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 
Human idiocy, just like our creativity, knows no bounds. Whether it's a temporary brainfart or something more severe, it seems that we always find a way to push the limit.
And you couldn't find better proof of this than the subreddit r/facecpalm. Created all the way back in 2009, this online community describes itself as "a gallery of inexplicable stupidity" and currently has over 6 million members constantly looking for new 'artworks' for its 'collection.'
Over the years, they have collected plenty of examples of people making a complete fool of themselves both online and in real life, so we thought it would be interesting to make an exhibit, featuring the most memorable ones. Continue scrolling and enjoy!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Well You're Not Wrong
RELATED:
#2
It Is Insane
We reached out to the people who look after r/facepalm and one of them agreed to tell us more about the community.
"We moderate according to Reddit's content policy and that means that most of the comment moderation we do is to remove bigotry and racism," they told Bored Panda.
"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."
#3
What About Nurses Who Wear Them 8 To 10 Hours A Day
#5
In Fact, It’s Happened 7 Times
You can see a lot of different themes on the subreddit, and the mod 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."
But there's a way to determine what we can expect from r/facepalm. According to research, people see actions as stupid for three primary reasons: the actions reflect a foolhardy level of risk, an absent-mindedness and lack of practicality, or an impulsive lack of control.
So even though the word 'stupid' sounds subjective, scientists have discovered that people are very quick to identify it.
"People don't spend time on judging if something is stupid or not," study researcher Balazs Aczel told Live Science. "It comes instantaneously, and as our results showed, they have high agreement. If one person calls something stupid, there's a high likelihood others will do the same thing."
#6
The First Women In The Epitome Of Stupid
Sapna Sarfare 2 years ago
This is inhumane on so many levels.... Please never ever say things like this... these days, even babies get raped... old women are getting rape... the fact is a sick mind can do such a thing and will think of any excuse possible...
#7
You Can Still Breathe Idiot
#8
"Let's Spend 10 Grand On Jewelry"
#9
Scientific Name = Poison
It might seem unusual or even strange to investigate how people decide that something is stupid. But scientists love a challenge and researchers who study decision-making had no information, beyond anecdotes, as to how people decide whether an action is stupid.
So the team collected news stories and other online content that someone had described as stupid.
One example was a news story about a robber who set out to steal cellphones, but lifted GPS devices instead — and failed to switch the devices off, allowing the police to discover them (and him) immediately.
Next, the researchers invited 154 different students to gather examples of stupidity from their day-to-day life and read the stories, asking them whether each qualified as stupid.
The students (who were all Hungarian) then chose possible reasons from a long list as to why they'd decided each example would qualify for the label.
#10
Hint Hint
#12
Who Ever Runs That Station Is Dumb
Ryan Deschanel 2 years ago
"It harms everyone, but it harms some vulnerable people even more, so it is, worth it" is not stupid. Nobody is that stupid. That's just evil.
#13
Now Your Own Decisions Belong To A Man You Haven't Met
Kimi Tomminello 2 years ago
This makes me very mad. Even after I had 2 kids I still had to fight to get my tubes tied because "what if you and your husband wan't more kids?" Grrrrr
The reasons fell into three categories. The first, dubbed "confident ignorance," is when someone tackles something high-risk without the required skills. The cellphone/GPS caper was a prime example of this kind of stupidity.
The next category was "absent-mindedness," which applied to situations where people knew the right thing to do, but for some reason weren't paying close attention. Aczel said one example would be walking out of the store without paying for your groceries.
The third kind of stupidity was described by a lack of control. It occurred when people knew they shouldn't do something but couldn't resist their impulse to do it anyway. Reaching for the third slice of cake when you know you'll get a stomachache later is an example of this kind of stupidity, Aczel explained.
#14
I Get It Now
Andy Acceber 2 years ago
Ditto everytime I used the expression "avoid it like the plague." I was wrong. Shockingly, I've learned people don't avoid plagues.
#15
Well Well Well... How The Turntables
#16
I Wonder Why America Is So Unhappy?
Julius Dias 2 years ago
As an america we need to learn and evolve from other countries example
#17
She Didn't Deserve It
According to Aczel, stupidity is an interesting concept because it doesn't always track with intelligence.
Even people who possess a very high IQ can make extremely dumb moves. The research revealed that judging a behavior "stupid" reveals the observer's expectations of how someone should behave, he said. But the person doing the stupid thing might be operating according to a different set of expectations or goals.
#18
Gun Ownership
#19
Apparently Canada’s Healthcare Is Bad
#20
It Was Media Control All Along
#21
Checkmate
Julius Dias 2 years ago
Clearly you havent been burdened with an over abundance of brain cells
On a more practical level, you might be wondering if any of this matters. But understanding why people call something stupid might provide better ways to call out dumb behavior, Aczel highlighted. For instance, it might be more helpful to tell someone they're being overconfident than that they're being stupid.
#22
They’re Everywhere Man!
#23
"Going Everywhere"
Walking On Sunshine 2 years ago
70,000 Covid cases came directly as a result of Donald Trump's rallies. We don't need propaganda, we have the votes.
#24
They're Confused
#25
Math Is A Myth
After the research, the team said they plan to concentrate on the cognitive mechanisms people use to monitor others' behaviors. One mystery, Aczel said, is the question why people find stupidity so amusing, a fact that drives more and more people to become members of r/facepalm.
"People want to watch other people doing something stupid as a source of amusement," he said. And it's hard to argue with that.
#26
An 8 Year Old Shouldn’t Have To Do This
#27
Yeah, How Dare He
Legen ( wait for it ) dary 2 years ago
Yes, shame on him for kissing and probably saying "I love you, I'm proud of you" to his son.
#28
Just Your Average Pro Life Hypocrite
Kimi Tomminello 2 years ago
She is apparently answering her own question. She is not pro life, just anti abortion.
SomePeopleCallMeMaurice 2 years ago
Yes. And they often call people with the opposite view “pro-abortion “. Like people who believe a woman who has a right to choose what happens to her body, actually go out and find pregnant women so they can talk them into getting an abortion.
Load More Replies...
Raven DeathShade 2 years ago
If you talk someone out of an abortion, the least you can do is help raise that child if necessary. The child's life is your responsibility now.
abby smink 2 years ago
"no no no, every baby should have a chance at life! Unless it's with me..."
Jon Steensen 2 years ago
Yes and they should "have a chance", but once they are given "a chance" we do not really care about how small the chance is of the project developping into a succes. God forbid that we should have to actually carry a part of the load requried to make it a good life, no it just being a life must be sufficient. Now I consider my part done, now that I can shine in the glory of having saved a life. No no no no little guy, you have to do it by yourself with the odds stacked against you (just put in enough effort and everbody will succeed, and helping you would just make you weaker), because why should my comfort suffer the slightest, because of the project I started, so I could look like the hero? Anti-abortionists can be such hipocrits when they are not willing to carry through and deal with the consequenses of what they get started, or they can be frightning ignorant in their inability to connect the dots.
Load More Replies...
Paul Richards 2 years ago
This why anti abortion people should keep their fuckign mouth shut and not have one if they disagree with it. Bunch of hypocrites
Oopsydaisy 2 years ago
Whelp. I take back my original comment. It's true.https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/02/06/pro-life-activist-does-damage-control-after-whining-about-baby-she-saved/
Mayrene Chester 2 years ago
Hahahaha. yes! That's the way it should be, for all the anti-abortion protestors, their names go on foster care list by default.
Alicia GriffonLady 2 years ago
Do we really want those people (often pro-gun, overly christian whackos) getting ahold of already traumatized foster kids though?
Load More Replies...
Emily M 2 years ago
Sounds like being born worked out reeeeeally great for everyone involved (including the baby). :(
Mandy 2 years ago
Right...the same people also advocating for cuts in the services that help feed and clothes the same children they have forced in some scenarios (the South comes to mind in US) these women to have. It is insane! They don't want to care for these children nor do they want tax dollars assisting these people who are persuaded/ forced into parenthood. I don't understand the logic tbh.
Mary Bricklin 2 years ago
The mom probably had those same reasons for wanting an abortion. I despise people like this.
Boredcanadian1234 2 years ago (edited)
They need to so some research on crime rates dropping in the first 20 years after abortion became legal. Because there were less children born into poverty who did not have to turn to crime to servive as they became teens and yonge adults
Kimberly Lorton 2 years ago
Yep, I think they don't think this stuff through before they decide they want to control it or make it illegal. So, all those babies born to powerful men, with wives and families, after that baby is born, you can bet if you made me have it, I am going to deliver that baby, ask for N immediate paternity test, and then go to his house and hand his wife, her husbands' new child, and wish her well.
Kimberly Lorton 2 years ago
Yes.. they don't want to kill the baby, but they don't want to have anything to do with the kid after it's born, and what happens to the child. It. Oils be killed by the mother or abused or passed to different fosters its entire life. So, I always want to know, if you don't want abortions, then why not force men to wear condoms, and if it breaks, then give the couple, free morning after pill! Have compassion for the life of the child you want to save, and live in this world. If they made that person responsible for that child's life, they would change their tune fast.
Karen Klinck Klinck 1 year ago
A fetus is NOT a baby. A fetus is a if-everything-goes-right (and there's a *lot* that can go wrong!) *Potential* baby. Ask the mother who discovers her fetus developed no brain along with the body; it lives for a little while, then it's dead. Or the fetus that has a fatal heart condition when it leaves the host. They happen more than we want to think. So does the fetus that dies in the womb at any point in those 9 months.
Load More Replies...
Jill Bussey 2 years ago
So you would have an abortion if your birth control failed, if you are so against having a child yourself?
Ozacoter 2 years ago
They do. Many "prolife" people get abortions. "But i am an exception, i have a good reason".
Load More Replies... Alicia GriffonLady 2 years ago
Dear pro-lifers. Please look up every horrible case of child abuse. Every single one. Do you feel sick to your very soul? Do you want to tear all memory of what happened from you mind? Do you think their mothers wanted abortions? Do you think forcing them into this world was a heroic action on your part? Do you ever wonder if there would be less abuse and misery if only people who really wanted a baby were the only ones having them?
Amanda Hartley 2 years ago
Stupid selfish woman !! Let people make their own decisions, that poor girl obviously knew she would not cope with the baby and you thought it was your choice to talk her in to having an unwanted child! But it's too much trouble for you !
Fieke Engelen 2 years ago
So, you don't care about how or where that baby ends up. It's alive, thanks to you but after that you don't give a ###. So why bother? You have made the mother unhappy and possibly more of her family and you. Who knows how or where that poor unwanted baby ends up
Clint McInnes 2 years ago
The multiple layers of mental gymnastics necessary for someone to justify this set of positions are simply boggling. I cannot conceive of a more glaring example of hypocrisy.
Nola Dorothy 2 years ago
Anti-abortionists never seem to want to put the money where they mouths are. They just want to control other people.
Vicki Perizzolo 2 years ago
I've said it for years - everyone stopping someone else from getting an abortion = adopt the unwanted baby and keep it for the next 18 years - Put up or SHUT UP.. and MYOFB
Leesa DeAndrea 2 years ago
This proves my point. She wanted an abortion but a nosey poker talked her out of it. Now she has lost custody of her baby because she is unfit. And now this poor kid ends up in the system. A system that is infamous for its negative effects on the children placed in it. Nosey poker should have kept her stupid ass out of it.
Karen Klinck Klinck 1 year ago
The foster system is overwhelmed and the adoption services in the US are for profit only. (I don't care what they claim. I go by their actions.)
Load More Replies...
Wesley Lucas 2 years ago
What the actual f**k?! The hypocrisy of the "pro-life" movement never ceases to astound me. This b***h really just said a baby would destroy her marriage and health and seemingly thinks SHE has the right to turn down a baby but doesn't want to afford that same choice and autonomy to other women?!
Nirdavo 2 years ago
People like JJ should be legally required to adopt the children -they- required to be born against their mother`s wishes. The post just shows many if not all "pro-lifers" are just hypocrits. While I would always advise a woman to -very carefully- consider her decision about abortion, it ultimately is -her- choice.
ThatOneWriter 2 years ago
I stopped using the term "pro-life" because they rarely are. They are anti-choice. They are pro-control.
tatumn 2 years ago
AGHHHH i hate this. you talked a person out of abortion because YOU think it's wrong and now you're complaining that you are it's next best bet? you should've stayed out of it in the first place!! obviously, the person who was pregnant KNEW they couldn't take care of it so they were going to take care of it BECAUSE that's THEIR CHOICE!!! but you had to interfere and now it's going to ruin you're life?
aartdesigns 1 year ago
...and yet... it does not register with them. If this is an actual post, which unfortunately it most likely is... The irony is thunderous.
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 1 year ago
I tell folks to walk up to protesters picketing abortion clinics (you don't have to actually be pregnant), pick a random protestor, and say something like "why thank you for agreeing to take my child! When can I expect my first support check?" And WATCH EM BACKPEDAL. It's hilarious.
Ambry Petersen 1 year ago
Just because one person is like that does not mean all pro life people are. Many of us would take that baby in a heart beat. I have family with fertility issues who would give anything to take in a baby.
Karen Klinck Klinck 1 year ago
Are you carrying that dog in your womb? I wonder about your sex life...
Load More Replies...
the laughing koala 2 years ago
if you are not willing to take the child than why do you care if they do p.s. I am pro life, but I am willing to take the child
Karen Klinck Klinck 1 year ago
Our foster care system is drowning in children, and our adoption system exists to enrich those running it. Egg and sperm donors (I can't call than parents) only have to make one phone call a month to what they spawned (not their child, child indicates they feel something for it.) and their keep their 'parental rights'--the kid's in limbo, stays in foster care until s/he's 18, nobody can adopt them, and many agencies mandate the kids have to move to a different foster care every 6 months so they don't form an attachment to the foster families. The donors get all sorts of amenities to 'help them connect to the child'. They don't want the 'bother' of the actual body, but, boy, do they like the perks! I've mentioned before how bad the adoption system is before.
Load More Replies...
Janet Graham 2 years ago
I have a hard time believing this is true. And, if it really is true, what decade was this? It makes a good story, but it sounds far-fetched. Unless we are talking about blood relatives or close friends, a person needs to be a qualified foster home to talk custody of a child.
Caroline Driver 2 years ago
Would just love to see this stick, except that it would be the baby that suffered. Selfish maternal parent fornicating female dog.
Daan Achmad 2 years ago
When will people realise that being pro-birth does not guarantee your respect for life in general?
Marissa Taylor 2 years ago
wow can we say entitled? "anti aportion is fine long as i'm not resposible
Texaspoontappa 2 years ago
Thats nothing you should read the posts for the pro abortion loonies. some of them are proud to have had over 30 abortions. Its like wow... dont they have a name for women like you that sleep around?? LMAO. the hypocrisy is real. But my body my choice right??
Wayne Gossman 2 years ago
Of course you can make this stuff up! I researched this woman’s Facebook pages. She is clearly anti abortion and people will have strong feelings about this. But I found a lot of other things. I found lots of posts where she was raising support for women giving birth in difficult situations, advocating for improved prenatal health care, advocating for better treatment of children crossing borders, advocating for improved support for women with medical complications of difficult pregnancies and difficult abortions. I saw no support for any form of racism or negative attitudes towards women. I saw no support for Trump.
Abigail Hill 2 years ago
People like this make me sick. I'm pro life and this is horrible. We should be working to prevent unwanted pregnancies before they happen and improving the fostering and adoption system. People who say they're pro life and then turn around and spew garbage like this are disgusting.
Karen Klinck Klinck 1 year ago
And you keep it in your pants. Takes 2 to make a zygote!
Load More Replies...
Karen Klinck Klinck 1 year ago
How about daddy dearest? She didn't do it on her own! But somehow people like you never shame the male.
Load More Replies... 
Jessica Haag 2 years ago
No one thinks the child should be dead geezus man
Load More Replies... Walking On Sunshine 2 years ago
Abortion is not murder and it will never be. No matter how many times you say it. Not all of us are as easily brainwashed as weak minded people like you.
Load More Replies...
#29
Cops Pepper Sprayed Their Own Senator Without Realizing He's An Authority Figure
#30
For Me It Feels Weird To See 6:00 Instead Of 18:00
#31
How Can People Break-Up For Such Stupid Reasons!
Aran Lindvail 2 years ago
"Risk ginger grandchildren" - wtf. But a boyfriend who dumps his woman on command of his mom is a bullet dodged, no matter what.
#32
Having A Functioning Circulatory System
WilvanderHeijden 2 years ago
No, perverts are criticizing women for not having the photoshop boobs they usually jerk off to.
#33
Hospital Bill
#34
Sorry Buddy, It's Not Christmas Yet
#35
It's A Great Time To Be A White Debt Collector
#36
It Is Pride Month
#37
Slayed
#38
“If Masks Were Necessary We Would Have Evolved One By Now”
#39
But Nasa Uses The
#40
Antivax Logic
#42
The State Of The World
Otter 2 years ago
Most people make decisions unconsciously, because of feelings or bias or whatever is floating around in the depths of the brain... and then they look around for facts to validate a decision that's already been made without benefit of facts. This is why sane people make decisions that seem irrational, and it's also why the Universal Basic Intelligence Test is seeing whether a person will change their mind about something when provided with information that proves a previous decision or opinion wrong. Intelligent people change their minds according to the best information available, stupid people cling to stupid decisions.
#43
Technically The Truth
#44
High Iq Destruction
Demi Zwaan 2 years ago
I know plenty of people who didn't learn a language, didn't read a poem and didn't memorize a fun fact ánd have no muscles to show for it.
#45
Not A True Catholic!
#46
It-It's Almost As If Services Become Easier With A Modernized World? And That Baby Boomers Laughing That Millennials Can't Use A Rotary Phone Is-Pathetic?
#47
What If We Made An App That Would Endanger Lots Of Women?
#48
Apparently There’s Something Wrong With Using A Stock Photo
#49
Ah Yes, Chemistry
troufaki13 2 years ago
She has exploding, vagina-smelling candles. And people buy them. People are stupider than I thought...
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Feminist Percussionist 2 years ago
🤦🏻♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏿♀️🤦🏻🤦🏼🤦🏽🤦🏾🤦🏿🤦🏻♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏿♂️ (Idk which one is you)
Load More Replies... Walking On Sunshine 2 years ago
I haven't even read this yet but I'm willing to bet that 80% of them are dumbass Conservatives.
Walking On Sunshine 2 years ago
I was wrong. I admit it. Only 70%. The rest are dumbass conservatives commenting.
Load More Replies...
Misterscooter 2 years ago
Is this a repeat of another BP post or three? I swear we've seen most of these before.
Ambry Petersen 1 year ago
Most of these post are done by left wing liberals whining because not everyone wants to be exactly like them.
Courtney Lunsford 2 years ago
Such overt propaganda with no alternative views actually given any respect. You don't want to listen to any countering ideas because it doesn't fit your narrative. Well done you close minded fool.
Monica Pryts 2 years ago
Which one triggered you the most? Perhaps these hit a little too close to home for you?
Load More Replies...
ZAPanda 2 years ago
Well, Q-anon has a lot of followers so that makes them sheeple too, right?
Load More Replies...
Beans 2 years ago
Because prevention is better than cure. Because natural immunity means that at risk population will get it and clog healthcare services. Yeah natural immunity worked for the plague too, millions of deaths later. Just get vaxed already
Load More Replies... Feminist Percussionist 2 years ago
🤦🏻♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏿♀️🤦🏻🤦🏼🤦🏽🤦🏾🤦🏿🤦🏻♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏿♂️ (Idk which one is you)
Load More Replies... Walking On Sunshine 2 years ago
I haven't even read this yet but I'm willing to bet that 80% of them are dumbass Conservatives.
Walking On Sunshine 2 years ago
I was wrong. I admit it. Only 70%. The rest are dumbass conservatives commenting.
Load More Replies... Misterscooter 2 years ago
Is this a repeat of another BP post or three? I swear we've seen most of these before.
Ambry Petersen 1 year ago
Most of these post are done by left wing liberals whining because not everyone wants to be exactly like them.
Courtney Lunsford 2 years ago
Such overt propaganda with no alternative views actually given any respect. You don't want to listen to any countering ideas because it doesn't fit your narrative. Well done you close minded fool.
Monica Pryts 2 years ago
Which one triggered you the most? Perhaps these hit a little too close to home for you?
Load More Replies... ZAPanda 2 years ago
Well, Q-anon has a lot of followers so that makes them sheeple too, right?
Load More Replies... Beans 2 years ago
Because prevention is better than cure. Because natural immunity means that at risk population will get it and clog healthcare services. Yeah natural immunity worked for the plague too, millions of deaths later. Just get vaxed already
Load More Replies... You May Like 50 Funny Pics From “Boujeeee” That Sum Up What It’s Like To Be A Woman 30 IT Memes That Might Help You If Your Last Braincell Had A System Crash (New Pics) 50 of the Best Memes of All Time That Are Icons of Internet Culture
Viktorija Ošikaitė
Mantas Kačerauskas
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Related on Bored Panda
