Comments on: Some People Carry Blankies…

By: Alicia

Alicia — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:57:00 +0000

When I was in college, for a final project in a psychology class, my friend and I developed a survey to measure what we called “vicarious embarrassment.” We were shocked that we couldn’t find anything on this concept because we were both so easily embarrassed, especially for other people.

We also had this running joke that we could take every item on the survey and just end it with “and then you shit yourself.” Like, rate your embarrassment on a scale of 1 to 5: “You’re standing in line at a grocery store, and the credit card of the person in front of you gets denied. And then you shit yourself.” Bwahahaah.

By: MissB

MissB — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:44:48 +0000

this is hilarious. I could NOT watch The Office for years and even when I did I had to leave the room (SO was watching it and loved it).

I’m the same way, though. Maybe not to your extreme, lol, but not being able to watch shows? I’m the same way about American Idol. And I sympathize in real life, too. I get embarassed for people and I hate it because my face always turns red, lol

By: MargieK

MargieK — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:47:52 +0000

This is a post where I couldn’t help but go “Wow, really?” I’m not at all like that. Sure, I’ve been embarrassed before (who hasn’t?), and I like to think I can be empathetic.

I can watch AI (hardly ever do because my family’s not into it), and while I can feel a little bad for people when they’re told to go home (or when they obviously can’t sing and are oblivious to that fact), it isn’t bad enough to avoid or hide behind a pillow. It’s part of the “game” they opted to play, something they signed up for.

But I’m definitely not sensitive. I’ve been a scout leader, a PTO officer, and numerous other things where I had to get up in front of a group and have made mistakes, or had to sing or be the brunt of a joke. If I ever was sensitive to all these things you’ve mentioned, I lost my sensitivity it a long time ago, and that can make it hard in social situations. I’ll say something that I’m not sensitive about, or ask a question that seems innocuous to me and have no idea that the other person is embarassed, offended or hurt (unless they tell me, but that rarely happens; instead I’m shunned). I’m clueless, and believe me, it can be a handicap.

Obviously you’re not weird; you have a lot of company. I just wish I could find others like me to commiserate with, people who put their foot in their mouth (and have no idea they’re doing it, even after the fact).

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:33:07 +0000

I’m a singer so watching others performing if I know their having a hard time makes me so sympathetic for them that I’m torn between wanting to disappear or rooting them on so fiercly that I want to carry them. Either way it can be exhausting.

By: Maria

Maria — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:29:56 +0000

I don’t embarass easily. Growing up with my mother I eventually became immune to it. Very little embarasses me these days. I do however cringe for others and would use the pillow for that.

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:21:48 +0000

I used to work in a retail store and would die of embarrassment every time I rang up a customer and their card was declined. EVEN WORSE, sometimes the customer would ask me to call the credit card company and I’d be all DUDE don’t put me in the middle of this aaahhhhhhhhhh the embarrassment!!

By: meg

meg — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:46:57 +0000

Yes thank goodness for tivo. May I ask, does your husband enjoy watching you squirm?

By: Wendalette

Wendalette — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:52:05 +0000

If you all will be my venture capitalists, maybe I could make and sell those pillows and we’ll all get a piece of the profits….

Seriously though, yes, I need an embarrassment pillow sometimes when I’m out with my best (guy) friend or my mom. And that is also why I don’t watch AI and sometimes can’t even watch Top Chef.

By: Liana

Liana — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:42:24 +0000

I’m similar- not the same, but similar. When I was younger I would sometimes run from the room during movies or t.v. shows- not just at scary parts, but at awkward or misunderstanding/embarrassing parts, too.

Yeah- I’m sensitive. And I hate conflict and raised voices. I physically react very strongly with the fight/flight response -heart beating faster, blood rushing (including to my face, often), stomach feeling quaky.

I wish I had an embarrassment pillow that I could carry around, not ONLY to hide behind, but that would also have the technology to teleport me away from any situation I deemed uncomfortable, for myself or others.

By: Layla

Layla — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:05:40 +0000

Ha! Watching George Kastanza on Seinfield I cover my face with a pillow.Oh and also Ben Stiller. I love it though!