Does anyone else experience secondhand embarrassment when watching TV?

[Greenbeanmcgee]

I find myself cringing if there's going to be an awkward moment or sometimes a particularly tense confrontation. Sometimes I can't bear to watch.

Does anyone else experience this and what other odd things make you cringe?

I have to pause if it's awkward, sometimes to come back another day, it's too much!

I have a very low tolerance for cringe.

I do. There are lots of things but I find penalty shootouts absolutely unwatchable because I feel so sorry for those who don't score, especially if it's a miss rather than a save.

I find my cringe moments are when it's a comedy and they're laughing at someone rather at the situation or with someone.

Ohhh. Who was that poor guy a few years ago who tried to do something clever and instead just punted the ball r-e-a-l-l-y slowly towards the goal, and the goalie just ambled over and picked it up.

Couldn't find it but this is funny in an utterly awful way. Poor Amir.

Not me but someone I know.

Yes I get it with books as well!

I can't watch the bit at the start where the guests all meet each other on the Graham Norton show etc

Just can't bear to watch, not sure why, I just find it so cringy.

I don't usually watch it, but the few times I have seen Strictly I cringed with embarrassment because the audience are just so woeful - the inane clapping along to the music, and always slightly behind the beat. Aaargh! Just makes it unwatchable.

I can't bear that either but the member of the public in the chair is even worse.

I struggle watching the skills test on professional Masterchef.

My husband can't watch any Alan Partridge for this reason, he finds it too cringy. I love a bit of cringe!

When no one turns around on The Voice. So awkward.

Yes! I hate all radio phone in shows because of this.

OMG and I had to try to sit through a Borat film in the cinema once. It was physically exhausting.

Always. I didn't realise it's a thing and always though it was just me. I have to look away or walk out the room!

Any sex scene

Yes me
It's why I could never watch The Office if I'm watching & something cringy starts I go to the loo & hope to miss it!

Absolutely, I used to think it was only me but Ive met others who like me, cant watch live tv in case something goes wrong or theres something embarrassing or cringy

I steer clear of chat shows for this reason, all the fake introductions and trying to make silly small talk funny when its not, or the fake interest other guests have, theres a certain tone of voice people seem to use these days when talking to people that you never saw in the 70s and 80s, people just spoken normally, didnt have to make some silly buzzword or trigger word or joke every second.

Arrgghh radio phone ins, I have to turn the sound off, or any live quiz show sort of thing

Anything involving the general public or worse than that, general public CHILDREN.

I dont want bog standard people on the telly I want professionals where the risk of cringe is lower

I have found my people here. I thought it was just me!
I can't watch any cringey comedy like Alan Partridge, The Office, etc and also can't deal with stress like horror films or stressful sports things, like penalties

Yes. The place im finding it most is on social media reels though, it is SO cringe some of the things people record thinking they're being funny or original, oh god those ones where they dance and point at words or mime lyrics to a "related" song. SO embarrassing. I get lured in though!

I can’t watch Mr Bean - it makes me cringe so much I can’t bear it! I also hate radio phone ins, or the bit where they let people who have won a competition ‘say a few hellos’ (particularly after Pop Master on Radio 2!!)

This is me. Very low threshold for situations in sitcoms or films or whatever that involve social awkwardness or embarrassment. Can’t watch.

Yes! I'm the same. I will actually change channel or mute something if I can't bear it.