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Warning: secondhand embarrassment can cause intense emotional pain, facepalming, and gossiping with your friends about the intensely cringe things you saw.
The beauty of being a human being is that we tend to have far more in common with each other than we think. One of the best examples is that we’ve all done some extremely awkward, embarrassing things that we wish we could take back… or forget entirely! Perhaps it was a social media post we made years and years ago that physically hurts to look at. Or, maybe, you spilled your lunch all over yourself at school or work just last week!
A good antidote for dealing with your own embarrassment (aside from doing the mature thing and, y’know, working through your emotions) is to gently poke fun at someone who’s messed up even worse. That’s where the popular r/cringepics online community comes in. The subreddit is home to some of the most cringeworthy pics to ever be shared online. Check out the worst offenders below. But be careful your cringe-sensors might go haywire!
For some more cringeworthy pics, take a peek at Bored Panda's earlier feature right here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Tofu Is Only For Vegans
RELATED:
#2
Just A Post Mom
#3
"Don't Come Over"
The r/cringepics subreddit is home to just over 1.5 million members. It’s a true testament to just how successful the online community really is. As it turns out, internet users really enjoy looking at cringy stuff. Or rather, silently judging them for messing up in public.
That actually makes a lot of sense. We’ve written on Bored Panda before about how judging others is a natural part of who we are as human beings. We do it for a wide range of reasons. Unfortunately, some aren’t as wholesome or beneficial as others.
#5
Just A Normal Guy
#6
Time To Find A New Job
"Judging others is something that we as humans do, both consciously and automatically, and there are a number of reasons why we do it. Comically, we are often told as children not to judge others and have stories shared about how judging others can mean we upset them or lose opportunities to see what really lies behind our perception," a psychologist explained to Bored Panda during an interview a while ago.
#7
Haha Thanks Mom
#8
I Got Four Phone Calls From The Dealership Immediately After This, But Didn't Pick Up
Bernd Herbert 1 year ago (edited)
As far as untrustworthy professions go Car Dealers are really way up there on the list. Quite sad.
#9
Not A Single Spanish Player Sang During Their Anthem
"Sometimes, we judge others to feel superior ourselves, finding faults in others, highlighting them, and feeling better about ourselves in the process. Sometimes, we use it to work out where we fit in, recognizing how we want to be, where our aspirations lie, and how we don't want to become," the psychologist explained.
#10
Mistaking A Vietnamese Man For A Child
Best Behave 1 year ago (edited)
“Lady” Mone is notable for stealing tens of millions of pounds from the British taxpayer (aided and abetted by the present incumbents the Tory party) using phoney PPE contracts at the beginning of Covid. She is currently being investigated ( although not terribly thoroughly) and she and her husband are in the process of liquidating “their“ assets in preparation to leave the country. What a lovely person she is….
#11
When You Accidentally Make Two Big Announcements In One Photo
#12
Well, That’s One Way To Ruin A Friendship
"Sometimes, it's in response to our own flaws, and we attack others for what we don't like or don't see into ourselves. And on other occasions, it's to fit into a wider group who judge something or someone, and we conform and perform with the same judgment."
#13
My Friend Meant To Text Me, But He Texted The Girl He Had Just Gone On A Date With Instead
DennyS (denzoren) 1 year ago
Worked out for the best, she got an honest review of the date so she could avoid another.
#14
How To Make Pregnancy Announcements Even More Uncomfortable
#15
What Legs?
However, judging others isn’t all bad. There are certain benefits and upsides when we use it mindfully.
"It can help us to set goals, find alignment with our values, it can help us to build the self-awareness of others and it can boost our self-esteem. Add to that it can also help us to make positive social choices, and it's understanding how and why we judge that gives us the ability to use it for our benefits instead of escaping our flaws or pulling others down,” the psychologist told Bored Panda before.
#16
Jesus Christ What The F**k
HelluvaHedgehogAlien 1 year ago
*calls platoon of vicious, grumpy alien hedgehogs before morning coffee* BRING IT ON DOOFUS
#17
Just Delete Facebook
#18
This S**t Happens On Linkedin Too
Jessi Lovely 1 year ago
Guys….can we maybe just THINK this s**t instead of typing it out and sending? What do you expect, for her to go, “OMG, I was originally looking for a job before you tainted my feed with that comment but now all I want to do is drop my panties what’s your number love?” Seriously, WHAT response is expected? Honestly curious if anyone knows.
At the time of writing, r/cringepics had been active for over a decade. The subreddit was created all the way back in mid-October 2012. In the years since then, it has documented some of the most powerful cases of awkward and embarrassing situations that hurt to look at.
Anyone with a drop of empathy can feel the secondhand embarrassment radiating from some of these posts. We cringe because we can imagine ourselves in that person’s shoes.
#19
That Went From 0 To 100 Real Quick
#20
I’ve Been Trying To Sell Something On Letgo And All I’m Getting Are Messages Like This, Wth Is Wrong With People?
#21
Don’t Let A Dead Parent Stop You From Trying Fire Pick-Up Lines . .
When we find ourselves in an embarrassing or incredibly awkward situation, many of us might instinctively want to run or shy away from what’s happening. Some people deny that they messed up. Others shut down, completely.
The mature way to deal with these sorts of situations is to ease into it all. Embrace what’s happening instead of running away from those uncomfortable feelings. Admit to your mistakes. Accept that nobody is perfect. At some point in their lives, everyone messes up or does something embarrassing. Usually, repeatedly!
#22
Just Losers
Maya Baggins 1 year ago (edited)
Why did my mind read "necromancer" there and what should it have read?
#23
Up Close With Mack
Jason 1 year ago
Reasonable request if they were looking to adopt and it wasn't specified. Especially if someone was going to try and adopt the pup with additional needs. We tried to adopt 2 blind dogs. After filling out literally 30 pages of paperwork, interviews, and everything. We gave up after 6 months. They contacted us back at 8 months telling us we passed and could adopt them. Already had adopted one of our pups by then
#24
Guy From High School Got The Same Tattoo As His Dog
There are very concrete advantages to embracing your embarrassment. For one, you prevent those feelings from growing and enrooting themselves as a deep sense of shame about your past. Shame makes you double-guess everything that you do, it’s vital to fight back against it.
#25
This Physically Hurts
#26
Yikes
#27
It’s My Birthday Today And My Best Friend’s Scumbag Dad Messaged Me This
Moreover, when you demonstrate that you’re actually (mildly) embarrassed rather than hiding this, you improve your reputation with others. People tend to be a lot more sympathetic toward you if you’re being genuine.
Which of these pics did you think were the most cringeworthy, dear Pandas? How deeply did you feel the secondhand embarrassment? What’s the most awkward or embarrassing experience that you’ve ever had? Scroll down to the comment section, and share your thoughts.
#28
* Excessively Starting To Sweat *
#29
Excellent Service
#30
Wow You So Beautiful. Wow Message Didn't Send Separately. Wow Leave Group
#31
Coworkers Brought Binoculars To Work To Perv On Young Beach Goers Today
#32
These Gushy Posts And I'm Offended!
#33
Shapeshifters
#34
Oops…
censorshipsucks 1 year ago
no-one should be honoured to be followed by that assmunch. Screen-Sho...d138d6.png 
#35
Mlm Forgot To Change Her Recruiting Template While Messaging Strangers On Fb
#36
“Daddy Delivered His Load” Found On Facebook
#37
This Guy Found Me On His Wife’s “Suggested Friends” On Facebook Then Googled Me And Used My Business Number To Text Me. Gross
#38
16 Year Old Me On The Far Left At A Birthday Party I Wasn’t Invited To [2011]
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 1 year ago
I thought the girl with the golden bow on her belly had her boobs censored until I realized it's the dress! Whoops!
Bruce Scheiman 1 year ago
Totally confusing. First of all, they look a bit older than you. Second of all, I can't figure out why you're standing next to them, if you weren't to invited? Third of all, was the party at your house?
Emie N. 1 year ago (edited)
These posts are taken from other websites. The person who originally posted won't see your questions here. If you click on the reddit link he answers questions on why he was there.
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Upstaged75 1 year ago (edited)
Why is he in the pic if he wasn't invited? Did he just randomly photobomb?
Demongrrrrl 1 year ago
It looks like the group was photoshopped. They are way too small in comparison to the staircase and railing next to them.
Mari Mar Pinta 1 year ago
Honestly you're the most normal post on this thread... lol... We've all been there...
Tyler 1 year ago
Me too. It seems like he snuck into the house with the party and photobombed the picture, but people would have noticed.
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Uriel Grey 1 year ago
Not sure why this would be cringe or whatever. You got cake and went to a party! Hopefully you had fun, having a date isn't everything in life
WallO'Fire 1 year ago
Props to you for not just showing up uninvited, but also posing in the photo with them. Its hilarious.
#39
On This Day John Lennon Died, Spotify Didn't Know That
OwenHasADHD 1 year ago (edited)
Well, this just could be them trying to be nice and respect the memory of the man on what would have been his birthday, but it definitely didn't come off that way Edit: oh it’s the anniversary of his death sorry I’m stupid
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Agnes Jekyll 1 year ago
I do not know why I looked at this--was I feeling too good about the world? Maybe I was too happy.
LinkTheHylian 1 year ago
I don't normally advocate violence, but in these cases I'll make an exception.
Apatheist Account2 1 year ago
Fortunately most of those who use social media this way will end up not breeding.
Ruth Hempsey 1 year ago
I had to go back to see the title because halfway through I was so disgusted I had to make sure it wasn't just me. Thanks BP. My belief in humanity just got scuppered. Happy new year. 🙄
Agnes Jekyll 1 year ago
I do not know why I looked at this--was I feeling too good about the world? Maybe I was too happy.
LinkTheHylian 1 year ago
I don't normally advocate violence, but in these cases I'll make an exception.
Apatheist Account2 1 year ago
Fortunately most of those who use social media this way will end up not breeding.
Ruth Hempsey 1 year ago
I had to go back to see the title because halfway through I was so disgusted I had to make sure it wasn't just me. Thanks BP. My belief in humanity just got scuppered. Happy new year. 🙄
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