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Convincing someone you’re right is all about confidence. If you fake it, you’ll make it, right? R-right? Having bucketloads of confidence is great (and certainly dramatic), however, it’s never enough in isolation… especially if you’re just plain wrong and everyone around you knows it.
Being direct. Looking assured. Feeling unwavering and braver than Braveheart—these are all wonderful qualities to have, but without other substantial things to back it up, it’s all just bravado without the bite. And darn it if it isn’t entertaining as heck to watch!
We’re not the only ones to think so. In fact, that’s why the ‘Confidently Incorrect’ subreddit, with over 404k members, exists. Their community is built around poking fun at people who are chock full of confidence but get deflated the moment someone with an ounce of logic and common sense chimes in. There’s plenty of facepalm moments waiting for you, so get scrolling and upvoting your fave pics. Remember to visit the r/confidentlyincorrect community if you like their stuff!
Bored Panda interviewed the creator of the subreddit, redditor ShadowAlchemy. Read on for what they told us about how the community started and got popular, as well as for their thoughts about to what extent confidence is important in real life and what we should do if we ever find ourselves to be confidently incorrect.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Princes vs. Princess. Plurals Are Difficult For Some
RELATED:
#2
Let’s See Those Snarky Atheists Answer That
#3
Well Maybe That’s Her Favorite Kind Of Yogurt
The ‘Confidently Incorrect’ subreddit has been growing by leaps and bounds. Created just over a year ago, in January 2020, they’re continuing to provide awesome content that keeps us humble. (And it’s a gentle reminder to double and triple-check even facts that we’re completely sure about.)
ShadowAlchemy told Bored Panda that they founded the 'Confidently Incorrect' subreddit "on a whim" just over a year ago. "Someone posted a video of Conan interviewing Jennifer Garner to another subreddit called r/WatchPeopleDieInside. I scrolled through the comments and saw someone who thought stuff like that would make a great community of its own. It was super late at night when I saw that, so I made a subreddit really quick for no reason, posted a video or two, then went to bed."
But what ShadowAlchemy couldn't foresee was how quickly the subreddit went viral. They woke up to see a huge surprise. "I wake up with probably 1,000 or so notifications, apparently the sub had blown up overnight! Tons of people were talking about the ridiculously fast growth of the sub, I think we got around 30k members in our first day. It was super popular its first week, and its growth died down a bit after that. We've been on a steady increase ever since. We just hit 400k members, actually!" the founder shared their joy.
#4
Factchecking
#5
Confidently Corrected An Author
#6
*your
In ShadowAlchemy's opinion, confidence is "an incredibly important" part of our personalities. "Without confidence, we're nothing. Confidence is what gets us out of bed, what gets us out the door to face life. People definitely listen to those who show confidence,"
The founder told Bored Panda that we don't have to look far to see the vital role confidence plays in our lives. "Just look at politics. Politicians are probably some of the most confident people on the planet, and a pretty large amount of people just listen to what they say. Our sub is probably 75-80% politics. It's people parroting what they've heard their favorite politicians say, and they parrot it because they believe those politicians. They believe that confidence."
They added, "No one's gonna listen to a shy person with all the facts."
#7
Flag Code? In My America?!
#8
''For The Last Time'', He Proclaimed
#9
Smart Enough To Lead... Smart Enough To Breed?!?!
The founder of the sub also had some spot-on advice for anyone who's been confidently incorrect in their lives. And it all starts with openly admitting that you're wrong (both to others and to yourself). "If someone corrects you and they're right, you've just gotta accept it right then and there. Insisting that you're correct is what makes you look like a dumbass, and what makes you remember it for years and years. Nobody wants to be confidently incorrect, but if you are, you've gotta admit it. You've gotta admit that you're wrong."
ShadowAlchemy said that nothing would be possible without the incredibly supportive members and moderators that make up the r/confidentlyincorrect subreddit. "Thanks to all the people who've brought this subreddit up so much, it was quite the surprise for me. Thanks to my mod team for keeping this sub together."
#10
"I'm Not Sure If I Agree But Ok"
#11
Hmm... Yes. That Sounds Right. Zeus, Mr Horny Year Round, Has Only One Son
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago (edited)
I love it that he was random things like animals and gold showers (gold thank you not golden lol), like who were these women like "damn, that goose is sexy!"
#12
Third Hole?! Surely You Jest!
Just JoLynn 4 years ago
Some people should really be forced to take anatomy before being allowed to go near any hole.
There’s a deep sense of shame that we feel when we’ve been outed being wrong even though we thought we were in the right. It’s an embarrassment so powerful, it can still make us flush beet-red and cringe years after it happened.
However, there is a possible upside to this. Research has shown that, counter-intuitively, it’s far easier to correct the errors made by people who are extremely confident that they’re right, compared to correcting the mistakes made by those who have ‘low confidence’ that they’re correct.
This is called the ‘hypercorrection effect’ which essentially means that we’re more likely to remember the correct answer to a question if we’re proven wrong when we’re extremely confident that we actually know the ‘right’ answer. Or, in other words, we remember being shocked at how at odds the truth was with our confidence that we were right.
Of course, there are some nuances like how some high confidence errors can ‘reemerge’ if we’re not tested on our newfound knowledge quickly enough. But on the bright side, being confidently incorrect might just be the best way to retain facts and figures after we make complete buffoons of ourselves online. So go out there and don’t be afraid to fail, dear Readers—your newfound knowledge will stick in your mind like a panda in a bamboo grove.
#13
"Thank God I'm A Math Major"
#14
Do The Basic Math, People!
#15
Oscar The Grouch
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
But he is not homeless. That is where he chooses to live and loves it. Omg I am defending a puppet. Never saw that coming lol.
#16
Ah, Us Politics... A Neverending Source
#17
1) Star Is A Shape And 2) Oranges And Blackberries
Dilly Millandry 4 years ago
Blackcurrants, redcurrants . The colour orange was named after the fruit.
#18
Covid Has Brought Out The Best In Everyone!
#19
Communism Is When You Are Only Allowed To Buy One Share Of A Stock
#20
Abigail Must See This Reply As An Instant Win
#21
America Didn’t Import Slaves
#22
He Wasn’t Even Italian, He Was Austrian And Born In Modern Day Croatia. Not To Mention He Was Also An American Citizen At One Point
Serial pacifist 4 years ago (edited)
So many wrongs. Nikola Tesla is a Croatian Serb (minority group). He lived well into the 20th century (not the 1700s). He is not Nikolai or Nicolas, but Nikola. Ford parts mostly come from the EU + Japan, Venezuela, Canada...
#23
“Where’d You Get That, From CNN?”
#24
Someone Doesn’t Understand How The Food Supply Chain Works... Or Agriculture, For That Matter
#25
Ben...
The 5-star rated 5-star rating system 4 years ago
I saw the name Ben Shapiro and instantly knew that this was going to be interesting...
#26
Wikipedia Is Wrong
#27
Trying To Justify A Murder
K.Kobayashi 4 years ago
Serious answer: If you can speak (and make a sound), it means you can exhale. It doesn't mean you can inhale.
#28
So Confidently
#29
Three Perfect Example. Except For, Not
Katie Lutesinger 4 years ago
Plus JKR actually got a grant so she could write HP. Guess where the money came from?
#30
Hmmmm
#31
“That’s Because We Are Not A Democracy!”
#32
*5999
#33
I Guess Aztecs Are Not Native To The Americas...
#34
Defo A 'Strayan
#35
You Are Not Circumcised
#36
Micro$oft
#37
Confidently Argued Blind People Couldn't Feel Their Own Fingers
#38
Man, Those Pesky Hackers Evolve More And More Every Day
#39
It Does
Colin Mochrie At Its Finest 4 years ago
By the same logic, Trump was elected President but it doesn't make him a President. He did NOTHING what a President would do, and in fact, the opposite. That said, the responder is wrong.
#40
1 Kilometre Is Less Than A Mile
#41
Apparently, Skin Color Is An STD Now
#42
Redefining Middleman
#43
“Counting Votes After Election Day Has Never Been Done Before”
#44
Never Leave Home Without A Clean Tampon!
Ty Stratton-Quirk 4 years ago
Andy: "Sir, I have three sisters and a fiance, and I'm sure they would agree with me that you've been using your tampons incorrectly the whole time."
#45
Confidently Incorrect About North America
#46
The President Of The United States, Totally Ignorant Of History That Took Place During His Own Lifetime
The 5-star rated 5-star rating system 4 years ago
I saw the name Donald Trump and knew this was going to be good.
#47
The Greeks Were Christians
#48
Diamonds Are Heavier Than... Diamonds?
peter howard 4 years ago
Ok first diamond isn't a metal (it's carbon) and 1g of diamond is still 1g of diamond ( the old question of which is heavier a tonne of feathers or a tonne of lead)
#49
Good Job
#50
An Interesting Way Of Adding Percentages....
#51
Lil Nas Is 21...
#52
That’s An Obummer
Nomadus Aureus 4 years ago
Without wanting to sound rude. Can someone please explain this fetishisation of the military in the US? My country had mandatory service until 2008. Pretty much everyone has served. Literally no one is running around expecting special treatment because of it. We also don't randomly go up to people to thank them for their service. Yes, veterans do get some special allowances and a card that gives them special discounts under certain conditions.
#53
This Is The Dumbest Thing I've Read Today, Smh
#54
She Was So Confident
Two Silly Pups 4 years ago
And this seems to be the most US people's thinking in the nutshell - I don't know what it is so instead of learning I shall scream about my ignorance...
#56
Ah Yes Of Course
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
I am not even American and I KNOW that woman is dead set wrong.
#57
Mlk Would Disagree
#58
Light Racism?
#59
As Seen On Instagram
#60
"You Really Are Uneducated"
#61
Leaving This Here
#62
You’ve Read The Entire Thing?
#63
Hate To See It- Love My Dad Tho
Jana Greyling 4 years ago
I would like to say as a Christian that we don't discriminate against LGBTQ+ people or people with other beliefs. God told us that we should love everyone. It is God's role to judge not ours.
#64
Reading Is Hard
#65
*Laughs In Free Healthcare*
Raine Soo 4 years ago (edited)
If this is so, then why are so many people being bankrupted by it? Or having to go without medication because they can't afford it? America's 'for profit' healthcare works only on behalf of those who are wealthy. But, doesn't every citizen have a right to proper healthcare? Oh, but no, that would be socialist, and we can't have that.
#66
The Sarcastic Use Of The Thinking Emote Is The Icing On This Ahistorical Cake
Dynein 4 years ago
The holocaust was so much worse than the current discrimination of non-white people, though. The Nazis didn't just exploit the Jewish, they wanted them DEAD. Imagine if the KKK was running the US - not just wanting to, but actually RUNNING, as in, making the laws and controlling the police. There would be barely any riots, not for lack of want, but for fear of death!
#67
So They Asked King George III Very Nicely For Independence, To Which He Cheerfully Agreed
#68
Spoiler Alert: He Does
Nela Rothenbach 4 years ago
Some people should not be allowed on the internet...not talking about the post btw
#69
Gotta Love University Rivalries On Dating Apps
#70
That’s Definitely Joe Statistics Work
Andy Acceber 4 years ago
My dad works at a hospital. He knows 20+ people who have died of COVID. It's still shocking to me how many people don't believe this is real.
#71
A Quick Google Search Could Have Shown Them They Were Wrong, But Instead They Chose To Spread Misinformation On Twitter
#72
A Covid Vaccine With A 95% Success Rate Definitely Means That 5% Of The People That Get The Vaccine Will Die
#73
Oh. Well, I’m Glad It’s All Cleared Up
#74
This Happens Once In The History Of Today...
#75
60fps Makes Movies Longer
#76
Got The Last Name Correct At Least
#77
Apparently Britain Isn't Part Of Europe!?
Phoebe Carter 4 years ago
So first we don't exist and now we're a continent?! Lmao why do people hate us XD
#78
"No Species Has Been Found In Which Homosexual Behaviour Has Not Been Shown To Exist, With The Exception Of Species That Never Have Sex At All, Such As Sea Urchins And Aphis. Moreover, A Part Of The Animal Kingdom Is Hermaphroditic, Truly Bisexual." - Wikipedia
#79
Yes. I Am
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
Ahh, so they are one of those Americans that think they are the world.
#80
Confidently Corrected The Game's Art Director
#81
“Roman Numerals Aren’t Part Of The Alphabet” On A Thread About Elon Musk’s Baby
#82
“Water Boils At 112 Farenheight”
#83
Imagine An American Being This Stupid About American History
Luther von Wolfen 4 years ago
A civil war is when a faction tries to take over a country. In the American Civil War, the South was trying to secede, not take over. The Civil War was not a civil war; it was a war of secession.
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What do you think ?
Isa 4 years ago
The Facebook experts...they know everything, and it's true, because the friend of the daughther of a friend told so...
The 5-star rated 5-star rating system 4 years ago
I did not think it was possible for me to lose any more faith in humanity.
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
That's just because you're not trying hard enough. 3 to 4 hours of reading comments on certain websites and you'll know that any faith in humanity is baseless and delusional.
Load More Replies...
Baby Panda 4 years ago
i am really upset with a lot of the comments under these. yes those people were absolute idiots but people kept generalizing us americans as stupid, not all of us are stupid and it really makes me pissed
Just another bot 4 years ago
Completely agree but don't get worked up, there's plenty of us less ignorant as well, who don't generalise. You come across people like that everywhere
Load More Replies... Just another bot 4 years ago
This whole thing, everyone laughing that Americans are stupid... It makes you smart calling out the idiots for their ignorance, right? But isn't generalizing that all "Americans" must be stupid, another form of ignorance? It's actually pretty unfair and offensive. I'm all for a bit of banter online, but if I was from the US, I would hate the stereotype. Stupid is Everywhere sadly 🤨...
Bob Belcher 4 years ago
I'd like to point out most of the Americans who don't know common facts probably didn't finish third grade and live in a trailer. Most Americans know basic geography, metric system, history and other stuff. Don't let this post fool you.
Mark O. Rubio 4 years ago
I agree with Sharona with the don't be elitist part. Do you know the story of the average person living in a trailer? I wonder how little debt they have versus how much you must have, unless your smugness is the result of a trust fund you didn't earn. I'm sure they're more content than you, as well lol. Sharona, don't make fun of Grandpa Joe like that. He might hear you.
Load More Replies...
N G 4 years ago
Not unique to your side of the pond. We breed morons over here too, sorry
Load More Replies...
troufaki13 4 years ago
Some people make it their lives' mission to prove their stupidity to the world :(
pansexualandproud 4 years ago
i have facepalmed so much my face is now very red.....=-= how do people like this exist??
Bunzilla 4 years ago
i really wish the immediate response to seeing an idiot on the internet wasn't to say something like, let me guess, they're an american. don't get me wrong, there are plenty of dumb people in this country but it just annoys the americans who are actually good people to hear stuff like that
Mark O. Rubio 4 years ago
Take the opportunity to read some of the positive lists this site. Let your bitterness go :)
Mark O. Rubio 4 years ago
Yes, this list is funny. But the comments are so rude!
Load More Replies...
D. Pitbull 4 years ago
This is depressing. I'm still praying it's a bunch of trolls... i still don't want to believe this kind of proud idiocy... this... aggressive stupidity... this ... confident, self-righteous imbecilism (I know, not a word) ... is just a joke. A bad one? yes. A joke? Please say yes.
Dorothy Cloud 4 years ago
I enjoyed the ones I read, but I had to stop reading because it just became so distressing to realize how many uninformed people there are.
Caroline Driver 4 years ago
Just read the Bored Panda '50 most Wholesome Pics' page and was feeling good, then read this one and I'm back down again.
Nevits Yibble 4 years ago
Dolphins are fish, crops come from the grocery store, Canada isn’t North America, tampons in the butt…. this level of stupid used to shock me in the past, but not anymore. There always has been, and always will be, a significant % of the population that’s just hopelessly ignorant and scary crazy. And way beyond reach. At least you can spot them today… they all wear red hats
Full Name 4 years ago
Several of these are NOT wrong. The comments on them are frightening though. Stay in school, kids. The one about 6000 BC is especially frightening that zero people understand the tweet, or how negative numbers work. The post (and joke it contained) was correct in every way. In the year 6000BC they did not have axes, so the year BEFORE that, they didn't use axes. The kid is punching through the tree FFS. Stay in school ya'll.
Isa 4 years ago
The Facebook experts...they know everything, and it's true, because the friend of the daughther of a friend told so...
The 5-star rated 5-star rating system 4 years ago
I did not think it was possible for me to lose any more faith in humanity.
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
That's just because you're not trying hard enough. 3 to 4 hours of reading comments on certain websites and you'll know that any faith in humanity is baseless and delusional.
Load More Replies... Baby Panda 4 years ago
i am really upset with a lot of the comments under these. yes those people were absolute idiots but people kept generalizing us americans as stupid, not all of us are stupid and it really makes me pissed
Just another bot 4 years ago
Completely agree but don't get worked up, there's plenty of us less ignorant as well, who don't generalise. You come across people like that everywhere
Load More Replies... Just another bot 4 years ago
This whole thing, everyone laughing that Americans are stupid... It makes you smart calling out the idiots for their ignorance, right? But isn't generalizing that all "Americans" must be stupid, another form of ignorance? It's actually pretty unfair and offensive. I'm all for a bit of banter online, but if I was from the US, I would hate the stereotype. Stupid is Everywhere sadly 🤨...
Bob Belcher 4 years ago
I'd like to point out most of the Americans who don't know common facts probably didn't finish third grade and live in a trailer. Most Americans know basic geography, metric system, history and other stuff. Don't let this post fool you.
Mark O. Rubio 4 years ago
I agree with Sharona with the don't be elitist part. Do you know the story of the average person living in a trailer? I wonder how little debt they have versus how much you must have, unless your smugness is the result of a trust fund you didn't earn. I'm sure they're more content than you, as well lol. Sharona, don't make fun of Grandpa Joe like that. He might hear you.
Load More Replies... N G 4 years ago
Not unique to your side of the pond. We breed morons over here too, sorry
Load More Replies... troufaki13 4 years ago
Some people make it their lives' mission to prove their stupidity to the world :(
pansexualandproud 4 years ago
i have facepalmed so much my face is now very red.....=-= how do people like this exist??
Bunzilla 4 years ago
i really wish the immediate response to seeing an idiot on the internet wasn't to say something like, let me guess, they're an american. don't get me wrong, there are plenty of dumb people in this country but it just annoys the americans who are actually good people to hear stuff like that
Mark O. Rubio 4 years ago
Take the opportunity to read some of the positive lists this site. Let your bitterness go :)
Mark O. Rubio 4 years ago
Yes, this list is funny. But the comments are so rude!
Load More Replies... D. Pitbull 4 years ago
This is depressing. I'm still praying it's a bunch of trolls... i still don't want to believe this kind of proud idiocy... this... aggressive stupidity... this ... confident, self-righteous imbecilism (I know, not a word) ... is just a joke. A bad one? yes. A joke? Please say yes.
Dorothy Cloud 4 years ago
I enjoyed the ones I read, but I had to stop reading because it just became so distressing to realize how many uninformed people there are.
Caroline Driver 4 years ago
Just read the Bored Panda '50 most Wholesome Pics' page and was feeling good, then read this one and I'm back down again.
Nevits Yibble 4 years ago
Dolphins are fish, crops come from the grocery store, Canada isn’t North America, tampons in the butt…. this level of stupid used to shock me in the past, but not anymore. There always has been, and always will be, a significant % of the population that’s just hopelessly ignorant and scary crazy. And way beyond reach. At least you can spot them today… they all wear red hats
Full Name 4 years ago
Several of these are NOT wrong. The comments on them are frightening though. Stay in school, kids. The one about 6000 BC is especially frightening that zero people understand the tweet, or how negative numbers work. The post (and joke it contained) was correct in every way. In the year 6000BC they did not have axes, so the year BEFORE that, they didn't use axes. The kid is punching through the tree FFS. Stay in school ya'll.
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