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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Well You're Not Wrong
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."
What About Nurses Who Wear Them 8 To 10 Hours A Day
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."
The First Women In The Epitome Of Stupid
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...
You Can Still Breathe Idiot
"Let's Spend 10 Grand On Jewelry"
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.
Hint Hint
Who Ever Runs That Station Is Dumb
"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.
Now Your Own Decisions Belong To A Man You Haven't Met
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.
I Get It Now
Ditto everytime I used the expression "avoid it like the plague." I was wrong. Shockingly, I've learned people don't avoid plagues.
Well Well Well... How The Turntables
I Wonder Why America Is So Unhappy?
As an america we need to learn and evolve from other countries example
It will never happen, bc unfortunately the US makes everything political, including things that should be a basic human right for such wealthy countries.
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5 weeks paid vacation, actually… And not only free healthcare, But when my daughter was seriously ill with an eating disorder, the Government paid me inn full to stay at home and care for her for two years. And had she needed care for longer, that would have been granted. And when I was pregnant with her, I didn’t have to quit college. Government paid me enough money so I didn’t have to work in addition to my studies, and set me up with really cheap, good housing in a Great neighbourhood - and gave us free, quality childcare when she was born (and paid me for all 4 years of my education) When you help people be people, those people tend to be kind of happy 🤷🏻♀️ Who knew!
I always say that I'd be happy to pay higher taxes if they gave me the kind of returns that Scandinavians get for theirs! I says this as a person from a country with free healthcare and generous (paid) parental leave, but still so many things to improve. Congratulations and thanks for being an inspiration for what the rest of us should strive for!
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I've just had five nights in hospital, including 20 doses of intravenous antibiotics and two surgeries. I'm really happy this happened in Norway and not in the US.
I do hope you're feeling better soon, and on the mend.
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Finland doesn't have the terrifyingly large national petrol-derived amount of $$$.
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Dane speaking (we're almost as happy as the Norwegians, lol)...... We have 5-6 weeks paid vacation, maternity leave for about a year with the possibility of extending. Free college (except the books) and the possibility to give your kids a good life even being a single parent w/o having to have 2-3 jobs and work 60-80 hrs/wk. We have no school shootings, people don't have guns, crime is fairly low. I spent 6 wks hospitalized, 2 of them on life support, got at least 12 units of blood, many, MANY different scans, ambulance tranfer to different hospitals, physical therapy etc, and was discharged owing absolutely nothing. I spent 10 years in the US, loved the nature, the diversity and so on, but darn it....... you need to look to the world outside your borders and realize the American way is probably NOT the best way of doing things. If it was, you'd rank a lot higher on your happiness, education and overall quality of life.
also the third lowest corporate taxes in the western world, fourth least regulated economy in the world and ranked in the top 5 free market countries, the US ranks as 17. Also massive oil drilling and natural gas which funds those programs.
According to who? Their corporate tax rate is 22%, which is close to the global average. And this list seems to indicate Norway is considerably less 'free market' than the US: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_economic_freedom
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It's also a culture orientated towards community. Though, that's easier to achieve in a country of five million.
That's the cool thing about Germany. We get 30 days of paid vacation, so 6 weeks ✨
And Finland has glow in the dark Patronus reindeer- what's not to like?
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Look at how Norway dominates the Winter Olympics with such a small population. They're happy because they can actually afford to have dreams and ambitions. It's why Norway (as well as Sweden and Iceland) create disproportionately large amounts of internationally popular music. Pursuing arts and leisure activities aren't either the domain of the rich or a sacrifice of the poor.
Small population with off-shore drilling and good schools. Boom! And, while the sun doesn’t come up much in winter, it also stays up in summer. It’s also a culture that teaches respect and tolerance.
The US is so terrified of being a “socialist “ country that they don’t realize that they already are and have been for years. Can’t see the forest through the trees.
There is so much graft and corruption going on in our government that prevents the US from ever becoming another Norway.
It is not just that Norway is wealthy, but that the wealth is shared by every norwegian
I shot myself in the foot. I knew when I was in high school, that college was already way over priced (90's), there wasn't any real focus on trade jobs then, etc. I asked my folks if they would help me for unexpected expenses like book changes, etc. My Dad said, "No". He said no to a lot of things. So I never went. I've worked my ass off, working my way from the bottom up, and over time, taking some classes to help me. I took care of my Mom (she didn't work), etc. It was... a nightmare. I've had mental breakdowns, I've had organs break (gallbladder), I've been bankrupt, etc. I always tell myself, "It's an adventure! It sucks but it's an adventure, and it'll make you stronger, you'll see." As my mantra. I've worked in customer service (at home) for 20+ years, and I can deal with.... ANYTHING. Scream at me, yell at me, curse at me, and I'm fine, and I'll still find ways to help you. I can teach, I can monitor, etc. but no body wants those skills, so... I'm stuck.
1. Dec22- my brain hemorrhage, multiple ambulance rides incl one in "airambulance" with onboard doctor, multiple CT scans with and without contrast, ALL medication for three weeks, all-inclusive for the same time, our expenses??? $10 for parking. 2. My daughters free Med-school ( she did have to pay for the rent and food for herself) but education in itself is absolutely free 3. My wage in 96- around $6/hr (student) Now it's between $30-35/hr depending on which shift I take ( I am a nurse). Ekstra if my shift is evening/night/weekends. Even more if it's evening or night on weekends. I worked last night, I made for ONE shift $ 370. 4. Next year I will be enjoying five weeks of PTO, six if I had been above 60 yrs old. In addition i can have upto 24 days of paid sick leave WITHOUT involving a doctor, like if you know it's not something serious, just a flu infection, if it's something serious you can have upto a year of paid sick leave, extra for your kids, paid. From Norway.
..and for those wondering, paid sick leave is NOT misused, but you will find individuals that might misuse. It's based on trust. ...paid sick leave for your kids, you get 10 days for each parent, or 20, if you are single parent ...no, employers doesn't pay for our sick leave, beyond the first two weeks. Government does. A happy Norwegian, who pays income tax without complaining, as most of the Norwegians.
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And a two year maternity paid leave, and appropriate housing, around 4% unemployment rate, and access to the EU internal market... And probably I am missing other key points, here. I am amazed they dare even smiling.
,Now there's a concept that goes right over the heads of the US senate.
American elites hate countries that are compassionate, successful and honest cause their own citizens will insist upon the same thing.
I am not an unhappy American. I fully understand how fortunate I am to live in a free and democratic society. I am not stupid… we definitely have many complicated issues and situations we need to improve upon…but in totality, the USA is still an amazing and blessed place to live. Our politicians and government leaders are pretty pathetic …. that is 100% true
And we elect them, so there is a corollary.
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To everyone saying Finland is the happiest country, you're right, but this post was probably back when Norway was and Finland took the crown in 2018
Their happiness is currently funded by money from the sale of government-owned oil.
I think Finland is currently the happiest country - they don't have oil, but I believe they have all the other stuff we do, so..
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Finland was crowned the best country to live in (though Norway had that crown before, but some changes to criteria bumped Norway down to second or third). However, Norway is the happiest country. No idea why, as most of the benefits are available in all of the Nordics.
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Also whatever trip they take, food costs NOTHING in comparison with back home.
I am very happy actually. I am a single mother with kids and I am currently studying. I don't need to have a job in order for us to survive, and the state loan fund is not leaving me with a crippling debt. I have been to the doctor this year paying around 200 nok (around 20 dollars) and medicine I needed was around the same price (for 6 months use). We do have our troubles in Norway, but I am happy I live here!
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Free Healthcare and education does not equate quality education. Americans were also a lot happier before they started teaching our children to hate thier own country and hate themselves for living there. (Or to hate themselves for being born white, not that any of us had any choice in that matter.)
As an American, you probably should pay more attention to your own life and not worry about what makes somewhere else see great. I am pretty sure the citizens of any other country have similar problems than anyone in America.
But I suspect their grammar and composition teachers are better.
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Are you willing to pay the high taxes in order to fund all of it. It's not really free. Someone has to pay for it.
America has rejected God. This rejection leaves us to our own devices. And our devices are eroding us to empty hulls as we try to fill a God-shaped hole in our hearts with foolishness.
Milton Friedman (search him up), when told by a Scandinavian Economist that they have no poverty in Scandinavia, replied back "That's interesting, because in America, among Scandinavians, we have no poverty, either." His point was that Scandinavians just as prosperous in America, not just Sweden. It's not the government and its economic policies that contribute to their prosperity, it's the Scandinavian people themselves.
Perhaps this is partly because no one is fleeing Sweden for America in an attempt to escape poverty.
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Doesn't sound so bad, have you seen Norwegian prisons?
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Wow. And you're actually prepared to admit to being that much of a díckhead in public.
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Not sure if your questions were rethorical or not (I suspect they were and that you're a republican out fishing), but I can answer them: Freeloaders are more abundant when you have terrible safety nets. People who feel socially safe tend to take pride in working. Also, even though we get paid for unemployment, it's only 60% of whatever you made before being unemployed, meaning you also have economic insentive to start working again. Immigration is strict, but we never turn down people in need. Prisons are pristine and better than many student dorms. Humane conditions and short sentences. And that makes us have the world's shortest recidivism rate, meaning less ex-con criminals on the street and therefore also less crime. (BTW, crime is directly linked to poverty and poor social programs.) You got it the other way around: our unemployment rate is only 4% (partly) because our Healthcare and education is free. And also social programs, meaning people who lose their jobs have support until they can find another, not making their life in shambles because of it.
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Seems like a better use of use of such profits than enriching a relative handful.
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To be fair, plenty of wealthy countries treating its citizens like absolute s**t.
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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.
Gun Ownership
Apparently Canada’s Healthcare Is Bad
It Was Media Control All Along
Checkmate
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.
They’re Everywhere Man!
"Going Everywhere"
70,000 Covid cases came directly as a result of Donald Trump's rallies. We don't need propaganda, we have the votes.
They're Confused
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.
An 8 Year Old Shouldn’t Have To Do This
Yeah, How Dare He
Yes, shame on him for kissing and probably saying "I love you, I'm proud of you" to his son.
Just Your Average Pro Life Hypocrite
She is apparently answering her own question. She is not pro life, just anti abortion.
Cops Pepper Sprayed Their Own Senator Without Realizing He's An Authority Figure
For Me It Feels Weird To See 6:00 Instead Of 18:00
How Can People Break-Up For Such Stupid Reasons!
"Risk ginger grandchildren" - wtf. But a boyfriend who dumps his woman on command of his mom is a bullet dodged, no matter what.
Having A Functioning Circulatory System
No, perverts are criticizing women for not having the photoshop boobs they usually jerk off to.
Hospital Bill
Sorry Buddy, It's Not Christmas Yet
It's A Great Time To Be A White Debt Collector
It Is Pride Month
Slayed
“If Masks Were Necessary We Would Have Evolved One By Now”
But Nasa Uses The
Antivax Logic
The State Of The World
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.
Technically The Truth
High Iq Destruction
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.
Not A True Catholic!
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?
What If We Made An App That Would Endanger Lots Of Women?
Apparently There’s Something Wrong With Using A Stock Photo
Ah Yes, Chemistry
She has exploding, vagina-smelling candles. And people buy them. People are stupider than I thought...
Yoga>homeless People
Note: this post originally had 130 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
🤦🏻♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏿♀️🤦🏻🤦🏼🤦🏽🤦🏾🤦🏿🤦🏻♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏿♂️ (Idk which one is you)
Load More Replies... I haven't even read this yet but I'm willing to bet that 80% of them are dumbass Conservatives.
I was wrong. I admit it. Only 70%. The rest are dumbass conservatives commenting.
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Is this a repeat of another BP post or three? I swear we've seen most of these before.
Most of these post are done by left wing liberals whining because not everyone wants to be exactly like them.
Such overt propaganda with no alternative views actually given any respect. You don't want to listen to any countering ideas because it doesn't fit your narrative. Well done you close minded fool.
Which one triggered you the most? Perhaps these hit a little too close to home for you?
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Well, Q-anon has a lot of followers so that makes them sheeple too, right?
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Because prevention is better than cure. Because natural immunity means that at risk population will get it and clog healthcare services. Yeah natural immunity worked for the plague too, millions of deaths later. Just get vaxed already
Load More Replies... 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏿♀️🤦🏻🤦🏼🤦🏽🤦🏾🤦🏿🤦🏻♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏿♂️ (Idk which one is you)
Load More Replies... I haven't even read this yet but I'm willing to bet that 80% of them are dumbass Conservatives.
I was wrong. I admit it. Only 70%. The rest are dumbass conservatives commenting.
Load More Replies... Is this a repeat of another BP post or three? I swear we've seen most of these before.
Most of these post are done by left wing liberals whining because not everyone wants to be exactly like them.
Such overt propaganda with no alternative views actually given any respect. You don't want to listen to any countering ideas because it doesn't fit your narrative. Well done you close minded fool.
Which one triggered you the most? Perhaps these hit a little too close to home for you?
Load More Replies... Well, Q-anon has a lot of followers so that makes them sheeple too, right?
Load More Replies... Because prevention is better than cure. Because natural immunity means that at risk population will get it and clog healthcare services. Yeah natural immunity worked for the plague too, millions of deaths later. Just get vaxed already
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