They say that once something is on the internet, it will stay here forever. Which is quite nice if we're talking about a funny picture of your cat or your proudest sewing project.
However, the same "law" applies to moments that are, let's say, less than ideal. For example, having a brain fart on social media and sharing a bizarre status update, or going live on TV with an explicit item in the background.
The subreddit 'Hilarious Cringe' is an excellent example of that. This online community is dedicated to collecting and immortalizing moments that make awkward seem cool.
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1st Submission
To learn more about this corner of Reddit, we contacted its only moderator, platform user Rookvrouw_Joke.
"Years ago, I commented 'r/hilariouscringe' on a r/sadcringe post, and it got so many upvotes that I decided to create the community," they told Bored Panda.
"It gained 1K members immediately and slowly grew to 10K over a year or two. The last time I checked, we were at 20K and steadily growing. I would describe it as a surprisingly active community in terms of posts, comments, and interactions. I'm always surprised by new posts."
Did You Not Read The Post?
Jokes aside that's actually very helpful, I was actually just wondering if I should use "farther" or "further" in the story I'm writing
A Big Truck
Actually, honesty isn't always the best policy, but sometimes, it's not the worst.
Where Can I Cancel My Subscription
Talking about content, Rookvrouw_Joke said, "The type of cringe usually posted in r/hilariouscringe is really all in the name. It's usually on the funny side of cringe, so it's more digestible for people who don't like to cringe."
"When I set up the community, I made it clear there are absolutely no rules besides Reddit's rules and no self-promotion," the moderator added. "This is because other cringe subreddits that already existed were extremely strict, and I find Reddit moderation to be the most cringe thing on the internet — just a bunch of Discord mods on a power trip to enforce their echo chamber."
The Typo Of The Century
Poorly Placed Advertising
Just A Normal Guy
Sweet Job On The Photoshop
However, as the saying goes, every stick has two ends and the moderator's choice to give people a lot of freedom has led to some extremist humor posted to the subreddit every once in a while. Nothing too substantial, though.
"I admit I delete a few posts a year that are political jokes or borderline hateful towards minorities. I think entertainment should be an escape from real-life problems, so there is no reason for divisive content that could hurt someone's feelings to exist in my subreddit (or on Reddit)," the moderator said, highlighting that r/hilariouscringe is definitely about secondhand embarrassment and not schadenfreude (the pleasure derived from another person's misfortune).
Will She Ever Find Love?
I Had To Yelp This Prison
Always Give It Your All
Honest Mistake
But pictures like these might be more than entertainment and could actually serve another purpose. Dr. Dean Burnett, a neuroscientist and author of Emotional Ignorance: Lost and Found in the Science of Emotion, thinks that at its core, cringing is a mechanism to deter us from behaving in ways that risk us losing status or gaining the negative judgement of others.
Our bodies consider “negative judgement” to be a threat to survival, Burnett explained.
“Our primitive brain reflexes don’t really discern between a physical threat (e.g. a nearby tiger) and a psychological threat (e.g. potentially embarrassing ourselves in front of others), so they trigger similar responses.”
Can't Stop Laughing!
Meanwhile In India
Oh S**t
The Spelling Mistake In This Textbook On Writing Specifically Warning Of Spelling Mistakes
"In this case, the unconscious desire to make yourself smaller to avoid detection or judgement means we cringe to minimize our presence until the 'risk' has passed," Burnett said.
So when we find people cringeworthy, our bodies are essentially telling us to avoid them. Otherwise, we could risk becoming associated with them and being socially alienated from the pack.
Arr!
Now I feel bad. Many years ago, there was a kid with an eyepatch selling cookies in the mall. He said, "What kind of cookie can I get you?" I said, "Argh, Chips Ahoy, matey!" He seemed not to get it, either.
Damn
Ground Coffee
Don't Think I Want To Know What's Going Through This Dude's Mind
"It's a regular reminder of what is and isn't acceptable or appropriate if we want to remain an accepted member of society ... People who don't get embarrassed by anything, who don't cringe at all, are often not very liked by others. They have no internal checks on their behavior or thinking, so end up disrupting group harmony and cohesion, and become less liked and acceptable as a result."
As repulsive as the feeling might be, the discomfort is actually a pretty neat social compass to possess!
Gentleman
OMG what wrong with looking at a nice butt??? does it make them perverts?? like all the older ladies ogling at the firemen's calendars!!! come on, be real.
Load More Replies...Well, the UN only looks away if it's mundane things like war, terrorism or their members activley acting against every human right....
All the comments calling this no big deal, boys will be boys, what's wrong with looking at a good-looking gal? She was there to deliver a speech about gender equality. So, maybe these so-called men could rein it in for five freakin' minutes?! The speech, if you're curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vzb7Io7oQ0
Nope not curious. Going to google some pictures of butts.
Load More Replies...sometimes it's just so hard not to watch. I mean you realize you're watching breast or butt once you are actually doing it. I'm a faithful husband, i have two daughters, i don't want to be like that. But damn eyes are doing their own stuff way before my brain take offense.
We're doomed if so many people are defending this and cannot understand why it is inappropriate.
When I first scrolled down I thought her pants were pulled down for a split second. It was the flesh colored skirt and the guys head down her leg looked like dark pants that were pulled down.😭😣
All four of them are named "Perry"? What are the odds?!
Load More Replies...I've always been lucky that I am most attracted to a woman's face, so I never get "busted" staring at their face. Except that one woman whose face was down next to her butt.
From what I can tell from the picture it appears that they were looking in the direction she was walking, understandable, and her a*s as well as her whole backside is ACTUALLY ALL THEY COULD LOOK AT! But the point is, nobody was drooling or slapping each other on the back and pointing while saying “GREAT A*S”. Man people are so quick to find a problem with normal things. I guess older men should gouge their eyes out or always stare at the floor. Grow up.
Everyone posting about how wrong this is has done what those men did. Stop acting like you are all holier than though. Stop lying to yourselves.
I’m pretty sure I’ve never looked at someone’s butt in public before.
Load More Replies...Oh, STFU. The UN isn't perfect, but it does a lot of good. Admittedly, often stepping on rich countries feet in the process, keeping them from exploiting other countries, so yeah, a lot of people hate the EU the same way that wannabe slave owners hate the charter of Human rights.
Load More Replies...Or you know. Be a decent human and not a creeper.
Load More Replies...Why because she has to walk around? Only little immature boys think that way. Creepy dude. Really creepy.
Load More Replies...I Was Looking At An Airbnb Listing
Y Spit Tho
A Snack In Appreciation Of Your Hard Work
OMG I'm so happy corporate is willing to splurge $0.15 per to show employee appreciation.
A Funny Street Name For You All
Combined City
"What's Next? Mary Poppins With A Man, Barry Poppins?"
Hunter Wth
MLP has an.... Interesting.... Fan base, that's for sure.
Apparently Elon Musk Is For Sale
Note: this post originally had 41 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.