No matter how calm, cool, and confident we might be, sooner or later, we all find ourselves in pretty awkward situations. We're definitely not alone in our embarrassment!
Video creator and TikTok star Benjamin Tiffen, aka @tiffytoky, has been going viral with his incredibly relatable ‘things I find embarrassing for no reason’ series. It’s these little embarrassing moments that unite us and prove that we have more in common than we might think. We’re featuring some of the creator’s most fun real-life insights to share with you, Pandas. Scroll down to check them out!
Bored Panda has reached out to Benjamin via email, and we’ll update the article as soon as we hear back from him.
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Benjamin Tiffen's 'things I find embarrassing for no reason’ series has gone viral on TikTok, and it's incredibly relatable
Image credits: tiffytoky
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When you think someone's speaking to you but they're on the phone
Oh my gosh I’ve done this before… Super embarrassing, and it was with a total random stranger.
Waiting a few extra mins to leave the bench to not hurt the person's feelings
I totally agree, i'm glad to live in the smartphone era for this one.
Holding the door for someone and realising they're too far away
"Speed up, tardigrade, I'm not gonna do this forever!" - in 11th grade, I think, I held open a door for a girl in my class. Pretty early in the year, we barely knew each other, so she proceeded through the door and then took a surprising trajectory, that pretty much just defeats walking through the door. She didn't want to turn down the favor, but had a different destination than I thought, because she and her friend were just ending a small hallway conversation. Friend disappeared into a door right before the one I held open, into a room, and she seemed to feel kinda stuck. We had a good laugh, nothing else happened. Not even one single person clapped, although at least 2 or so saw it.
Benjamin has a very large following on the internet. On TikTok alone, a whopping 2.3 million internet users follow his account, where he posts entertaining content very frequently. Another 174k people follow him on Instagram.
The TikToker’s ‘things I find embarrassing for no reason’ videos have been a wild success. These clips have gotten millions of views.
Talking to yourself but someone sees
Small talk with an old man having no idea what they're saying
Yes, all good, but REALIZE -- THEY are doing the same to you! You can't remember to speak up- they're tired of asking you to repeat - so - they smile and nod- and go on talking. Win-win, right?
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Just remember what I said. When you get to be my age, you'll have an epiphany moment!
I don't mind! Happens to me all of the time. I'm kind of 'the approuchable woman' Ik think. "I hate all those people here! Dont't hate you. I like you!" "Well, thanks! I don't hate you either! Good day for both of us don't you think?" "Think so..." And of he went. "You look just like my daughter, are you my daughter?" "Don't think so. I know my family." Man was Chinese and 1,50 meters. I'm Kaukasian, 1,72.
I once had this for a year: Did a year abroad, learned the language fluently (I thought), but even after 9months could NOT figure out a single sentence the building's security guy said --- low/uneducated with VERY strong accent. But I spent 6days a week 10--12h in that building, taking a few breaks a day "outside" which meant in the company of the guard. Who got more and more talkative the better we "got to know" eachother. I still have NO IDEA whether his go-to topic was beer brewing, satanic rituals or flower gardening, or something else, but he must have talked 120--180h about it.
My 78-year-old dad went to the doctors complaining that he was losing his hearing. The doc said 'What are the symptoms?' and my dad says 'A cartoon family from America'.
I can hear, I just have trouble understanding. I avoid talking on the phone because of this. I'm embarrassed asking the person to repeat what they've said.
Might need hearing aids if you're having trouble understanding. You should get it checked out. Unless it's specifically just with old men. But if it's happening in general get checked.
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Only other old people know what we old people are talking about and we like it that way.
... especially if they're speaking with a heavy accent that doesn't match your own. Around here, we're pretty lucky, as the german the natives speak around here is considered the most correct one ... the one closest matching written german, both in grammar and wording, so we have a bit of an advantage over, say, a Bavarian who's trying to understand a toothless saxon. Have'em both drunk, and they could live on opposite places on earth. Now, they're seperated by only a few hundred km, and the border is open since 35 years, but still - in both directions, this may result in very limited understanding. If they're also old ... just ... nod in agreement, as troufaki13 already said. Works out most times, you won't likely end up with unexpected obligations, and if you don't understand a single word, and never will see them again - just leave. "Have to feed the cat, sorry man, can't stay!".
Or worse, when don't have their hearing aid in, and you're literally yelling at them.
Smile, nod, toss in a comment occasionally. My mother-in-laws oldest friend is well into the early stages of dementia- she and I had the best time on vacation 1.5 years ago. She told me stories, I told her stories, she repeated herself sometimes, I asked MIL to clarify the stories sometimes and we had a blast.
Ah! This gives me such agita! When I'm standing there just nodding my head I start to freak out a little wondering if they know that I have no idea what they're saying, and then I start spiraling because now I'm wondering if they are just mumbling random gibberish at me for s h i t s & giggles
When everyone is waiting for you to finish packing your shopping at the store
Or maybe if stores didn't unload work that they used to do onto their customers this wouldn't be an issue. I feel no guilt for this.
Benjamin manages to hone in on some incredibly relatable moments in his videos. Most of us have been in the slightly awkward situations he describes, which is why we enjoy the videos so much. That, in turn, makes us want to share them with our family, friends, and colleagues.
Relatability is a vital part of internet content. Without it, you’re relying on pure luck to go viral. However, if you know your audience very well (and post consistently!), you can stand out from the crowd on TikTok and social media by appealing to their personal experiences.
Talking to someone with a wog eye and you're not sure which eye to look at
Thinking you're kicking the table leg but realising it's someone's leg
When it comes to dealing with our sense of embarrassment, the healthy thing to do is to feel whatever we feel. That’s far easier said than done, though! Embracing the heck out of our emotions, however uncomfortable they might be, is a skill like any other. We get better at doing it with practice!
Going for a toilet at a friends house
When you're trying not to yawn during a conversation
And you do that weird scrunched up face with the mouth stretching but still closed and eyes bugging out the head... Yeah, that's one that happens all too often
When you're the only one clapping in the crowd for a moment
The more we embrace our feelings instead of running away from them, the better we become at resolving awkward and embarrassing situations in the future. Not only that but by acknowledging our embarrassment and/or mistakes, we prevent them from turning into shame further down the line.
Getting compliments from people
That awkward silence when your both tryna end the call
My wife and MIL each say "yeah, alright, okay, bye, okay" one after another. Goes on forever... Just say bye then *click* 😩
When the self checkout errors and one of the workers come to help
I think supermarkets should give us a 10% discount for using these, seeing as we're doing the fecking work ourselves...
However, some of our experiences and memories continue to torment us even years later, despite our best efforts to come to terms with them. In these cases, it can really help us if we think about how those situations might have improved us. In short, we want to reframe the narrative. Perhaps by embarrassing ourselves in public, we learned an important lesson or became more emotionally resilient. Or we learned something new about ourselves or even managed to connect to other people despite all the emotional fallout.
Working out in your room and your parent comes in
The reality is that we tend to focus too much on our personal failures and embarrassment. We believe that everyone in our social circle must be thinking about all the times we messed up. The fact is that most other people are worrying about what others think of them, just like us. In short, all of us are hyper-focused on our own embarrassment. That’s a freeing thought!
Accidentally launching your pen across the class
That long awkward walk when meeting your friend
Accidentally touching the driving instructors knee instead of the gear stick
You can try breathing techniques and meditation to get over some of your more embarrassing moments. However, at certain points, it becomes almost necessary to reach out to a professional for help. The rule of thumb here is that you should go see a therapist if your embarrassment or shame is affecting your daily life.
When you're mid-conversation and the waiter clears the table
As a waitress myself I also find this extremely awkward..or if I'm handing out food and they don't stop the conversation to tell me who ordered what it's extremely annoying and embarrassing
Looking for someone at the restaurant who's already there
When I forget my glasses and need to find someone in the crowd but I’m actually blind
For example, if you find yourself sleeping poorly, having difficulty concentrating, avoiding meeting up with other people, and always being in a bad mood, you might want to consider seeing a mental health specialist. They can help you unpack and reframe your experiences so that you can live with more confidence. There’s nothing like an outside perspective to provide some additional clarity.
That first hour before you and your cousins warm up to each other
When you yawn and it makes that burp sound
OMG I thought something was wrong with me cause this happens to me all the time and it’s so embarrassing! Today I learnt I’m not alone in this! The most annoying part about this is that this so called burp sound comes out so loud and also you don’t feel it building up so you don’t have time to suppress it.
When someone talks really close to your face
And they have the strongest coffee breath but their cool so you say screw it
Acknowledging your embarrassment can actually work in your favor, too! Especially if you’re in a leadership position. It’s a way for you to be seen as more human and down-to-earth by the people around you. Harvard Business Review notes that people tend to be quite compassionate and nonjudgmental. They’ll relate to you more if you’re humble and take responsibility for your mistakes.
But the key here is to make your mistakes not look like a big deal. Everyone makes mistakes. There’s no need for excessive self-flagellation.
Which of Benjamin's insights did you relate to the most, dear Pandas? How do you tend to behave in embarrassing and awkward situations? If you have a moment, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Thinking someone said something when the didn't
so just continue the conversation with an imaginary person as though the other person doesn't exist
When gum falls out your mouth while talking
Or when someone lets out that bit of mouth spray that hits you and makes you want to wipe it off like a crazy person but you do the smooth "I got an itch" and rub it off
Going to the toilet at the cinema and having to awkwardly pass people
Spilling water and it looks like you've peed urself
Was on a road trip with a friend and told her I could hold me pee. Went to open a carbonated water and immediately spilled it on my lap. Spent the remainder of the trip looking like a liar. (We both found it more humorous than embarrassing thankfully.)
Wearing a brand new outfit in public and u start to overthink
Or wearing any outfit in public or being in public or existing
That awkward side walk you gotta do when you're the least-liked friend in the group
When ur waking with someone who can’t walk in a straight line and runs into you and other people and objects
Walking with a massive school project
When you stretch in class but the teacher thinks you had your hand raised
Honestly in my classes people would just put their hand up and if you suddenly decided you didn’t want to and the teacher called on you, well “I’m just stretching sir”
When you knock on your friend's door and expect them to answer but their parents do instead
Having a phone call in public
Dropping change in the canteen
Dropping change at any checkout and there's a line behind you. I've gone cashless now.
Asking for the Wi-Fi password
Exactly! Especially if you are at someones house and you feel like your coming as if you're so bored you have to resort to using your phone.
Testing if the shoe fits by walking up and down
Waving your hand to stop the bus:
. . .and it doesn't stop, but someone waves back thinking you were waving at them. Then two people are embarassed.
When you're laughing together and both stop
When you grow up in a religious household and someone is saying a prayer but you remember something funny in the middle of it and are trying so hard not to laugh out loud during the prayer that tears start streaming down your face and it feels like your head is going to explode 😂😂
When you're at a red light and your music is loud
Just turn it down and respect other people. They don't want to hear it. Thanks.
Asking for the bill at a restaurant
Oh man, you'll have to get over this one. Just catch a waiter's eye and use the international silent mime, writing on your hand, and they'll just know.
You can watch one of Benjamin's viral videos in full right over here
@tiffytoky Comment fr if u relate #tiffytoky #fyp #relatable #embarrassing ♬ original sound - Benjamin Tiffen
Many TikTok users loved his clips. Here's how they reacted to the series
I must be either immune to embarrassment or or so perpetually embarrassed I don't notice it. Nothing on the list would embarrass me 😕
I agree with that. I absolutely don’t get this article and these examplea. Asking for a WiFi password? Returning from the ocean? Done that many times and never felt embarassed. And asking the waiter for the bill? Welcome to Europe!
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When you're talking, and you're not really used to people listening but they are, so you kinda panic and keep talking too much, then realize you lost the point and forgot what you were saying...
47 at the moment. Actually, it really bothers me that being stupid is by no means considered embarrassing, while incontinence - a malfunction of a rather irrelevant organ, compared to the brain - is among the most embarrassing things you can have. Even in adults, or especially in them, wearing a diaper should not be more embarrassing than wearing glasses.
I was wondering who was gonna bring up farting. LOL!
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I wouldn't find any of these embarrassing at all. But I would have used to.
okay, but when you look down at your shirt and there is just a TINY grease stain, and you want to cry cuz its been there all day. Same thing with when you get home and there is suddenly just a whitehead on your face.
I cannot eat without getting a stain. I do not know why. What is wrong with my eating habits? But I've accepted this. I probably always have a stain. Eh. C'est la vie.
Load More Replies... I must be either immune to embarrassment or or so perpetually embarrassed I don't notice it. Nothing on the list would embarrass me 😕
I agree with that. I absolutely don’t get this article and these examplea. Asking for a WiFi password? Returning from the ocean? Done that many times and never felt embarassed. And asking the waiter for the bill? Welcome to Europe!
Load More Replies... When you're talking, and you're not really used to people listening but they are, so you kinda panic and keep talking too much, then realize you lost the point and forgot what you were saying...
47 at the moment. Actually, it really bothers me that being stupid is by no means considered embarrassing, while incontinence - a malfunction of a rather irrelevant organ, compared to the brain - is among the most embarrassing things you can have. Even in adults, or especially in them, wearing a diaper should not be more embarrassing than wearing glasses.
I was wondering who was gonna bring up farting. LOL!
Load More Replies... I wouldn't find any of these embarrassing at all. But I would have used to.
okay, but when you look down at your shirt and there is just a TINY grease stain, and you want to cry cuz its been there all day. Same thing with when you get home and there is suddenly just a whitehead on your face.
I cannot eat without getting a stain. I do not know why. What is wrong with my eating habits? But I've accepted this. I probably always have a stain. Eh. C'est la vie.
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