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If you hear someone say, "I'm not scared of that," or, "I didn't want that promotion anyway," it doesn't necessarily mean they're mentally strong. In fact, there's a good chance it's just a facade.

To illustrate this, let's look at the subreddit which we at Bored Panda call "I Am Very Bad". From gun nuts to overly-protective boyfriends, this online community has plenty of examples to prove that overcompensation can be very, very obvious.

Here are the posts that got the most upvotes from the sub's 1.2 million members.

To learn more about "I Am Very Bad" we contacted its moderators and one of them, u/ergoegthatis, agreed to have a little chat.

"Some of the most popular ['tough' people on the subreddit are the ones who see] injustice in the news (e.g. someone being insulted or bear up), and say, 'If that happened to me I'd so and so and so and so!' With everyone on social media having a platform to air any opinion they have, this is incredibly common," u/ergoegthatis told Bored Panda.

"Also in the US, there are many intense political/social statements related to politics and guns. For some reason, Americans are religiously addicted to expressing their opinions on everything, in every possible way (including car decals)."

#2

And Murdered By Words Of Another Vet

And Murdered By Words Of Another Vet

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Demi Zwaan
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah yes, the 'us' and 'them' mentality. Also the result of brainwashing. If someone cuts in line, say something. You don't immediately have to resort to violence like a little coward who can't communicate his feelings like a normal adult. (edited the bad word to coward)

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#3

Vaping In Front Of A Water Service Vehicle Thinking It's A Cop Car

Vaping In Front Of A Water Service Vehicle Thinking It's A Cop Car

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even though it's not a cop car, why would it matter if he was vaping in front of one. Is it coz he is possibly under-age or something?

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According to the moderator, the subreddit's 'characters' usually overcompensate due to their fear of a scary, unpredictable, and hostile world.

"It depends on society too: we rarely see these ... expressions coming from Europe, the Arab world, Southern and Central America, Russia, China, Japan, etc. America is witnessing social, political, and economic implosions, so this seems to be a way for them to cope with that," they added.

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The subreddit's community, on the other hand, is way more diverse. "It's heterogeneous, [and has] got all sorts of people," u/ergoegthatis said. "I don't think there's any common factor in our userbase, except the desire to have fun and laugh at people who take their purported [toughness] to comical levels in public."

#4

A Birthday Well Wish Escalates To ”there Will Be Consequences”

A Birthday Well Wish Escalates To ”there Will Be Consequences”

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#5

Even My Local Police Department Had To Call Out This Guy's Bulls**t

Even My Local Police Department Had To Call Out This Guy's Bulls**t

reddit.com Report

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Marcellus II
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm wondering in this scenario, what's the motivation of criminal nr 1000 to go test the door, when there's already a stack of 999 corpses festering in the spring sunshine?

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While acting tough may meet a person's needs in the short term by artificially boosting their ego or by getting others to back off, it's not a good long-term strategy. In fact, one study conducted by psychologists at Rutgers University found that guys who act tough may suffer serious consequences.

The paper, published in The Journal of Health Psychology, found that these men visit doctors less often. They're also less forthcoming about their medical symptoms when they see a male physician (interestingly, these same men were more likely to choose a male doctor because they believe male doctors are more competent than females).

#6

My Friend And His Wife Are Going Through A Mutual Divorce, Her New Boyfriend Is Wasting No Time Asserting Dominance

My Friend And His Wife Are Going Through A Mutual Divorce, Her New Boyfriend Is Wasting No Time Asserting Dominance

KaleBrecht Report

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michellesavage226 avatar
pixie420 avatar
J. Normal
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like the only thing the new bf brings is size. Hope he fcks good, because he is going to fck up her life. (It will not end well)

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Veronica Popescu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So she is divorcing a calm, smart guy for a violent, insecure one. Great job Sara!

daniel_mattock avatar
Daniel Mattock
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s always good to stay calm and rational in the face of hostility, it makes the other person look even more stupid

teresacline avatar
Cold Contagious
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ikr, it's obvious what he meant by having his lawyer take care of it, but dude was just determined to lay all that out there regardless and looking too hard for something to be offended by. If he were speaking, he'd been foaming at the mouth.

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donotreplytokjk avatar
meinespammailadresse1 avatar
A B C
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, it's her own fault, so my compassion is limited. I just don't understand why there still are people falling for dipshits like this guy.

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ishma-in008 avatar
S.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I CANNOT with Mike's messages. Yes, I myself use slangs and acronyms, but his grammar does not help him at all — he texts like a 10 year old on some Minecraft server.

neilbidle avatar
Devil's Advocate
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't know why Sara left her hubby, but she's definitely downgraded to an absolute f*****g douchewaffle!!

corey-h-brown_1 avatar
timothy green
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sara, really? An idiot like that? You must have very low self esteem

boredpanda_127 avatar
A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The new boyfriend sounds like a winner. Well done, Sara.

aminahays_1 avatar
Amina Hays
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope his ex wife dumped her boyfriend, he sounds like such a wanker.

glirpy avatar
Glirpy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can see why the dude wanted to divorce Sara if she’d rather be with a guy like that.

hoffmann-hayden avatar
that rando_;)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ummm I think Sara made the wrong choice of which man she wants. 0_0

janetch avatar
Janet C
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She left the literate man in green for the caveman in grey? Yikes? Green man is the winner here.

gregglong avatar
Gregg Long
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah it that's who Sara is with now you made the right call.

atlmainiac avatar
Martha Higgins
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sara might want to rethink Mike as her choice for a new "man.".

rileyhquinn avatar
Riley Quinn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For some reason, Sara has lowered the bar down to the floor. Seems her soon-to-be ex is more intelligent and mature.

kjl01 avatar
Karen Lyon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like the one above over the birthday wishes: the woman in question needs to kick the macho man to the curb. Nothing good comes from having a boyfriend who doesn't let the woman take care of herself.

jaybird3939 avatar
Jaybird3939
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like she's going from a nice, intelligent man to a wannabe (did I use that right?) gangster.

annarepp avatar
Anna Repp
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, another poor girl hooking up with a controlling abuser... She needs to run! maybe her ex is not a great guy to be with - but neither is the new one. Leave them both girl!

ash2lar avatar
Christine M Quigley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Umm..this is her 'new' boyfriend?? I hope Sarah drops him like a hot potato..a little insecure, perhaps??!!

claireskrine avatar
Just saying
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sara seems to have exchanged a grown up for a man child. poor sara.

noneanon avatar
Random Anon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow I can totally see how a divorce seem to be the only course of action here.

frostirin avatar
lightbulb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can already tell that breaking up with the new guy is gonna be a nightmare.

westwingpotus avatar
westwing
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently ex-wife has a fondness for the over bearing & possessive barely literate. What’s with all these women whose men control every aspect of their lives????

iva_kazalova avatar
Iva Kazalova
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If i was that ex-husband, this would be keeping me cheery all morning, that Sara has downgraded to a level -100, IQ-wise 😂😂😂😂

jillhojnacki avatar
Jill Hojnacki
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If there were children involved, I’m really hoping he got custody. I’m not even sure about her getting visitation rights as long as this asshole is in her life; certainly not unsupervised.

rahni avatar
Rannveig Ess
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope this man knows how lucky he is that he's getting divorced. I bet this is the soon-to-be-ex playing games. If you're that much of an illiterate punk, you don't use correct punctuation

saderman avatar
Shelli Aderman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brain hurts trying to decipher her new beau’s text… 🤦🏽‍♀️

rhodabike6 avatar
Seabeast
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow... this is the new boyfriend? He'd better be good in bed, because he's as stupid as a log.

ashlyngdickson avatar
a_smol_berry
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

llsewer avatar
Jaguarundi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sara's current tastes in mature, male, companionship are seriously questionable.

jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like he's well out of that marriage if this is the kind of person she wants to be with.

vviieenn avatar
Vivienne Packham-Wood
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sara seriously downgraded in the divorce!!! Is the new guy gonna pee all over the ex's stuff too to 'assert' his dominance?

awoodhull avatar
Annamagelic
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Obviously we have no idea what went wrong in Sara's marriage, but her new guy is definitely NOT an improvement.

jamie_mayfield avatar
Ivana
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sara has made some mistakes in her life. Poor woman.

marshafredell avatar
Lovin' Life
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He needs some serious lessons in grammar. Get out Sara! He is a controlling POS

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#7

If You Have To Advertise It, It’s Probably Not True

If You Have To Advertise It, It’s Probably Not True

ReformedCanine Report

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Dee Hunter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Doesn't "Alpha" mean a version that's full of bugs and not in a condition to be released to the public?

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#8

She Always Told Me He Was Jealous But Dang

She Always Told Me He Was Jealous But Dang

TnTMassacre Report

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Researchers suspect that delaying medical appointments and minimizing symptoms could be one of the reasons why men in the US die, on average, five years earlier than women.

If you want to see whether or not you have a tendency to act this way, this article by Inc. provides a 7-point checklist that could help in evaluating yourself.

If you're also putting up a fake exterior that helps you feel superior, consider the toll it may take on your life. Instead, try to invest in building mental strength, so the way you feel on the inside matches how others see you on the outside. As your mental strength increases, your need to act tough decreases.

#9

Comment On A Post About An Old Couple Having To Slowly Put Back Potatoes One At A Time At A Grocery Store Until The Price Was Low Enough Because They Are Poor

Comment On A Post About An Old Couple Having To Slowly Put Back Potatoes One At A Time At A Grocery Store Until The Price Was Low Enough Because They Are Poor

CaseyS447 Report

#10

If A Cop Is A D*ck You Are Legally Allowed To Beat Him Up Apparently

If A Cop Is A D*ck You Are Legally Allowed To Beat Him Up Apparently

reddit.com Report

#11

You Never Know What Will Go Down At A Subway Sandwich Shop

You Never Know What Will Go Down At A Subway Sandwich Shop

RichPaulsBurner Report

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Penny Fan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's necessary because his masculinity is too fragile to survive without them.

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#12

Bad**s Boomer Responds To Being Ok'ed By A Journalist He Yelled At About Climate Change

Bad**s Boomer Responds To Being Ok'ed By A Journalist He Yelled At About Climate Change

FreezeSPreston Report

#13

High School Is A Hell Of A Drug

High School Is A Hell Of A Drug

Loof27 Report

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#14

His Daughter Took A Laptop Home From School To Message A Boy. So He Decides To Shoot The Laptop That Wasn’t Even His Property

His Daughter Took A Laptop Home From School To Message A Boy. So He Decides To Shoot The Laptop That Wasn’t Even His Property

howmanyletterscaniu Report

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ivoh avatar
Ivo H
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what happens when people are allowed to have more guns than IQ.

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#15

A Challenge From A Bad**s

A Challenge From A Bad**s

2DeadMoose Report

#17

Oh Man... Stay Away From This Guy!

Oh Man... Stay Away From This Guy!

whippedcreamcheese Report

#18

Shooting A Target From A Mile Away? Light Work

Shooting A Target From A Mile Away? Light Work

ANailBlaster Report

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KJ
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The (approximate) equivalent to the 13th furthest recorded sniper kill according to wiki.

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#19

Do Not Underestimate People With Multiple Font Tattoos

Do Not Underestimate People With Multiple Font Tattoos

ne_credibile Report

#20

Coronavirus Is Scared Of Catching Me

Coronavirus Is Scared Of Catching Me

irich Report

#21

Accidentally Added The Wrong Guy On Facebook. Guess I'm A Coward Now

Accidentally Added The Wrong Guy On Facebook. Guess I'm A Coward Now

HodlMeNow Report

#22

He Doesnt Need A Bed Just Sleeps In A Holster

He Doesnt Need A Bed Just Sleeps In A Holster

AnonymousAnalAssasin Report

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keith-johnson avatar
KJ
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That doesn't translate well to Scottish, calling someone a weapon up here isn't a compliment.

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#23

I Love My Friend But I Get These Often

I Love My Friend But I Get These Often

friendlynood Report

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bet you threw your aluminum can in the trash instead of the recycling bin and jaywalked next, and everyone on the street begged you not to hurt them!

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#24

Vegans Can’t Even Make A Dent

Vegans Can’t Even Make A Dent

Sasha__fierce Report

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Iapetos
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I'm an asshole and I can't stand it when people try to make things better for anyone."

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#25

A Warm Welcome Back From My “Bad**s” Roommate

A Warm Welcome Back From My “Bad**s” Roommate

poser-genocide Report

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Dorothy Parker
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Girlfriend is being held captive. Save that text and use it as reason to move out. . .

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#26

Dysfunctional Veteran Leave Me Alone!

Dysfunctional Veteran Leave Me Alone!

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Demi Zwaan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure, because no one would call the police if they actually believed these were bodies. No, they'd go about their business and be nice and polite to the psycho killer.

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#28

School Dropouts Are Very Bad**s

School Dropouts Are Very Bad**s

kenziiefox Report

#30

U Can Use Your Zip Ties To Make Sure Your Legs Stay Together In The New Wheelchair

U Can Use Your Zip Ties To Make Sure Your Legs Stay Together In The New Wheelchair

highvolkage Report

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Jihana
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Obviously he does park like a jerk and feels threatened now.

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#31

Walmart Patriot

Walmart Patriot

domsak Report

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Wonderful
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let me translate “I was walking down the aisle when a guy wearing a mask passed by me and we briefly made eye contact. Then when I got home and went to take my daily poop I thought up this story to make me look like a bad ass.”

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#32

Shoot First, Ask Questions Later, I Guess

Shoot First, Ask Questions Later, I Guess

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#33

Going To The Gym Makes You Invincible

Going To The Gym Makes You Invincible

Here-For-The-Comment Report

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#34

A Comment: "I Bet You Spent More On This Than Your Kids Since They Were Born"

A Comment: "I Bet You Spent More On This Than Your Kids Since They Were Born"

Zorkonio Report

#35

Who Would Dare After That

Who Would Dare After That

barsby456 Report

Note: this post originally had 90 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.