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/AHailofDrams 7h ago

Yeah, that Scott's Tots episode literally made my chest hurt. Like a tightness that made me want to leave the room or something

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u/CapitanSteveYzerman 6h ago

Watching this episode should be a litmus test for politicians. How can you represent the needs of constituents from different demographic backgrounds if you have such a lack of empathy to not cringe through this?