40 Extremely Awkward Situations That We Can All Relate To, As Shared In This Thread
There are so many things that separate and divide us—politics, religion, favorite flavors of ice cream—that it can sometimes seem impossible that human beings are capable of getting along at all! Society, suddenly, seems on the precipice of constantly breaking down. However, there is one thing that deeply unites humanity—awkward moments.
Hear me out. It’s those moments when you tell someone ‘hi’ without them saying anything back, having your stomach rumble in public, or forgetting an acquaintance’s name (it’s way too late to ask them now!) that truly gets all of us cringing in embarrassment. Reddit users have been sharing these super awkward situations that everyone can relate to in a viral thread, so we’ve picked out the best of the best for you to enjoy, dear Pandas. Upvote the awkward moments that you’ve been in and share your own in the comments.
Meanwhile, I reached out to Vanessa Bohns, an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at Cornell University and the author of the forthcoming book 'You Have More Influence Than You Think,’ to learn more about the embarrassment that we feel in awkward situations and how's it's got its upsides. Check out her full interview with Bored Panda below, dear Pandas.
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When you start to tell a story in a group but in middle of sentence realize that no one is actually listening and ever so slowly you get quiet and hope no one took notice.
Whenever I see this happen, if possible I make eye contact/nod/show interest so they can finish their story to me. It's the whole 'treat others how you'd like to be treated' thing
When you've had multiple interactions with someone but you can't remember their name but it's gone too far to admit you've forgotten it so you just have to call them love or mate forever.
When you’re having a conversation with someone and you don’t hear what they say so you ask them to repeat and they do. But you still don’t hear it and ask them to repeat again and they do. And you still don’t know what they said. Do you ask them to repeat again (and maybe still not hear it)? Pretend you heard it and nod your head and hope it’s an appropriate response? Stab yourself in the eye with a pen to create a diversion and change the subject?
The last one lol. I often have to ask my dad to repeat himself because he is a mumbler, but he gets annoyed if you ask him to repeat more than once.
Vanessa, from Cornell University, actually had some good news for us—being embarrassed (and not hiding it!) can actually help us connect with people much better. Hopefully, it’ll convince you to embrace blushing, feeling embarrassed, and being in awkward situations.
“Displaying signs of mild embarrassment can actually be socially constructive and make people feel more sympathetic towards you in the face of your faux pas,” Vanessa told Bored Panda that embarrassment (arising from whatever social situation we might be in) can actually be the perfect opportunity to strengthen your relationship to the people around you.
Seasonal allergies during Covid-19.
Or asthma/copd ^-^ i get dirty looks from ppl when i cough (I'm wearing a mask, it's not covid!)
When you try to contribute to a conversation and someone cuts you off multiple times.
When you're next in line at the grocery store with your mom and she leaves you to "just get one more thing" and the anxiety and awkwardness builds because you're up and she's nowhere to be found.
“I don’t necessarily think you need to take pains to hide it,” the expert added that we ought to avoid running away from our embarrassment or pretending that you’re not feeling like you’re feeling. If we avoid these feelings, our social capital is likely to crash.
Meanwhile, embracing the awkwardness, embarrassment, and cringe tends to make us more accepted by others because they value our honesty.
Standing there while two people talk about something you don't know about.
Oh, geez. You stand there and smile, until you remember a good excuse to excuse yourself.
When you think someone waves at you so you wave back, but they were waving at someone behind you.
Walking through a doorway only to catch your clothes on the handle and have it slingshot you backwards.
However, there is something that we should be aware of and that’s not letting our embarrassment turn to shame. A healthy dose of blushing and awkward mumbling is fine, but deep-seated shame is problematic in the long run.
“What you want to be careful not to do is to let embarrassment morph into the more destructive self-conscious emotion of shame, where you feel so badly about a minor mistake that you start to think there is something wrong with you and feel the need to completely disappear and hide away yourself,” Vanessa said to Bored Panda.
So go on, dear Readers! Go get yourself stuck in awkward situations. Feel the full burn of embarrassment and get closer to other people. Just remember not to let shame overtake you, ever.
When you're walking on a sidewalk with 2 other friends and you're the person that does not fit so you have to stay behind them.
When you swallow water wrong and it turns to a coughing fit in 2020.
You ever clogged a toilet in somewhere that wasn't your house.
When we were doing treks in the jungle, at base camp they had some super expensive eco toilet that does everything a sewage works does in one unit. My wife got really ill and singlehandedly destroyed the thing. Because she's such a shy introvert when she told me I went straight in there, waited around half an hour, came out and declared to the camp 'I've busted the shitter!'
Having “happy birthday” sung to you.
This! I find it really super, super awkward having happy birthday or something else sung to me and I always tell this very openly. However, people (especially my choir, as you can imagine) INSIST on doing so nonetheless - because, hey, it is my birthday and that is the custom. Yes, it is my birthday - shouldn't you, maybe, do something nice for me? Not something I really dislike very very much? What is the point in this, do people enjoy it so much making the birthday girl feel uncomfortable?
When you're walking and almost trip for no reason and look back at the invisible stick that you tripped on.
When you walk out of the store empty handed, feeling like you've just stole something.
When you’re saying goodbye to someone, and then you both end up walking in the same direction.
Or when you turn and walk into a wall with people watching.
With the second one, that's when I start making fun of myself to alleviate the humiliation.
Farting while coughing or sneezing.
Just wait till you get older and peeing while coughing or sneezing becomes a thing. That is worse
Saying “hello” or “how are you” to somebody and getting 100% ignored.
When someone sits beside you in metro or bus when there are hundreds of seats available.
Having your stomach rumble in the middle of a quiet class/meeting.
I would say something like "come on, stomach, don't embarrass me like that" and hope they will laugh
When you're finishing up at the checkout and the cashier puts the notes on top of the receipt and then coins on top of that. Then the next person steps up and you're fumbling, trying to disassemble the stack in your hand, gather your shopping, say thanks and move away at the same time.
When you're walking behind someone that has a slightly slower pace than you, so you start to pass them, but then have that awkward moment when you're walking next to them before you cut in front of them.
It's more than just awkward when you're going for a walk in the woods and you're a guy walking behind a slightly slower female. Scary for her, uncomfortable for me. I usually jog past her to get it over with as quickly as possible and say something friendly when I pass her. Still. Uncomfortable. 😬
When you hold the door for someone but realize that they're actually kinda far away so they have to do the awkward skipping thing and you feel awful.
When you reply to a stranger who says hello, but then realize they were on the phone and not speaking to you. Happened to me just yesterday and I didn't get any sleep last night as I couldn't stop reliving the moment.
I'm guilty of doing this on purpose and even continuing part of the discussion until I can't follow anymore (get into specifics) but I do it quietly so I don't get heard... Silly I know, but it is what it is...
Not hearing what the other person said, so you just nod and smile, praying it wasn't a question.
When you're walking past coworker and you've already said hello earlier. Everyone's making that weird flat smile.
Coming out of a public toilet after laying a beast and there is someone waiting to go in the cubicle.
Oh yeah-or leaving a cubicle that was filthy before you got there and someone is about to go in behind you...
When you run out of things to say during a conversation and you’re not quite sure how to end it.
When someone says words incorrectly like "expecially" but it's rude to correct them because they're a stranger, or your boss, or your new girlfriend's/boyfriend's parents... but you're dying inside.
I listen out to hear if there's a pattern. If you've never met them before, it's possible their mispronunciation is the result of a speech impediment, so I try to reserve judgement until I know whether they genuinely don't know the word, or they cannot wrap their mouth around S and X separately.
When you start a story and it gets interrupted a bunch of times so that what was an amazing story with a kicka*s finish/punchline is instead just a waste of time now.
Being at a friends house as a kid and the friend's mother starts yelling at your friend.
Being at a friends house as a kid and the friend's father walks in only wearing underwear.
I guess the other way around would be even more awkward (with the father yelling and the mother walking in...)
Someone showing everyone in the group something on their phone and waiting until it is your turn.
Being expected to make polite conversation while having a gynecological exam. There you are, p*ssy exposed, legs spread wide, someone is stuffing something up your vagina, and you are expected to be able to talk about the weather.
One thing I've learned is that there are good times and bad times for small talk with patients. This is defiantly a bad time.
Card declining.
The big dramatic pause while it decides if it accepts or declines feels like forever, regardless of my balance
Go to wash your hands and the water comes out at a thousand miles an hour, splashing your crotch. You are of course, at work.
When you're home alone, so you take a poop with the door open. Then you suddenly hear the front door of the house open...
If the front door of our house is opening then it's either hubby or the kids so not a big deal.
Ever drag your shoe across a tile floor and have it make a loud, wet, fart sound, so everyone in the room looks at you? Then you insist it was your shoe and try to make the sound again, but nothing happens?
Yeah, that.
One time I was walking with my 3.5 yo nephew and he goes "Did you just prrt" (he meant fart). I was mortified because 1. people where walking behind us and 2. I didn't do anything! There's no correct answer to this question!
That awkward moment where you and somebody else try to let each other speak but you both try speak at the same time and just keep failing.
That's similar to when you move to the side to let someone past but then they too step to the same side and then you end up doing a little awkward back and forth dance.
When you realize you are walking the wrong way so you pat your pockers to pretend you forgot something and you have to go back, or pretend you are checking Google maps instead of just turning around.
Being called on to answer a question you really have no idea how to answer.
It's almost like it was on purpose, because you knew the answer to EVERY SINGLE QUESTION except this one
When you r in a group of people and you slowly get pushed out
So awkward chatting with a group and the topic and people wander off. So you admire the scenery or head for the food bar.
When someone keeps calling you by a wrong name. You let it slide to begin with thinking they have just made a mistake, but then it carries on for such a long time that you can never correct them.
Stalking someone on social media and accidentally liking a comment from months/years ago.
I block men ( and it's always men) who send me a friend request and then go through 10 years of pictures and like them all. It is creepy
When you're out and someone approaches you with an "Oh hi *insert name*, nice to see you again!" and you have no idea who that person is.
Happened to my dad all the time ( lawn service customers, he ran his own business). He always kept it to generic chit chat after he once asked a man how his wife was and it turned out she died of cancer and the man started crying while Dad slowly backed away. I would always ask who the people were he would chat with about weather, sports or lawns and he would say "no idea"
When someone tries to give u a fist bump but u go for a high five.
When the server brings your food and says “enjoy your food” and starts walking away and you say back, “you too”.
Better than saying "love you too", which is have done a few times before.
Forgetting someone’s name and having to introduce them to someone
oh easy solution Me: "Hey how are you, meet my friend here, you guys can shake hands and introduce yourselves to each other, dont be shy..." lol works all the time
When you are videochatting, start talking and because of the delay you interrupt each other all the time. Stop talking, start again, interrupt the other one, stop talking.. Never ending story.
I did a podcast with a colleague with hearing issues ( he has a cochlear implant) on zencastr halfway around the world and it was quite an issue. Thankfully both tracks record separately and it could all be cleaned up in editing.
you are surrounded by strangers (let's say a bus), no cell phone, no headphones... You remember a really stupid and funny thing and you start laughing, congratulations, now everyone is looking at you asking why the hell you're laughing
well, what are y'all looking at because since this is relatable, we all have had this moment so look away
Worrying about someone walking into that nasty fart you had to give back to the earth.
Farts are like people magnets...I could swear I am completely alone and I'll let 'er rip and all of a sudden there someone in my space to experience it, too! LOL
When you say something funny and no one reacts so you say it again and they are like: why did you just repeat that stupid joke?
nope, that has never happened because I dont repeat embarrassing jokes...
I'm not sure if everyone can relate to this, but one of the most awkward situation I've ever found myself in was being invited to meet my girlfriend's family and over dinner her parents got into a massive fight.
When you go for a hug but the other person goes for a handshake, so you start with a handshake but do a weird hug at the same time with your hands in each other’s crotches.
The accidental fart.
accidental silent fart is good, just accidental fart that is blatantly embarassing
When you’re the plus one a party where no one else brought a plus one.
When you send a text to a friend just to say hi, and they never text back.
Especially you see that they read it 2 seconds after you sent it!
The fake smile on your face when you receive a terrible gift.
Calling your teacher mom
I did the opposite once at home, went to call out something to mum and for some reason said my teachers name instead.
“Would you like to round up your bill for charity?”
I always feel bad when I say no.
"Nope. I'll donate to charity myself and then I'LL claim it on tax, rather than your corporation getting the tax breaks on charitable donations."
When you ask someone a question, but can’t hear the answer, then you ask them again and still can’t hear them.
Then just saying “ahh okay” and praying you don’t need to know whatever it was they said!
This is daily with my students talking with masks on and behind those ridiculous plexiglass shields...I can hardly even deal.
This one goes out to the girls who didnt have a lot of powerful up lifting women in their lives...but the first time a girl has to buy pads/tampons..its really awkward like youre letting the whole world know your baby maker is working...i know whe i was 10 and i had to do this, i was so terrified/weirded out, i thought everyone was watching me.
As a shy teenage girl desperate to buy sanitary towels but the till is manned by a young male teenager. It had me close to tears as a girl.
When you think you hung up the phone but you didn’t and proceeded to say something unflattering about the person you were talking to.
I’ve been on the that receiving end, please make sure you fully hang up first people
Not being able to pick up when someone else is completely disinterested in what you are talking about
Someone trying to initiate a handshake after you’ve just washed your hands. It’s either a few awkward seconds of quickly drying your hands on your jeans, or shaking their hand anyway and seeing the discomfort in their eyes
I used to give my forearm while apologizing... But Covid solved all of this for us.
When the restroom stall doors naturally fall shut and there's no vacancy indicator so you have to knock or push at the door to check if it is empty.
KIND OF knowing someone in the office... Well, you guys spoke that one time : so now everytime you see each other, in the lift, walking down the corridor, you have to decide where to put your eyes until you 'naturally' see each other and say Hi. Ugh
There needs to be a word for this "relationship." I bet the Germans have one.
As a nurse, you are commonly thanked by a patient when you leave their room. Once in a while they something else, and the “you’re welcome” comes out by habit.
When you go to someone’s house and their big dog won’t stop jumping on you or licking you.
I utterly love the attention from animals, so I don't understand how this can be awkward
When you’re on a video chat for school, work, etc. and you let out a loud one only to realize...
you weren’t muted
when ur friend sees a friend and starts talking and you just stand there because you’re conditioned to keep your mouth shut but in reality I think im supposed to introduce myself?
No! Your mutual friend is supposed to introduce you and the other person to each other.
For the guys: When you want to get out of a chair and go somewhere but you had a random boner pop up out of nowhere.
That used to happen to me when I got on the school bus. Aw, great memories. 😑
When you remember something awkward in public and you audibly cringe or make weird faces
When you type your password in the username box while someone is watching
This one is on them, they should look somewhere else or even give you some privacy.
When everybody’s singing you happy birthday and you have no idea how to react
When you want to Tell someting important/funny and everyone is listening but you start to stutter and cannot find the words etc. Ends up with everyone silent.
When you simply cannot understand what someone is saying, but you’ve used all of the acceptable “what was that, sorry?”’s already.
Happens to me all the time at work, and it’s a running joke that I’m a deaf 20 year old.
When you accidentally say "You too!" after someone says something that isn't compatible with that statement and you just stare awkwardly at each other.
Ordering a food delivery and getting the same delivery person as you did last time. Bonus points if it’s been a week or less since your last delivery.
When you call the food place and they greet you by your name and ask "the usual?" (happened a lot when I was a student at university)
When your at your friends house and they start talking to there parents do you just keep following your friend around
When you’re at a self serve place, or retail store and presented a tablet that asks for a tip percentage. You know there shouldn’t be a tip because there is no service aspect to it, but you feel obligated because there is a person watching you.
When you're pissing in a urinal and a dude just pulls up to the one beside you, even though there are 8 urinals available
As a teen it’s very awkward when relatives ask what games I’ve been playing recently. Even when I do tell them they obviously don’t know what it is so they’ll either just bob their head or ask me about it. It’s good that their trying to show interest in something I like to do but it feel there are always much better questions to be had.
When you go for a handshake, but other person doesn't respond, or doesn't respond on time.
(Sticking to Namastey from now on after current situation and to avoid the awkwardness)
when you befriend someone and they ghost you a week later
When you're at a bar and your drink-ordering and/or piss-taking schedule syncs up with someone else's. Double the awkwardness if both ordering AND pissing lines up.
When you're going through customs after being on a plane and you're pretty sure you didn't pack away £3million of cocaine, but you're s**t scared in case somehow you may of!
or when they ask you if your shoes have dirt on them. "Well, yeah. I wore my shoes, and, yea, it rained, so obviously there's mud somewhere in the tread."
Load More Replies...
When you're walking down the street and come to a corner, ad you see a car coming, too, and it's just far enough away you MIGHT be able to cross in time but it's also kinda moving fast and you can't be sure they'll stop for you, so you stand there pretending to be busy on your phone until they pass--and then like six more cars appear out of nowhere so you keep standing there pretending to be too busy to cross still until all of them are gone.
Frequently happens when trying to get to your car in the parking lot. You feel like when you step out of the store, the drivers of the cars in the lot are saying "Let the games begin! First pedestrian is worth 50 points!!!"
Load More Replies... When you're in a public restroom stall that has a broken lock and someone walks in the restroom. You have to do "let's keep the door closed" Yoga and stretch a hand out to stop them coming in or you just pray they see your feet in time before pushing the door open. And when they realize their mistake and say "Oops, sorry." Why do we always respond with "That's ok."
When you're going through customs after being on a plane and you're pretty sure you didn't pack away £3million of cocaine, but you're s**t scared in case somehow you may of!
or when they ask you if your shoes have dirt on them. "Well, yeah. I wore my shoes, and, yea, it rained, so obviously there's mud somewhere in the tread."
Load More Replies... When you're walking down the street and come to a corner, ad you see a car coming, too, and it's just far enough away you MIGHT be able to cross in time but it's also kinda moving fast and you can't be sure they'll stop for you, so you stand there pretending to be busy on your phone until they pass--and then like six more cars appear out of nowhere so you keep standing there pretending to be too busy to cross still until all of them are gone.
Frequently happens when trying to get to your car in the parking lot. You feel like when you step out of the store, the drivers of the cars in the lot are saying "Let the games begin! First pedestrian is worth 50 points!!!"
Load More Replies... When you're in a public restroom stall that has a broken lock and someone walks in the restroom. You have to do "let's keep the door closed" Yoga and stretch a hand out to stop them coming in or you just pray they see your feet in time before pushing the door open. And when they realize their mistake and say "Oops, sorry." Why do we always respond with "That's ok."
