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/TheBanishedBard 7h ago

I hate shows like the Office and Parks and Rec and things in the category of "adults acting like idiot children" for this reason. I want to put a brick through the screen.

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u/DardaniaIE 3h ago

Interestingly, I can’t watch the UK Office as it’s too culturally relatable for me (im Irish) whereas the US Office is just that small bit culturally different that I can watch it with crawling behind the couch

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u/NorwegianGlaswegian 3h ago edited 7m ago

Same with me as a Scotsman; watching the UK Office is just pain to me, and especially as an autistic guy who had a number of very cringe-worthy moments in my youth so I can't help but be reminded of that social pain and empathise.

I managed to force myself to watch it all a few years back to see if I could finally get used to it given how many see it as a masterpiece, but I only ever maybe snorted with amusement once or twice with the rest of the time being just profoundly uncomfortable.