20 times awkward people messed up simple social interactions: 'Maintaining eye contact. I just can't do it'

Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor

Mar 30, 2024 2:00 PM EDT

It's no secret that being a socially anxious person can make the simplest of social interactions feel like a Sisyphean undertaking. Whether that's calling someone on the phone and speaking to an actual human being or making small talk with your boss about what you had for lunch, if you're an anxious person you are likely to be considering the infinite number of ways you might end up making the conversation weird, strange, or impossible to end.

It was the great Wendy Williams who once gave an infamous shout-out to people with social anxiety on her show, adding a sardonic "I kind of feel sorry for you" admission. For some of us who were viewing that viral moment, it probably felt like she was speaking directly to you and only you.

These folks likely fall into that esteemed company of individuals who shudder at the idea of conversing with mere acquaintances. They shared their social interaction fails via the following r/AskReddit thread. Keep scrolling below for this collection of social mixups and mishaps. For more content like this, take a look at this list of useless lessons people learned in school.