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Original poster

Strangest thing you have found embarrassing

694 replies

ElliotGoss · 20/01/2022 18:37

I was waiting for a friend with a bunch of flowers for her. I found this so embarrassing for some reason! Something about standing on a street with a bunch of flowers. I also find having a baby bump cringe!

OP posts:
Veryverycalmnow · 25/01/2022 23:26

When they ask your name at coffee shop takeaway and write it (or a similar version of your name) on a cup.

Pudmyboy · 25/01/2022 23:41

@PaddleBoardingMomma

Someone singing to me, bonus cringe points if they have a guitar! I don't know why, just makes me die inside. Where do you look?! What do you say? Do you nod and smile? Do you tap your feet? Just piss off and let me be lonely 😩🤣 (and I mean even very talented singers, I just can't take it!)
Yes! I had a then-boyfriend do this, god it was awful! But at the end I was able to just snog him as a pretend thank-you when really I was a big knot of cringe inside!
CarrieMoonbeams · 26/01/2022 00:01

@Artesia

People performing in close proximity to me. I never know how to arrange my face.

The worst is people singing or playing music near me, like in a restaurant, Even worse if they are doing that really earnest, eyes half closed "feeling the music" type of expression. Am I supposed to stop my conversation and watch? Carry on enjoying my evening? That seems rude. I just hate it.

My husband knows this, and yet once went to the toilet on holiday, left me at the table on my own and tipped the wandering singers to serenade me while he was gone. How he is still alive, let alone still my husband, is a total mystery.

I feel your pain!

Whilst on holiday with a group of friends many years ago, we'd gone out for dinner. There was a band in the restaurant, and my friends told them that it was my birthday - it wasn't - and that my favourite song was "Save your love" by Renee and Renato - it definitely wasn't - and asked them to come over and sing it to me when we were eating, as a birthday surprise.

Bastards!! 🤣 🤣 🤣.

spillthebeans · 26/01/2022 00:17

Secondhand embarrassment of bodily sounds. During an art class the girl opposite me did a loud fart and then denied it. I was so embarrassed I went bright red so everyone thought it was me and I got redder and redder with the realisation 😳

Falling over when on your own but you’re fine and have to get up again and carry on. This happened to me at a busy train station once. I fell over my own shoe and 3 or 4 people stepped over me before I got up again. Now a sensible shoe wearer.

Not understanding what someone said to you, saying pardon and they repeat but still no idea 🙈

Saying hello to someone then afterwards realising you don’t know them.

Going for a walk on Xmas day and bumping into other people and saying happy Xmas to them.

Taking ages when turning right at a junction

Going to pub/cafe/restaurant unplanned and having a plastic bag or rucksack with you.

ImprobablePuffin · 26/01/2022 00:39

@Daisymaybe60

I was going to say I must be strange because nothing much embarrasses me.

Then someone mentioned lifts. I got into one at M & S last week. The other couple standing there were waiting for someone and didn’t get in. I pressed the button to go up as I checked my phone. The door opened and I walked out - straight past the same couple - the lift hadn’t gone anywhere. I was too embarrassed to make eye contact and get back in, even though I heard the woman asking her husband if I hadn’t just got into the lift…. Just carried in walking hoping they’d think I was my own identical twin.

On a thread elsewhere someone will be telling the tale of their glitch in the matrix and the woman in the lift.
Mamanyt · 26/01/2022 01:00

@Jacaranda75

Leaving a cinema when the movie finishes and everyone is leaving. For some reason, I always found this really embarrassing.

Also walking past a busker and worrying that my footsteps will be in time to the music.

This made me think of one of my favorite lines of dialogue from a book. Two brothers are talking. The elder has just seen is ex-wife for the first time in several years. The younger asks, "Does she still walk as if 'Layla' is playing in the background?" and the elder replies, "Yeah, but now it's the acoustic version."
sofakingcool · 26/01/2022 01:26

@ThePlumVan

Another one - making recommendations for anything. Even though I think the book/film/restaurant whatever is amazing I cringe forever after that they’re judging me for my rubbish standards Sad
Yes!! Blush
PearlyShamps · 26/01/2022 02:08

When the song Move Closer, by Phylis Nelson came on the radio I could feel my cheeks burning up! It was 1984, and I was 10. One of the lyrics went -

Ooh-ooh, move closer
Move your body real close
Until we feel like we're really makin' love...

If this played while my parents, or any other adult was in the room I would want the ground to swallow me up.

WeaverofWords · 26/01/2022 02:18

Oh goodness yes! I’m with you on those song lyrics. Also that tra lalalalaaaahhh high pitched shrieking of Minnie Ripperton (?) on that Loving You song. Makes me cringe myself inside out.

SquarePeggyLeggy · 26/01/2022 04:26

My own social media updates from 10 years or more ago. I delete every single one that comes up in memories. Who was I?! Vomit.

hollyisKey · 26/01/2022 07:06

I love this thread. I'm happy to know I'm not alone in feeling embarrassed about everyday life events.

Mine are:

Singing happy birthday or saying it.

Walking past a group of people talking.

Opening a gift someone has given me, or watching them open a gift from me.

Eating on a bench alone.

Giving directions or reviews.

Going to the toilet mid cinema.

A few bus related ones:

Being the only person waiting for a bus.

Being the only person on the bus.

Being the only person getting off the bus.

Ringing the bell on the bus.

I'm embarrassed just thinking about all these.

autumnlights · 26/01/2022 07:42

I've thought of another one. When you step on something and it crunches and then you have to behind you to see what you stepped on. I feel embarrassed for anyone who has to do this!

Buggersticks · 26/01/2022 08:13

Saying/hearing "Happy New Year" to everyone you see for the first time at the start of the year, it goes on until mid Feb!

Hearing anyone say "Making love" omg I cringed heavily just typing that 😖 I don't know why, it absolutely goes through me. Same even if in songs.

TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 26/01/2022 08:21

Another odd one. Filling time in songs by repeating "yeah yeah yeah" over and over again.

Don't know why but it makes me go all cringey.

Buggersticks · 26/01/2022 08:40

Bad lyrics in songs, like whoever wrote them couldn't find anything appropriate to fit in. Like that bit in the Police track
'Don't Stand So Close To Me' "He starts to shake and cough, just like the old man in that book by Nabakov" I feel really embarrassed for Sting everytime I see that video and watch him singing it, like he's embarrassed too 😂

gottogonow · 26/01/2022 09:00

😂

jollyhollyday · 26/01/2022 09:02

Also hate being out my front garden. Recently took down Xmas lights in my outdoor tree and rushed out when I thought everyone had left for work and spent the whole time thinking I was being watched and I was cursing to myself trying to hurry up.
I'm the same in my back garden even though it's unlikely I'm being watched. I sort of feel on show the whole time, like someone has picked that moment to sit at their window and watch my every movement Hmm

Starting to speak to someone outside and they don't hear you but you are close to other people who you think heard you and also seen that the other person ignored you...

Eating in front of people I don't know well. I feel every crunch and always miss my mouth. I end up taking bird nibbles which takes forever.

People folding empty packets of food up until they are tiny

Lipstick on old glasses or mugs, hate it but doubly hate have to ask for a new glass as I have to mention the lipstick

jollyhollyday · 26/01/2022 09:07

Yes yes yes to being out wearing same clothes as someone else. Hate it, want the ground to swallow me up

Also certain shortened names like Babs, Pat, I cringe typing them. I don't think I could call someone those names

StellaGibs · 26/01/2022 09:15

"Im hot just like an oven, I need some lovin".

TangfasticsAreFantastic · 26/01/2022 09:21

I've just searched the whole thread and perhaps I'm odd but I couldn't find this being mentioned before.

Mine is haggling.

I'm happy to haggle for a deal on a car or house or something, but if I'm with someone, say, in a market, who starts haggling for something, I just find it so cringey and have to walk away!

My DP thinks it's hilarious and revels in it whenever the opportunity arises!

Moonlightdust · 26/01/2022 09:27

@SquarePeggyLeggy

My own social media updates from 10 years or more ago. I delete every single one that comes up in memories. Who was I?! Vomit.
Ha this is so true for me too!
Somethingsnappy · 26/01/2022 09:51

This started at school and university and continues now whenever I have to sit with a lot of people in a quiet room, but...

I live in fear and dread of my stomach rumbling loudly in a silent room. Or just as bad, if it happens to the person sitting next to me and other people might think it's me. Oh, the shame.

I try to eat beforehand, but then what if my stomach makes digestive noises? Awful dilemma....

thisplaceisweird · 26/01/2022 09:56

@PrincessPaws

Also standing at a bus stop, always feel like a loser 😣

Blame the inbetweeners for that

Catching the bus has always been lame
Somethingsnappy · 26/01/2022 10:00

@Cheekypeach

Also don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel embarrassed going back to my hometown - walking through the town centre for any reason. Not sure why Confused
Oh yes, me too! I'm actually moving back to my hometown (25 years after leaving it) with my children soon. So I'll see what happens! Will I feel embarrassed every time I need to go shopping?
CountryMouse22 · 26/01/2022 10:14

@Veryverycalmnow

When they ask your name at coffee shop takeaway and write it (or a similar version of your name) on a cup.
I don't often go to Starbucks but when I have done I've said I was Maud.