Comments on: Embarrassment

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:09:53 +0000

Wow. This may be laughable, but I never realized that I even had an issue with feeling extremely embarrassed for people- fictional or otherwise.

I have always known that I get very uncomfortable, awkward and/or embarssed when characters make a fool out of themselves and I always pray for these scenes to quickly pass by!

And still…

It never dawned on me that there were others who did in fact not feel that embarrassment the way I did. Rather than think I was the only one who had this mind set, I legitimately didn’t realize others don’t have this mind set. (Forgive the redundancy.)

I really enjoyed this entry- very informative to say the least!

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:01:53 +0000

I am greatly embarrassed by award speeches…golden globes, oscars…i turn the channel every time the winner comes up to speak….

By: MMcA

MMcA — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:05:13 +0000

@FD “The word for this is fremdschämen”

- that’s a fabulous word. How would it translate? That is, is it the feeling we have as we’re reading or watching these things?

‘I felt so fremdschämen when he turned up at the funeral in his rabbit costume’ (Kids TV show – Press Gang – reference)

Would that be more or less right?

By: carrie

carrie — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:46:33 +0000

Gotta agree about Kristan Higgin’s books. I’ve read them all, and for me, Catch of the Day was the worst for embarrassing scenes. Not funny! She’s a good writer, but she’s heavy handed in that area. Even with the embarrassment factor I liked Fools Rush In and Too Good To Be True (although I, too, wanted the heroine to just come clean about the boyfriend thing).

I don’t like shows like The Office, nor do I watch reality TV. I hate watching acceptance speeches, so I rarely watch awards shows. After 5+ season I’m about to ditch Grey’s Anatomy because all the characters are becoming TSTL.

By: Abi

Abi — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:30:52 +0000

RfP: That’s a large part of my distaste for Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series.The main characters are such grasping, selfish morons that I’m ashamed for them.

RfP, which books in the series are you referring to? All or some in particular? I love the earlier titles in the series (so bias alert in effect) but I'm not blind to their faults. I haven't heard this particular fault levelled before however so I'm interested to find out who you found to be selfish and why. Thanks! Abi

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:20:52 +0000

I often get embarrassed for people on television, especially on talk or reality shows. I feel really uncomfortable when people reveal private moments in public (a declaration of love or a marriage proposal for example). The impromptu vocal performance also has me hanging my head in shame for the person. I *cannot* watch.

Luckily I Tivo everything I watch so that I can fast forward through the uncomfortable parts!

By: FD

FD — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:55:31 +0000

The word for this is fremdschämen. German has some awesome words that you´d need a whole phrase for in English.

By: RfP

RfP — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:31:01 +0000

That’s a large part of my distaste for Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series. The main characters are such grasping, selfish morons that I’m ashamed for them.

There’s a lot of shopping-chick-lit like that too. In fact, after reading too many of those I came to feel that there’s a whole portion of the fiction market built on portraying central female characters as objects of mortification and ridicule. It’s as if the only way some authors know to make a female character funny or likable is to make her as transparently selfish as a child. And incompetent and un-self-aware to boot!

By: Sami

Sami — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:57:53 +0000

Ditto on “The Office”. The original English version is even more cringeworthy. Currently I’m reading a Sophie Kinsella book that, while I’m enjoying, has so many of those cringeworthy scenes–it’s that zany chic lit thing I think. I keep thinking “why are you doing that woman? Just tell everyone the truth!” I have a big problem with characters who perpetuate a lie for an entire book.

The most embarrassing moment for a character in a movie I can remember is Drew Barrymore in ‘Never Been Kissed.’ She thinks she’s going to the prom with a hot guy but he only asked her on a dare and he drives past and throws eggs all over her head. God, that poor girl! I close my eyes during that scene.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:06:49 +0000

Oh, yeah! Michael on The Office! I still watch, but sometimes I have to remind myself: “It’s only a tv show… it’s only a tv show….” or I’d be too sick with shame for him to keep on going!