Despite how off-putting its name might seem, the Thanks, I Hate It subreddit has been around since 2018 and amassed an impressive 1.7 million members. The community receives a wide variety of content, from gross food pairings to cringey tattoos, but one thing is clear: members will never run out of images to share.

Many of the posts you’ll find on this are like train wrecks. You know that they’re terrible, but you just can’t look away. And if you’re wondering why these images are so captivating, while simultaneously being upsetting, just remember how many people love watching trashy reality TV, eating McDonald’s or listening to bands like Nickelback. We know they're bad, but that doesn’t mean they're not fun!   

I personally am a huge fan of reality television. I grew up watching The Bachelor and every variation of The Real Housewives with my mother, and I still can’t help but enjoy the drama today (even though I’m well aware of how produced it all is). So why are we drawn to things that we love to hate?

According to Verywell Mind, many of us do find joy in hate-watching content. And one of the common reasons for this is because we love talking about it! Hate-watching Love is Blind with your best friends is a blast because you all get to discuss which contestants are your favorites and who’s there “for the right reasons.” This can bring us closer to our friends and allow us to bond over who we all despise.  

Another reason why you might derive pleasure from hate-watching content is because it makes you feel better about yourself. Even if you’re single and haven’t gone on a date in months, you might feel great about your situation after watching hopeless romantics make complete fools of themselves on national television. Or better yet, you might feel validated in your choice to stop dating for a while after seeing multiple unfaithful men get dragged on TV. 

We all love to believe that we would never behave like the contestants we’re watching or that we would know exactly what to do in their position. And it is easy to think that from the comfort of your own couch with a mouthful of popcorn!

Sometimes we even hate-watch content to feel nostalgic. Perhaps you got hooked on the first season of The Bachelor over 20 years ago, and now, you just can’t stop watching because it’s tradition! This is the same reason why we watch terrible remakes of our favorite shows and films, even though we know they’ll never live up to the originals. Nostalgia is a very powerful tool.  

You might also find yourself hate-watching, or hate-scrolling, because you have a morbid curiosity. Whether you want to see TikTok videos about a lifestyle that’s completely different from your own or YouTube vlogs about people who you consider to be hot messes, it can be hard to look away. You may have a secret desire to know what their lives are really like, or you might be watching waiting for their downfall. Either way, they’re getting views, and you’re satisfying your desire to hate-watch. It’s a win-win!  

However, it’s important to set some boundaries when you’re hate-watching content or hate-scrolling through social media. At the end of the day, the content you consume does have an impact on you, whether you like it or not. If you’re constantly looking for rage bait or images that will infuriate you, you might find yourself developing a habit of being negative. Plus, you might become judgmental towards people and things you encounter in real life too. 

There’s also a huge difference between innocently mocking content in the Thanks, I Hate It subreddit and leaving real hate comments on people’s personal accounts. Remember the “Golden Rule,” and don’t get carried away with your remarks online. Having a watch party with your friends and sharing your unfiltered opinions in person is one thing, but targeting reality TV stars online is something else completely. Remember to be respectful, and if you have to, you can always just say, “Thanks, I hate it.” 

Are you hating these images as much as we are, pandas? Keep upvoting the ones that grind your gears, and let us know in the comments below what kind of content you truly hate to see. Then, if you’re looking for another Bored Panda article featuring this upsetting subreddit, we’ve got you covered right here!