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
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.
Gun Ownership
Sounds like we shouldn't trust them with children, either.
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You realize Democrats own guns too right? I mean the majority of gun violence is literally in Democrat ran cities
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Or we could, you know, reform the medical system in the US so we get better, affordable medical care and also no guns
But does he really think an AR-15 will help him get his son on that plane? He thinks they'll just let him walk up to a plane, commandeer it and fly off into the sunset? He'll be dead before he gets his son in the plane.
That's what I was thinking. Airports, above any other civilian place, are well set up to cope with armed hijackers, and they mostly certainly will not let it 'work' and set a precedent.
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Our GIS (antiterrorism Special Intervention Group) will surely be delighted to explain that the "open carry" of literally ANY firearm is not a good idea here. Especially if done in an airport.
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You'd also be killing him since the plane would be held on the tarmac while hostage negotiators do their thing and you likely wouldn't have had the brainpower to bring a medical professional along to keep him alive during that process.
He wouldn't get through the airport never mind the runway or the airplane. The absolute drivel some people come up with never ceases to amaze me.
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There is absolutely no need for any average person to have an AR-15. It's become a literal arms race amongst the citizens - you want a gun for your self-defence? A handgun should be more than sufficient. (And I'm saying that from the perspective of a country that has strict gun control following the misuse of handguns - I'm just acknowledging that this genie is out of the bottle in the US)
“Assault weapons have gotten a lot of bad press lately, but they’re manufactured for a reason: to take out today’s modern super animals, such as the flying squirrel, and the electric eel.”
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And believe me when I tell you you'll be handcuffed and eating asphalt faster than you can say 'Murica.
What kind of action movies was this guy watching? You just create more problems. There is takimg risks, and then there's stupidity
One man with a gun against the SWAT team sent to stop you. Good luck with that.
I have several firearms. I’m a former combat medic for the military. I see nothing wrong with owning an AK-47, or an AR 15 or any other firearm you wish to own that is legal. It’s not the legal ownership of firearms that’s causing all the deaths in the world, it’s the thieves who get them illegally, and no amount of control of legal firearms possession will stop that.
Crazy thought here, but if there weren't any legally attained guns for the criminals to steal... and the ones confiscated were destroyed instead of re-sold... and any shipments were also destroyed... hmmmm
Load More Replies... Way to make an argument for your case by making an argument AGAINST you case
I'm sure he feels like a big man now. Probably treats his kid like crap, but wants him to know he'd wave his gun around to get him healthcare if he had to.
Please tell me he doesn't have children! And his actual statement might be used in a court if he commits a crime.
I'm given the right to have a gun no matter what kind because the 2nd Amendment says I can
And because no one reads the bit about "well regulated". Maybe regulated is to big a word?
Load More Replies... How on earth can anyone with an ability to reason make such a statement? A gun in the hand of an imbecile is a terrible concept.
Gun nuts forget other people (specially law enforcement) can get guns too
"gun nuts" usually never break they law. That's criminals like the thugs in big cities
Load More Replies... But why does he want to freeload on another country? I thought that was a big no no in conservaturd land
Don't paint us all with the same brush, toadboy.
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And how exactly is he expecting to get away with something like that? Probably watches too many movies.
I have a gun & I’m an American. But here’s the catch. I have a hunting rifle because only a few years ago I was so poor on our fancy American wages that we had to hunt, or we literally did not eat. Also, I do not need an automatic weapon to kill my food. In fact, I would discourage it as our medical system is too expensive should one get lead poisoning. I also own a gun safe. And I wear a mask even after being vaccinated. … radical. I know. But that’s me being the extremist here. Better lock me up too trumpty.
No shade intended against Italy intended here, but is flying to Italy from the US for medical treatment a thing? Is he hoping for a miracle from the Pope?
I remember Alfie Evans' case, this was actually in the UK (so the American posting would barely make it down the road with a gun, let alone an airport). He was born with a severe neurological condition, and his health declined to the point he was in a vegetative state. The NHS concluded there was no prospect of recovery, recommended end of life care as long term ventilation would be "inhumane and unkind", so his parents wanted him to go to a clinic in Italy. The assessment by the Italian doctors said that travelling would likely trigger more seizures and worsen his condition. It went all the way to the European Court of human rights (and yes the pope got involved too).
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Btw in some instances Italy provides special flights for people who cannot come by themselves for specific health care needs (italian here)
When someone tries to hurt you or break into your home, you are the first line of defense. In those situations just waitng for the police will result in you and your family being dead long before they get there. Two if having murder be illegal does not stop murderers then what makes you think making guns illegal will stop criminals from getting them. Three a country's last line of defense is its civilian population. The founding fathers knew this that's why they included the right to bear arms.
I’m pretty sure that it’s not crazy to think that a government who is trying to take your weapons away, is bad. If bad people want guns, they’ll find a way to get them. Does that mean that they should try to take our weapons away? No! They are just trying to leave us defenseless so that when they are ready, they can control us all like móndeles drone in a dictatorship.
I understand wanting a gun but something like an ar15 is a little much
it's so insane. In this scenario what does he think will happen when he brings the gun to the airport, if the "government" doesn't want him on the plane? when they tell you you can't get on the plane, what do you think they mean by that? That if you do, you'll get a stern talking to? Sorry sir didn't see your weapon, please step on.
We don’t need to take everyone’s gun, but we should at least do a mental test to be sure that that person should be allowed to use a gun. I know most criminals will steal guns but at least people who just don’t have the mental stability to own again don’t have a gun in the first place
I may never need an AR-15. But, if I want one, I can have one as my Constitutional right to do so. You may not need a sports car. But if you want one, you can have one as it is your Constitutional right. I think that you could take out more people with a vehicle than you can with an AR-15 because those things take a lot of practice to get good at shooting. And, any 16 year old could take out dozens of people with a car.
Talk about taking something out of context. It's not about using it to hijacking a plane, it is about using it to fight a Socialized Government that takes your Freedom away.
Seriously? -.- please tell me you are being sarcastic?
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The Italian health care providers are going to be thrilled when gun toting Americans turn up at the hospital door
Jesse, go to the United Kingdom instead. They speak a little better English.
I assume you don't remember the Alfie Evans' case from a few years ago? It was in the UK.
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Ah, you're arguing this is a false-flag post, clearly posted by an anti-gun leftwing sneak? Nice conspiracy theory. Or more reasonably, yes the gun owners you keep in touch with are better not the unhinged ones.
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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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