35 People Share Encounters With Someone That Made Them Think “Are You Really That Stupid?”

Sharing stories about other people's stupidity is actually a very popular and old topic on r/AskReddit. One that always gathers a crowd of eager readers! The topic also tends to go viral pretty quickly, no matter when it's broached: stupidity is always en vogue. And it says a little something about the cyclical nature of content on the internet; there's nothing new under the sun! Some redditors inspire others with their posts, meanwhile, some internet users come up with nearly identical posts independently of one another.

For instance, I got in touch with redditor u/neolioli who went viral with their question about stupid people and even got featured on Reddit's front page! They have probably the oldest popular question on this topic of stupid people doing stupid things on r/AskReddit, having started up the thread a whopping 4 years ago. Despite this, they remember making the thread as though it was just yesterday.

The redditor was more than happy to answer my questions about their thread all those years ago, as well as share their thoughts about dealing with major embarrassment and why it's important to be authentic. "Even before I had a Reddit account, I loved reading other people's stories on AskReddit. I think I just wanted to ask a question that was goofy enough to inspire people to joke and be silly but also encourage them to tell a story instead of leaving a short comment," they told Bored Panda. "I didn't expect it to get so much attention. When I got a message that it made it to Reddit's front page I was very surprised. But I loved how much interaction it got. People had some great stories to tell."

I was very interested to get u/neolioli's take on how we can learn to live with all the dumb and silly mistakes we've all made in life. According to the redditor, that's actually the key: realizing that these are shared experiences that bind us.

"One thing you always have to keep in the back of your head is that we are all going through the same thing. I think that is why the thread connected with people, because it is a reminder that we are not alone in our most awkward and embarrassing moments. Everything is temporary, and things can always get better. Our worst flubs are only small specs in the grand scheme of our lives, and they don't define us. Sure they may suck in the moment, but one day they'll be just another funny story to tell," they shared with Bored Panda their wholesome way of looking at things.

In u/neolioli's opinion, it's definitely best not to hide our embarrassment when we mess up in front of the people whom we look up to. It's far from easy but worth it. "It's a hard thing to do, but owning your embarrassing moments can create a lot of levity. And moreover, I think people always appreciate someone who is honest and can admit their own faults or failures. Authenticity and not taking yourself too seriously can go a long way."

British environmental psychologist and well-being consultant Lee Chambers explained to me some time ago that it’s vital that we find a way to deal with embarrassment, whatever its source.

"While embarrassment can be a challenging feeling that is fleeting or overwhelming, being able to find a response that assists rather than a reaction that is unhealthy is a skill to build," he told Bored Panda. According to Lee, humor can help fight our overwhelming sense of embarrassment during difficult moments.

"If it's something that isn't particularly serious, laughter can be a great response that instantly makes you feel better," he said.

"If the feelings are intense, try taking a few slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth, calming your nervous system and physiological response. In a similar way to laughter, smiling can be effective in shifting your state to the positive. There are times when playing down or even ignoring the feelings can be helpful in the moment, taking the edge off, but it is important that you accept them and express them if it's something significant,” the expert detailed to Bored Panda.

"Because the feelings of embarrassment are generated from a past event, anything that brings you into the present moment can bring relief. Try to avoid saying sorry, as it will keep taking you back to the moment. You can even keep your biggest embarrassing moments top of mind, having reflected and realized that in hindsight, they weren't as big an issue as you felt at the time," the psychologist explained.

"We can even reflect back on our blunders from the past, and with the emotion dampened, take some of the lessons and observations forward for next time we feel like we've messed up. By doing this, you will feel more courage even when the fear of embarrassment strikes, and sharing these stories will elicit others to share, quickly realizing we are not alone, and that nobody is perfect," Lee told Bored Panda.

A while back, I also spoke to the community running r/IAmVerySmart, an online group that pokes fun at anyone and everyone boasting about how superior their intellect is… only to have things backfire on them in the most dramatic and ironic way possible.

One community member told Bored Panda that they don’t feel as bad making fun of internet users who are being pretentious, as compared to anyone else. In short, they believe that arrogance deserves to be called out.

The redditor told Bored Panda that some people are “super insecure” about their intelligence and think that being smart is the absolute most important thing in life. They’re willing to sacrifice friends, family, emotional connections, and, well, pretty much anything, to get the respect they think they deserve.

"It’s okay that they don’t have friends, or talents, or accomplishments, as long as they just keep telling people they’re super smart. And of course, some humans are just smug [jerks],” they said.