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 can’t watch the first few weeks of Strictly for this reason…have to wait til only the good ones are left!

Yes. Cannot watch Borat. When the phone link fails during a radio interview or they play the wrong audio clip, I have to switch off immediately.

I had to switch the football off tonight because i felt bad for Senegal.
Richard (Grays Anatomy) was getting fired in the episode I'm watching atm, and I had to fast forward it.

Really can't bear to watch the person in the chair either. Definitely cringe. Can't watch anything that is cringe or awkward.

I know it's daft but can't help it. I mean they can't see me and don't even know that I exist.
And it's worse watching someone live doing something that makes me cringe. They don't need to feel any embarrassment as I'm feeling it all for them

Yep me and somehow I have infected my DD6 with it too, we both totally have vicarious embarrassment. I'll often fast forward bits of films/TV shows and she will do the same. Not sure where it comes from.

I must be weird because I actually love a good cringe! I used to hate it and feel uncomfortable, now I love watching people get through awkward situations. I watch a lot of stand up comedy which I think could be some sort of cringe exposure therapy.

I do but not so much in films and comedy, more if it's members of the public being interviewed on the news or on Question Time and they're really struggling to articulate their point. Have to put the telly on pause. Or actors making a tit of themselves in interviews. Cringe comedy like Alan Partridge I love though.

I can't watch any reality tv for this reason, or any news programme or radio that has members of the public discussing stuff. The Apprentice is the worst, I feel all the embarrassment the contestants should feel but don't.

If Dh is watching something like this I have to leave, or put my fingers in my ears.

I don't mind if it is cringy and scripted, like the Office.

YES! There are moments in shows like the British version of The Office where I literally had to pause the episode and walk out to mentally deal with the cringe. Oh. God. It’s like a car crash, you can see it coming, you know they’re going to be utterly humiliated but you Just. Can’t. Stop. It.

So with you on this!

I only cringe (but to such an extent that I have to mute the tv) when what I’m watching involves displays of emotional intensity in front of a live audience. I can’t bear the Strictly elimination show, when the unlucky couple have to bare their souls to Claudia and then dance (!) through bitter tears of disappointment.
Also any awards shows, when the hosts and recipients indulge in hideously embarrassing impromptu gushing, or make unsuccessful attempts at humour, only to be met by tumbleweed. Aargh! I just can’t stand it!

YES!

• At the start of shows like Catchphrase/The Chase when they ask contestants to talk about where they are from/their jobs etc. NOBODY CARES! Argh! Why do they do this?

• On shows like BGT, The Voice etc when they play some sad piano background music and have the contestants pour their hearts out about how they were bullied/their gran died/whatever. TMI!

• I'm a Celebrity when Ant and Dec interview the evicted celebrity. Painful!

• Shows like, "Bargain Loving Brits Living Abroad" or "Made in England" were people gush to greet each other etc - it's so fake and obviously put on for the blatantly obvious camera crew on the scene. Can't stand it!

I can't watch any of the above mentioned shows for these reasons.

However, when it's not real life scenarios (Alan Partridge, The Office etc) I find it hilarious.

Lately I've been spoiling shows for myself , at times of intensity I think about the actors playing the scene out in front of the camera people, directors etc and making a show of themselves. I feel embarrassed for them sometimes. Strange.

Yes. In fact I can't even read the thread.

Yup. Peep Show was awful for this - the actors really nail the social embarrassment scenes and I just can’t watch.

DH keeps a cushion to hand for such moments. As soon as Victoria makes the contestants sing in Only Connect he buries his head in it.

I hate anything where the general public is involved, game shows and reality tv etc. Dunno why but it really makes me uncomfortable.
Also on the news when they interview some random passer-by or someone on the street, I don’t care what they think!
And anything where people are kissing, especially if you can hear sucking noises, it sets my misophonia off and I have turn the volume off till it’s finished.

I find it hard to watch Dragon's Den because of this. When the contestants get it wrong I feel so embarrassed on their behalf.

Are you married to my DH?

Sometimes we just stare at each other like bunnies in the headlights until it’s over, if we’re not quick enough to mute it.

Hideous.

Yes, and I get it from books too. There was a period about 12/15 years ago where it felt everyone was reading those Shopaholic books and I honestly couldn’t get through them as I just felt embarrassed for this fictional character and the depths she was going to buy a scarf 🙄

On DIY SOS where they suddenly throw in a little acting skit.

Travel reports on the radio where they get info in from people with 'hilarious' names. Sally Traffic (even that is bad enough) thanks BigTruckinJoe for telling her about a hold up on the M62.

Anything where outside reporters ask the opinions of members of the public on the street.

All excruciating.

Especially when you know they've all been sitting in the green room together five minutes earlier.

Yes, when the contestant says they've sold their house and put the money into a really rubbish business idea I'm cringing with embarrassment for them.

Yep - quite a few things are unwatchable these days. It seems to have got worse as I've got older.

I can't abide anything cheesy or look-at-me or clearly insincere/made for likes on social media. Flash mobs - ugh. I feel embarrassed for them that they're so desperate for attention. But then I hate being the centre of attention whereas others love it, and plenty of people love seeing flash mobs, so there we are.

I had to stop watching Peep Show because of this. I thought it was brilliantly done but just couldn’t cope with the cringe intensity - I had to keep leaving the room.

Possibly related - I don’t like In books where the main character is determined to do something which will almost certainly go horribly wrong and there’s a long build up. I find it too tense and will often wander away from the book for a while and read something else!

When people sing when it’s not a singing show but want to showcase themselves anyway I cringe!