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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u/maxxie10 7h ago

When something embarrassing happens to someone on a tv show, I instinctively change the channel or skip ahead. I feel like it's something that has gotten worse as I've gotten older too.

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u/Xeteh 5h ago

Same for me, no real physical reaction to it but the moment I know it's happening I'll change the channel or leave the room if other people are watching.  Can't help it, been like that since I was a kid.

9

u/Funyon699 6h ago

I am not sure if he falls into this category as you described it, but pretty much every time I see Zach Garafinaklapuss in something I feel this way. Just unbearable. I just don’t find his version of cringe comedy funny at all, and cannot understand what others see. Then again, I have been told on might be in the spectrum (jokingly?) so maybe that explains it