Seeing something cringeworthy is like watching a trainwreck. It’s uncomfortable and unpleasant, yet you can’t seem to take your eyes off of it.
If this forgettable mishap happened in the digital realm, it may have been broadcast in the Cringetopia subreddit. As the name suggests, it’s an online group that immortalizes people’s embarrassing situations.
We’ve collected some of the posts that stood out. These may amplify feelings of secondhand shame or induce a headshake of disappointment. Scroll through and see which resonates with you the most.
#1 W H I T E P E O P L E A M I R I G H T!!!
Image credits: PrimaryCommon2972
#2 Keep Your Neck
Image credits: cutestnataliee
#3 He's Also 1 Million Times More Useful Than She'll Ever Be
Image credits: reddit.com
We cringe because of vicarious embarrassment (a.k.a. secondhand shame). But according to clinical psychologist Dr. Marielle Collins, there is an upside to it.
“That’s the concept of empathy,” she said in an interview with the Cleveland Clinic. “Our brains are wired to be able to simulate the emotional experiences of other people and feel what another person is feeling.”
#4 Cultural Appropriation
Image credits: Schxdenfreude
#5 The Woman Is The Cringe One Here, In Case Anyone Is Confused
Image credits: lordofthehamstrings
#6 Gatekeeping... A Language?
Image credits: reddit.com
But there’s also a reason why seeing something cringeworthy feels like listening to fingernails running down a chalkboard. Here’s an explanation from Dr. Collins:
“A lot of times, these feelings can come with anxiety and a fear of negative social evaluation. Anxiety can be distressing and may get in the way of whatever you’re doing in the moment.”
#7 What Were They Thinking?
Image credits: TopMindOfR3ddit
#8 Cringe Post Followed By A Funny
Image credits: reddit.com
#9 $4k Rent
Image credits: Kalibribois
Since secondhand embarrassment can be an anxiety trigger, Dr. Collins says it could be problematic if you’re already dealing with the disorder.
“Witnessing someone else experiencing embarrassment could increase anxious thoughts about whether a similar experience could happen to you and activate your body’s stress response.”
#10 Facepalm
Image credits: lolololoxxxxx
#11 Uh
Image credits: giovtaklaa
#12 Hysteria Has Always Been Everywhere
Image credits: reddit.com
If vicarious embarrassment puts you on edge, Dr. Collins shared some tips on how to handle it properly. It begins with reframing emotions.
“When we experience emotions that are uncomfortable, we often think they are ‘bad,’ and that makes us even more anxious as we try to get rid of it, increasing distress,” she explained.
“It can help to have a more mindful approach by acknowledging how we are feeling in the moment without judgment and allowing the emotion to pass.”
#13 She Is Not The Cringe But Those 6k Neck Beards Are! I Freaking Love Her Idea
Image credits: BigPapaPage716
#14 Dork A** Losers
Image credits: rayan2002
#15 Want Another Baby But Your Husband Doesn't? Just Get Him Drunk
Image credits: Had2-4kKarmaOnOldAcc
Dealing with anxiety is primarily about recognizing when it begins to manifest. This also applies to the distress from feeling secondhand shame. For this, Dr. Collins recommends the STOP technique.
This simple method involves four steps: stop what you’re doing, take a breath, observe what’s happening to your body, and proceed mindfully.
#16 Yikes
Image credits: reddit.com
#17 Imagine The Conversation
Image credits: hdurant
#18 Easy Mistake
Image credits: DeintegrateBaseball
As Dr. Collins explains, the STOP technique makes you effectively take notice when anxiety and self-judgment from secondhand embarrassment begin to creep in.
“When we go down a rabbit hole with our thoughts and emotions, it can all end up being amplified. This STOP technique helps you move in a more helpful direction by pausing for a minute to stop whatever stream of thought you’re having.”
#19 It’s Actually Quite Sophisticated Stuff
Image credits: reddit.com
#20 Whitewashing
Image credits: reddit.com
#21 So Much For Independent
Image credits: StickDynamite
However, some people don’t feel secondhand shame. But does that mean they lack empathy? Psychotherapist James Hartley has an answer to this question.
“It could be that they are on the other end of the spectrum genetically, or their environment didn’t develop their empathy in childhood much, but it could also be that they have learned how to have boundaries with their sense of self,” Hartley told Refinery29.
#22 People Think That Negro Refers To The Racial Slur
Image credits: Bushboiwilly
#23 I Hate This Sub But This Fits Here So
Image credits: reddit.com
#24 Those Damn Scorpios
Image credits: reddit.com
#25 The Definition Of L
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#26 Cardi B Approves This Message
Image credits: __Dawn__Amber__
#27 Oof
Image credits: reddit.com
#28 Whats The Point Of This
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#29 But I Have 11k Followers!
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#30 Just Stop
Image credits: reddit.com
#31 Literal Cringe Face
Image credits: jhovudu1
#32 He Must Not Have Been A Real Man
Image credits: BlanketMage
#33 Gatekeeping Children’s Names?
Image credits: Slader111
#34 How Does This Even Happen
Image credits: local_parcel
#35 Wow Real Help
Image credits: obstantial_is_thy
#36 This Is A Classic "Ooof" Moment
Image credits: VivienneAnnette
#37 When You Just Want A Legitimate Business
Image credits: Acobbsalad
#38 What Is Even The Human Race Anymore
Image credits: _carter05
#39 Vegans Forgot To Read Food Chain In Schhol
Image credits: Jyaten
#40 This Would Haunt Me For The Rest Of My Life
Image credits: reddit.com
#41 Notice At An Anime Convention
Image credits: CRI0ST0IR
#42 Cringe
Image credits: neilhimself
#43 Height Of Stupidity
Image credits: percy___potter
#44 That Is A Good Question
Image credits: percy___potter
#45 I Can Do It But You Can’t
Image credits: Grant_w1999
#46 Sheesh
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#47 Twitter User Discovers Empathy
Image credits: Goofyjeff4
#48 Logic Not Found
Image credits: CucumberDay
#49 Huh
Image credits: That_dummy_head
#50 Seems Legit
Image credits: RandyLongsocksMcgee
