ADVERTISEMENT

Whether it's accidentally crashing someone's wedding or mistaking a random car for a taxi, we've all made a complete fool out of ourselves at some point in our lives. And that's why you should stop beating yourself about yours. Even if that moment was so awkward, you wanted the Earth to swallow you. The witnesses of your stupid actions probably forgot all about them since they're too busy obsessing about their own past mistakes.

When Twitter user Andy Ryan posted his most embarrassing story, people immediately started responding to it with their own cringeworthy memories. And I mean responding. Andy's tweet has already received over 80K comments and 559K likes, and the numbers keep growing!

Image credits: itsandyryan

#1

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

JohnnyKeats1 Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Meh, they already had 387 guests anyway, so what’s one more lol.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

One study says there's a (somewhat) quick way to move past life's most terrible moments. The answer: focusing on everything about the memory except the way it made you feel. "Sometimes we dwell on how sad, embarrassed, or hurt we felt during an event, and that makes us feel worse and worse. This is what happens in clinical depression—ruminating on the negative aspects of a memory," lead researcher Florin Dolcos wrote.

#2

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

janeymaine Report

Add photo comments
POST
baugh3r avatar
Debster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cringy but sweet. I would have left her money or a thank you card or gift.

View more commentsArrow down menu

But we found that instead of thinking about your emotions during a negative memory, looking away from the worst emotions and thinking about the context, like a friend who was there, what the weather was like, or anything else non-emotional that was part of the memory, will rather effortlessly take your mind away from the unwanted emotions associated with that memory. Once you immerse yourself in other details, your mind will wander to something else entirely, and you won’t be focused on the negative emotions as much." In other terms, you take control of the memory. You shape the way it floats through your thoughts. You diminish it.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's quite different than suppressing the bad memory, which is usually effective only in short term and increases chances of anxiety and depression in the long run. For a lot of people it might also be simpler than other emotion regulation strategies, such as trying to recast the negative situation into a positive one.

"Looking at the situation differently to see the glass half full can be cognitively demanding," Sanda Dolcos, a co-author on the study said. "The strategy of focusing on non-emotional contextual details of a memory, on the other hand, is as simple as shifting the focus in the mental movie of your memories and then letting your mind wander."

#7

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

LouiseAtLaw Report

Add photo comments
POST
markymarky270270 avatar
Mark
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just goes to prove that pretty much any grandma is a nice person to talk to even if you aren't related.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

MvanoManyi Report

Add photo comments
POST
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg! But seriously: if you change a full diaper and continue eating (be it merely licking something off the arm), you have some issues!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#10

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

sophiearumble Report

Add photo comments
POST
kaiserfranzgirl avatar
Kaiserfranzgirl
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would someone dunk someone underwater from behind! So dangerous

View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

Sinead_Hen Report

Add photo comments
POST
baugh3r avatar
Debster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmmm did they think you were car jacking them like the story above?

View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

UnkieGrumpy Report

Add photo comments
POST
glowworm2 avatar
glowworm2
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never ever ask that question, even in jest. Chances are that someone actually died.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

Clive_Stringer Report

Add photo comments
POST
demi_zwaan avatar
Demi Zwaan
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Person of restricted growth"? Why would you call them that? They're just short people or dwarves.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

alisakasmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
kode1303 avatar
carly_kirn avatar
Carly Kirn
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

idk, kids are pinchy and her mom's butt was probably right in her eye line at that age. It's just a fleshy part to pinch at that age.

Load More Replies...
lovetta555 avatar
Lovetta Carr
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a similar experience. I was at an auction with my parents, my mom said to me, hold my hand and don’t let go, you could get lost. The place was packed with people. Well I let go for a minute. Then I spotted my mom’s new black coat, and I took her hand, she didn’t say a word. We walked all over the place probably more than an hour. Then as we are walking, we ran into my mom ! The lady I was holding hands with was wearing the same coat ! I was horrified ! The lady never flinched or said a single word the whole time ! She just handed me over to my mother and kept on walking.

baugh3r avatar
Debster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You probably made her day. What if she had lost a child and you gave her a piece of their love?

marleen_zingler avatar
Marleen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once was in a drug store with my now ex-wife. We went different ways and as I turned around and got closer, I said "There's a book *her daughter* would like" and slapped her a*s with a loud "smack" sound. It wasn't my wife but looked just like her from behind. My wife saw me do it and laughed and fortunately the woman I slapped was cool with it, too. I wanted to disappear into the ground lol

msmith_3 avatar
PjandBolt
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was at a school play when I was 6 or something and was holding my moms hand, then I stared rambling about the play to my mom and let go of her hand without looking at her. I grabbed her hand again and looked at her when I finished my sentence and I was holding a really tall mans hand and he looked at me really confused and started looking around. Turns out I was too excited and didn't walk as fast as my mom and the dude kept holding my hand cuz he thought I was his kid XD

ingridbathory avatar
Craptavaganza
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would you want to pinch your mothers butt??? That's weird.

sinister7 avatar
Lahorka Grgac
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

she probably thought it was cute...I know I did, a toddler walking with his mom and dad dropped a toy and squatted to get it. his parents have already walked about 20 meters ahead of him or so, so when he got his toy and stood back up, I was passing by. he immediately grabbed my by the hand and started walking beside me thinking I was his mom, I was like-hey there buddy,whatcha got there?-when he looked up and realized I wasn't his mommy-the look on his face...I'll never forget it, he was petrified, but didn't cry tho, so I guess I'm not the boogey man after all...

denisageorge avatar
Denisa George
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One time, I was in Wal-Mart and this woman down an isle had her back to me. She was the same height and her hair was the same color and length as my mom. I walked up behind her and I said mom can i ask you something? She said,I'm not your mom but I can probably answer your question. Standing a distance not far away was my mom and she motioned for me to come over where she was at and she said why did you think she was me? I don't have a blouse like hers.

danyaal8ahmed avatar
Daanyaal Ahmed
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When i was a kid i wanted to pee real bad so i ran into the closest bathroom and a karen who was standing there asked me to leave as this was the ladies washroom and i was a boy so i ran out and till i went to the mens washroom i couldnt control and leaked...... still so embarassing

bonnie-rourke-5 avatar
Bonnie Rourke
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was grocery shopping, and while looking at a frying pan, a man walked up behind me and said, "What do you need that for?" When I turned around and he was red with embarrassment and he said, "I'm so sorry, I thought you were my wife". I forgave him but I was glad I wasn't his wife.

joannie avatar
Joannie Goulet
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was visiting a museum a couple of years ago with my kids. Suddenly I felt a little hand in mine. I was there with my young children and just assumed it was one of them. When I looked down I saw someone else's distracted kid holding my hand. Then she saw me too and I could read the panic on her face. Then I saw her parents a few meters away, laughing. I was scared they would think I was kidnapping their child.

ptoddchesser avatar
Trash Panda
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom worked in a department store when I was a kid. When I was about 6, I was at work with her for some reason and trying to keep myself occupied. I was walking around the racks of clothes running my outstretched hand through them when I unknowingly walked past a lady shopping next to one of the racks and pretty much goosed her. She jumped and then so did I. We were both quite startled. I immediately ran to find my mom.

mintyminameow avatar
Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did something similar. Ran up to my mom and tugged her dress and said “mommy!” She looked down at me and I ran away because it definitely wasn’t my mom and my mom didn’t even have a dress on. She was in jeans lol.

pusheenbuttercup avatar
pusheen buttercup
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel for my mother. When I was a kid I had no shame, none. I whistled at the woman at the pretzel stand, (again I was a child) asked strangers for money- which they gave me- and asked some nuns (I'd never seen a nun before) if they had any hair under their habits.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#20

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

PCoryGonzales Report

Add photo comments
POST
fredericeeckman avatar
frederic eeckman
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sorry but sometimes I'm really wondering what's happening with people. Of course it can happen, and I'm not judging that, but you stayed a while, you ate, and you were leaving ? And you did not a single time talk about the camp your child was supposed to go to ?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

kae_mah Report

#27

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

wind_is_real Report

Add photo comments
POST
max_lombardi_mi avatar
Max L.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, at least it wasn't the nineties in french... know how they say 90 ? "four times twenty ten". ("quatre-vingt dix", pronounced "Quatr'e'vent dis") but not in french switzerland where they invented a new word from scratch.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

GoldCell2007 Report

Add photo comments
POST
kanna172014 avatar
Bored Moogle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You didn't notice all the other kids were smaller than you? You must have been wondering why there are so many little kids in 5th & 6th grades.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#30

Embarrassing-People-Stories-Andy-Ryan

SnarkingtonPost Report

Note: this post originally had 77 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.