Embarrassing yourself in public

[Zygella]

Is it just me? I keep on going through really embarrassing stuff I've done in my head.

Cringing still about how 4 years ago I went over to greet some people I once knew. And they pretended to not know who I was. I still see them around occasionally so make sure to hurry past and look at the floor.

I can remember so much more. And I worry am I usually socially inept or are other people like this?

OMG. I have got into 3 strangers cars in my life. First time, I was at a shop and my partner (now husband) had parked a street away. I got my stuff, went to the street, got into a car, sorted my shopping and then turned round to see a complete stranger looking at me with horror while my partner was opening the passenger door and apologising to him. 🤣

Second time, I was in my parents car and they stopped at a shop to let me go and get stuff. Got the stuff, went into the back seat of a car and wondered where they were. Then I looked behind out of the back window and saw the two of them rolling about laughing in their own car and I jumped up, hit my head on the (strangers) car ceiling, bit my tongue then fell out with them because they couldn’t stop laughing.

Third time, again my parents car, they dropped me at a shop, I went in and got what I wanted, then went into the back seat of a car with two strangers in the front and my mum opened the back door and told the two perplexed people that I had a habit of this and did it “all the time”. 🤣

Apologies. I was very flippant there

It's fine. I jest feel so uncomfortable seeing them now.

I once rode my bike up to a woman and had a conversation with her thinking she was a particular acquaintance, then realised as I rode away that it wasn't the right woman. She went along with it and was probably very confused! That was years ago and I still think of it sometimes.

A few weeks ago I got some shopping and had included some cherry tomatoes and baby cucumbers. Or at least I thought I did! They were on my receipt but nowhere in the bags when I got the shopping home. I was racking my brains trying to think what did with them. I use the hand held self scanner, pack it all as I go along then just have to pay and leave. No way I left them in the trolley or dropped them without noticing. And I 100% remembered picking them up and scanning them. I concluded that I must have scanned them and put them back on the shelf! It was busy, I find shopping very stressful and would have been distracted by something. People must have saw me scan them and put them back and thought I was a right weirdo! I know it sounds bizarre but I do that sort of thing sometimes when my brain is overloaded. Makes me cringe to think of it. I’m pretty socially awkward and have said some odd things to people at times.

I had a similar thing, arrogant little twit pretending not to know me. I went over all smiley asking he was and he says "do I know you?". He hadn't forgotten me, we were late 20s had been friends in primary and secondary school and chatted when we seen each other out and about, last interaction being a few months earlier when he tried it on and I knocked him back. Even though I knew he was the one with the problem I felt embarrassed for a long time. Other smaller things like thinking someone was talking to me when it was someone else, unreturned waves and hellos etc. I'm not as bad now, but I used to lie awake reliving it!

Ah balls to them, if they act like this they are hardly a loss.

This is not embarrassing I have some huge humingers that vary from executive level horrendous faux pas to toilet level mishaps and everything in between. I give these memories no thought except a wry smile.

I've told myself next time I see them. Head up and walk past.

Some people are just mean.

actually I said a joke out at a Mummy’s meet up, want that bad and wasn’t offensive just to break the ice, self deprecating to me at best. After that a group of the mums blanked me and walked past like I wasn’t there and have done since. Obvs I am not their sort.

honestly imagine having friends like that where you are one word off expulsion. It did hurt a little when I talked to them and in front of others walked on by, but honestly balls to them. No one can be friends with everyone. Now I just give them a big ol wave and walk off !

I must have a very generic face because this happens to me a lot!! 😄

I am the queen of embarrassing myself. So many times had my skirt tucked in my knickers for a colleague to discretely point it out. Clothes on back to front, inside out, different shoes work in the office. I have had so many falls surprised I am still alive, went into the wrong door and fell down the stairs which was a takeaway shops taking down all their oil stored on the side. The shop owner thought I was drunk but I wasn't expecting stairs. I have fallen backwards off agricultural machinery in front of loads of people and I asked a woman how long did she have to go and she wasn't pregnant. I doubt it will be the last of it.

I was very heavily pregnant and popped into work to say goodbye to colleagues before heading off on maternity leave.
It was a very cold, frosty day and the staff car park was at the top of a steep hill. As I stepped onto the pavement my foot hit ice and I slipped and fell onto my back and then slid all the way to the bottom, ending up in a heap by the door just as the shift changed and everyone was coming out. Thankfully I was wearing a huge padded coat and was completely unharmed but never did live it down. People were still reminding me about it years later.

Just so you know I once witnessed something like this and I did cringe. Not at the 'victim' but at the 2 bell ends in their 30s who did it. One of them is a regular in my club and I've had the ick (genuinely) ever since.

Oh dear. I'm curious now. What happened? Were you with the "victim" as they went to say hello to someone?

Errrrr? Not funny

I agree, who needs friends who are like that? I’ve read posts on here where family members cut people off over one awkward comment! If that was how everyone acted I wouldn’t have a single person to speak to in the world. But I’m also very tolerant of people making awkward or thoughtless comments to me. Most people mean nothing bad by it and we all have times our mouths move faster than our brains.

🤣🤣

Omg I know the feeling. Sending a big hug. They are deadly 🤣

That made me laugh a lot 🤣

Parkinson’s? What on earth made you say that? Parkinson’s has nothing to do with remembering or recognising things or people? Do you mean dementia?!

Do you know what this sounds like a them problem .

Next time , walk right past them and say “Hi ,how are you ?” Make sure you make eye contact . If they ask “who are you ? , say it’s the person you’re pretending not to know “ and walk right on by .

You hold that head up high

Definitely a them problem. Next time you see them throw your head up high and smile and say a breezy 'hello' and walk on. And don't give them another minute's thought.

The shame isn't yours OP - it's theirs. What utter tossers.

Thanks all. The next time I'm planning not to just look at the floor but just look right at them with no expression.

I remember one hot Summer's afternoon at school and due to thirst due to the heat, I'd literally drunk a can of coke in one go and the classroom we had to enter was quite a high step and my best friend was in a wheelchair, so I had to bend quite low to get her chair up and over the step and I let out the loudest belch known to man - I didn't even realise it was coming and it was long and echoed around the huge Craft, Design and Technology department which was like 3 enormous open-plan class areas - it was honestly like the belch in Elf.

To make it worse, I was only a tiny 5'2, very slim and very girlie girl.