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Human idiocy, just like our creativity, knows no bounds. Whether it's a temporary brainfart or something more severe, it seems that we always find a way to push the limit.

And you couldn't find better proof of this than the subreddit r/facecpalm. Created all the way back in 2009, this online community describes itself as "a gallery of inexplicable stupidity" and currently has over 6 million members constantly looking for new 'artworks' for its 'collection.'

Over the years, they have collected plenty of examples of people making a complete fool of themselves both online and in real life, so we thought it would be interesting to make an exhibit, featuring the most memorable ones. Continue scrolling and enjoy!

#1

Well You're Not Wrong

Well You're Not Wrong

deannathedford Report

#2

It Is Insane

It Is Insane

SarahMiller20 Report

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Kiki
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never though of it :O ! But they would still try to argue over that...

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We reached out to the people who look after r/facepalm and one of them agreed to tell us more about the community. 

"We moderate according to Reddit's content policy and that means that most of the comment moderation we do is to remove bigotry and racism," they told Bored Panda.

"The subreddit's community is fine, for the most part. A lot of people come here to have a laugh at whatever silly thing is being posted and that's ok."

#3

What About Nurses Who Wear Them 8 To 10 Hours A Day

What About Nurses Who Wear Them 8 To 10 Hours A Day

Bmchris44 Report

#4

N95

N95

Powerfulwoman20 Report

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The Scout
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The trouble was that he was not a stock company. In that case he would have gotten a tax break instead of an FBI raid...

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#5

In Fact, It’s Happened 7 Times

In Fact, It’s Happened 7 Times

NuclearEnt Report

You can see a lot of different themes on the subreddit, and the mod said they can change quite fast. "[What's popular] really depends on what is on people's minds at the time. Currently, a popular topic is the insane lengths people go through to deny the facts about Covid."

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But there's a way to determine what we can expect from r/facepalm. According to research, people see actions as stupid for three primary reasons: the actions reflect a foolhardy level of risk, an absent-mindedness and lack of practicality, or an impulsive lack of control.

So even though the word 'stupid' sounds subjective, scientists have discovered that people are very quick to identify it.

"People don't spend time on judging if something is stupid or not," study researcher Balazs Aczel told Live Science. "It comes instantaneously, and as our results showed, they have high agreement. If one person calls something stupid, there's a high likelihood others will do the same thing."

#6

The First Women In The Epitome Of Stupid

The First Women In The Epitome Of Stupid

SUBTOPEWDSNOWW Report

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Sapna Sarfare
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is inhumane on so many levels.... Please never ever say things like this... these days, even babies get raped... old women are getting rape... the fact is a sick mind can do such a thing and will think of any excuse possible...

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#7

You Can Still Breathe Idiot

You Can Still Breathe Idiot

lol62056 Report

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S.
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do have thicker masks — ones made of cotton or cloth. Wearing one right now.

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It might seem unusual or even strange to investigate how people decide that something is stupid. But scientists love a challenge and researchers who study decision-making had no information, beyond anecdotes, as to how people decide whether an action is stupid.

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So the team collected news stories and other online content that someone had described as stupid.

One example was a news story about a robber who set out to steal cellphones, but lifted GPS devices instead — and failed to switch the devices off, allowing the police to discover them (and him) immediately.

Next, the researchers invited 154 different students to gather examples of stupidity from their day-to-day life and read the stories, asking them whether each qualified as stupid.

The students (who were all Hungarian) then chose possible reasons from a long list as to why they'd decided each example would qualify for the label.

#12

Who Ever Runs That Station Is Dumb

Who Ever Runs That Station Is Dumb

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Ryan Deschanel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"It harms everyone, but it harms some vulnerable people even more, so it is, worth it" is not stupid. Nobody is that stupid. That's just evil.

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#13

Now Your Own Decisions Belong To A Man You Haven't Met

Now Your Own Decisions Belong To A Man You Haven't Met

HakuDoomer Report

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Kimi Tomminello
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me very mad. Even after I had 2 kids I still had to fight to get my tubes tied because "what if you and your husband wan't more kids?" Grrrrr

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The reasons fell into three categories. The first, dubbed "confident ignorance," is when someone tackles something high-risk without the required skills. The cellphone/GPS caper was a prime example of this kind of stupidity.

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The next category was "absent-mindedness," which applied to situations where people knew the right thing to do, but for some reason weren't paying close attention. Aczel said one example would be walking out of the store without paying for your groceries.

The third kind of stupidity was described by a lack of control. It occurred when people knew they shouldn't do something but couldn't resist their impulse to do it anyway. Reaching for the third slice of cake when you know you'll get a stomachache later is an example of this kind of stupidity, Aczel explained.

#14

I Get It Now

I Get It Now

Bmchris44 Report

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Andy Acceber
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ditto everytime I used the expression "avoid it like the plague." I was wrong. Shockingly, I've learned people don't avoid plagues.

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#15

Well Well Well... How The Turntables

Well Well Well... How The Turntables

deannathedford Report

#16

I Wonder Why America Is So Unhappy?

I Wonder Why America Is So Unhappy?

MisterT12 , twitter.com Report

#17

She Didn't Deserve It

She Didn't Deserve It

Bmchris44 Report

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J. F.
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Has anyone mentioned that police forces in countries with strict weapon laws don't operate like a trigger happy military unit?

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According to Aczel, stupidity is an interesting concept because it doesn't always track with intelligence.

Even people who possess a very high IQ can make extremely dumb moves. The research revealed that judging a behavior "stupid" reveals the observer's expectations of how someone should behave, he said. But the person doing the stupid thing might be operating according to a different set of expectations or goals.

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#18

Gun Ownership

Gun Ownership

Powerfulwoman20 Report

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that's why the rest of us don't trust the gun nuts with guns.

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#20

It Was Media Control All Along

It Was Media Control All Along

bradhrad Report

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Shelp
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I become president, all my decisions will have names whose letters you can rearrange in ominous ways. Just to see how those tin-foil hat people will react

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#21

Checkmate

Checkmate

lucynyu13 Report

On a more practical level, you might be wondering if any of this matters. But understanding why people call something stupid might provide better ways to call out dumb behavior, Aczel highlighted. For instance, it might be more helpful to tell someone they're being overconfident than that they're being stupid.

#22

They’re Everywhere Man!

They’re Everywhere Man!

My_Memes_Will_Cure_U Report

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Clare C
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean yeah, that's definitely what I spend my sweet asss atheist time doing!

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#23

"Going Everywhere"

"Going Everywhere"

__Dawn__Amber__ Report

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Walking On Sunshine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

70,000 Covid cases came directly as a result of Donald Trump's rallies. We don't need propaganda, we have the votes.

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#24

They're Confused

They're Confused

d3333p7 Report

#25

Math Is A Myth

Math Is A Myth

_-ZORO-_ Report

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Rick
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dodgy maths aside, I wonder why Carlson isn’t putting his ass available for “$365,000” a year if it’s so easy and not a big deal? 🤔

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After the research, the team said they plan to concentrate on the cognitive mechanisms people use to monitor others' behaviors. One mystery, Aczel said, is the question why people find stupidity so amusing, a fact that drives more and more people to become members of r/facepalm.

"People want to watch other people doing something stupid as a source of amusement," he said. And it's hard to argue with that.

#26

An 8 Year Old Shouldn’t Have To Do This

An 8 Year Old Shouldn’t Have To Do This

Fishsticks011 , bimbotoad Report

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Wilf
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Today I learned that in America "lunch debt" is actually a thing.

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#27

Yeah, How Dare He

Yeah, How Dare He

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Legen ( wait for it ) dary
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, shame on him for kissing and probably saying "I love you, I'm proud of you" to his son.

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#28

Just Your Average Pro Life Hypocrite

Just Your Average Pro Life Hypocrite

Arkady2009 Report

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Kimi Tomminello
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She is apparently answering her own question. She is not pro life, just anti abortion.

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#29

Cops Pepper Sprayed Their Own Senator Without Realizing He's An Authority Figure

Cops Pepper Sprayed Their Own Senator Without Realizing He's An Authority Figure

thewrongun Report

#30

For Me It Feels Weird To See 6:00 Instead Of 18:00

For Me It Feels Weird To See 6:00 Instead Of 18:00

ylu93051 Report

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Shelp
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am beginning to think that Americans are just that weird kid in school that does everything differently just to gain some attention. I mean, not using ''military time'', the way they say the dates, miles and pounds, not using A4, etc...

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#31

How Can People Break-Up For Such Stupid Reasons!

How Can People Break-Up For Such Stupid Reasons!

kaushrah Report

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Aran Lindvail
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Risk ginger grandchildren" - wtf. But a boyfriend who dumps his woman on command of his mom is a bullet dodged, no matter what.

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#32

Having A Functioning Circulatory System

Having A Functioning Circulatory System

lucynyu13 Report

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, perverts are criticizing women for not having the photoshop boobs they usually jerk off to.

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#33

Hospital Bill

Hospital Bill

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#35

It's A Great Time To Be A White Debt Collector

It's A Great Time To Be A White Debt Collector

invertedparadoxxx Report

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#36

It Is Pride Month

It Is Pride Month

TrueAlpha_16 Report

#38

“If Masks Were Necessary We Would Have Evolved One By Now”

“If Masks Were Necessary We Would Have Evolved One By Now”

nekkototoro , twitter.com Report

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes in biological terms, "survival" means getting the unfit out of the gene pool. We're seeing that happen right now, in real time!

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#39

But Nasa Uses The

But Nasa Uses The

Jeff-SB Report

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C. Wade
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, anybody remember in 1998 when the Mars Climate Orbiter worth 200 million dollars crashed into Mars because one of the two American teams working on that project used metric and the other one imperial? Imperial system, Fahrenheit, MM/DD/YYYY - time to retire those.

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#41

Ya

Ya

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Helenium
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my parents would rather die than help me with their hundreds of thousands of pounds they have

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#42

The State Of The World

The State Of The World

esberat Report

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most people make decisions unconsciously, because of feelings or bias or whatever is floating around in the depths of the brain... and then they look around for facts to validate a decision that's already been made without benefit of facts. This is why sane people make decisions that seem irrational, and it's also why the Universal Basic Intelligence Test is seeing whether a person will change their mind about something when provided with information that proves a previous decision or opinion wrong. Intelligent people change their minds according to the best information available, stupid people cling to stupid decisions.

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#43

Technically The Truth

Technically The Truth

iamnumair Report

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KJ
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You need to headbutt the wall a couple dozen times to get to the same mentality as these people, then it might make sense.

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#44

High Iq Destruction

High Iq Destruction

ShubhamG77 Report

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Demi Zwaan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know plenty of people who didn't learn a language, didn't read a poem and didn't memorize a fun fact ánd have no muscles to show for it.

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#45

Not A True Catholic!

Not A True Catholic!

WarmmLemmon Report

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#46

It-It's Almost As If Services Become Easier With A Modernized World? And That Baby Boomers Laughing That Millennials Can't Use A Rotary Phone Is-Pathetic?

It-It's Almost As If Services Become Easier With A Modernized World? And That Baby Boomers Laughing That Millennials Can't Use A Rotary Phone Is-Pathetic?

poplitte2 Report

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C. Wade
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Baby boomers have pathetic technology skills compared to millennials. Your dad fixes your car so you fix his computer. It's a fair trade if you ask me. You can't know everything.

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#48

Apparently There’s Something Wrong With Using A Stock Photo

Apparently There’s Something Wrong With Using A Stock Photo

lol62056 Report

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J. F.
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean he's not wrong with them being a joke, but this shark picture isn't the reason

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#49

Ah Yes, Chemistry

Ah Yes, Chemistry

regian24 Report

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troufaki13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She has exploding, vagina-smelling candles. And people buy them. People are stupider than I thought...

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#50

Yoga>homeless People

Yoga>homeless People

lol62056 Report

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Kiki
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yoga classes makes money, homeless don't, that's why! That's so sad and infuriating!!

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Note: this post originally had 130 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.