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Blunder years could be described as a period in someone's life when they thought they were different and edgy but in reality they were choosing terrible clothes and even worse haircuts.
There's even a subreddit dedicated to it, appropriately called Blunder Years: pictures from a regrettable past. It invites people who just found their old photos not to delete them but to make amends with their former self and upload it on the Internet. And many do. Here are some of the cringiest posts the online community has to offer.
When you're done scrolling through them, check out our earlier article about people posting their most embarrassing childhood photos.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
2008, Senior Friend Asked Me To Prom When I Was A Freshman. My Parents Didn't Want Me To Go But Also Didn't Want To Forbid Me, So They Didn't Give Me Money For A Dress Thinking That Would Stop Us. We Made Both Of Our Outfits Entirely Out Of Duct Tape For Like $30
You might think these people are crazy for posting such photos on the Internet. However, a certain amount of self-reflection can be healthy, helping a person to become their strongest self.
But only to a certain extent, of course. Amy Morin, the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, said dwelling on the past can easily distract someone from the present. "The truth is, you never know what life would have had in store for you if you'd made a different choice," she told Inc.
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#2
It Was “Opposite Day” At School In 2005, Most People Wore Black And White Or Something.. I Decide To Dress As A Girl.. I Lived In A Small Town In Idaho. It Didn’t Go Over Well
Depending on your circumstances, you may just need to give yourself permission to move forward, and then make a conscious effort to stop every time you beat your head over how lame you used to look in high-school.
"Refusing to dwell on the past isn't about ignoring the things that happened. Instead, it often means embracing and accepting your experiences so you can live in the present," Morin explained. "So recognize the emotional toll that dwelling on something is taking on you, and then give yourself permission to move forward."
#3
I Don't Know If I'm More Embarrassed By How Many Hours It Took Teen Me To Make This, Or That I Actually Tagged My Crush When I Posted It
#4
Got Dumped A Week Before Prom, But My Mom Insisted I Go Take The Pictures She Paid For, So I Made A Sock Puppet To Bring As My Date. I Regret Nothing
#5
My Mom Dressed Me Like This So I Was Easy To Spot When She Picked Me Up...
#6
My Mom Told Me Not To Blink During My 2nd Grade Class Picture
#7
My Siblings And I Were Forced Into A ‘Pet Look Alike’ Competition. It Still Haunts Us
#8
My Dad Always Thought This Haircut Looked Incredible On Me. My Mom Thought The Shirt Was Incredible. Looking Back At 2nd Grade Me Is Incredible. I'm A Female
#9
In Honor Of My Husband’s 37th Birthday, I Present To You His Senior Prom Photo From 2000
#10
Tried To Smile, Channeled Jim Carrey Instead. Allllllllrighty Then
#11
My Mother Said I Would Regret This Photo... No Regrets Mom! Circa 2002
#12
10m, And Looking Like A Middle Age Mom Who’s Deciding To Grace You With A Smile, While Still Judging You Just A Little
#13
‘How Did You Know I Was Gay?’ Said The Posing Seven Year Old Boy In Make Up, A Perm, And Black Sequinned Jellicle Cats Dance Costume
#14
It’s Amazing What Growing A Beard, Growing Up, Changing Your Style And Leaving A Cult Can Do For You! (2011 vs. 2020)
#15
My Boyfriend's 10th Grade Picture Is Pure Rebellion. According To Him, His Mom Cried When She Received The Pictures Back
Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
ohhhhh the teenage passive-aggressive rebellion is strong in this one. I totally appreciate the thought process behind this. If I was his parent, I would've found this hilarious.
#16
Had A "Photoshoot" With My Mom And Thought That Being "The Weird Kid" Made Me Cool And Mysterious
Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
that's one good lookin' guy.... (swap the leather coat for a plain black leather coat, & it'd be classic). Please tell me you took these to a legit modelling agency. Because jacket-choice aside, you could've got a contract.
#17
Ten Years And One Transition Later: Some Things Never Change
chi-wei shen 4 years ago (edited)
There is no reason to ditch Mario, no matter what's your age or gender.
#18
My Family Looking Like An Ll Bean Catalog Submission, And Then There's 15 Year Old Me
#19
Found My High School ID This Morning
#20
My All-Time Favorite Picture Of My Husband. He Was 20 In This Picture. Posting With His Reluctant Permission
Kady Maree Mcgrath 4 years ago
It's like business at the front party at the back but in the picture it's party at the top business at the bottom
#21
Husband? Dead. Emotion? Devastated. Insurance Money? Cashed. Eyebrows? Don’t Need Them
#22
12 Years Ago. Teenage Pregnancy. Our First Family Photo
#23
School Photo Looking Like 60-Year Old Librarian With My Cardigan, Turtleneck And Thick Glasses Date And Age Unknown
#24
My Mother Found This Photo Of My Church Friend (Ryan Gosling) And I. We Had Some Awful 90s Hairs Cuts
#25
When I Was 14 I Was Dating A Girl From Another High School. I Decided To Surprise Her On Her Birthday By Dressing Up As A Clown And Busting Into Her Classroom Singing “Happy Birthday”. She Was Mortified! When The Dust Settled She Thankfully Realized The Thoughtfulness That Went Into The Gesture
#26
8th Grade Me Thought I Was The [Coolest], Went Like This To A Christian Concert Event
![8th Grade Me Thought I Was The [Coolest], Went Like This To A Christian Concert Event](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/5f3cf7754340b_q02u85i2sbz41__700.jpg "8th Grade Me Thought I Was The [Coolest], Went Like This To A Christian Concert Event")
Zophra 4 years ago
well, it's a way to make sure people keep out of your personal space at those body-slamming, wild Christian concerts.
XianJaguar 4 years ago
You have no idea how wild they can actually get. Christian metal concerts in the 80's had just as much moshing as any other metal concert.
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Porto DaMartinica 4 years ago (edited)
I was [ the s h i t ] . Just because the guy went to the Christian concert it doesn't mean we all did
Laura Crawley 4 years ago
Parents were SO glad! No chance of hooking up and your easy to find too
Nicole Tomme 4 years ago
I see a very confident, unique person. I am also a Christian. God encourages confidence and creativity. Yours is just a little louder than most.
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 4 years ago
So, I'm guessing you like to judge and stereotype people?
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#27
I Was That Girl
#28
In High School I Went Through A Belt Phase. For Some Reason, I Thought The More Belts I Had On, The Cooler I Looked. I Later Discovered... That Was A Lie
#29
They Seem To Bring A Smile To Your Face. Hope This Makes Your Day A Little Better. I Present, Me As A Kid
#30
Me At 17(2010) Living It Up In Vegas
#31
Me, On My 8th Birthday, Getting The DS I Raved About
#32
Growing Up In Detroit When Eminem Came Out Yeaaaaaah...
#33
14 Year Old Me Photoshopping Out My Dad For Britney Spears. This Is Just So Toxic
#34
Me At Age 15, Channeling My Inner 30something Business Woman
#35
Dwight Schrute Glasses? Check. Braces? Check. Turtle And Cat As Only Friends? Check. Braided Rat Tail With Beads? Zoom In...
#36
As Most People Thought My Fiancé Last Photo Was Not A Blunder, I Present To You Her College Library Card - 2003
#37
I Was In An Early 2000's Transitional Phase Between Awkward And Total Embarrassment
#38
Well I'm 34 Now. Still Into Model Rockets Though
#39
I’m Glad My Looks Didn’t Peak At Age 13. (Not A Costume. God Help Me, I Really Dressed Like That)
#40
My Childhood Was Destined To Be A Rough One...
#41
Hawaii Wasn’t Ready For My Ice Cold Sister And I In 2003
#42
Freshman College, ‘94: Control Yourselves, Ladies
Tovah Roche 4 years ago
He looks like he's headed to Silicone Valley to start his own tech company.
#43
Mom Found This Recently, Me At 18, My Reaction When She Showed Me Was "God Damn What Is That Creature"
#44
2002, Age 14. I Have No Idea What I Was Rebelling Against But I Was Going At It Hard
#45
My Outfit During A Snowfall In May 2004
#46
My Junior Year Yearbook Picture
#47
Sophomore Year Of High School, I Would Show Up Like This And Hang Out Behind The Library With My Little Edgy Kids Group
#48
My Parents On Their Second Date!
#49
I Was A Cute Little Girl, Except For The Fact That I'm A Guy
Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
ah, the cliche of gender-signalling identifiers. You were cute. end of story. :)
![I Legit Don't Know How The [Hell] I Could See A Thing (Probably Through My Nostrils)](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/5f3d104b0c17b_kmjf4wletwx41-png__700.jpg "I Legit Don't Know How The [Hell] I Could See A Thing (Probably Through My Nostrils)")
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What do you think ?
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
My Bro-in-law knows not to mes with me. I have pix of him with a bright blue mohawk and faux tattoos from the early 1990s. No idea what he was going for then, but right now he just wants his kids never ot see those... Mwahahahaha!
MrOwlAteMyMetalWorm. 4 years ago
As an asian, I must say I never had anything close to this which I can call a "phase" but this is fascinating. I wonder what I would have been like had I the means to do things like this. No offense.
Dorothy Cloud 4 years ago
I feel blessed. I don't have that many photos of me. I must have hidden! But bless these people that shared of themselves.
Terd Fergison 4 years ago
I had some awful fashion phases too. I'm glad these people were brave enough to post theirs. Makes me feel a little bit better about myself.
Marlene Ricker 4 years ago
I'm 72 and I'm still embarassed by a picture taken of me in my Brownie uniform whern I was abut 11. My mom kept it on display until she died!
doggo-is-fren 4 years ago
I hate it when people comment "I would (dress like that or do that) if Only I was brave enough" either so it or don't if you are afraid to then simply don't ...0 regret
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
My Bro-in-law knows not to mes with me. I have pix of him with a bright blue mohawk and faux tattoos from the early 1990s. No idea what he was going for then, but right now he just wants his kids never ot see those... Mwahahahaha!
MrOwlAteMyMetalWorm. 4 years ago
As an asian, I must say I never had anything close to this which I can call a "phase" but this is fascinating. I wonder what I would have been like had I the means to do things like this. No offense.
Dorothy Cloud 4 years ago
I feel blessed. I don't have that many photos of me. I must have hidden! But bless these people that shared of themselves.
Terd Fergison 4 years ago
I had some awful fashion phases too. I'm glad these people were brave enough to post theirs. Makes me feel a little bit better about myself.
Marlene Ricker 4 years ago
I'm 72 and I'm still embarassed by a picture taken of me in my Brownie uniform whern I was abut 11. My mom kept it on display until she died!
doggo-is-fren 4 years ago
I hate it when people comment "I would (dress like that or do that) if Only I was brave enough" either so it or don't if you are afraid to then simply don't ...0 regret
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