35 People Offer Insight On What Things In Life We Simply Shouldn't Be Embarrassed By

Embarrassment has a funny way of showing up in the most ordinary moments, and people do not always agree on what deserves it. For some, it is a loud, awkward feeling that follows the smallest social slip. For others, it barely registers at all.

That is exactly what makes this roundup so relatable. People shared the everyday things that can feel mortifying in the moment, from body-related mishaps to awkward public situations, and the answers range from funny to painfully honest.

Some of these responses are so specific they will make you wince in recognition. Read on.

1. "Being overweight and going to the gym."

"I've actually stopped completely... I just work out at home. The stares and snickering were too much to deal with when I'm just trying to work out."giphy

2. "Going to a shop and walking out without buying anything."

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3. "Mispronouncing words, grammar mistakes, and word choice while learning a new language."

"It's way less tragic than it feels, and most native speakers butcher their own routinely."gfycat

4. "Admitting you have severe depression and need to take meds and have therapy to not harm yourself."

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5. "Being in a deadly silent bathroom where you know some of the other stalls are occupied and trying to quietly change pads without everyone knowing what you're doing."

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6. "Stretch marks. Body hair, or lack of it. Breast size. Penis size. Mental illness. Starting your life at 40 instead of 16. Niche interests. So many things...."

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7. "Buying contraceptives and basically any other sexual wellness products in a physical store."

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8. "Compliments, at least for me, feel embarrassing."

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9. "Eating alone at a restaurant, especially fancy ones."

"People always talk about treating yourself and taking yourself out for dates, but when you actually hit up a restaurant alone, the vibe isn't always the same."giphy

10. "Leaking on a period. Sure, it's annoying and uncomfortable, but it's not like it was a choice."

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11. "Doing number two in a public washroom. The sounds are one reason why I choose home."

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12. "Talking about money."

"I was invited on a girl's trip and had to say no because I couldn't come up with cash in the short amount of time needed to book the trip. My friend said that I embarrassed her by telling the other girls that I couldn't afford it."giphy

13. "Asking for help more than once in class."

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14. "Being hungry at a friend's house, or having your host offer you something and saying yes. WHY DOES IT SEEM SO RUDE AND EMBARRASSING!? Haha."

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It’s also like the fight over splitting a luxury hotel bill with friends in “Should I Decline Splitting Cost for Luxury Hotel Stay with Friends?”.

15. "Talking about feminine things in front of my dad. Example: periods, bras, pads, etc."

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16. "Enjoying 'childish' things as an adult."

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17. "Singing in front of other people. I know lots of other people do it, but it just makes me feel really exposed and awkward."

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18. "Practicing any instrument you are learning at home around family."

"You don't know how to play very well, which is why you need to learn and practice, but you feel dumb struggling through easy songs with people that can hear you."makeagif

19. "Getting out of the pool. It's just so awkward. And also when you're crouching in the shallow end and someone goes, 'You could just stand, you know.' LIKE YEAH, I KNOW, I'M JUST INSECURE."

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20. "Wanting to go home because you are done socializing. But if you say so, everyone is offended, and it’s embarrassing, even though it barely has anything to do with them."

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21. "Going to a sex shop. And generally, everything with sex as a topic is seen as vulgar and a complete taboo."

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22. "When you have to run to catch the bus, you're out of breath, and you start breathing heavily on the bus. I don't know why, but this just seems so embarrassing to me."

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23. "Exercising in your room as a kid. I don't know why."

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24. "Coming out. I know it is a little embarrassing, but I swear I almost died of embarrassment."

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25. "Farting and burping."

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26. "When a car is stopped to let you cross the street."

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27. "Opening a gift—expectations of my reaction."

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28. "Having your period."

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29. "My false teeth. Since high school. I know there's nothing wrong, but I still didn't tell anybody."

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30. "A giant zit on your cheek that makeup won't even begin to cover."

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31. "When you're talking to someone and they correct you because you got something wrong. Even if it's just the pronunciation of a random word. I always feel so ashamed, and I don't know why."

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32. "Public speaking."

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33. "Puberty."

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34. "Asking for the bathroom key at those gas stations that require one, especially when they take a really long time to get it."

"Also, mentioning that I'm not okay. Whenever someone thinks I'm unhappy, I get super embarrassed, and it makes it all worse."giphy

35. "Asking for anything, especially at restaurants."

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That list got uncomfortably specific in the best way.

Some of these moments are universal, and some are just painfully relatable.

Want more awkward vacation math? See how a friends’ hotel budget clash played out.