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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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#17

Oh Man... Stay Away From This Guy!

Oh Man... Stay Away From This Guy!

whippedcreamcheese Report

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

everyone clapped afterwards and she wanted to marry him, right?

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

Yes and then they rode off on his motorcycle to the wedding and the queen came and he was the toughest one there

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

And then he woke up took a shower to clean up and change and called his mom and said "it happened again, I need new sheets".

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

B/c I'm sure the TSA agent just loves watching an asshole take off every metal accessory they own as that always smooth moving line of not-at-all antsy or irritated travelers grows longer.

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

How pathetic is it when someone is so insecure that they have to (try to) assert dominance over a TSA screener?

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

if you are going to the airport, you will be going through a metal detector. *this guy: puts on as much metal as he can first...

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

And doesn't take it all off and put it in the bin before he gets to the metal detector. Anyone who has been through a TSA line sometime in the last decade, even more, knows the drill. But, yeah, when I'm going to fly, I don't bother putting on stuff I know will set off the detector.

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

WOW! Can we all pray together that he not be allowed to father children.

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

That's funny.... I'm an old school metalhead. Early 80's version.. and a nerd. NOBODY I know in the metal community would have said this as most metalheads were right next to nerds on the edge of society. Ever wonder where all those metal album covers, songs, imagery, etc.. came from? D&D books, Mythology, Nerd stuff....

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LH25
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My first thought reading the "two cuffs, my waist chain" was "wouldn't the cops transporting him do that?"

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

Why would anyone wear all this $hit to the airport on the first place? 🙄 Who you pi$$ed off is everyone else waiting to go through security 😒

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

i have a feeling that people who are actually metal don't go around telling people

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

He probably has a metal plate in his head which would account for the stupidity.

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

Why would anyone wear that much metal KNOWING they would have to go through a metal detector.

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

That's what happens when you fly con air. Gotta take of the handcuffs, belt and chain which ties you to your correction officers.

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

Why didn't you do this before you got to the security desk, as you are supposed to do?

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

"I have more metal parts than brains." I wouldn't try to piss off a TSA agent, but some people feel that missing a flight is worth the ego boost.

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

People with huge ass egos are such a turn off. Like I seriously don’t give a f**k

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

Meanwhile, in real life, most actual humans try to wear as little metal as possible in these situations because nobody wants delayed, or to cheese off the line behind or simply not to be embarrassed that you're off for a frisk search while everybody else starts wondering if there's any chance the plane might be blown out of the sky.

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

If he said that to me he would go in for an extra inspection

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

So this is the a****** that holds up those lines in the airport.

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

Like she cares. Her only problem is he's slowing down the line with all his crap.

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

Airports don't hire chicks because they're too short to reach the counters. Airports don't hire girls because of child labor laws. This kid/guy is an lying a-hole.

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

Only a complete moron goes to the airport "all metaled up". What a jackass.

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

Did you get your jollies off when you got patted down by the other guy?

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

I bet she was impressed..you know how to speak..(to a degree). Now try to learn how to use your head in way number two, mental (not metal) process.

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

He also claps when the plane lands and tells the pilot “good job” like he can drive more than a ride on mower

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

Cool guy, holding up the line at an airport because he needs to travel dressed as like the Mata Hari.

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

And then she laughed really hard, and called over the other tsa to tell them and they all laughed

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

Wow. So she said something generic probably to save her from a work coma, and you insulted her. Whew - that IS impressive.

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Don't Look
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How exactly is this a flex? The person going through the security check point has to remove the crap. Then they have to put int back on. And if they missed anything they get frisked. The real brag might have been getting away with taking none of it off….

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

Women climax when words like that are spoken, from a high schooler.

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#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

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#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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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

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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!

reddit.com Report

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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

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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

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