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Watching cringey stuff is painful. Our eyes are running away from it, our gut is repulsed, maybe even our muscles are involuntarily contracting. But we can't help it. Teens congratulating their classmates because they are black, a woman licking a toilet bowl in hopes of starting the 'coronavirus challenge'... For some reason, we need to see how these things play out. Even if our body is refusing to allow it.
The subreddit r/Cringetopia is a gold mine for this type of content. With 1.1 million active members constantly sharing some of the cringiest things they can find on the Internet, it's just getting bigger and bigger, too. Continue scrolling and check out what they have collected so far!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
It’s Actually Quite Sophisticated Stuff
Frieder Paulus, a psychologist at the Lübeck University in Germany, told Quartz that embarrassment is social: it tells us when we have violated a social norm and makes us feel bad for doing so. But it's not clear why exactly we have the capacity to cringe or as scientists call it, feel vicarious embarrassment.
We feel others' embarrassment because we are empathetic—we imagine how someone else thinks and feels because it determines how we treat others and cooperate with one another. Feeling second-hand embarrassment might be just a byproduct of a more important trait, much like how the belly button is a symbol of the umbilical cord.
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#2
Imagine The Conversation
#3
Posting Buzzfeed Is Practically Cheating
#4
Hysteria Has Always Been Everywhere
Sargundeep Singh 4 years ago (edited)
Why do some people just spew garbage from their mouths about the things they do not know about? It's awful if a tornado drill image can be twisted to form such hate in people.
#5
Cringe Post Followed By A Funny
#6
He's Also 1 Million Times More Useful Than She'll Ever Be
#7
Rather Be Single And Homeless Than Paying Half Rent
#8
Yikes
#9
The Definition Of L
#10
Yes
#11
Whitewashing
#12
Ummm Yeah That’s A Big Yikes
#13
I Always Think That Too...
#14
This Would Haunt Me For The Rest Of My Life
Jo Johannsen 4 years ago (edited)
It should. Even picking up a child without the parents' permission is questionable.
#15
This Animal Crossing Shit Is Cringe But Entertaining As Hell
Ozacoter 4 years ago
I hate that kind of reverse racism. Should be ban black people from dying their hair blond because of 'cultural appropriation'? Of course not! We should strive for tolerance and freedom, not to spread more hate between groups.
Potato 4 years ago
Well, also because when they dye their hair to fit in, that is assimilation not appropriation.
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von Funnyname 4 years ago
Telling me what I can and can't do because of the color of my skin... weird.
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago
wonder where they got that from *"colored" water fountain briefly fades in front of camera*
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Swyft 4 years ago
isn't the point of video games that you don't have to be your real self in the game
Joseph Kuhlman 4 years ago
My dad literally has a black animal crossing character. And he’s white. What’s the problem? They can use the hairstyles with the skin color. Not saying you have to, but you can.
deanna woods 4 years ago
This is just so ridiculous and kind of defeats what us black folks are asking for. I don't agree with this person at all and think that they are a bigot.
Colin Mochrie At Its Finest 4 years ago
Reverse racism isn't new-but Whites have never been oppressed (women, yes, but for being women not for being White) so it isn't seen as so bad. An exboyfriend's mom didn't like me because I was White but she tolerated me. We didn't see each other often, anyway. I just shrugged it off.
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Paul Werner 4 years ago
So I guess beyonce and countless other black women shouldn't be"allowed" to wear their hair like "white" women either this culture s**t has gone too far!
Alfred Stöhr 4 years ago
Yeah, if there's one thing we need in video games it's more creative restrictions.
Vesela Angelova 4 years ago
We had the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and somehow now we are living in the Offended Age.
Elizabeth Tunney 4 years ago
bro... it’s a in-game character. Afro is not just for blacks, or whites
A Random Panda 4 years ago
Pretty sure you can get a 'fro without being black. And "Cultural hairstyles"? Boi, you think that only black people can get curls?
Bettye McKee 4 years ago
I loved my blonde afro. It was so easy to care for. It also meant getting a perm every few months, so after retirement, I live with straight hair.
AnnieLaurie Burke 4 years ago
My BIL is white and has a ginger Afro. I met him back in the 60's when I was coming of age. Angela Davis' Afro couldn't hold a candle to his.
#16
Oof
#17
Just Do The Challenge, Man
#18
I Hate This Sub But This Fits Here So
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago (edited)
If you send someone an unsolicited d-pic , you deserve that message sent to everyone. Your parents, your grandparents, your employer, any friends remaining, and the rest of the world so they know what a disgusting human you are.
#19
How To Ba Hypocrite 101
#20
Saying “Ok Boomer” To A Distinguished Scientist Because You Can’t Actually Defend Yourself
#21
What Can I Say
#22
Disney Keeps Taking This Down
#23
Honestly More Sad Than Cringe But Wtf Netflix
#24
Nobody Cares!
#25
What Is Even The Human Race Anymore
#26
This Aged Like Milk...
M O'Connell 4 years ago
Well, both were charismatic. They just chose to use that charisma to do horrible things. Try and use yours for good.
#27
Stop Being Norwegian, You Racist
#28
This Is Why I Can't Go To Anime Con
#29
Accidentally Uploading A Picture Of Yourself On Your Catfish Page
#30
When Your Mom Accidentally Shares Erotica In The Family Chat
#31
Oh Lord
#32
Oh God...
Maddie Star ⭐ 4 years ago
I can't believe this. What the actual f... I really hope this isn't true and just someone trying to stir some s**t.
#33
What Is Wrong With People?
#34
Post Title (Required)
Todorokie-dokie 4 years ago (edited)
Honestly, the Post Title (Required) is the funniest thing in this post~ I just... can’t stop laughing for some reason.
#35
Dentists Gonna Have A Field Trip With This One
#36
I See A Lot Of Vegan Cringe I Here But I Think People Who Are Anti Vegan For No Reason Can Be Cringe Too
#37
Dude Is Flexing His Louis Vuitton Bag On Auschwitz Train Tracks
#38
Bro Get Help Please
#39
This Man Is 22
#40
Ok I Know Tiktok Comes Round A Lot Here But Holy Crap This Is Disgusting..
#41
Wow, So Relatable!
#42
Caption: "Waited Outside Her Hotel For 46hrs Straight For This Opportunity. Worth It"
#43
What A Simp
#44
Domino's Or Sex?
Pamela24 4 years ago
Teaching "abstinence-only" simply doesn't work. Teach the kids about safe and consensual sex and about birth control. If you really care about fewer children getting pregnant and requesting abortions, this is the only reasonable way to go. (Nothing wrong in abstinence as an idea, though.)
#45
What A Hero
#46
"Haha I'm So Quirky"
#47
I'm Stuck In A "How To Play Fortnite" Speech. This Is A College Class
#48
I Think He's Lost His Mind
#50
These Fucking Youtubers
Exploring the depths of secondhand embarrassment can be both uncomfortable and revealing. As observed within digital communities like the Cringetopia subreddit, people share and collect moments that vividly capture this feeling.
For a deeper understanding of why this phenomenon occurs, you can delve into insights explaining the role of vicarious embarrassment and empathy in social interactions.
#51
Second Try
Csaba Hegedűs 4 years ago
The funny would be if the girl on the second picture just printed someone else's post out and posed with it...
#52
Needs More Logic Imo
#53
Call It A Cringe Sandwich, Except The Bread Is The Cringe
Pamela24 4 years ago
Nah, I'm with the second dude, this time. Not applauding him for the language but diminishing father's day because you don't have enough empathy to realize that just because your father was a w*nker doesn't mean there aren't many fathers to celebrate, seems like a worse offence.
#54
Elon's Midlife Crisis Is Something To Behold
#55
Mia Farrow Resorts To Google To Find A Picture Of Her Daughter, Forgets To Crop Out Bizarre Search Bar
#56
Anime George Washington
#57
I Went Through A "Comrade" Phase In High School. Why? Why Did I Do That?
#58
You Stole That From Fortnite
Csaba Hegedűs 4 years ago
Fortnite is such an influence that creators living in the PAST are constantly copying it!
#59
The "Racism Is Cool Again" Virus Is Spreading Faster Than Coronavirus
tuzdayschild 4 years ago
One girl is pulling her eyes upward. Commitment is important I guess.
#60
Brought To You By The Same People Who Think Spirit Rocks Will Heal Cancer
#61
Tik Tok Air Bender
tangy chip 4 years ago
this is like my friend who spelled one thing wrong and now thinks she's dyslexic
#62
Pure Logic? More Like Pure Cringe
#63
"White Ass"
#64
Do I Even Have To Fucking Say It
#65
Ignore My Dick Lmao
#66
Oh Boy
#67
Totally What The News Should Be Focusing On
Rob Dabank 4 years ago
It wasn't the classmates fart. She stole the fart from Ivanka and everyone in America knows it. Ivankas fart was way ahead in the polls...
#68
Fellas, Is It White To Drink?
#69
This Is Sad
#70
Putting Reddit Before Your Pets Health
#71
Elon Trying Desperately To Appeal To His Die Hard Reddit Demographic
#72
Yeah! Fuck School
Thomas E S Thomas 4 years ago
Quantum Physics. Those notes contain a wormhole. I have actually sat for that lecture.
#73
This Redditor's Bio. This Ain't It, Chief
#74
Ah Yes Exploiting A Mental Disorder For Reddit Awards
#76
Baby Nut Is The Most Desperate Thing I've Seen A Company Do
#77
Definitely Not ''''''silly''''''
Lori T Wisconsin 4 years ago
If you were not Will Smiths son you’d likely be flipping burgers.
#79
This Man Really Out Here Wearing A Hentai Sweatshirt In The Vatican City
#80
Wow
My Life at 4 years ago
This stupid post. Oh let thinking about 10.000 people who can stop murder animals and care to our mother nature was died,and the meat eaters is still alive.
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What do you think ?
Bored Little Panda 4 years ago
I like elon musk made an appearance SEVERAL times during this article.
I'manoob! 4 years ago
It literally went from cringy and somewhat wholesome fun to frikin sex, racist, and news related bullcrap. 41094728_6...c9feff.gif 
Toujin C'Thlu 4 years ago
The internet doesn't make people stupid, it just makes stupid people more visible.
Sasy 4 years ago
I have said it before, and i will again...big companies need to start saying they will look at everything when hiring, they will see you eat a pod, lick a toilet, disrespect atrocities, be racist, homophobic etc and you will never get a job. They need to do it so that kids see and make better choices, because something is not working.
Octavia Hansen 4 years ago
These people make me look like a genius. Shame so many are still in the gene pool. Now I can sleep the sleep of the just.
Ripley Dog 4 years ago
My friend's little dog got out right as we were finishing up a walk, came running up to my dog and I didn't realize he bit her in the nose. She had 11 pups so she just rolled him and scared the pee out of him (even though he tried to bite her again), looked really surprised when I was like "whoa!" Then I was so off-kilter that when my friend reached out her hand I F*****G SHOOK IT. I forgot she loaned me a coffee cup I was still holding. I now have to fake my death and move to Mongolia.
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago (edited)
Ripley Dog - I enjoyed your post, though enjoyed isn't really the right words it's more schadenfraude XD (if it helps, off the top of my head, i regularly respond with "you too" when a shop person says "thanks for shopping at [example]" then scurry away. Or my son's favourite tale to reminisce over: when we were walking into the supermarket and the wind flipped my dress up [thank God I was wearing leggings so it wasn't as bad but still!])
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Bored Little Panda 4 years ago
I like elon musk made an appearance SEVERAL times during this article.
I'manoob! 4 years ago
It literally went from cringy and somewhat wholesome fun to frikin sex, racist, and news related bullcrap. 41094728_6...c9feff.gif
Toujin C'Thlu 4 years ago
The internet doesn't make people stupid, it just makes stupid people more visible.
Sasy 4 years ago
I have said it before, and i will again...big companies need to start saying they will look at everything when hiring, they will see you eat a pod, lick a toilet, disrespect atrocities, be racist, homophobic etc and you will never get a job. They need to do it so that kids see and make better choices, because something is not working.
Octavia Hansen 4 years ago
These people make me look like a genius. Shame so many are still in the gene pool. Now I can sleep the sleep of the just.
Ripley Dog 4 years ago
My friend's little dog got out right as we were finishing up a walk, came running up to my dog and I didn't realize he bit her in the nose. She had 11 pups so she just rolled him and scared the pee out of him (even though he tried to bite her again), looked really surprised when I was like "whoa!" Then I was so off-kilter that when my friend reached out her hand I F*****G SHOOK IT. I forgot she loaned me a coffee cup I was still holding. I now have to fake my death and move to Mongolia.
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago (edited)
Ripley Dog - I enjoyed your post, though enjoyed isn't really the right words it's more schadenfraude XD (if it helps, off the top of my head, i regularly respond with "you too" when a shop person says "thanks for shopping at [example]" then scurry away. Or my son's favourite tale to reminisce over: when we were walking into the supermarket and the wind flipped my dress up [thank God I was wearing leggings so it wasn't as bad but still!])
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