Adolf Hitler is deemed the most feared man in history. So are Heinrich Himmler, Vlad the Impaler, Pol Pot, and many other historical figures who advocated crime to a level no civilian could fathom. However, these and many other scariest people in history are no longer around and don't pose a direct threat to anyone. Nevertheless, some of the scariest people in the world are still around. However, many have nothing (or little) to do with wars, genocides, riots, famines, and whatnot.
In the eyes of many, some of the scariest people are not serving time in jails but instead walking and living among us, with some sitting at high posts in society. A while back, a user of AskReddit asked, "What type of people are you scared of?" Instead of naming specific individuals, the thread invited users to reveal the traits and attributes that often characterize people to stay away from. And although some responses were more humorous, many shared qualities that, in the eyes of Redditors, were intrinsic to intimidating or scary people. Abusive individuals, people who drive dangerously, and true believers were just a few of the answers provided by Redditors. Although some responses are self-explanatory (e.g., individuals with guns), some were relatively deep and philosophical, as if there was something more than meets the eye. And there probably is.
Below, we've compiled some of the most interesting answers from the thread, revealing the types of people who ignite fear within others. Do you agree with the kind of people and the qualities that Redditors attributed to the most fearsome people? If so, give those entries an upvote. Also, tell us which qualities or personality traits you would allocate to people that frighten you the most.
#1
QueenElsaArrendelle said:
"People who think atheists have no reason to behave morally. Dude, if fear of divine punishment is the only thing keeping you from hurting people..."
"People who think atheists have no reason to behave morally. Dude, if fear of divine punishment is the only thing keeping you from hurting people..."
Mindless-Hedgehog460 replied:
"As a wise person once said, "If the fear of eternal pain is the only thing that keeps you from doing bad things, then you're not a good person"."
"As a wise person once said, "If the fear of eternal pain is the only thing that keeps you from doing bad things, then you're not a good person"."
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86points
#4
TimeTraveler3056 said:
"Those people who drive like maniacs on the highway."
"Those people who drive like maniacs on the highway."
227743 replied:
"Same. I'm planning on buying front and back-facing dash cams. I've had a few close calls with erratic/impatient drivers who think changing lanes every 5 seconds in heavy traffic will somehow get you to your destination faster."
"Same. I'm planning on buying front and back-facing dash cams. I've had a few close calls with erratic/impatient drivers who think changing lanes every 5 seconds in heavy traffic will somehow get you to your destination faster."
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49points
#5
Silly-Goose-is-Loose said:
"People who refuse to take responsibility for their mistakes."
"People who refuse to take responsibility for their mistakes."
Lwyre replied:
"When I was 18, a guy in my class was at a party and the guy there slipped a lot of ecstasies and MDMA in his drink, he got wasted, and was nonresponsive. They did not want to take responsibility for having drugs or slipping into his drink, even tho it was a «joke». They drove him home and dumped him in front of the front door and took off. The mother found him 6 hours later on the doorstep with an extremely low pulse, he ended up dying in the hospital after being on a ventilator for a week. The doctors said he would be completely fine if they dumped him in the ER or rang the doorbell before they left. To this day they have not been able to charge someone. Screw people like this, who would rather kill someone rather than own up to a mistake and get a fine slapped on them."
"When I was 18, a guy in my class was at a party and the guy there slipped a lot of ecstasies and MDMA in his drink, he got wasted, and was nonresponsive. They did not want to take responsibility for having drugs or slipping into his drink, even tho it was a «joke». They drove him home and dumped him in front of the front door and took off. The mother found him 6 hours later on the doorstep with an extremely low pulse, he ended up dying in the hospital after being on a ventilator for a week. The doctors said he would be completely fine if they dumped him in the ER or rang the doorbell before they left. To this day they have not been able to charge someone. Screw people like this, who would rather kill someone rather than own up to a mistake and get a fine slapped on them."
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47points
#6
menege1293 said:
"People who are well-liked by everyone but you just have that gut feeling that something is off and you shouldn't trust this person."
"People who are well-liked by everyone but you just have that gut feeling that something is off and you shouldn't trust this person."
glfranco replied:
"I see you've met my mother! Very abusive and narcissistic person, but to the outside world portrayed herself as a super-mom."
"I see you've met my mother! Very abusive and narcissistic person, but to the outside world portrayed herself as a super-mom."
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47points
#7
buddychrist12 said:
"Weak people in positions of power."
"Weak people in positions of power."
bawzzz replied:
"Yup. Our CISO/VP is a 36-year dude who climbed the ladder way too quickly. People describe him as a “kid with an ego”. He’s been letting people go who have 15-20 years experience at the company and is hiring people he personally knows."
"Yup. Our CISO/VP is a 36-year dude who climbed the ladder way too quickly. People describe him as a “kid with an ego”. He’s been letting people go who have 15-20 years experience at the company and is hiring people he personally knows."
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44points
#8
"Parents who view their children as extensions of themselves and treat them that way."
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44points
#9
GummyZerg said:
"People who have nothing to lose."
"People who have nothing to lose."
Noggin-a-Floggin replied:
"It sounds like a movie cliche but these people are legit dangerous if you make them mad.
"It sounds like a movie cliche but these people are legit dangerous if you make them mad.
They just don't care what happens to them, that's what makes them so dangerous."
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41points
#10
Itchy_Independence44 said:
"People that smile when they’re angry."
"People that smile when they’re angry."
ElementalPaladin replied:
"It isn’t that hard. It is called a Customer Service face (Source: I was a cashier)."
"It isn’t that hard. It is called a Customer Service face (Source: I was a cashier)."
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36points
#11
"People who are manipulative liars. Who gets you to care about them and then play the victim just to watch you suffer."
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33points
#12
"People who get mad at fast food cashiers. It's just so uncomfortable to be around them when they're attacking someone over a simple mistake or inconvenience."
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32points
#14
EmmalouEsq said:
"Thirteen-year-olds are the meanest people in the world. They terrify me to this day because 8th graders will make fun of you but in an accurate way. They will get to the thing that you don’t like about yourself. They don’t even have to look at you for long. They’ll just be like, ‘Ha, ha, ha, ha, hey, look at that high wasted man. He got feminine hips.’ And I’m like, ‘No! That’s the thing I’m sensitive about.’"
"Thirteen-year-olds are the meanest people in the world. They terrify me to this day because 8th graders will make fun of you but in an accurate way. They will get to the thing that you don’t like about yourself. They don’t even have to look at you for long. They’ll just be like, ‘Ha, ha, ha, ha, hey, look at that high wasted man. He got feminine hips.’ And I’m like, ‘No! That’s the thing I’m sensitive about.’"
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28points
#15
User No 1 said:
"There is an odd category of people who seem to be able to get away with anything they do. May it be with their looks, skills, wits, power, and everything in between. Them. I'm afraid of them."
"There is an odd category of people who seem to be able to get away with anything they do. May it be with their looks, skills, wits, power, and everything in between. Them. I'm afraid of them."
shlammyjohnson replied:
"I know exactly what people you mean and it's extra weird because a lot of them are not very charismatic in general like there's this weird plot armor on them for everything they do."
"I know exactly what people you mean and it's extra weird because a lot of them are not very charismatic in general like there's this weird plot armor on them for everything they do."
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26points
#16
Existent-Being42 said:
"It's a bit hard to categorize, but for me, it's people who can't be reasoned with."
"It's a bit hard to categorize, but for me, it's people who can't be reasoned with."
User No 2 replied:
"It reminds me of the cliche anecdote;
"It reminds me of the cliche anecdote;
"Don't argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."
You can explain the flaws in their logic, and will somehow come up with even more flawed logic to ignore it."
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25points
#18
User No 1 said:
"Those that not only lack empathy for the weak and less fortunate, but target and prey upon them. They're the kind of snakes who will gut you as soon as they believe they have the upper hand and can get away with it."
"Those that not only lack empathy for the weak and less fortunate, but target and prey upon them. They're the kind of snakes who will gut you as soon as they believe they have the upper hand and can get away with it."
Durieeee replied:
"When you’re easy-going and give them the benefit of doubt, all they see are chances to skin you alive…"
"When you’re easy-going and give them the benefit of doubt, all they see are chances to skin you alive…"
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23points
#19
clean_burning_905 said:
"Religious people with a lot of money, haha."
"Religious people with a lot of money, haha."
Tastewell replied:
"People that end their comments with "haha"."
"People that end their comments with "haha"."
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23points
#20
Sea-Coconut-3833 said:
"Who uses you for emotional support, drains the hell out of your attention, and then becomes a ghost when it's your turn."
"Who uses you for emotional support, drains the hell out of your attention, and then becomes a ghost when it's your turn."
Sir_Meowsalot replied:
"I think the term for these types of individuals is Emotional Vampires."
"I think the term for these types of individuals is Emotional Vampires."
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23points