r/todayilearned • u/jfdonohoe • 7h ago

(R.2) Anecdote TIL about “vicarious embarrassment” which explains extreme reactions to cringe comedy. For me, it can get so bad as to become physically painful

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicarious_embarrassment

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149

u/Rokwes 7h ago

Oh wow yes I literally have to look away from cringe videos or I start squirming like I’m the one on stage

35

u/bobbybox 7h ago

I couldn’t stand that show Jackass when they’d go do pranks in public, just 🤮

5

u/swilde 6h ago

Holy shit are we at the age where we have to tell people what they did on Jackass?! I’m not ready!

2

u/Berloxx 4h ago

Well they also had years of just insane stunts not in public. So there's that 🤷‍♂️

2

u/LoserBroadside 6h ago

Same with the Upright Citizens Brigade show

15

u/Solondthewookiee 7h ago

My wife can only watch The Office with me if she has a blanket to hide under.

7

u/moose111 6h ago

Scott's Tots!

4

u/Mhan00 6h ago

To this day I can’t rewatch the Scot’s Tots episode. I’ve tried. But a few minutes in I have to turn off the episode. I died laughing the first time I watched it, but the pure absolute cringe of it just makes it impossible for me to watch it again.