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30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class

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The last person selected in the NFL draft is traditionally called 'Mr. Irrelevant,' and over the decades of the league's existence, many players have been in this position — but none have become really great (Brock Purdy, we're still expecting...). Likewise, many of us have been in the 'Mr. Irrelevant' position in school, when we were picked last in the gym class.
But even as adults, this oppressive and offensive feeling doesn't leave us — because adulthood often brings up such situations, too. When you sincerely want friendship, love, or professional recognition — and only then realize that you were simply picked... well, on a residual basis.
More info: Reddit

#1

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Someone on my team at work had a huge, fun, fancy wedding. I was the only one not invited. Every day, I get to look at the picture that sits in my boss's office of the whole group dressed up in their finest, having a blast. I'd never say a word, but d**n, exclusion stings.
43points

#2

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Applying for a job that you're well-qualified for, not hearing anything back for weeks, and then seeing the position being reposted without having even a follow-up email from them.
39points

#3

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Being left out of the group chat. Bonus points for finding out when everyone else's phone in the room gets a text at once.
34points

There are more than one or two threads on the Internet dedicated to such situations, and every time I read people's revelations about these seemingly ordinary — but no less offensive — cases, I feel uneasy. I just realize that something similar has happened to me. And, well, and by the way, to each of you, I think — regardless of how incredibly successful you actually are.

#4

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
"Hey we are all going to [Insert fun activity], and [Insert other friend] just said they can't make it. Do you want to come along?"

It's nice, but it's also hurtful.
32points

#5

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Watching everyone's birthdays get celebrated at the office. Then when your big 30th comes, no one even bothers to tell you happy birthday. Husband even brought me balloons and flowers, so they knew it was my birthday.
31points

#6

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
For me, it was when everyone went on the camping trip I initially planned. They made a separate group chat and went a week before we planned. They were too chicken s**t to tell me they invited someone else and replaced my ride to our destination. After that i stopped talking to my friends of the last 8 Years of my life. I feel a lot better. It made me realize how selfish they were

Small edit: Since i have a lot of people who think Im just a whiny a*****e. Let me clear this up. Im not saying my friends uninvited me with Malice. They just wanted room for someone else. So the easiest way was to drop me from the trip. Thats why I feel like the last to be picked. Because to them I was just a filler friend.
31points

Some experience something similar in friendship, or at work with their bosses and colleagues — and some even understand that their relationships were actually formed using to this very sad principle. These realizations come in literally one unexpected moment, leaving us at a loss, and breaking through any emotional armor that many adults create for themselves.

In fact, despite long centuries of social improvement and development, people often remain very cynical and unceremoniously practical. And it's precisely the realization that, for example, they are friends with us not because we are so cool and interesting to talk to, but because they want something from us — that is incredibly painful.

#7

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Being called last minute for a night out on the town just to find they need a designated driver.
28points

#8

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Group lunches at work.

Especially when the whole group is heading out to lunch and you're sitting at your desk and they're either totally unaware of you at all - or worse - someone makes eye contact by accident and then is like "Oh, uh, do you want to come?".
27points

#9

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Only getting attention from men in bars after they have learned that all of the women I'm there with are in happy, long-term relationships.

Take your consolatory offer to buy me a drink and shove it, Brad.
26points

"Let's try to look at it from the other side," says Irina Matveeva, a psychologist and certified NLP specialist with whom Bored Panda got in touch for a comment here. "Yes, this feeling can be very offensive, but it means, however, that your eyes are opening to the real state of things. This veil of hypocrisy on the part of others is dispelled.

"In the end, being in the dark all your life about who you really are and how people around you treat you is also not very good. After all, unlike a school gym class, where you only have one option to change the situation - start training hard, here there are other options."

#10

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Sitting at one of your stepsisters' house on Christmas day and listening to your stepsisters and stepsister-in-law and stepmother planning a fabulous Boxing Day outing that you're not invited to.

That happened to my wife. She's not usually hyper sensitive socially but she cried all the way home after that.
26points

#11

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
When your friends all make plans together in front of you, and then only invite you because you just heard them make the plans.
24points

#12

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
A few years ago, a group of "friends" from church and I were discussing starting a small Bible study group. We had a couple lengthy conversations about it after Sunday services, but then I never heard any more about it. A month or so later, I found out they started a group without me. When I asked someone about it, I was told that a woman (who was not even there when we talked) had a vision during her prayer time about a small group starting that included all the other women, but not me. So basically, Jesus told her to exclude me. o.O.
24points

"You can change not only yourself, your soft skills, but also your environment. Find people who will appreciate you for the set of qualities that you have here and now — and not pretend. Yes, this is sometimes way more difficult than adapting to the surrounding world, but this is also an option. Available precisely in adulthood. Although, the older we get, the more difficult it's to do," Irina Matveeva ponders.

To what extent we are ready to change ourselves or our environment is another question. We are often just happy to deceive ourselves, or accept everything as it goes. Call it "worldly wisdom." Be that as it may, everyone chooses for themselves...

#13

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Bartender ignoring you.
23points

#14

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Celebrating your birthday and no one shows up.
23points

#15

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Being purposely excluded from a family wedding picture. Thanks Mom.
22points

In fact, we sincerely believe that you will be interested in reading this selection of stories from netizens, comparing them with your own experience and, perhaps, sharing your personal tales in the comments below. Also, how you dealt with these feelings — and maybe, who knows, the sympathetic people in the comments will help you cope. In the end, hope is actually what stays with us until the very end.

#16

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Joining a hot yoga class for the first time, being easily 50 lbs. heavier than the heaviest person there, and having the yoga instructor completely ignore you, but focus on / communicate with the only two others in the room. Humiliating experience.
21points

#17

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
"I like you a lot and I could see us together, I'm just not emotionally available to commit to a relationship right now." or something along those lines.

The bonus is when they end up in a relationship with someone in 2 weeks after you parted ways.
20points

#18

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Working freelance and the only phone calls you get are, “can you work in 10 hours?” Never “can you work next week?” That’s when you know you’re plan Z.
19points

#19

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Getting added to a group chat and realize your friends/coworkers have been chatting long before you were added.
18points

#20

30 Pathetic Experiences In Adult Life That Are Actually As Painful As Being Picked Last In Gym Class
Finding out your “friends” went out on the town. They never called or texted.
17points
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