask the members to share screenshots of human idiocy, all for your amusement.

Bored Panda has selected the best examples of people making a complete fool of themselves and rightfully getting shamed for it online. Continue scrolling and upvote the ones you enjoyed most! And if you’re in the mood for some more stupidity of individuals both online and in real life, check out our previous posts here and here.

#2

Dear Athiests:

Dear Athiests:

Musicguy0016 Report

#3

Won't Somebody Please Think Of The

Won't Somebody Please Think Of The

42words Report

Since its creation in 2009, the Facepalm subreddit has been steadily growing and becoming a true powerhouse of more than 6.1 million members ready to document people’s stupidity from forums, social media sites, or just real life. It comes as a great source of entertainment, and a dedicated moderator team stands right at the center of it.

One person who looks after this online group told Bored Panda in a previous interview that they moderate it "according to Reddit's content policy and that means that most of the comment moderation we do is to remove bigotry and racism," they said. "The subreddit's community is fine, for the most part. A lot of people come here to have a laugh at whatever silly thing is being posted and that's ok."

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

The Deadly Argument For Going Natural

The Deadly Argument For Going Natural

lucynyu13 Report

#6

“If Masks Were Necessary We Would Have Evolved One By Now” Lmao

“If Masks Were Necessary We Would Have Evolved One By Now” Lmao

shaun_vids Report

Add photo comments
POST
Aroha
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Neil, you don't actually stick the mask IN your mouth or your nostrils... Your airways are just fine. (Also, Neil, would you be happy if a surgeon operating on you did not wear one?)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

When it comes to the topics that are well-liked by the community, the moderator said they can change quite fast. "[What's popular] really depends on what is on people's minds at the time. Currently, a popular topic is the insane lengths people go through to deny the facts about Covid."

You see, there’s truly no end to human stupidity. Some people will always be ignorant and believe they can become experts in politics, science, and whatnot overnight and blare their ideas online. Well, thanks to the members of this community who hunt down ridiculous posts, they do everyone a public service by shaming them online.

#7

Yeah I Think Native Americans Know More About The Land If They Lived Longer In It(Forgot To Add A Flair)

Yeah I Think Native Americans Know More About The Land If They Lived Longer In It(Forgot To Add A Flair)

Coolkid1029 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sam
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just like white people didn't believe Aboriginal Australians that birds of prey deliberately spread wildfires. Till they documented it on film

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Ironic Idiots

Ironic Idiots

phiankhi Report

There’s a myriad of scientific evidence that proves humans are poor judges of their quality of performance and abilities. Well, people believe they are smarter and more capable than they really are and often claim to know a lot when, in fact, they have very little knowledge about the subject.

A 1999 study in which David Dunning and Justin Kruger, psychology professors from Cornell University, showed how people tend to hold overly favorable views of their abilities. The researchers asked participants to do four tests to assess their humor, grammar, logic, and then evaluate how well or poorly they thought they did.

The results revealed that most participants overestimated their performance, but the ones that scored in the bottom quarter were much more likely to overvalue themselves. "Not only do these people reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the metacognitive ability to realize it," the researchers wrote.

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

Wait Hold Up A Sec

Wait Hold Up A Sec

MyNameGifOreilly Report

Add photo comments
POST
Peppy Piplup
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ouch. It must sting when someone who you think is on your side tells you that you're an idiot.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

Failed The History Class

Failed The History Class

d3333p7 Report

"The first rule of the Dunning-Kruger club is you don’t know you’re a member of the Dunning-Kruger club," David Dunning told Vox. "People miss that." Our brains tend to hide our blind spots from us. That’s why we often feel more confident about our skills, knowledge, and abilities than we should. And often, we’re completely unaware of our overconfidence.

#13

Facebook Making Memes Unintentionally

Facebook Making Memes Unintentionally

dickfromaccounting Report

Add photo comments
POST
xolitaire
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

uneducated potato has a similar ring as "uncultured swine". I like it!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Maybe Rethink That Again...peter

Maybe Rethink That Again...peter

MeamesMeter Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sam
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well in Haiti, the answer is yes. Did NOT end well for the white people

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

"The work is about [how] when people don’t get it, they don’t realize they don’t get it," the professor explained that this is a phenomenon that visits all of us sooner or later. "Some of us are a little more flamboyant about it. Some of us aren’t. But not knowing the scope of your own ignorance is part of the human condition. The problem with it is we see it in other people, and we don’t see it in ourselves," he said.

#16

Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions.

Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions.

PostalAzul Report

#17

On Dinosaurs

On Dinosaurs

Elitetimeline7 Report

Add photo comments
POST
FloC
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Christians against dinosaurs"... I can't stop laughing at that !!!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

Redefining History

Redefining History

imgur.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sam
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"agreed". This is ridiculous though. Not surprising but ridiculous

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

To become a bit more skeptical, modest, and aware of our cognitive blind spots, David Dunning recommends you to ask yourself where you could be wrong if the decision is an important one. "Think that through — it matters. Think about what you don’t know. That is, check your assumptions."

ADVERTISEMENT

"On a more general level, a lot of the issues or problems we get into, we get into because we’re doing it all by ourselves. We’re relying on ourselves. We’re making decisions as our own island, if you will. And if we consult, chat, schmooze with other people, often we learn things or get different perspectives that can be quite helpful," he explained.

#21

You're Standing Right In Front Of The Best Example In The Whole World That Proves That Walls Don't Work.

You're Standing Right In Front Of The Best Example In The Whole World That Proves That Walls Don't Work.

monicacrowley Report

Add photo comments
POST
Nadine Bamberger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only did it eventually come down and has been considered a cruel historical mistake since they built it, it was only part of what they called the "Todesstreifen", path of death. People were shot at and killed long before they could've climbed the wall. At least 140 have been killed in Berlin alone. It's a symbol of shame not an accomplishment.

xolitaire
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Girl. Take it from us Germans. The remaining pieces of the wall are there to remind us that walls do, in fact, NOT work. Please get off the internet.

Lingon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At the same time in USA, former slave plantations are hosting weddings.

Load More Replies...
Kesam
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Way to go, Monica! Next time go to Auschwitz, take a selfie in front of the outer fence and caption it with "barbed wire works." I dare you.

Sam
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did we expect logic or knowledge from a Trumper?

Ally MacMann
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That HAS to be satire, right? I live in Berlin and walking around here you are often surrounded in history, some of it fairly recent and much of it very dark. You'd basically have to close your eyes not to see it.

Benita Valdez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really wish I could say it is satire but it really seems alot of us Americans really don't read about or know much world history.

Load More Replies...
Paul Davis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This horrible woman needs to move to Russia and live under Putin's rule...it is, after all, what she really seems to want more than anything.

Loki’s Lil Butter Knife
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This horrible woman would probably be the one following Putin and following him blindly. She is nothing more than a close-minded bigot.

Load More Replies...
Pablo Ramos
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They actually don't work. The Berlin wall require the small assistance of machine gun emplacents.

Monday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dunno man, my walls work perfectly fine. Of course their only function is to keep the building standing but still...they're working.

Load More Replies...
Izzy Curer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm just going to assume she means it in an architectural sense so that I can pretend people like this don't exist

Steve Fischer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pig Putin, like Pig Trump, are trying their best to put new walls up. Put them both in jail!!!

JayWantsACat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We all see this as the stupidity it is. So imagine how dumb MAGA chuds are to believe s**t like this.

PitbullmomAF
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fun fact, I was in high school (American military family) in Germany when the wall came down. The next year I worked for some guys that had gone to Berlin and brought back slabs of the wall. We used pieces of it , along with the barbed wire, to made plaques and memorabilia.

Sapna Sarfare
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes it did. East & west Germany still exist and i just saw a talking unicorn

SelkieBlackfysh
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tell me you supported trump without telling me you supported trump.

Adrian
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Walls work well for graffiti. What the world needs is more doors.

MotherofGuineaPigs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Besides the obvious dumbassery. Parts of the wall are there, it's just not a barrier for the movement of people anymore.

Laura Capshaw
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I promise you the Wall worked. I was in Berlin right after it went up. I was a little girl, but I remember how terrifying it was to see soldiers with guns walking across roofs cordened off with razor wire.

Riley Quinn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The partial southern wall that Trump and his sycophants clamored for is already falling apart. Another foolish government expense that proved worthless.

Cass Malone
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad worked check point Charlie. He has a chunk of that wall. And no they don't work and are inhumane

Shortstuff
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Monica, build a wall dividing your street and see how you like it?

Zet
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what is the Berlin Wall holding back now-days Monica? what's on the other side? MONICA? zombies? death? bad bad drug dealers and immigrants? tourists?... or just normal germans like on the other side? huh? Monica?

De Gueb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The difference is that the wall was built to stop people leaving East Germany. Not to stop them getting into West Germany

Yoga Kitty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I honestly don't know what I find more sad - states trying to keep people out or states forcing to stay people in. Either way - it's a shame.

Load More Replies...
View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Numbrs... I Don't Know What I Say...

Numbrs... I Don't Know What I Say...

Flo_Ri_ Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sam
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He also thought there were airplanes during the revolutionary war. Its clear his daddy bought his degrees

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

She Forgot A Very Important Bit Of Information

She Forgot A Very Important Bit Of Information

jaytix1 Report

Add photo comments
POST
K- THULU
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When a woman has a thought ...burn her! That woman has a cat...burn her! That woman looked at me funny .. Burn her! She's a woman... Burn her! But jesus loves u !

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#25

Picasso Was Alive When Snoop Dogg Was Born.

Picasso Was Alive When Snoop Dogg Was Born.

esberat Report

Add photo comments
POST
Roadkill The Brave
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Back when I was in high-school this was the ultimate 'omg that blew my mind' moment for a lot of people. The only reason I knew about it before then was my mom's ex was into art and she adored Picasso and Dali. Dali died in '89 I think.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Someone Skipped 5th Grade History

Someone Skipped 5th Grade History

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
J. F.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They found ancient roman vases in South America and American plants in ancient egypt graves. Even claiming Vikings were first is quite wrong

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Absolute Genius

Absolute Genius

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jayne Kyra
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is normal for students in Slovakia to visit Auschwitz around the age of 16 to see the brutal history of WWII with their own eyes. It's haunting. 17 years passed and I still remember the rings, shoes, hair, luggage, but most of all the eyes in the photos.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

The Image They Don’t Want You To See

The Image They Don’t Want You To See

heaxghono Report

#30

This Is Why The World Has Been Doomed…

This Is Why The World Has Been Doomed…

ItsTheUltimateBob Report

Add photo comments
POST
Nadine Debard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah the white blond-haired Mary of Israel. Very accurate portrait, though. *Facepalm*

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#31

In My Defence I Never Did History (Double Facepalm)

In My Defence I Never Did History (Double Facepalm)

4FdPipeoghU4AHfJ Report

Add photo comments
POST
Nadine Debard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We just need another sick megalomaniac prick with a good old nuclear weapon. And there's a bunch of them all over the world.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#32

"R/Facepalm" Can't Even Read The Url

"R/Facepalm" Can't Even Read The Url

MeMelotti Report

#33

Tik Tok Is A Gold Mine

Tik Tok Is A Gold Mine

youvemetmebefore Report

Add photo comments
POST
Thorfin Wolfsbane
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine the look on the ancient Sumerians faces over 6000 years ago when the earth was created underneath their feet /s

View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

This Girl’s Presentation At My Local University

This Girl’s Presentation At My Local University

ronronthadon Report

#35

Someone Wasn’t Paying Attention In History Class...

Someone Wasn’t Paying Attention In History Class...

nairb222 Report

#37

Time To Hate White People For (Checks Notes) Walking In The Rain?

Time To Hate White People For (Checks Notes) Walking In The Rain?

mitzi_mozzerella Report

Add photo comments
POST
Libstak
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blood shed happened in every race, culture and part of the world. It is not something invented by any single race. This is nuts.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

History Professor Has A Very Rosy View Of The Hunter-Gatherer Life

History Professor Has A Very Rosy View Of The Hunter-Gatherer Life

PapayaSF Report

Add photo comments
POST
Demi Zwaan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Too be fair, he is right. Agriculture wasn't good for our health, work, equality or the environment. I'm not saying being a hunter-gatherer was nice, but agriculture wasn't all that good either.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

Antivax Forever

Antivax Forever

CalderRobinson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Me Oh My
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think being featured on a homophobic, sexist, racist website is something to be proud of...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda