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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!
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#1
Well You're Not Wrong
RELATED:
#2
It Is Insane
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
#5
In Fact, It’s Happened 7 Times
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."
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
Sapna Sarfare 2 years ago
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...
#7
You Can Still Breathe Idiot
#8
"Let's Spend 10 Grand On Jewelry"
#9
Scientific Name = Poison
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.
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.
#10
Hint Hint
#12
Who Ever Runs That Station Is Dumb
Ryan Deschanel 2 years ago
"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.
#13
Now Your Own Decisions Belong To A Man You Haven't Met
Kimi Tomminello 2 years ago
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
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.
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
Andy Acceber 2 years ago
Ditto everytime I used the expression "avoid it like the plague." I was wrong. Shockingly, I've learned people don't avoid plagues.
#15
Well Well Well... How The Turntables
#16
I Wonder Why America Is So Unhappy?
Julius Dias 2 years ago
As an america we need to learn and evolve from other countries example
#17
She Didn't Deserve It
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.
#18
Gun Ownership
#19
Apparently Canada’s Healthcare Is Bad
#20
It Was Media Control All Along
#21
Checkmate
Julius Dias 2 years ago
Clearly you havent been burdened with an over abundance of brain cells
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!
#23
"Going Everywhere"
Walking On Sunshine 2 years ago
70,000 Covid cases came directly as a result of Donald Trump's rallies. We don't need propaganda, we have the votes.
#24
They're Confused
#25
Math Is A Myth
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
#27
Yeah, How Dare He
Legen ( wait for it ) dary 2 years ago
Yes, shame on him for kissing and probably saying "I love you, I'm proud of you" to his son.
#28
Just Your Average Pro Life Hypocrite
Kimi Tomminello 2 years ago
She is apparently answering her own question. She is not pro life, just anti abortion.
#29
Cops Pepper Sprayed Their Own Senator Without Realizing He's An Authority Figure
#30
For Me It Feels Weird To See 6:00 Instead Of 18:00
#31
How Can People Break-Up For Such Stupid Reasons!
Aran Lindvail 2 years ago
"Risk ginger grandchildren" - wtf. But a boyfriend who dumps his woman on command of his mom is a bullet dodged, no matter what.
#32
Having A Functioning Circulatory System
WilvanderHeijden 2 years ago
No, perverts are criticizing women for not having the photoshop boobs they usually jerk off to.
#33
Hospital Bill
#34
Sorry Buddy, It's Not Christmas Yet
#35
It's A Great Time To Be A White Debt Collector
#36
It Is Pride Month
#37
Slayed
#38
“If Masks Were Necessary We Would Have Evolved One By Now”
#39
But Nasa Uses The
#40
Antivax Logic
#42
The State Of The World
Otter 2 years ago
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.
#43
Technically The Truth
#44
High Iq Destruction
Demi Zwaan 2 years ago
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.
#45
Not A True Catholic!
#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?
#47
What If We Made An App That Would Endanger Lots Of Women?
#48
Apparently There’s Something Wrong With Using A Stock Photo
#49
Ah Yes, Chemistry
troufaki13 2 years ago
She has exploding, vagina-smelling candles. And people buy them. People are stupider than I thought...
