25 Excruciating Times People Got Secondhand Embarrassment
If you need a high-quality automobile, a world war started or a word to describe an obscure, singular feeling, look to Germany. We’re only looking for the third today, and they’ve definitely come through. Fremdschämen is the feeling of secondhand embarrassment, vicarious shame, or as a Fortnite party chat would call it, cringe.
Unlike its German counterpart in schadenfreude, there is no joy to be found here — only dismay at watching what may well be one of the worst moments of someone else’s life. If you’ve ever gotten teary-eyed at one of those YouTube videos of someone achieving their dreams, this is the darkness to that light.
If your sense of empathy can take it, here’s a collection of the most secondhand embarrassment Reddit users have ever felt, most strong enough that they’ll summon a squeaked, thirdhand “oh no” from a quiet voice in the back of your head.
