ADVERTISEMENT

No one’s immune to annoying habits; and by that, I mean both having them or finding them frustrating when others exhibit theirs. That’s likely one of the reasons people find weaponized incompetence so bothersome. It might not be a habit per se, but it does often entail people leaving empty cartons of milk in the fridge or failing to clean up after themselves, for instance.

These are just a couple of examples of such incompetence, often also referred to as strategic, when people pretend they are unable to perform a certain task—not well enough, at least—in order to avoid unwanted responsibility. Seeking to paint a clearer picture of what that is, we have gathered more examples on the list below, this time depicting boyfriends and husbands engaging in weaponized incompetence. Scroll down to view the images, but beware, some of them might make you quite annoyed just by looking at them.

#1

My Boyfriend's Job Title Is Actually "Solutions Engineer." This Was His Solution

My Boyfriend's Job Title Is Actually "Solutions Engineer." This Was His Solution

8Ariadnesthread8 Report

#2

My Boyfriend : *Does The Dishes* The Sink :

My Boyfriend : *Does The Dishes* The Sink :

lululock Report

Add photo comments
POST
kylie_2 avatar
Kylie
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh. My pet hate apart from a sink piled high with dishes is people leaving actual FOOD on them.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

Husband’s Bedside Table That I Am Making A Point Of Not Doing For Him

Husband’s Bedside Table That I Am Making A Point Of Not Doing For Him

bexindisbelief Report

Dirty socks on the floor, unwashed dishes in the sink, dust balls forming in the corners of the room—these are just a few examples of things that tend to pile up if a person fails to tidy up after themselves or do a regular clean up. And while it’s clear that not everyone is equally eager to clean their home, most would agree that the majority of adults are at least capable of taking care of such mundane tasks.

Yet some people don’t, and not because they don’t know how to, but because they don’t feel like it; and that’s when weaponized incompetence comes into play. Also known as strategic incompetence, the term refers to the deliberate feigning of incompetence in order to avoid certain tasks or responsibilities, typically resulting in situations like the ones depicted on this list.

#4

How My Boyfriend Packed Up A Moving Box With Kitchen Stuff While I Was At Work

How My Boyfriend Packed Up A Moving Box With Kitchen Stuff While I Was At Work

Late-Style4892 Report

Add photo comments
POST
lismarie avatar
Undercover
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Throwing knifes in between random stuff is dangerous af, I'd be PISSED!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

When My Husband Puts The Dishes Away

When My Husband Puts The Dishes Away

SirCornyWeaver Report

ADVERTISEMENT

According to Forbes, weaponized incompetence might seem benign, but in reality, it can accentuate the often unequal division of chores between partners even more and lead to long-term negative effects on their relationship.

Finding themselves in such a situation, those exposed to their partner’s strategic incompetence might say that when they ask for help, they often have to explain things in great detail or eventually (re)do it themselves. Situations like these are likely to strain the relationship, as shifting nearly all the responsibility onto one set of shoulders tends to lead to stress and other detrimental consequences.

#6

Husband Put His Pants Right Beside The Laundry Basket Instead Of Just In It

Husband Put His Pants Right Beside The Laundry Basket Instead Of Just In It

LillyTheOskar Report

Add photo comments
POST
juniorcj82 avatar
JuniorCJ82
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that is where they will stay until he puts them either in the basket or washing machine.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

This Is How My Husband Opens The Bread If I Don’t Get To It First. Just Rips A Hole In The Bag And Leaves It Open Like This Too

This Is How My Husband Opens The Bread If I Don’t Get To It First. Just Rips A Hole In The Bag And Leaves It Open Like This Too

JaguarAncient Report

ADVERTISEMENT

Licensed marriage and family therapist Claudia de Llano seconds the idea that weaponized incompetence creates an imbalance in a romantic relationship, as one of the partners is forced to carry the majority of the load.

“An imbalance of responsibilities can lead to conflicting feelings about the relationship,” she told VeryWell Mind. “While you may love your partner and care about them, you may also grow frustrated and start to resent them for not helping out more.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Lacking support from your partner, even if in regards to something as mundane as taking care of the dishes, might lead to bigger problems over time, such as trust and communication issues or emotional disconnection.

#9

My Adult Boyfriend Thinks This Counts As Clean (No That's Not Rust)

My Adult Boyfriend Thinks This Counts As Clean (No That's Not Rust)

ProfessorShameless Report

Add photo comments
POST
stereotomy2006 avatar
ORSOrama
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These totally look like when my husband washes dishes and pans. So I wash them all again, every time

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

Came To The Kitchen To Find Out That My Boyfriend Hung The Towel Like This

Came To The Kitchen To Find Out That My Boyfriend Hung The Towel Like This

reddit.com Report

Be it picking up socks, doing the dishes, or any other seemingly mundane task, some people might take frustratingly long taking care of it; sometimes purposefully so. According to the relationship coach John Kenny, also known as the Relationship Guy, when it comes to weaponized incompetence, doing something in a way that aggravates, irritates, or upsets one’s partner and eventually gets them to step in is the end goal. “It is a passive-aggressive way of getting someone to do something that you just, well, really don’t want to do.”

#12

My Husband Put This Much Milk Back In The Fridge

My Husband Put This Much Milk Back In The Fridge

sarebot18 Report

Add photo comments
POST
kylie_2 avatar
Kylie
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a mother of 2 sons, I believe that's a male thing. Along with holding the fridge door open while staring deeply into it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

How My Husband Wrote The Date That He Opened This Orange Juice

How My Husband Wrote The Date That He Opened This Orange Juice

Sleepless_in_MA Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#14

When Your Husband Does The Laundry

When Your Husband Does The Laundry

iwillsurvivor Report

The relationship expert emphasized that sometimes people are genuinely incapable of doing certain things for one reason or another, no matter how seemingly primitive they are; that’s when it’s important to be patient and show empathy. However, if these scenarios continue to repeat themselves, such behavior can become a manipulative tool used to get (out of) what they want, tolerating which might not be a good idea.

#15

My Husband Bought Memory Foam For “His Side Of The Bed”

My Husband Bought Memory Foam For “His Side Of The Bed”

distanceformed Report

Add photo comments
POST
kylie_2 avatar
Kylie
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like that's going to work? But really, I think there might be a deeper issue here.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

The Way My Husband Unpacked The Book Boxes

The Way My Husband Unpacked The Book Boxes

the_real_meghatron Report

#17

How My Husband Stacks Plates And Platters

How My Husband Stacks Plates And Platters

levitymargret Report

According to a survey of over a thousand married Americans, not contributing enough to household chores is one of the things that annoy people about their spouses the most, followed closely by being a slob; both of which can become problems of way larger proportions if the spouse also engages in strategic incompetence.

Things that seemingly frustrate people about their significant others even more, though, are the latter having selective hearing, snoring, being too controlling or not financially responsible enough.

#18

The Way My Husband Wraps Gifts

The Way My Husband Wraps Gifts

NecessaryFlamingo620 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#19

The Only Thing I Asked For Was Hamburger Buns. Husband Comes Back With This And This Only

The Only Thing I Asked For Was Hamburger Buns. Husband Comes Back With This And This Only

ktazhsv Report

#20

My Husband Puts This Much Food Back In The Fridge To Avoid Doing The Dish

My Husband Puts This Much Food Back In The Fridge To Avoid Doing The Dish

Mom_of_zameer Report

Add photo comments
POST
blohm-iris avatar
Nurichwersonst
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had one of them, too... I'm so glad, that i'm single again... 😉

View more commentsArrow down menu

According to Gallup’s data, women tend to take care of a larger chunk of household chores, especially in regards to cooking, cleaning, taking care of the house and the children. (Though yard work and car maintenance remain primarily the men’s responsibilities.)

That might be one of the reasons why married and cohabiting men seem to be more satisfied with the way household chores are divided between them and their partner. Back in 2020, as much as 55% of men were very satisfied with this aspect of their relationship, compared with 38% of their female counterparts, Pew Research Center reports (marking an increase from 49% for the former and a decrease of 1% for the latter compared to 2019).

#21

The Way My Husband Stacks Up His Used Coffee Spoons In Our Spoon Rest, And Won’t Put Them In The Dishwasher!

The Way My Husband Stacks Up His Used Coffee Spoons In Our Spoon Rest, And Won’t Put Them In The Dishwasher!

Tipsy_Cat_1420 Report

#22

How My Boyfriend Uses Cheese... I-

How My Boyfriend Uses Cheese... I-

mood_alchemy Report

#23

I Tore My Rotator Cuff So My Husband Told Me He’d Finish The Interior Painting On Our Downstairs. He Says He’s Done

I Tore My Rotator Cuff So My Husband Told Me He’d Finish The Interior Painting On Our Downstairs. He Says He’s Done

sleepdeprivationland Report

Needless to say, not all male partners engage in weaponized incompetence; not only that, women are equally as capable of doing a bad job with certain chores, too, seeking to never have to do them ever again. But no matter who is behind this kind of behavior, chances are that in the long run, it won’t make the relationship any better for either of the people involved.

ADVERTISEMENT
#24

Husband Put Up The Groceries Today…

Husband Put Up The Groceries Today…

jsboklahoma1987 Report

Add photo comments
POST
leonmalone avatar
Charlie the Cat
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's the bet that Paul lives in his mums basement. He is currently jacking off to all his amusing comments on here.🤡

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

Recently Moved In With My Boyfriend Who Has A Habit Of Leaving His Clothes On The Floor, I Asked Him To Put His Jeans Away In His Closet And This Is What I Found Later

Recently Moved In With My Boyfriend Who Has A Habit Of Leaving His Clothes On The Floor, I Asked Him To Put His Jeans Away In His Closet And This Is What I Found Later

Mallll4 Report

#26

My Husband Leaving Car Like That Every Single Time I'm About To Use It

My Husband Leaving Car Like That Every Single Time I'm About To Use It

roslid Report

If you’re looking for more examples of weaponized incompetence, continue to our previous edition on the matter, browse through the most absurd cases of such incompetence on this list, or listen to this TikToker’s insight as she delves deeper into what’s behind it.

#27

My Husband Keeps Opening New Jars Of Jam Before He's Even Finished The Last One

My Husband Keeps Opening New Jars Of Jam Before He's Even Finished The Last One

badassmamabear Report

#28

My Husband Throws Away Trash Directly Into The Pantry

My Husband Throws Away Trash Directly Into The Pantry

TomatilloAbject7419 Report

Add photo comments
POST
ami-ainsworth avatar
Phoenix
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Time to take out the trash, and I don't mean clean out the pantry.

View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

Husband Attempted To Put The Silverware Away

Husband Attempted To Put The Silverware Away

thekatshow Report

#30

The Way My Boyfriend Sliced This Avocado

The Way My Boyfriend Sliced This Avocado

jgo215 Report

Add photo comments
POST
ami-ainsworth avatar
Phoenix
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looking at the slice on the far right, it appears he does intend to remove the pit.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 54 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Poll icon

Poll Question

Thanks! Check out the results: