What is something that feels embarrassing to do, but shouldn't feel that way because there's nothing wrong with it?
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Being overweight and going to the gym. I've actually stopped completely...I just work out at home. The stares and snickering was too much to deal with when I'm just trying to work out.
Going to a shop and walking out without buying anything
Mispronouncing words, grammar mistakes, and word choice while learning a new language. It's way less tragic than it feels, and most native speakers butcher their own routinely.
Gaaaahhhh! And I can hear my grandmother's ghostly school teacher's voice fill the air: "SEEN is a pony that never rides alone. It always rides with HAVE, HAS or HAD." Thank you Mimi!
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It's easier for foreigners to speak other languages because the mothertongue is more tied to emotions, while a foreign language requires more actual thinking while using it.
True. Being nearly deaf I have severe problems speaking with a native english speaker. All others speaking English are easyer to understand.
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OOOH BOY !! my 1st year in Portugal I had my butcher crying with laughter and his assistant convulsive on the floor when I innocently asked for two kilos of fish-bones instead of shank-bones (for Soup stock) (Espinhas v Ossos) and sent 8 dinner guests into stunned silence when I asked the maid to go to the little a**e-hole instead of kitchen (cuzinho v cozinha) to get another bottle of wine....
LOL. One little vowel sound... But Portuguese certainly is a lovely language when spoken. Especially when it's murmured into your ear by a handsome Portuguese man while he's... oh, er, um, nm... memories...sigh...
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I agree! At least, unlike English, Deutsche ist vorhersagbar! https://youtu.be/l3_tRPRt9x8
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god this! even for native speaker too! like you dont know if someone struggled throughout their life with education, or speech classes, or anything! and honestly regardless of reasoning or not it shouldnt happen! its okay to make mistakes! people are doing their best! even if they arent that doesnt make it okay to make someone feel bad no matter the reasoning!!
YASSS. In my line of work I come across a lot of unfamiliar names I just cannot pronounce for the life of me, and some people get so offended and upset about it. On one project I was placed on that had words to do with an industry I didn't work in, directly. We were trained on how to pronounce them, but I guess my accent and diction made it sound like something else and I was docked for it because the people I was interacting with thought they needed to correct me. I can't remember what that word is now. Something to do with agriculture.
I feel you. I'm currently working on a team filled with native English speakers, I'm the only who's not native speaker and in constantly checking up my spelling and grammar, like obsessively. They didn't mind the slightest bit if I made a grammar mistake, but for me, it makes me feel like utterly dumb (I know it's an overreaction tho, but can't help it)
As a native English speaker, I can barely form a coherent sentence anyway. (not when writing, I just can't say things properly)
I've lived in America all my life and I've used the phrase "ain't been sposed to."
I totally agree, it took me so much efford and time to have the confidence to speark english, now im learning russian and its the same thing all over again :)
Any Russian speaker who hears you speak Russian, in any sort of way, no matter how badly, will be so impressed that they won't pay any attention to your mistakes. That's a very difficult language to learn.
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I refuse to learn a language (or anything) around another person. It's a waste of time for me anyway since the self consciousness will outpower the rate of absorption.
As the saying goes...»no man is an Island» but in your case I see that you have actually exiled yourself....that is sad...
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The French are ruthless when you make a sentence that doesn’t reflect what you really meant intentionally. “Why would you say that? What do you mean?” And I’m like: do you speak other languages besides French?
Try dysgur Cymraeg! OMG! 5 years at evening class, and still can't hold anything but the simplest of conversations! Full of random gender applications and mutations! My aching head!
I do this all time it usually makes people laugh. I just sometimes have hard time with words and need to slow down to say them. But I like making people laugh sometimes it is embarrassing and it shouldn't be. It not the person's fault
Yeah... when you've made it *very clear* you don't know the language... and that you're trying to pronounce a name or word *very slowly* because you're unsure... and... then the native speaker, AFTER insisting you say the word, just try it!!! : a.) laughs at you and loudly says "OH MY GAHD, I've never heard SUCH a bad pronunciation!! WHAAAT??" or b.) They look at you in disgust and say "Look, here's a short nickname form, just use that and never try to say the full name again" Yes... both have happened to me. Over a single name or word. Thaaaanks...
My wife is Asian and their language doesn't use any fluff or filler words. Everything is right to the point. After 15 years of marriage, I have actually adapted my English to match when I talk with her, dropping all filler and useless add-in or add-on words. This is all well and good but sometimes I do that out in the real world and probably sound like a 5-year-old. "Shopping mall we go" or "Want to go mall?" instead of " Do you want to go to the mall?
I think this is especially with Mandarin. I’ve just started learning and boy it’s interesting. Being able to pronounce words is important because it’s heavily tone-based. Using a slightly higher or lower tone when saying a word can change the meaning!
Admitting you have a severe depression and need to take medsand have therapy to not harm yourself.
(Was told I was "damaged goods" because of my illness)
'damaged goods'?! i'll show them actual damage! that's awful and i hope you're ok!
Being in a deadly silent bathroom where you know some of the other stalls are occupied and trying to quietly change pads without everyone knowing what your doing.
Stretch marks. Body hair, or lack of it. Breast size. Penis size. Mental illness. Starting your life at 40 instead of 16. Niche interests. So many things....
If I was doing now what I was doing as 16, I'd be monumentally depressed. Nothing you've said here is something to be embarrassed about. I hope you find peace! You deserve it.
Buying contraceptives and basically any other sexual wellness products in a physical store.
Compliments, at least for me they feel embarrassing.
Leaking on a period. Sure, it's annoying and uncomfortable, but it's not like it was a choice.
Doing number two in a public washroom. The sounds are one reason why I choose home.
Talking about money. I was invited on a girl's trip and had to say no because I couldn't come up with cash in the short amount of time needed to book the trip. My friend said that I embarrassed her by telling the other girls that I couldn't afford it.
NO ONE should make fun, judge, or criticize someone else for not having enough money.
asking for help more than once in class
Why is this embarrassing? You are just wanting to understand the material, don't be ashamed to ask questions a lot.
Being hungry at a friends house, or having your host offer you something and saying yes, WHY DOES IT SEEM SO SO RUDE AND EMBARASSING!? Haha
Talking about feminine things in front of my dad. Example: periods , bras, pads ect
I talk about stuff like that with my dad all the time. He already knows about it, so its not that awkward, he did marry a woman lol
enjoying ""childish"" things as an adult
people can give others a hard time abt this too, i still feel embarrassed for enjoying animated things and i got a lot of grief abt it over the years but like its so dumb bc? its usually made by adults too lmao??? regardless tho it shouldnt be embarrassing idc
Singing in front of other people. I know lots of other people do it, but it just makes me feel really exposed and awkward.
Practicing any instrument you are learning at home around family. You don't know how to play very well which is why you need to learn and practice but you feel dumb struggling through easy songs with people that can hear you.
Getting out of the pool Its just so awkward. and also when your crouching in the shallow end and someone goes "you could just stand ya know" LIKE YEA I KNOW IM JUST INSECURE.
Omg the last part is the most relatable thing ive ever seen. and when you swim in the shallow part and someone tells you you could walk but you just dont want people to see you lol
Wanting to go home because you are done socializing. But if you say so, everyone is offended and it’s embarrassing, even though it barely has anything to do with them.
Going to a sex shop. And generally everything with sex as a topic is seen as vulgar and a complete Taboo.
I (F) had the same problem - until a friend (F, too) really dragged me me into a sex shop. Simply to make me have a new experience. Found out I felt totally normal...
When you have to run to catch the bus, you're out of breath, and you start breathing heavily on the bus. Idk why but this just seems to embarrassing to me.
Sometimes it happens to me at work. My boss is at the second level of our building and my office is on the ground floor. If I have to go to his office I run on the stairs (no elevator) and when I get there I am breathing very heavily and I feel like it's the only thing you can hear.
Coming out.
I know it is a little embarassing but I swear I almost died of embarassment.
Farting and burping.
when a car is stopped to let you cross the street 🙈
Try a smile and a small wave,will show your appreciation of drivers conduct..
Opening a gift- expectations of my reaction.
Having your period
Luckily I don't get awkward talking about my period. I used to talk about it with this guy at my school and complain about how annoying it was and how I was running out of feminine products that I liked and he was so weirded out and confused, it was great
My false teeth. Since high school. I know there's nothing wrong but i still didn't tell to anybody
Well, don't worry. Nobody will think it's weird, and if they do, then they are jerks.
A giant zit on your cheek that make up won't even begin to cover.
Haha I hate makeup so I've learned to embrace my zits and if someone comments on them i smile and comment on theirs.
When your talking to someone and they correct you because you got something wrong. Even if its just the pronounciation of a random word. I always feel so amshamed and I don't know why
I know that, too. For me, it's helpful to confess about my feelings in these moments - people instantly try to comfort me.
puberty
Hey,It's natural to go through puberty.It is kinda strange though.
Asking for the bathroom key at those gas stations that require one, especially when they take a really long time to get it.
Also, mentioning that I'm not ok. Whenever someone thinks im unhappy i get super embarrassed and it makes it all worse
Asking for anything especially at restaurants
Yesss, whenever I go to a restaurant I always try to bring someone more direct than me so i can ask them to tell the waiter because I dont want to seem rude (even though im not im just asking for what i came there for lol)
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It broke my heart how many people said "periods" in this article. We need to normalize people with vaginas getting periods. Talk about it. Share when you're on yours. It's normal.
I was thinking the same thing! But it's everything about the female body that isn't discussed from 1st period to last. Having a baby to raising kids. Like it's still 1950 and women are seen & not heard. Somehow every generation passes down the shame of what should be normal conversation
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I think something that doesn't get talked about more is your bodily smell and the way it can make you feel if you think you don't smell good. You watch movies that show someone working out, and of course she/he gets 1 little sweat mark going down the front of their shirt but their hair and makeup is sill perfect. Characters come home from working all day or being at the gym and just start having sex/oral sex and no one is ever like 'I need a shower first'. No one ever gets up from a chair and leaves a sweat mark. No one ever tells you your vagina will occasionally smell bad for whatever reason and it's usually perfectly normal. No one tells you if you have bigger boobs that you might get a gross, wet rash under them almost all the time. No one tells you that you might have stained underwear because your vagina excretes stuff regularly when it's healthy. And you never see stained undies on tv/movies. Our mothers never talked about this stuff so you think something is wrong with you.
I get super embarrassed at the beach walking around in between everyone's little set up and finding there's a group of young women I have walk around to get to the boardwalk. For some reason they sneer and laugh at me. I don't get why. Like, just continue basting in the sun and ignore my elephant stomps as I try to wade through the hot sand.
Simple bodily functions. Sweating, farting, having to use the bathroom. It's actually unhealthy not to, or trying to postpone
Having an invisible illness.. I have chronic pain disease which affects my muscles and joints mostly. I get to go out 1 every two weeks approximately. It takes a lot of resting before and after and a lottt of painkillers often. I went to see Gabriel Iglesias Saturday and had a comfy blanket with me to cover the plastic chair. The looks on people's faces.. like a was a little entitled princess making her throne 🙄 eyerolls all over. Those days I would like to have a sticker on my forehead that says disabled. Or wave around my papers that proof it. 🤦🏻♀️ I try not to care about it but sometimes it is a bit hard
So many of these seem like they were posted by young people under 25. If that's you, you should know that a lot of the embarrassment of many of these will go away as you get older. Others seem more like a social anxiety thing. If that's you, try exposing yourself to these triggers a little at a time. That's gone a LONG way for me!
Kind of like the restaurant one (and I don't know if this is UK specific) but going to the cinema alone. I've done it lots of times and personally couldn't care less but when I tell people most look aghast. I've never understood what the problem is with it, at the end of the day I'm just going to watch a movie I want to see. Everyone sits there in the dark in silence anyway (most of the time) so what's the issue?
Last time i went to the cinema the girl was on her facebook nearly all the movie (that she chose) so yeah, def gonnna start going alone. Btw, said 'no thanks' to popcorn. Guess who had to shate his pop corn?
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I het rly embarrassed walking around woth my family for some reason. I also hate it when ppl are onto a song then I learn the lyrics and its not a thing anymore. I don't have any form of social media so i am always behind on things and its REALLY embarrassing.
When people try to make you feel embarrassed cuz you don't have exes or you're not divorced by certain age. "Never married" they say like it's a bad thing.lol sorry I thought marriage was technically for life
This may be just me, but I hate when a colleague brings a baby or toddler to work. Everybody else goes ga-ga, but I just stand there. Bring in a dog or at cat on the other hand ...
So many saying period, but not one saying menopause. When you are dripping with sweat, all red-faced and your body feels like a 150 degrees, and everybody around you knows you have reached "that age".
I am a bit surprised that so many are about periods. I'm actually not embarrassed at all about periods. I never got why I should be. Not in public bathrooms and not if it happens during sex. To me it's just so obvious that since I can't control it or choose it it's nothing to be embarrassed about. I find it so sad that that's not the norm.
Talking to someone about losing my fur baby of 17 years, before I know how they're going to react. I don't know if they'll empathize, or be one of those "it's just a dog" people.
It broke my heart how many people said "periods" in this article. We need to normalize people with vaginas getting periods. Talk about it. Share when you're on yours. It's normal.
I was thinking the same thing! But it's everything about the female body that isn't discussed from 1st period to last. Having a baby to raising kids. Like it's still 1950 and women are seen & not heard. Somehow every generation passes down the shame of what should be normal conversation
Load More Replies... I think something that doesn't get talked about more is your bodily smell and the way it can make you feel if you think you don't smell good. You watch movies that show someone working out, and of course she/he gets 1 little sweat mark going down the front of their shirt but their hair and makeup is sill perfect. Characters come home from working all day or being at the gym and just start having sex/oral sex and no one is ever like 'I need a shower first'. No one ever gets up from a chair and leaves a sweat mark. No one ever tells you your vagina will occasionally smell bad for whatever reason and it's usually perfectly normal. No one tells you if you have bigger boobs that you might get a gross, wet rash under them almost all the time. No one tells you that you might have stained underwear because your vagina excretes stuff regularly when it's healthy. And you never see stained undies on tv/movies. Our mothers never talked about this stuff so you think something is wrong with you.
I get super embarrassed at the beach walking around in between everyone's little set up and finding there's a group of young women I have walk around to get to the boardwalk. For some reason they sneer and laugh at me. I don't get why. Like, just continue basting in the sun and ignore my elephant stomps as I try to wade through the hot sand.
Simple bodily functions. Sweating, farting, having to use the bathroom. It's actually unhealthy not to, or trying to postpone
Having an invisible illness.. I have chronic pain disease which affects my muscles and joints mostly. I get to go out 1 every two weeks approximately. It takes a lot of resting before and after and a lottt of painkillers often. I went to see Gabriel Iglesias Saturday and had a comfy blanket with me to cover the plastic chair. The looks on people's faces.. like a was a little entitled princess making her throne 🙄 eyerolls all over. Those days I would like to have a sticker on my forehead that says disabled. Or wave around my papers that proof it. 🤦🏻♀️ I try not to care about it but sometimes it is a bit hard
So many of these seem like they were posted by young people under 25. If that's you, you should know that a lot of the embarrassment of many of these will go away as you get older. Others seem more like a social anxiety thing. If that's you, try exposing yourself to these triggers a little at a time. That's gone a LONG way for me!
Kind of like the restaurant one (and I don't know if this is UK specific) but going to the cinema alone. I've done it lots of times and personally couldn't care less but when I tell people most look aghast. I've never understood what the problem is with it, at the end of the day I'm just going to watch a movie I want to see. Everyone sits there in the dark in silence anyway (most of the time) so what's the issue?
Last time i went to the cinema the girl was on her facebook nearly all the movie (that she chose) so yeah, def gonnna start going alone. Btw, said 'no thanks' to popcorn. Guess who had to shate his pop corn?
Load More Replies... I het rly embarrassed walking around woth my family for some reason. I also hate it when ppl are onto a song then I learn the lyrics and its not a thing anymore. I don't have any form of social media so i am always behind on things and its REALLY embarrassing.
When people try to make you feel embarrassed cuz you don't have exes or you're not divorced by certain age. "Never married" they say like it's a bad thing.lol sorry I thought marriage was technically for life
This may be just me, but I hate when a colleague brings a baby or toddler to work. Everybody else goes ga-ga, but I just stand there. Bring in a dog or at cat on the other hand ...
So many saying period, but not one saying menopause. When you are dripping with sweat, all red-faced and your body feels like a 150 degrees, and everybody around you knows you have reached "that age".
I am a bit surprised that so many are about periods. I'm actually not embarrassed at all about periods. I never got why I should be. Not in public bathrooms and not if it happens during sex. To me it's just so obvious that since I can't control it or choose it it's nothing to be embarrassed about. I find it so sad that that's not the norm.
Talking to someone about losing my fur baby of 17 years, before I know how they're going to react. I don't know if they'll empathize, or be one of those "it's just a dog" people.
