Bored Panda
43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
Funny,FailsMAR 27, 2024

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience

147
40
What an incredible twist of fate - one of the greatest minds that humanity has ever known in its entire history remains in our memory not so much because of his ingenious theories, but because of an accidental, completely ridiculous photograph with his tongue out when he just wanted to tease the photographer.
Yes, history knows many examples when very smart and decent people accidentally blurted out something incredibly stupid - and then regretted what they said for many-many years. And then collections of such 'gems' rack up thousands of upvotes and laughable comments online - like, for example, this one in the AskReddit community, the best stories from which we bring to your attention today.
More info: Reddit

#1

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
I was on a long train trip, gazing out the window, when I said to my friend: “I feel like every railroad crossing gate we’ve passed since I’ve been looking has been down… what are the odds…”
I have a PhD (not in trains).
216points

#2

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
I was watching a TV show (can't remember what) with my family. There was this cute black girl who appeared in a scene and had a nice, short hairstyle I thought was cool. I said out loud "If I was black, I would have my hair like that."
I am a black guy. I meant to say girl.
190points

#3

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
"If there are adult diapers, why aren't there adult strollers?"
My husband, looking at me like he regrets ever meeting me: "you mean wheelchairs??".
183points

In fact, people do sometimes say something stupid or shameful, for different reasons, in various circumstances. Sometimes this simply becomes a consequence of a basic misunderstanding between the interlocutors, sometimes the speaker just finds themselves in a real 'stupor' in response to an unexpected request. A classic example is when you are asked to say something funny.

Have you ever encountered anything like this? As soon as someone asks you about it, even if you have been doing standup comedy all your life, have watched all the sitcoms in the world and know all the sites with jokes by heart, you will clearly 'freeze' in a painful attempt to remember something. Don't believe me? Then come on, remember something funny right now!

#4

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
Back when I was working my first job at a mcdonalds during highschool, I was made manager and one of my coworkers was a guy named Miles. We called him Kilometers because hurr durr such original joke.
Anyway, one day I was grabbing a drive thru order while also trying to stock stuff and I noticed we were out of napkins, so what I MEANT to say was "Hey Miles, can you go grab us some napkins from the back real quick?"
What I ACTUALLY said was "Hey Napkins, can you go grab us some stuff from the back real quick?"
And everyone stared....
IN SILENCE
After a few seconds, Miles realized I was looking at him when I said it and said "Did...you just call me 'Napkins'?"
My brain went over what I just said as the embarassment said in and I just answered "Yes. Yes as a matter of fact, I did."
His nickname was no longer Kilometers. He was Napkins from that day on.
174points

#5

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
Me to the lady that I thought looks like me (as I was in passing): “Oh hey! It looks like we could be twins!”
My reflection: …..
It had been a long shift.
161points

#6

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
One time I was in the grocery store and a couple were in front of the jar of pickles I wanted to get. They noticed me standing there and said, "Oh, are we in your way?"
They moved and I grabbed the jar. I then turned to them and said, "Thanks." Then--for some reason I'll never understand--added, "I like pickles."
They must have been thinking, "Well, it's nice that they let him do his shopping on his own.
156points

In addition, there are two reasons why stupid words and phrases from smart people are remembered. Firstly, because they aren't expected to do anything stupid, and against the general 'highbrow' background, these unexpected remarks stand out like Jerry Jones against the background of the current NFL free agent market. And secondly, people are prone to reflection - and the stupidity said will quite possibly torment a person with shame for years and even decades.

#7

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
"You hit me in the cervix!"
I am a man. I meant sternum. Still have to shake that memory out of my head sometimes.
151points

#8

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
My manager's manager asked me to ballpark the percentage of time I was spending on each of my three projects. I confidently told him: 75% on project A, 25% on project B, and 25% on project C. I heard my cubicle neighbor laughing (didn't immediately click that she was laughing at me). Manager's manager paused a moment, then in a very kind and patient voice (like he was speaking to a Labrador with a learning disability) "So, I'd like those numbers to add up to 100%. Can you try again?" Then it dawned on me. 
137points

#9

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
Years ago a coworker and I were discussing how many Japanese people apparently have a KFC dinner for Christmas. We then wondered "What do they do for Thanksgiving?" and began attempting to google it. Spent quite a few minutes trying to search it up, remarking to each other in confusion that we couldn't find anything at all. I then realized how incredibly stupid we were.
135points

“People tend to remember negativity against an overall good background - this is a general trend,” says Irina Matveeva, a psychologist and certified NLP specialist, whom Bored Panda asked for a comment here. “For example, it's enough to compare the ratio of good and bad reviews on the page of any decent restaurant.”

"And this, again, is quite understandable. If we go to a restaurant which is considered to be great, then by default we expect great service - and take it for granted. Otherwise, this causes a clear reaction of rejection. And the adrenaline reaction to negativity encourages people to act much stronger, than positive impressions. So it turns out that stupid phrases from smart people are remembered for a long time. However, the opposite is also true," Irina summarizes.

#10

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
Me, crossing the border from Mexico to CA. Border Patrol guy. " what is your country of origin?" Me, thinking That's easy! Me to border guard "California" Guy gave me a look for a moment, and then just said, "Go," 
132points

#11

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
Got introduced to identical twins. First thing I said was "wow, how can you guys tell each other apart?".
125points

#12

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
OK , here goes, I was going to be late for my Psychology class. The teacher had already warned me not to be late.
What do I see in my rear view mirror on the way to class? You guessed it , I was speeding and it was Police lights ! So I pull over and I give the Officer my drivers license, reg and ins. papers, and he seemed very friendly and nice, and he says I will be right back pureGoldie, Thats when i got real dumb, I said "Oh btw , will you write me a note for my teacher? Ive already been warned not to be late today? I know this is making me late for sure!" He replied with a big smile , "Oh , I am going to write you a note, alright!"
Yep , I was that dumb.
120points

In any case, the selection of stories that we've collected in this list is incredibly interesting and funny, so please feel free to scroll it to the very end and maybe add your own tales here. After all, each of us has come up with some incredible stupidity at the most inopportune moment. Me too, by the way. So let's do this - if this post collects 100 upvotes and comments, I definitely tell you in the comments which stupidity I once blurted out (and just believe me, it's damn worth it)!

#13

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
What's a chocolate bar?
A lady told me that she loved chocolate bars and I pictured a bar that serves chocolate instead of booze for a moment, and then I felt very stupid.
114points

#14

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
"your born in december?? that sucks you have to wait a whole year for your birthday".
112points

#15

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
Was really blanking on this casual friend’s last name. I talk to them pretty regularly and everything. But I was just BLANK. Wouldn’t come to me so had to go to Facebook and look it up. We have the same last name.
109points

#16

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
Not too much ice please, don't wanna water it down. (It was literally just a cup of ice water).
106points

#17

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
“Oh look, it’s a full sun out today”.
106points

#18

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
"Garbage truck drivers must have the chillest job in the world. They only work one day a week!"
- me for the first 16 years of my life.
99points

#19

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
I called my husband in a panic because I couldn’t find my phone. I actually asked him if he knew where my phone was. His answer - ah..in your hand? So yeah.
98points

#20

43 Times People Said Something So Damn Stupid They Created A Truly Memorable Experience
I said it would be nice if we had a “mirror app”!
97points
147
40