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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.

#1

Princes vs. Princess. Plurals Are Difficult For Some

Princes vs. Princess. Plurals Are Difficult For Some

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#2

Let’s See Those Snarky Atheists Answer That

Let’s See Those Snarky Atheists Answer That

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#3

Well Maybe That’s Her Favorite Kind Of Yogurt

Well Maybe That’s Her Favorite Kind Of Yogurt

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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.

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#6

*your

*your

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Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Twice an idiot in the span of two statements. That is impressive.

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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?!

Flag Code? In My America?!

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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"

"I'm Not Sure If I Agree But Ok"

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#11

Hmm... Yes. That Sounds Right. Zeus, Mr Horny Year Round, Has Only One Son

Hmm... Yes. That Sounds Right. Zeus, Mr Horny Year Round, Has Only One Son

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laurencaswell4 avatar
Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!"

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#12

Third Hole?! Surely You Jest!

Third Hole?! Surely You Jest!

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Just JoLynn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people should really be forced to take anatomy before being allowed to go near any hole.

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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.

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#15

Oscar The Grouch

Oscar The Grouch

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#16

Ah, Us Politics... A Neverending Source

Ah, Us Politics... A Neverending Source

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#17

1) Star Is A Shape And 2) Oranges And Blackberries

1) Star Is A Shape And 2) Oranges And Blackberries

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#18

Covid Has Brought Out The Best In Everyone!

Covid Has Brought Out The Best In Everyone!

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#19

Communism Is When You Are Only Allowed To Buy One Share Of A Stock

Communism Is When You Are Only Allowed To Buy One Share Of A Stock

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breakmyheart avatar
Something
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both are wrong. This is quite unlike how capitalism is supposed to work, but that doesn't make it communist. Also, communism is not simply a lack of capitalism.

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#20

Abigail Must See This Reply As An Instant Win

Abigail Must See This Reply As An Instant Win

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catwoman408 avatar
Tina Hugh
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It took me a minute to figure this out. Abilgail is a transwoman and Hot Take Harry is unintentionally being super supportive.

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#21

America Didn’t Import Slaves

America Didn’t Import Slaves

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Autumn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The phrase 'slave-class' is really irksome, like what does she mean?

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#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

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

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ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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...

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#23

“Where’d You Get That, From CNN?”

“Where’d You Get That, From CNN?”

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Sum Guy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think they teach geography in US schools... I saw a lot of these things online during the elections

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#24

Someone Doesn’t Understand How The Food Supply Chain Works... Or Agriculture, For That Matter

Someone Doesn’t Understand How The Food Supply Chain Works... Or Agriculture, For That Matter

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#25

Ben...

Ben...

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#27

Trying To Justify A Murder

Trying To Justify A Murder

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K.Kobayashi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Serious answer: If you can speak (and make a sound), it means you can exhale. It doesn't mean you can inhale.

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#29

Three Perfect Example. Except For, Not

Three Perfect Example. Except For, Not

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the_true_opifex avatar
Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Plus JKR actually got a grant so she could write HP. Guess where the money came from?

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#30

Hmmmm

Hmmmm

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#31

“That’s Because We Are Not A Democracy!”

“That’s Because We Are Not A Democracy!”

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#33

I Guess Aztecs Are Not Native To The Americas...

I Guess Aztecs Are Not Native To The Americas...

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#35

You Are Not Circumcised

You Are Not Circumcised

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#37

Confidently Argued Blind People Couldn't Feel Their Own Fingers

Confidently Argued Blind People Couldn't Feel Their Own Fingers

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Troux
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder if these guys stare at the keyboard and poke slowly to make sure they pushed the right keys.

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#39

It Does

It Does

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chimesstreet avatar
Tabitha L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd kinda like the commenter to be right. Because then we could pretend that Marjorie Taylor Greene isn't a congresswoman. But she is.

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#40

1 Kilometre Is Less Than A Mile

1 Kilometre Is Less Than A Mile

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#41

Apparently, Skin Color Is An STD Now

Apparently, Skin Color Is An STD Now

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Anne
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait.. we change color according to the color of the man we marry? How does that work? If I marry several men of different color... do I become a rainbow?

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#42

Redefining Middleman

Redefining Middleman

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#43

“Counting Votes After Election Day Has Never Been Done Before”

“Counting Votes After Election Day Has Never Been Done Before”

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#44

Never Leave Home Without A Clean Tampon!

Never Leave Home Without A Clean Tampon!

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Ty Stratton-Quirk
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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."

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#45

Confidently Incorrect About North America

Confidently Incorrect About North America

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asatvoong_1 avatar
Adam C
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this really this common that Americans don't know geography outside USA?

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#46

The President Of The United States, Totally Ignorant Of History That Took Place During His Own Lifetime

The President Of The United States, Totally Ignorant Of History That Took Place During His Own Lifetime

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#48

Diamonds Are Heavier Than... Diamonds?

Diamonds Are Heavier Than... Diamonds?

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peter howard
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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)

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#50

An Interesting Way Of Adding Percentages....

An Interesting Way Of Adding Percentages....

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Note: this post originally had 83 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.