Tell me your most embarassing moment which you still think about frequently, where actually you were being a dick?

ChamelalaBingBong · 2025-08-06T19:56:02+00:00

I'll start! About 20 years ago, I was at a charity ball which my whole company was attending. It was really, really dull. I ducked out of the "entertainment" which consisted of unfunny comedians, and singers/bands who clearly hadn't had an adequate sound check, as depsite them being good, could barely be heard over the music. I took myself off to the bar, took my drink outside and just sat there looking at the view (Central London, Thames). A middle aged man, popped out beside me and said something along the lines of "having to take time out to calm yourself from the excitement" totally thought he was being sarcastic, so responded in a really sarcastic tone, something along the lines of "should have put it out to a panel to decide on this entertainment, it's dire!" He looked at me for a good few seconds, responded "we did" and walked back inside. I still get filled with absolute shame whenever I think about it. I was young and a bit of an idiot looking back, but I insulted him so badly, I still burn with the shame and feel absolutely awful every time I think of it.

BBQthisweekend · 06/08/2025 22:13

It was about 6 months ago, I can’t blame it on old me 😂

Background is my mum complained and kicked off about everything when I was a kid. I was shy, and then spent years in customer facing roles; and had never, EVER been rude to anyone in a role like that before.

I booked DS, who was 5, in for trampoline/indoor adventure park near us, on an inset day so term time, mid-afternoon, and it cost £26 which was mental, but I saw on their website if it’s off peak and your child is under 1.1m an adult goes in free. Except that page only related to one specific location, NOT our location. The man tried to charge me £26 for myself, to sit on a bench and watch DS in the soft play bit, and I just absolutely lost my cool, told him it was definitely on the website, then couldn’t find it and doubled down on it being on there and it being a scam 🫠 The poor teenage cashier! I left with DS (also something I’d never normally do) and felt so badly afterwards because it WAS my mistake. Pretty tame (as in, no shouting or swearing, I was just irate) but I’ve regretted it pretty much every day since 😬

MyDogHumpsThings · 06/08/2025 22:15

I failed to give way on a roundabout and saw a man gesticulating angrily at me, so I wound my window down and said “give way to the right [expletive]”, and as I did so I realised he was on my right. Terrible behaviour, even if I had been in the right.

Original poster

ChamelalaBingBong · 06/08/2025 22:24

BBQthisweekend · 06/08/2025 22:13

It was about 6 months ago, I can’t blame it on old me 😂

Background is my mum complained and kicked off about everything when I was a kid. I was shy, and then spent years in customer facing roles; and had never, EVER been rude to anyone in a role like that before.

I booked DS, who was 5, in for trampoline/indoor adventure park near us, on an inset day so term time, mid-afternoon, and it cost £26 which was mental, but I saw on their website if it’s off peak and your child is under 1.1m an adult goes in free. Except that page only related to one specific location, NOT our location. The man tried to charge me £26 for myself, to sit on a bench and watch DS in the soft play bit, and I just absolutely lost my cool, told him it was definitely on the website, then couldn’t find it and doubled down on it being on there and it being a scam 🫠 The poor teenage cashier! I left with DS (also something I’d never normally do) and felt so badly afterwards because it WAS my mistake. Pretty tame (as in, no shouting or swearing, I was just irate) but I’ve regretted it pretty much every day since 😬

It's definitely the reaction which gets you, isn't it?!

OP posts:

zaazaazoom · 06/08/2025 22:24

Mine is beyond embarrassing. I have never fessed up to it in rl.
When DS1 was in year 1 he was really struggling, (now I know he is autistic so no wonder.)
One of the boys in his class was having a party. Ds came out from school very upset, because he hadn't been invited. The next morning, I was talking to the birthday boy's mum and insinuated that her son told my son that he was going to invite him to his party and I was just checking we hadn't missed an invite. (God I'm so embarrassed writing this)
She apologised on his behalf and invited my lad.
He went had a fabulous time and I felt forever awful. Luckily it was a party in hall so no cost per head but still.
Truly awful. My only defence was that I felt so terribly sad for DS who was on the outside with everything socially. It was heartbreaking to watch.

Original poster

ChamelalaBingBong · 06/08/2025 22:25

MyDogHumpsThings · 06/08/2025 22:15

I failed to give way on a roundabout and saw a man gesticulating angrily at me, so I wound my window down and said “give way to the right [expletive]”, and as I did so I realised he was on my right. Terrible behaviour, even if I had been in the right.

Sorry to laugh, but road rage is real! Even when it transpires you're in the wrong!
Solidarity

OP posts:

Original poster

ChamelalaBingBong · 06/08/2025 22:27

zaazaazoom · 06/08/2025 22:24

Mine is beyond embarrassing. I have never fessed up to it in rl.
When DS1 was in year 1 he was really struggling, (now I know he is autistic so no wonder.)
One of the boys in his class was having a party. Ds came out from school very upset, because he hadn't been invited. The next morning, I was talking to the birthday boy's mum and insinuated that her son told my son that he was going to invite him to his party and I was just checking we hadn't missed an invite. (God I'm so embarrassed writing this)
She apologised on his behalf and invited my lad.
He went had a fabulous time and I felt forever awful. Luckily it was a party in hall so no cost per head but still.
Truly awful. My only defence was that I felt so terribly sad for DS who was on the outside with everything socially. It was heartbreaking to watch.

Oh god, second hand embarrassment for you!
But totally get trying to get your ND child included! I've been there!

OP posts:

Original poster

ChamelalaBingBong · 06/08/2025 22:34

I also need to point out at this point, after some people asking, I am not a journalist! I was inspired by the 'getting the ick' post!
Mumsnet HQ will be able to verify that I have been on here a while, and not affiliated with any threads which have been reported in the press!

OP posts:

whereisit1 · 06/08/2025 22:41

MyDogHumpsThings · 06/08/2025 22:15

I failed to give way on a roundabout and saw a man gesticulating angrily at me, so I wound my window down and said “give way to the right [expletive]”, and as I did so I realised he was on my right. Terrible behaviour, even if I had been in the right.

Brilliant 😂. What happened then, did you just drive off ? 😅

DinoLil · 06/08/2025 22:52

@MyDogHumpsThings I did that about 20yrs ago!! Total brain fart. I gave the poor, in the right driver a right mouthful! A minute later, further down the road, I thought oops...

User415373 · 06/08/2025 22:53

When I was at uni I did one of those 'teaching in Africa' things. Begged friends and family to 'sponsor' me to go, did loads of fundraising events to pay for it. Makes me absolutely cringe now, realising how it looks like I was getting people to fund my jolly! I did grow up in poverty and had never been anywhere exotic, and I really thought I was helping!
Very recently I had an internal job interview on teams. A colleague asked me after how it went and what the questions were. I replied in the team chat with the interviewers 🤦 I posted a screen shot of the questions they had asked me (which they'd put in the chat) and said I tried my best! They saw it before I deleted it and I just said morning after. I didn't get the job haha. I can't stop thinking about it and I'll die if I see them in the office.

Hibernating80 · 06/08/2025 22:58

zaazaazoom · 06/08/2025 22:24

Mine is beyond embarrassing. I have never fessed up to it in rl.
When DS1 was in year 1 he was really struggling, (now I know he is autistic so no wonder.)
One of the boys in his class was having a party. Ds came out from school very upset, because he hadn't been invited. The next morning, I was talking to the birthday boy's mum and insinuated that her son told my son that he was going to invite him to his party and I was just checking we hadn't missed an invite. (God I'm so embarrassed writing this)
She apologised on his behalf and invited my lad.
He went had a fabulous time and I felt forever awful. Luckily it was a party in hall so no cost per head but still.
Truly awful. My only defence was that I felt so terribly sad for DS who was on the outside with everything socially. It was heartbreaking to watch.

I would be happy for a fellow mum to enquire about an invite, as it's so easy to miss someone by accident.

SquishedMallow · 06/08/2025 23:04

2 road incidents for me :

1.) new young driver on my way to work. Dual carriage way. (Full beams on, because that's what you do when it's dark right ?) Car in front starts slowing down to a snails pace. I start honking my horn at him and driving up his backside (not proud 😭) and huff and puff a out it once I get into work. I was then politely informed that er, no you don't drive with your full beams on at night when there's other traffic around 🙈

2.) young new driver again, I was in a queue of traffic coming up to a roundabout in a residential area.Traffic starts moving. Car in front of me doesn't. I sit behind honking my horn like a mad woman, shrugging in my mirror. Cars behind me start overtaking. It was a parked car......

No, teenage /early 20s me probably shouldn't have been on the road.

MyDeftHedgehog · 06/08/2025 23:04

I think I may have posted this before but, anyway, nearly 50 years on it still makes me cringe. I was about 17 and worked at a supermarket. A lady in her 60s who had previously worked there used to come in regularly to shop and always chatted with the staff. I said hello and asked how she was.
She told me her friend had been married the previous day. I responded "oh that's nice".
Later on, on overhearing another member of staff, I released she actually said "my friend was BURIED yesterday
The shame and embarrassment haunts me still 🤨

Bewareofstepfords · 06/08/2025 23:23

zaazaazoom · 06/08/2025 22:24

Mine is beyond embarrassing. I have never fessed up to it in rl.
When DS1 was in year 1 he was really struggling, (now I know he is autistic so no wonder.)
One of the boys in his class was having a party. Ds came out from school very upset, because he hadn't been invited. The next morning, I was talking to the birthday boy's mum and insinuated that her son told my son that he was going to invite him to his party and I was just checking we hadn't missed an invite. (God I'm so embarrassed writing this)
She apologised on his behalf and invited my lad.
He went had a fabulous time and I felt forever awful. Luckily it was a party in hall so no cost per head but still.
Truly awful. My only defence was that I felt so terribly sad for DS who was on the outside with everything socially. It was heartbreaking to watch.

Stop beating yourself up. So you pulled a minor flanker on behalf of your own child?
Maybe his omission from the original invite list actually WAS an oversight?
In any case it sounds like one more kiddie at the party made no odds. The birthday boy made no fuss and you stopped your little lad feeling rejected which is a difficult thing to bear at any age.

Kingsleadhat · 06/08/2025 23:29

zaazaazoom · 06/08/2025 22:24

Mine is beyond embarrassing. I have never fessed up to it in rl.
When DS1 was in year 1 he was really struggling, (now I know he is autistic so no wonder.)
One of the boys in his class was having a party. Ds came out from school very upset, because he hadn't been invited. The next morning, I was talking to the birthday boy's mum and insinuated that her son told my son that he was going to invite him to his party and I was just checking we hadn't missed an invite. (God I'm so embarrassed writing this)
She apologised on his behalf and invited my lad.
He went had a fabulous time and I felt forever awful. Luckily it was a party in hall so no cost per head but still.
Truly awful. My only defence was that I felt so terribly sad for DS who was on the outside with everything socially. It was heartbreaking to watch.

Forgive yourself. I believe that sometimes there is such a thing as a good lie. ❤️

PuttingOnMyPositivePants · 06/08/2025 23:35

Bewareofstepfords · 06/08/2025 23:23

Stop beating yourself up. So you pulled a minor flanker on behalf of your own child?
Maybe his omission from the original invite list actually WAS an oversight?
In any case it sounds like one more kiddie at the party made no odds. The birthday boy made no fuss and you stopped your little lad feeling rejected which is a difficult thing to bear at any age.

Show quote history

I agree! I think you did the right thing here Zaazaazoom

BurtBaccarat · 06/08/2025 23:41

Gosh so many to choose from but I've NC'd for this because it's absolutely shameful and I cringe every time I remember it.

I was in the US, and was attending the New York Ballet. I'd never been before (to NY) and didn't know how to find my seat as the layout of the building was really confusing. I saw a man in a black suit with a black bow tie and a white shirt standing very still at the top of a staircase smiling, so I thought he was a member of staff. I asked him if he knew where my seat was. At which point his angry wife came barrelling up the stairs shouting at me that I'd photo bombed their picture and why had I mistaken her husband for an usher. I was so embarrassed I did the British thing of apologising and scurrying away and pretending nothing happened. When I got to my (shit) seat partially obscured by a column in a high spot with an oblique and sideways partial view of the stage, I saw them front and centre in the best seats in the house. I'm cringing even typing it out.

I've never even told my husband this because the worst part is, the couple whose photo I accidentally bombed were black and I was white so I just looked like a massive racist twat. I'm sure some reading this will believe that, too. It was indefensible really.

SquishedMallow · 06/08/2025 23:48

BurtBaccarat · 06/08/2025 23:41

Gosh so many to choose from but I've NC'd for this because it's absolutely shameful and I cringe every time I remember it.

I was in the US, and was attending the New York Ballet. I'd never been before (to NY) and didn't know how to find my seat as the layout of the building was really confusing. I saw a man in a black suit with a black bow tie and a white shirt standing very still at the top of a staircase smiling, so I thought he was a member of staff. I asked him if he knew where my seat was. At which point his angry wife came barrelling up the stairs shouting at me that I'd photo bombed their picture and why had I mistaken her husband for an usher. I was so embarrassed I did the British thing of apologising and scurrying away and pretending nothing happened. When I got to my (shit) seat partially obscured by a column in a high spot with an oblique and sideways partial view of the stage, I saw them front and centre in the best seats in the house. I'm cringing even typing it out.

I've never even told my husband this because the worst part is, the couple whose photo I accidentally bombed were black and I was white so I just looked like a massive racist twat. I'm sure some reading this will believe that, too. It was indefensible really.

Oh god I feel your pain 🙈

So many people have done so many embarrassing things though. They're just variants of your own story. Don't feel bad- it was an "embarrassing" experience not you being "bad" or "ignorant" - just a genuine (albeit incredibly embarrassing) mix up.

GreyLion · 06/08/2025 23:52

I was in a local pub with a friend. We had a bit to drink, We thought that the guy singing was someone doing several songs on the karaoke. We was sat there shouting things like off off off and Booo, don’t apply for X factor. One of the Bar Staff asked us not to be mean, we said you always get someone on Karaoke thinking they’re gonna end up famous.

It Wasn’t Karaoke… he was the evenings entertainment, We quickly left

Goldfish93 · 06/08/2025 23:52

zaazaazoom · 06/08/2025 22:24

Mine is beyond embarrassing. I have never fessed up to it in rl.
When DS1 was in year 1 he was really struggling, (now I know he is autistic so no wonder.)
One of the boys in his class was having a party. Ds came out from school very upset, because he hadn't been invited. The next morning, I was talking to the birthday boy's mum and insinuated that her son told my son that he was going to invite him to his party and I was just checking we hadn't missed an invite. (God I'm so embarrassed writing this)
She apologised on his behalf and invited my lad.
He went had a fabulous time and I felt forever awful. Luckily it was a party in hall so no cost per head but still.
Truly awful. My only defence was that I felt so terribly sad for DS who was on the outside with everything socially. It was heartbreaking to watch.

This actually sounds lovely to me. It made me go "Aww" when I read that your lad had a lovely time. Totally worth a little stretch of the truth 👌

bbq007 · 07/08/2025 00:00

I was v drunk (Fri night many years ago)and got the bus home. Way before the bus got to my house, I needed a pee. So I got off when the bus stopped and thought, I'll nip into a pub along the road.

Upon getting off bus, I decide I'm too pissed to walk through a busy pub and into the loo. I'll just nip into this carpark, pop down screened by a car. So that's what I did, sandwiched myself between the front of car and a wall.

I hear footsteps. 'wouldnt it be typical if....' I think virtually simultaneously hearing the sound of a car door shutting and the lights go on, as I am desperately trying to scuttle away, pulling up my knicks and staggering off.
Horrendous.

LeftieRightsHoarder · 07/08/2025 00:10

BBQthisweekend · 06/08/2025 22:13

It was about 6 months ago, I can’t blame it on old me 😂

Background is my mum complained and kicked off about everything when I was a kid. I was shy, and then spent years in customer facing roles; and had never, EVER been rude to anyone in a role like that before.

I booked DS, who was 5, in for trampoline/indoor adventure park near us, on an inset day so term time, mid-afternoon, and it cost £26 which was mental, but I saw on their website if it’s off peak and your child is under 1.1m an adult goes in free. Except that page only related to one specific location, NOT our location. The man tried to charge me £26 for myself, to sit on a bench and watch DS in the soft play bit, and I just absolutely lost my cool, told him it was definitely on the website, then couldn’t find it and doubled down on it being on there and it being a scam 🫠 The poor teenage cashier! I left with DS (also something I’d never normally do) and felt so badly afterwards because it WAS my mistake. Pretty tame (as in, no shouting or swearing, I was just irate) but I’ve regretted it pretty much every day since 😬

Oh no! One thing life has taught me is that the more assertive and self-righteous I am in demanding my rights, the more likely I am to be mistaken. Umm, err, I see … 🫢🤦‍♀️

Katflapkit · 07/08/2025 00:31

Year ago, I was lunch time browsing in the shops. I picked up a scarf and joined the queue. Around the same time a woman and her teenage daughter joined the queue. As a till freed up and I reached into my bag for my purse and the mother of the mother/daughter did an actual bunny hop to get in front of me. In my head I said 'What a bitch'. It was only when they both turned to look at me and the cashiers, I realised I'd said it out LOUD and I was as shocked as they were. The mother said 'I thought you were waiting for someone'. I couldn't loose face, so I replied 'I don't have time to wait around, I have patients, I'm a Dentist' and I threw the scarf on the till and flounced out.

What a dick thing to say. I don't know, why I said it. I wasn't a Dentist, I worked in admin. I didn't have patients and if I had, would I have left them in the chair as I popped out for an emergency neck scarf.

Username12284949 · 07/08/2025 00:40

Katflapkit · 07/08/2025 00:31

Year ago, I was lunch time browsing in the shops. I picked up a scarf and joined the queue. Around the same time a woman and her teenage daughter joined the queue. As a till freed up and I reached into my bag for my purse and the mother of the mother/daughter did an actual bunny hop to get in front of me. In my head I said 'What a bitch'. It was only when they both turned to look at me and the cashiers, I realised I'd said it out LOUD and I was as shocked as they were. The mother said 'I thought you were waiting for someone'. I couldn't loose face, so I replied 'I don't have time to wait around, I have patients, I'm a Dentist' and I threw the scarf on the till and flounced out.

What a dick thing to say. I don't know, why I said it. I wasn't a Dentist, I worked in admin. I didn't have patients and if I had, would I have left them in the chair as I popped out for an emergency neck scarf.

😂😂😂😂

Raspberryrippleflavour · 07/08/2025 03:41

Pretending to do an exaggerated limp (because I was walking with someone who was complaining that I was walking too slowly) and then looking up to see someone with an actual limp walking towards us. It honestly looked like I was mocking him.