Warning: secondhand embarrassment can cause intense emotional pain, facepalming, and gossiping with your friends about the intensely cringe things you saw.

The beauty of being a human being is that we tend to have far more in common with each other than we think. One of the best examples is that we’ve all done some extremely awkward, embarrassing things that we wish we could take back… or forget entirely! Perhaps it was a social media post we made years and years ago that physically hurts to look at. Or, maybe, you spilled your lunch all over yourself at school or work just last week!

A good antidote for dealing with your own embarrassment (aside from doing the mature thing and, y’know, working through your emotions) is to gently poke fun at someone who’s messed up even worse. That’s where the popular r/cringepics online community comes in. The subreddit is home to some of the most cringeworthy pics to ever be shared online. Check out the worst offenders below. But be careful your cringe-sensors might go haywire!

For some more cringeworthy pics, take a peek at Bored Panda’s earlier feature right here.

#1 Just Delete Facebook

Image credits: GallowBoob

#2 Just A Post Mom

Image credits: matmoeb

#3 Tofu Is Only For Vegans

Image credits: Arachnica

The r/cringepics subreddit is home to just over 1.5 million members. It’s a true testament to just how successful the online community really is. As it turns out, internet users really enjoy looking at cringy stuff. Or rather, silently judging them for messing up in public.

That actually makes a lot of sense. We’ve written on Bored Panda before about how judging others is a natural part of who we are as human beings. We do it for a wide range of reasons. Unfortunately, some aren’t as wholesome or beneficial as others.

#4 “Don’t Come Over”

Image credits: Eklypto__

#5 Just A Normal Guy

Image credits: TKInstinct

#6 Beef

Image credits: KevlarYarmulke

“Judging others is something that we as humans do, both consciously and automatically, and there are a number of reasons why we do it. Comically, we are often told as children not to judge others and have stories shared about how judging others can mean we upset them or lose opportunities to see what really lies behind our perception,” a psychologist explained to Bored Panda during an interview a while ago.

#7 Haha Thanks Mom

Image credits: WhiteWolfJon

#8 Mistaking A Vietnamese Man For A Child

Image credits: MichelleMone

#9 What Legs?

Image credits: cubanfoodstand

“Sometimes, we judge others to feel superior ourselves, finding faults in others, highlighting them, and feeling better about ourselves in the process. Sometimes, we use it to work out where we fit in, recognizing how we want to be, where our aspirations lie, and how we don’t want to become,” the psychologist explained.

#10 Wow You So Beautiful. Wow Message Didn’t Send Separately. Wow Leave Group

Image credits: ddh85

#11 How To Make Pregnancy Announcements Even More Uncomfortable

Image credits: theturtleprophet

#12 This Physically Hurts

Image credits: MustNeedDogs

“Sometimes, it’s in response to our own flaws, and we attack others for what we don’t like or don’t see into ourselves. And on other occasions, it’s to fit into a wider group who judge something or someone, and we conform and perform with the same judgment.”

#13 Time To Find A New Job

Image credits: idkmaybe61

#14 Well, That’s One Way To Ruin A Friendship

Image credits: reddit.com

#15 It’s My Birthday Today And My Best Friend’s Scumbag Dad Messaged Me This

Image credits: savinglatin

However, judging others isn’t all bad. There are certain benefits and upsides when we use it mindfully.

“It can help us to set goals, find alignment with our values, it can help us to build the self-awareness of others and it can boost our self-esteem. Add to that it can also help us to make positive social choices, and it’s understanding how and why we judge that gives us the ability to use it for our benefits instead of escaping our flaws or pulling others down,” the psychologist told Bored Panda before.

#16 I Got Four Phone Calls From The Dealership Immediately After This, But Didn’t Pick Up

Image credits: czapatka

#17 Coworkers Brought Binoculars To Work To Perv On Young Beach Goers Today

Image credits: good_interiors

#18 This S**t Happens On Linkedin Too

Image credits: flaim_trees

At the time of writing, r/cringepics had been active for over a decade. The subreddit was created all the way back in mid-October 2012. In the years since then, it has documented some of the most powerful cases of awkward and embarrassing situations that hurt to look at.

Anyone with a drop of empathy can feel the secondhand embarrassment radiating from some of these posts. We cringe because we can imagine ourselves in that person’s shoes.

#19 Mlm Forgot To Change Her Recruiting Template While Messaging Strangers On Fb

Image credits: ejzimm

#20 “Daddy Delivered His Load” Found On Facebook

Image credits: iniwuqe

#21 She Deleted It Right Away

Image credits: jmelynnp

When we find ourselves in an embarrassing or incredibly awkward situation, many of us might instinctively want to run or shy away from what’s happening. Some people deny that they messed up. Others shut down, completely.

The mature way to deal with these sorts of situations is to ease into it all. Embrace what’s happening instead of running away from those uncomfortable feelings. Admit to your mistakes. Accept that nobody is perfect. At some point in their lives, everyone messes up or does something embarrassing. Usually, repeatedly!

#22 A Mother’s Dying Wish

Image credits: reddit.com

#23 You Would Be Loud Too If I Was Riding You

Image credits: toriimonster

#24 This Guy Found Me On His Wife’s “Suggested Friends” On Facebook Then Googled Me And Used My Business Number To Text Me. Gross

Image credits: LadyKakes

There are very concrete advantages to embracing your embarrassment. For one, you prevent those feelings from growing and enrooting themselves as a deep sense of shame about your past. Shame makes you double-guess everything that you do, it’s vital to fight back against it.

#25 I’ve Been Trying To Sell Something On Letgo And All I’m Getting Are Messages Like This, Wth Is Wrong With People?

Image credits: thatwishywashy

#26 Up Close With Mack

Image credits: lolihull

#27 16 Year Old Me On The Far Left At A Birthday Party I Wasn’t Invited To [2011]

Image credits: SeptimiusSeverus_

Moreover, when you demonstrate that you’re actually (mildly) embarrassed rather than hiding this, you improve your reputation with others. People tend to be a lot more sympathetic toward you if you’re being genuine.

Which of these pics did you think were the most cringeworthy, dear Pandas? How deeply did you feel the secondhand embarrassment? What’s the most awkward or embarrassing experience that you’ve ever had? Scroll down to the comment section, and share your thoughts.

#28 Guy From High School Got The Same Tattoo As His Dog

Image credits: whoople

#29 Hey Hi

Image credits: brittiu

#30 Can You Pay Me Back For Your Coffee?

Image credits: tr2k8

#31 My Aunt Decorated My Unborn Daughter For Christmas. I’m Not Sure If I Want To Laugh Or Cry

Image credits: nickrashell

#32 Jesus Christ What The F**k

Image credits: GhastlyCain

#33 My Cousin On Instagram Who Just Started His Diet Recently

Image credits: iiNiv

#34 Oops…

Image credits: elonmusk

#35 Shapeshifters

Image credits: reddit.com

#36 It Hurts To Read

Image credits: TiltedRyan

#37 My Friend Meant To Text Me, But He Texted The Girl He Had Just Gone On A Date With Instead

Image credits: talleyrandbanana

#38 Excellent Service

Image credits: Bild

#39 33 Year Old Virgin

Image credits: soap94

#40 When You Accidentally Make Two Big Announcements In One Photo

Image credits: imgur.com

#41 Delivered Lunch To A Guy At His Workplace Today Who Had Trouble Taking A Hint

Image credits: skylarparker

#42 Don’t Let A Dead Parent Stop You From Trying Fire Pick-Up Lines . .

Image credits: sachiwtf

#43 These Gushy Posts And I’m Offended!

Image credits: DumbassJ

#44 * Excessively Starting To Sweat *

Image credits: UnfunnyInSanAntonio

#45 Not A Single Spanish Player Sang During Their Anthem

Image credits: reddit.com

#46 On Your Fifth Od You Get A Free Puppy

Image credits: TheBeardedFly

#47 Yikes

Image credits: alexwitwicky

#48 My Creepy Neighbor Texted Me Out Of The Blue Today

Image credits: D3M3NTR

#49 When The Comments Are Even Worse Than The Post

Image credits: reddit.com

#50 Bet You’re Still Smokin’ Hot While You Grieve The Loss Of Your Best Friend!

Image credits: princesskittyglitter

#51 That Went From 0 To 100 Real Quick

Image credits: Svilkatabg

#52 On This Day John Lennon Died, Spotify Didn’t Know That

Image credits: MinglingToads

#53 Just Losers

Image credits: f7u12madbro

#54 Family Member Thought It Was Cool To Ask Out A Girl On My Behalf

Image credits: njp112597

#55 That Means Just Kidding

Image credits: Hugh___Mungus

#56 Message From My 4th Graders Teacher. Yikes

Image credits: PharmMouse

#57 This Guy From My Work Is Merely Too Smart To Be Funny

Image credits: Smartalt

#58 Ok Cool Haha

Image credits: eggsplorer

#59 Ouch…

Image credits: Anatidaephobia

#60 Blocked

Image credits: dingding197

#61 Selfie With Rihanna At The Superbowl

Image credits: tmrqz

#62 Friend Cancels On Plans Last Minute With This Excuse

Image credits: candyroxnrulz

#63 My Ex’s Mom: I Met Her Once For About An Hour Over 4 Years Ago. I Haven’t Talked To Him Or Her Since

Image credits: yebbaedmonds

#64 Oh, Okay

Image credits: kchatterbox

#65 Today After A 1st Date. I Guess I’m Not Allowed To Not Like Her?

Image credits: ToastedCookieOats

#66 I Thought I Wasn’t The Only One Not Invited

Image credits: OctoApple

#67 Imagine Thinking This Was A Good Idea

Image credits: reddit.com

#68 My Contribution To The Family Group Chat This Morning

Image credits: flowercup

#69 My Wife Just Got This From Our Pool Guy (College Kid)

Image credits: jsm725

#70 Incel Thinks Sex Is A Transaction And Not A Mutual Agreement

#71 My Sister Is Trying Online Dating

#72 Went On A Date With This Girl… This Was Her Response After

#73 Bernie Living On Elon’s Mind Rent Free

Source: boredpanda.com