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What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?

788 replies

shehardlysleeps · 20/04/2026 17:18

I’m in a reflective mood, and it’s got me thinking about something I did a few years ago which is probably the thing I’m most deeply ashamed of.

There was a coworker who really rubbed me up the wrong way. I was very unhappy at the time, and going through an awful time personally. She would make snide comments about me, do things with my family members (who were colleagues too) which really got my back up, I felt like she judged me harshly and was pretty rude. Along with another colleague they made three or four very nasty comments which still stick with me.

Instead of raising a grievance, which I should have done, I took to posting about her on another website (along the lines of Mumsnet), not realising she used it too. She saw the posts and reported me, and I ended up facing a meeting with HR and a senior partner of the firm I was working in. It damaged my reputation within the firm forever and I ended up leaving after not being offered a promotion. I still feel ashamed of it now, nearly half a decade on, and feel like it’s tarred me forever.

Whats the worst thing you’ve ever done?

OP posts:
Cleocaterpillar · Yesterday 22:48

I've lied, cheated, stolen, and was an absolute prick right up to my 30s. I had a pretty horrific childhood so most of it was down to that. I'm nice now though and am very understanding of other people's faults.

Anon501178 · Yesterday 22:51

When me and DH first got together many years ago, we were really short of money (still are tbh 🙈 but would never do it now as we have obviously grown up and are responsible parents with decent morals!) and used to steal the more expensive items such as salmon from the supermarket during our weekly grocery shop by doubling up bags for life and slipping the items down the sides inbetween the bags.We did it for about a year when we first got together then i moved into a more professional job and was paranoid about getting caught and losing my job, plus just felt more wrong as i was supposed to be in a responsible role, so told DH we needed to stop.

Also, killing my guinea pig when I was eight (accidentally!) by playing with it too roughly (it landed on the ground and died instantly.....still feel guilty 30 yrs on!)

dentalflosser · Yesterday 22:51

Had a boyfriend when I was in my teens and he treated me very badly and then went back to his ex.
He had left some clothes at my house including his favourite waistcoat (it was the 1990s) so one night I set fire to them in the garden, threw water on them so they were toasted but could still be discernible as his clothes and then I marched up to his house under cloak of darkness and hurled them on his front garden.
This isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever done but I dare not write the other in case it is outing!

LifeOnTheVeg · Yesterday 22:55

ForWittyTealOP · Yesterday 21:22

I'm really embarrassed about this because I don't know why I did it, it's very unlike me but I was just overcome with rage... One day I was walking past Reform's constituency office and I spat in the doorway. 😳 I'm a respectable middle aged woman who has never spat in public before or since!

Reminds me of my own actions…. a few years ago driving with some friends there was a mahoosive UKIP poster on a board in a field just by the road. We stopped, removed the poster and took it away to destroy!
Friends were all pissed as farts but I was the desi, so was stone cold sober and had no excuse (other than, ya know, UKIP)

Not the worst thing I’ve done though.

CrispyBeer · Yesterday 23:08

I was dancing with a man in a nightclub, near the end of the night where it's a slow dance, (& we were both drunk) I had my head rested on his shoulder, we were almost the same height with my heels on.

This really good looking, taller man started making eyes at me behind man 1s back, we had a few quiet giggles & he was touching my hand (that was draped round man 1s neck)

Man 2 then leans in for a snog, I go on my tiptoes & start snogging him over man 1s shoulder!!

Man 1 soon realised, kind of just removed his arms from me & walked off & man 2 wrapped me up in his arms instead & we carried on snogging.

I justified this to myself for years because man 1 still contacted me after & we had a date, I apologized & he was fine with it.

Now though, I'm MORTIFIED by my behaviour, & can't believe that I did it!!!

SouthMumof2 · Yesterday 23:09

As a young child probably about 9/10 years old, a friend I used to play with led me to the car park of a sports centre, she decided to try door handles of cars and when one opened she just kind of threw all the persons stuff around and there was a book on the back seat and she ripped all the pages up.. absolutely no idea why and I felt awful and so guilty about it as even though I did not actually do it I was there with her and did not stop her. I would have equally been in trouble if caught. Always knew there was a reason my mum didn’t like me playing with her.
Into teens and early twenties, was all about drinking and clubbing and looking for sex, totally sex obsessed and seemed the only thing that mattered! Had a fake ID at 16 and would pull people loads older telling them I was 18/19! It’s tapered off now but definitely drove me to some bad decisions and not treating people too well.. was young and those were just fleeting relationships in my eyes. Do not regret it though, had some great times and it’s part of growing up and learning.
I guess having no phones or SM helped as nothing recorded!
feel bad for youngsters these days. Every encounter will be recorded or posted about? Maybe that’s why this young generation are more reserved than we were!

SouthMumof2 · Yesterday 23:11

CrispyBeer · Yesterday 23:08

I was dancing with a man in a nightclub, near the end of the night where it's a slow dance, (& we were both drunk) I had my head rested on his shoulder, we were almost the same height with my heels on.

This really good looking, taller man started making eyes at me behind man 1s back, we had a few quiet giggles & he was touching my hand (that was draped round man 1s neck)

Man 2 then leans in for a snog, I go on my tiptoes & start snogging him over man 1s shoulder!!

Man 1 soon realised, kind of just removed his arms from me & walked off & man 2 wrapped me up in his arms instead & we carried on snogging.

I justified this to myself for years because man 1 still contacted me after & we had a date, I apologized & he was fine with it.

Now though, I'm MORTIFIED by my behaviour, & can't believe that I did it!!!

lol

dentalflosser · Yesterday 23:13

You have to forgive yourself @DreamyScroller I had a really horrid childhood and it left me with a lot of trauma and mental health issues.
I got hurt easily as I put my faith in men and believed what they said as I was vulnerable. When I hit my 20s I became vile and bitter and broke several Ten Commandments as I was so angry and full of sadness. I took it out on other people when in reality I was hurting my support network. I was out of control but I’ve genuinely tried to make up for it and be a better person.
You’ve certainly done this too, you’ve made amends and are now a different person. It’s time to be kind to yourself otherwise the regret eats you up inside.
Sending you flowers 🌺

Iwillcomeouttheotherend · Yesterday 23:33

liv198288 · 20/04/2026 17:23

Had an affair with a coworker

You say it’s the worst thing you’ve done,
May I ask:
Was he married ?
Was you married ?
How long did it last ?
Was it the worst thing because you feel regret and remorse over hurt it caused or because of reputation etc at work or something else ???
My husband had an affair. I’d be interested to know perspective.

Ringthebell26 · Yesterday 23:38

Elanol · 20/04/2026 17:56

I had a neighbour who slammed his front door. I jumped out of my skin every time. They are heavy fire doors and really loud. Sometimes the vibration ran across my floor.

I made numerous complaints to the management company but he didn't give a shit. Lockdown was awful, he was home all day and never went back to work. One day after 22 (yes 22 not a typo) slams I lost my shit.

I bought a huge pair of trainers in a charity shop so they looked worn. I put them outside my door. Suddenly he could close the door properly. Funny that....

It's a shame it took a threat of violence from the man who fits into those huge trainers to behave decently.

@Elanol Genius

FettchYeSandbagges · Yesterday 23:43

I put soap in my teacher's tea at primary school when their back was turned.

That's your lot.

Birdsongsinging · Yesterday 23:51

I have done loads of things that aren't great - none of them terrible but ... I think we need to give ourselves understanding for the things that deserve understanding and take ownership (but maybe with compassion) for the things that we should have done better but didn't for whatever reason.

Emotionstorn · Today 00:04

Bank fraud.

i was in a financially abusve relationship and scammed people on eBay and gumtree
how I never got caught I don’t know. I did refund the majority of people down the line and it eats me up even to this day.

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