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
Logic
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
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
Not only that, but children are sometimes bullied for it when other kids find out. The same “Patriotic Americans” that won’t allow legislation to pass for a free lunch program for those same, bullied kids, also struck down legislation that makes it illegal to bully those kids for needing such programs, and/or not being able to afford to eat. So, starve and save face, or eat and be bullied. That’s the ‘Murica we live in.
Load More Replies...yeah thats f****d up the a literal CHILD is ding more for kids then freaking goverment
No, just busy little boy hands. Did you see my rock collection, multiple bicycles, dog walking business, bottle collecting, helping my Dad and uncles with the race cars, and total mischief I accomplished at 8yoa, you'd understand. From direct personal experience I can tell you, an 8yoa human male given the freedom to "do", will. I started playing drums at 8, I'm 62, still play and love it, picked up bass guitar as well. Marched with the Boy Scout Band for 9 years. Had 7-8 year old friends that raised animals, built minibikes out of lawnmowers- we were the last generation that had a free world. Out all summer, dawn 'til dark. Fell off more things and hid more injuries than I can remember. No kidnappers or perverts, meth or gangs. Just us, and the amazing world. I have no trouble believing this story. As a Scout, I earned 57 merit badges, a lot that required "service" of some sort. This Lil dude rocks.
Load More Replies...Lunch needs to be a part of public education. We pay enough in taxes that it should never be a problem.
Schools don't get enough money. We should take some of the military money and put it towards our children and schools.
Load More Replies...Before you say it is America, just know that my school (in anerica) has free lunch. This is actually very common in America, and the ones that aren’t free don’t cost a lot. Still, knowing people, it is still very likely for this to be America
"don't cost a lot" Person, I live in rural America. There isn't money for good paychecks here, the majority of students are on the free lunch program, myself included. My school charges $4.50 for the full-priced lunch, and it's the exact same stuff you get on the free lunch program. Now last year lunch would be worth this amount, as there was actually food and usually plenty of extra from people who didn't want it. But this year, they changed the lunch program and now being hungry AFTER lunch is a common, no, EXPECTED occurrence. A student will sit down to eat knowing full well that what's in front of them isn't enough. And mind you, since the lunches don't have enough for one person, there's little to no sharing going on, at least not in my classroom, so you don't even have that. You can't purchase extra, if you want more, you have to bring it yourself. In other words, the situation is that whether you can pay for lunch or not, bringing your own is the best option.
Load More Replies...The only thing heartwarming about that story is the child’s empathy, compassion and generosity. Other than that, It is a typical disgusting American story.
Because adults decided to leave it up to the 8 year olds to figure out how to eat at public schools.
He was really kind to donate to those other kids who don't have money for lunch. He is a good human being. You know who are NOT good human beings? The people who refuse food to hungry children because they don't have money. That is morally wrong.
This is so frustrating. Last year my son was enrolled in a cyber school and the amount of (quality!) supplies we received was incredible. We had enough crayons, paper, markers, pencils, glue, sports equipment, etc. to last us into this year and beyond! And I'm still finding stuff I didn't realize we'd received. This year we enrolled in our local district and the school provided nothing but a list of supplies we'd have to purchase ourselves. The difference between what was provided to us by the cyber school vs what we were expected to spend, pick up, and submit in our local district was night and day. If the cyber school was able to provide all of those things to every single student then our local district should be able to do the same, lunch included. Thankfully they are now due to the pandemic but I'm wondering if it's actually going to last or not...where TF is all that funding going?! Certainly not teacher salaries or supplies for classrooms!
The US are the world'S largest banana republic and such a shithole country. i'll go and light a candle in thanks that I don't have to live there.
Lift where you stand. Why denigrate something that way?
Load More Replies...Brazil,a third world country,has free meals in all public schools,I saw children eat the only meal of the day there,in my time we had breakfast and lunch,and we could repeat if there's food!For free!!!!
After years of dividing my lunch to two other kids as well as myself, I feel for this boy. Poor kids. kids were even refused lunch completely because they couldn’t pay and were already overdrawn.
This is capitalism at work, he found something he’s good at, raised money and decided what to do with the money he rightfully earned. Good for him!
Yes. And if you do not pay the bill that day, your kid does not eat. And they trust elementary school kids to deliver that note to you without putting it in their homework folders. They will let you charge a carton of milk.
Pt#2. What if your child is in school, and you simply cannot afford the lunch bill? At this time, money being far more important than children, the school would simply refuse to feed children who's parents had too much "lunch debt". I witnessed this first hand, kid at the register with school ID, debt, a cafeteria staff member would take the kid's tray away and move the line. NO EFFING LIE. Let the kid get lunch, go all the way to the register, then take it away for "lunch debt". Cruel, yes? Welcome to America. Money rules, kids weep. Fortunately, some of those despicable Democrats OMGOMGOMG got enough votes to put a stop to this. But I had friends robbed of food who burst into tears in front of the whole cafeteria, even in eighth grade. Imagine. No, you can't. That's lifelong humiliation. Been there. Fed my friends. Hated the school and the fat Nazi lunch ladies that snatched trays. And they did, tears meant nothing, hunger meant nothing, money meant everything. That's lunch debt.
Load More Replies...Child's labor in North America is a fact. Paper routes, lemonade stands, farm work, manufacturing and sales work, and also begging - canvasing for events and organizations, while parents buy a new car every 4 years. Do not let children under 18 work, provide for them!
*sixteen year old who is fully capable of working in a school full of people who are also fully capable of working* I get what you're saying, but one slight edit: "Do not force people to work for little to no pay, no matter their age or condition!"
Load More Replies...And that my dear of a perfect example of 'spin'. Don't we love the media and its indoctrination, sorry, impartiality.
You really shouldn’t have children in the first place if you can’t afford to feed them. The parents will be the feckless, lazy, benefit scrounging types. Most of them at least.
If a kid is charged money for lunch, it's because there parents make enough money to be above the poverty level
Is the CNN telling under-privileged persons how to survive a sh*tty uncaring system?
803 keychains? What did he make and how did he get the money for raw materials? What was the net cost?
Yeah. It is sad but as usual it goes back to the parents. No job, no money, depending on the government to bail them out and still the sluts can't keep their legs closed.
Ok, wait a minute. First, let me point out that there are numerous reasons a parent/ legal gaurdian may struggle to pay for their kids to eat at school. There may have been an illness or injury that suddenly prevented one parent from working in the same capacity they once did. There may have been a death of a parent and now the other parent is struggling on the single income. There may have been a death of both parents that left a family member as suddenly the gaurdian of children they hadn't planned for. One parent may have simply walked out and left the other to pick up the pieces and support the children that they supported just fine with 2 incomes. Things are seldom as simple as you imply.
Load More Replies...hmm not being a thief... who would be the thief in this scenario? the children who are not legally entitled to sign an admission of debt, or the child who is illegally being forced into child labour to pay off said debts?
Load More Replies...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.
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
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
Load More Replies...