From time to time, we all think of how unfair the world is and how much we’d like to remove all the suffering there is. The truth is, we cannot do that and we have to find ways to live in these difficult times, with all the ups and downs.
Or we can do the opposite and embrace the sadness and despair. We can look into the eyes of whatever it is that causes us pain and stand strong. In fact, there’s this whole corner of Reddit titled “Make Me Suffer” that does exactly that.
The group which is home to a whopping 1.1M members is dedicated to sharing pictures that capture anything from wholesome suffering to sad moments of reality. Scroll down through this new batch of “Make Me Suffer” examples below and be sure to check out Bored Panda’s previous feature with more pictures from the community.
Meanwhile, to find out more about our inner fascination with dark material such as serial killers to violence to disasters, we reached out to Helen Marlo, a licensed clinical psychologist and Jungian psychoanalyst who provides psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and consultation. Helen is also a Professor of Clinical Psychology and the Department Chair at Notre Dame de Namur University. She was happy to share some very interesting insights into this compelling topic.
This post may include affiliate links.
Jar Of Chocolate Reserved For An Animal Hospital's Euthanasia Appointments. They Said It's Because Dogs Don't Deserve To Die Without Tasting Chocolate
Sometimes I think about my cat crossing the rainbow bridge and I cry (like right now...)
“First, most of us are painfully aware that darkness, what some call evil, exists. We may satisfy some human, psychological needs when we engage with it through the news, movies, or documentaries,” Marlo said.
Marlo argues that “when watching another story, and in particular, these dark and traumatic stories, we witness another person’s narrative. Narrating one’s own story, especially if we have a story that includes trauma, is emotional and hard.”
Meanwhile, “watching another’s story can give us a sense of gaining understanding or relief for ‘free,’ because we are hearing about another’s story but not doing any of the hard, psychological work to create our own story.”
Oh Hell No
Marlo explained that “it is a little like someone who reads a self-help book and imagines they will get better by reading about another person’s process. This is especially true if the story that we are fixated on has personal or traumatic meaning for us.”
Moreover, becoming immersed in another’s dark story can be a vicarious version of what psychologists call, ‘identification with the aggressor.’ “Rather than being the victim, one identifies with the aggressor and their story, and can displace unthinkable, dark impulses onto the person they are viewing, who may be doing things they may not be able to think about but wish to do.”
Marlo explained that “they may also feel more powerful, safer, strong, dominant, and in control by viewing another doing unthinkable things but they are watching and don’t have to act it out in their real life where it would have negative consequences internally and externally.”
Imagine All The Poop Particles On The Food They Serve
South Shore Vet Clinic: "This Tick Has Been Hanging Around For Us To Show People For A While"
"After months in a sealed container with no additional feeding she laid eggs. This gives you an idea of how long a tick can be dormant and how many eggs one female can lay."
The Jungian psychoanalyst argues that “by watching about another’s story, we may gain a sense of control, understanding, or vicarious mastery over our own aggressive fantasies and anxieties about evil, whether we imagine ourselves in the role of the perpetrator and/or victim.”
This could explain Netflix’s hugely popular docuseries “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (2022). Arlo argues that the Jeffrey Dahmer story, for example, gives us at least one version of a real-life story of a serial killer.
“We may feel as if we have a better understanding of senseless violence and the irrationalities of evil by becoming immersed in learning about one person’s story. His story is a mixture of elements—some common and some uncommon—which enables us to compare and contrast this story with our own life story and our own fears, wishes, and/or fantasies.”
An X-Ray Of A Man’s Arm That Was Crushed By A Meat Grinder
Apparently, I’m Allergic To Everything
Bottles Of Pee Thrown Into The Woods By Truck Drivers
But how can we explain our fascination with this kind of raw, violent, and unpleasant material? Well, Marlo says we can look for answers in the psychological mechanism of displacement.
“We all can feel some sense of vulnerability in knowing we could be the target of random violence or evil. We may feel a fascination and some voyeuristic pleasure in seeing another’s story and hearing how it happened to someone else. I am not suggesting that many of us wish harm on another person or even get sadistic pleasure in others’ suffering, although some people do.”
The Jungian psychoanalyst continued: “Rather, knowing that humans can hurt and inflict suffering on one another, and that irrational and uncontrollable things happen, becoming engrossed in another’s dark misfortune can help us feel less vulnerable and find some relief.”
Every Gun Is Loaded And Every Pot Handle Is Hot
Did your hand get stuck to it or are you just a ridiculously fast blisterer?
First Micky And Minnie Costumes Circa 1939
What Getting Shot In The Elbow With A 12 Gauge Shotgun Looks Like On X-Ray
Surprisingly, watching such stories may, actually, increase our empathy for others’ suffering. “In the story, we might imagine this misfortune came from natural consequences, poor choices, genetics, karma, bad luck, or the fickle finger of fate. And becoming fascinated by another’s story may help us feel, irrationally, that we can protect ourselves from it; or are inoculated from it and/or that we can learn from it and escape this misfortune.” So in the end, it likely has a completely opposite effect than the material itself.
Another explanation for our fascination with the dark side of life can be found in a basic law of psychic behavior known as “compensation,” Marlo told us. “This is especially true when we are surprised by someone that we may not think would be utterly fascinated by stories of dark news. The law of compensation posits that when one attitude and approach to life is overdeveloped in consciousness, then a corresponding compensation emerges from the unconscious to help bring the psyche back into balance.”
A Friend Of Mine Had Scoliosis And This Is Pictures From Their Surgery
My Friend Sent Me A Picture Of His Bedsheets After A Nights Sleep Fighting Off A Fever
My bf always sweats like this in his sleep we don't know what's wrong
Don’t Like Spiders? How About A Zombified Spider Reanimated By A Fungal Infestation?
Marlo argues that “this other side compensates for thoughts, perceptions, and emotions which fail to reach consciousness because we may dissociate, repress, or defend against them in a variety of ways.”
She gave an example: “a pacifist may have flashes of violent imagery, thoughts, and dreams that they banish from awareness. These flashes can be their psyche’s way of raising their awareness about this other side of life, to gain more balance, and become more whole. The pacifist may become fascinated by these dark stories as a way of bringing some of the dark, aggressive, combative energy into their otherwise peaceful life as a pacifist.”
Marlo recounted how she had a patient who loved watching true crime. “In her professional work, she had to be very responsible, personable, kind, and empathic to many underserved people. Watching true crime helped her have an outlet from her otherwise kind and generous life spent serving other people.”
The Big Mackkake
Dad Almost Drank Him But They Def Touched Lips
The Brown??
And if you ever wondered if something’s wrong with you because you’re drawn to dark material, you’re not the only one and it can also be perfectly explained. Marlo argues that being human also means having dark impulses or undeveloped, “hurt part of ourselves that Jung called our Shadow.”
Marlo explained Jung’s theory of Shadow further: “We all have a shadow that expresses itself in moments of pain, stress, and unconsciousness. Typically, objects of fascination on crime shows or social media are people whose shadows are big; out there; exposed for our viewing.”
Be White Like Ghost, Float Down River For 4hrs No Sunscreen
One Of The Kindergartners Drew Their Mommy
It's Transformation Into A Real Mouse Is Nearly Complete
Think of it as a public display of impulses that most of us usually keep inside and underground, Marlo argues. “It can be fascinating for us to see others’ shadows out there whether their shadow is familiar or foreign to our self. In addition, we stay fascinated with their story because it gives us an opportunity to see what happens when one lives out this dark side—something that some individuals could not even imagine let alone dream of doing.”
Ancient Egyptian Dental Work
You Guys Ever Get A Mustache Hair Stuck In Your Can, Pull It Out, Then Cry Like The Manly Man You Are?
Little Kid Crying Because Mom Found His Pee Drawer
Whoever Designed This Deserves A Slow Death
Brushing Your Teeth And You Realise There Were More Bristles Today
Mosquito Feeder
This Guy Trying To Fix This Mess
Bed Bugs
Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis "Treeman Syndrome"
Poor guy. Apparently he had it all surgically removed, but it started to grow back.
The Source Of My Mom’s Car Odor (Spoiled Milk Gone Unnoticed In The Tire Hatch)
Perks Of Living In Desert Areas
Please..... Stop Mentioning How Hot It Is
Have A Guess How Much Pain I’m In
Phineas Gage. The Man That Survived A Tamping Iron Through The Skull. More On Him By Samonella Academy
If not for him, the horror that is lobotomy may never have been devised.
He Cut Off His Lips, Ears And 2 Fingers. Now, 'Black Alien' Plans To Amputate 2 More Fingers, Leg
The Way This Gymnast Is Standing
Rhythmic gymnasts and dancers do that. My sister was a ballet dancer for a very long time and some of the stuff she could do with her feet just looked crazy uncomfortable.
Seems To Be Very Safe
Human Eyes Threepio
This Will Haunt My Dreams
I Can Feel The Anger From Cleaning That Chocolate On The Keyboard
Barefoot Is Still Illegal In Most Stores So Here's A Life Hack
Eeeeew! Bare foot soles that are so dark with filth and dirt are gross enough as is, and then I imagine these people going to public restrooms, and... yeah... *hurls*
There's a reason why stores don't allow bare feet. That is Sick!
Load More Replies...Long, long ago (the nineties) I had a manager at work who followed some Californian guru who forbade shoes to his followers, which is probably fine in California if you have adoring acolytes to drive you everywhere, but she got frostbite in her toes waiting for a bus one freezing British January day. It was crazy. She wore these little beaded string things on her feet in the office that looked like sandals until you saw the lack of soles and actually had a pair of shoes like these with the soles cut off for disguise when necessary after a couple of shops wouldn't let her in. She just stopped coming in one day, never did find out what happened to her.
Why is it forbidden? I'm just really curious, where I live nobody cares. I get the feet get dirty, but the shoes also get dirty, so what's the difference?
Try having to clean up little tiny blood stains on the floor of the grocery store you work at because Kale Leaf and his love partner Bean Paste cut their feet on the barbed wire surrounding the farm they squatted at the other night. This comes from personal experience, only the names were changed. Maybe.
Load More Replies...Why would you go bare foot into a store (or anywhere outdoors for that matter), people track all sorts of sh!t in on their shoes and your taking it home on your bare feet.
Sure, it's all fun and games until you step on broken glass, you idiot.
This is like the shoes she wore at one point! (I think. Could be remembering wrong)
Load More Replies...At this point it isn't even about what you're spreading, but what you're putting on your skin. I like being barefoot as much as possible, but that doesn't include walking around a store, and rarely outside. TBH treading through all the fallen leaves the other night was a truly glorious feeling, but walking on all the stones that show up on pavement is decidedly not.
There are shards of broken glass on the floors of most stores. When a glass jar/bottle falls, glass goes *flying* and it’s practically impossible to get it all. Don’t go into stores barefoot.
Honestly... I would still do it. I'm all for bare feet, no matter where
That's a perfect illustration of why you can't go into businesses barefoot. And how would you ever get your feet clean enough to get into your bed?
I understand in the summertime wanting to walk around barefoot in the grass or whatever. UT this? Why would anybody want to walk in public stores with no shoes on?
Umm...why not just wear proper shoes??? Look how filthy the bottom of the foot is.
Life hack? Why? Is there such a pressing need to go barefoot that someone considers this ‘genius’?
I knew someone that never ever wore shoes. He worked as a biologist, in swampy areas. Gross.
That is disgusting on SO many levels. I heard the actress Allison Janney on a talk show sharing her best piece of advice - "never go to bed with dirty feet". I will literally wash my feet at 3am because of her.
I remembered some project I had in primary school, about making useless products and advertising them. I designed some "soulier sans semelle" (shoes without soles). The selling points being to be able to feel the nature and enjoy all sorts of things cutting your feet. "Buy it now to get an additional pair of snow shoes without soles for free".
*throws up 8 times* You know you ruined perfectly good shoes for this... *barfs again*
Ewww. Look at the black on the bottom of his feet tho. Lord knows what he's stepped in all day long.
I don't know why people like Walking bare foot. That's how you get primary and secondary infections and can die. Step on one little thing and you could be done. No you won't get "hard feet". You will get disgusting black infected feet.
But why??? If you have to wear shoes, why not wear them instead of this weird stuff
I don't understand why people like do walk round city barefoot Shoes are to protect your feet they are not your enemies
When you step on a piece of glass or other sharp detritus, DO NOT ask store clerks for help. Take your stupid bleeding a*s outside. Having had to deal with broken glass often in a store, it's very difficult to get it all up. That's why we want you to wear shoes. To keep you from hurting yourself because you're obviously too stupid to think for yourself. Honest to God. No wonder humanity is doomed.
I used to Love going barefoot. Until, I learned about: people spit on the sidewalk, animals pee and poop on it, and a host of other things. That's a Nope!
Not only should being barefoot remain illegal, flip-flops should be banned in public too. No-one wants to see your scabby feet
As someone who once worked in a hippie valley at a natural foods grocery store... go f**k yourself.
It takes more effort to rip out the sole of your shoe than to just wear the shoes!!!
There is a group that loves "barefooting" it https://www.barefooters.org/
But why would you actually *want* to go barefoot other than in your own home or beach/pool?
That's How It Works?
Head (Ship’s Restroom) Of Navy Destroyer Uss Kidd That Sailed From 1943 To 1967. One Seat Is Painted Red: This Was Called The "Hot Seat" And It Was Reserved For Crew Who Had Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Nice Phone Holder You Got There
Soup Du Jour! (Dishie Refuses To Change The Water And Just Says He’s Been Washing Dishes For 40 Years)
MmmMmmM scrumdiliumcious.... and all that extra flavor. Dont be shy yall dig in!
For All My Car Guys Out There
Dude Making Some Blood Donations (Blood Type No!!!!)
Jesus I’m Scared…
Who Does This
I Have No Words
Spider Sac Inside Keyboard
Note: this post originally had 117 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
My wife had to ask me if I was okay as I couldn't breath after reading this. I may have broken a rib laughing.
Load More Replies...You know that feeling when you want to hit the page back button, but can't and just keep scrolling ... I just had that feeling over and over for the past few minutes.
Same, I know I should not have read this post but I couldn't help it.
Load More Replies...Regarding the comments, I'm obviously not the only one feeling uncomfortable right now, so I‘d really like to know: What is your default sensation while looking at posts like this? For me it's always a tingling in my feet.
Idk, came straight to the comments to confirm I should NOT look at this list! 😅 (Tingling in feet is a flight response though, I think? Like you want to run away...)
Load More Replies...Who hurt you BoredPanda, who hurt you? This has to be one of the more disturbing things that has been posted on this site.
This post was a train wreck, on top of a car wreck on top of plane crash, you just couldn't look away. 🤦
I should not have read that. I'm still shuddering and trying not to puke.
Go ahead. I've already vomited so you won't be alone (it was the mold behind the fridge that did it for me).
Load More Replies...Nothing. Don't worry about it. Eat these chips, you don't need more trauma.
Load More Replies...Then throw it all outside and stomp on it, right? That's the next line, right??
Load More Replies...BP tricked us with showing the tamest pics on the main page & then showing us these horrors!
I made it to the end! It's time to go to bed now and my retinas have been burned and my brain is fried. I'm calling work, maybe it's not too late to take that overtime since sleep isn't happening.
My wife had to ask me if I was okay as I couldn't breath after reading this. I may have broken a rib laughing.
Load More Replies...You know that feeling when you want to hit the page back button, but can't and just keep scrolling ... I just had that feeling over and over for the past few minutes.
Same, I know I should not have read this post but I couldn't help it.
Load More Replies...Regarding the comments, I'm obviously not the only one feeling uncomfortable right now, so I‘d really like to know: What is your default sensation while looking at posts like this? For me it's always a tingling in my feet.
Idk, came straight to the comments to confirm I should NOT look at this list! 😅 (Tingling in feet is a flight response though, I think? Like you want to run away...)
Load More Replies...Who hurt you BoredPanda, who hurt you? This has to be one of the more disturbing things that has been posted on this site.
This post was a train wreck, on top of a car wreck on top of plane crash, you just couldn't look away. 🤦
I should not have read that. I'm still shuddering and trying not to puke.
Go ahead. I've already vomited so you won't be alone (it was the mold behind the fridge that did it for me).
Load More Replies...Nothing. Don't worry about it. Eat these chips, you don't need more trauma.
Load More Replies...Then throw it all outside and stomp on it, right? That's the next line, right??
Load More Replies...BP tricked us with showing the tamest pics on the main page & then showing us these horrors!
I made it to the end! It's time to go to bed now and my retinas have been burned and my brain is fried. I'm calling work, maybe it's not too late to take that overtime since sleep isn't happening.