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Seeing someone embarrass themselves can be painful even if you aren’t involved in it at all. It’s just a normal part of human empathy. But if that person at first did something annoying, entitled or just prideful, then their failures become a very satisfying sort of entertainment.
We’ve gathered some of the funniest examples of someone trying very hard to show off their alleged “high IQ” online and just making a fool of themselves. So get comfortable as you scroll through, prepare for some secondhand embarrassment, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments down below.
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#1
Tall Tales From A Genius
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#2
A Friend Of Mine On Facebook Always Toes The “I Am Very Smart” Line But This Morning He Jumped Right Over It
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 day ago
Emotional intelligence is a thing and I think homeboy here failed that class.
#3
Tunnel Vision
There is a specific word that the Germans coined for this exact feeling and it is called schadenfreude. The basic idea is that we find joy in the misfortunes of others. While that might sound a little bit mean on the surface, it is actually a deeply ingrained part of how we maintain social balance.
When someone walks into a room or a digital comment section and starts acting like they are the only person who has ever read a book, they are setting a very high bar for themselves. They are essentially telling the rest of the world that they are superior, which creates a natural desire in the audience to see them prove it. If they can not back up that big talk, the fall is much more dramatic than it would be for a humble person.
#4
Its Just Fascinating
#5
This Girl Is Consistently Tweeting Stuff Like This
Think about the classic internet trope of the person who tries to correct the grammar of someone else while making a glaring spelling error in the very same sentence. It is the ultimate moment of unintentional comedy because it exposes a lack of self awareness that is just objectively funny.
#7
So Smart He Can Confound Minimum Wage Best Buy Employees
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 day ago
Anyone else get the feeling that this dude has no clue what a lumen is? Like its a word he read in a trade magazine somewhere and now it's his favorite word of the week?
#8
There’s Nothing Incredibly Intellectual About Either Of Those
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 day ago
That's literally how I spent a good portion of my 20s. I was also s****d out of my mind on pot. I wouldn't call it "intellectual".
#9
Simple As That
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 day ago
"Also, check out my storefront online! Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine on sale this month ONLY!"
When we see a self proclaimed genius get stumped by a simple riddle or a basic fact, it reminds us that no one is truly above the rest of us. It acts as a social leveler. We live in a world where people are constantly trying to curate these perfect versions of themselves online and when that mask slips, it feels like we are finally seeing something authentic. Even if that authentic thing is just a silly mistake, it humanizes the person while also punishing their arrogance.
#10
With Great Knowledge Comes Even Greater Responsibility
#11
Tired: Reading Books. Wired: Reading Wikipedia Summaries And Goodreads Reviews. Inspired: Reading Dubious AI Hallucinations About A Book
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 day ago
No, I know how to use my own brain and not outsource my thinking to an AI datacenter that burns as much gas as a small city. AI sux!
#12
She Has Been At A Community College For Years And Also Constantly Begs For Money
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 day ago
His goal was to microdose the Ketamine but he misplaced a decimal somewhere and now he's tasting colors.
There is also a fascinating concept known as the Dunning Kruger effect which basically says that people with low ability at a task often overestimate their own competence. This is often what we are seeing when someone goes on a rant about their high IQ. They are so confident in their own brilliance that they do not even realize how they sound to everyone else.
#13
Found On Twitter This Morning
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 day ago
Hint: The first one is WATER. The next is TEA LEAVES. After that probably Citric acid and Sorbic Acid as preservatives. Tea isn't complicated.
#14
This Was Really Legit The Answer He Gave, I Was There
#15
"I Still Can't Believe How Much People Like Things I Don't Like"
Plentyofoomph 1 day ago
Its interesting to watch people who are really good at what they do regardless of the activity
Watching this play out in real time is like watching a slow motion car crash where nobody actually gets hurt. It is harmless fun that allows us to feel a little bit better about our own modest lives. We might not be rocket scientists, but at least we are not the person who just spent twenty minutes explaining a concept incorrectly to a literal expert in the field.
#17
Imagine Greeting Someone And Getting This Answer
#18
I Said “Hey, What’s Good?”
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 day ago
"Pedigree" EWW! Like he's breeding a dog or something. Run away!
The entertainment value also comes from the anticipation. When you see someone post a photo of a membership application or a screenshot of an online test they took while they were bored, you just know that something is going to go wrong eventually. It is the setup for a joke that they did not even know they were telling. When the punchline finally hits, it provides a sense of narrative satisfaction.
#19
I Could Do Anything And Be Really Freaking Good At It
#20
Not Sure What That Has To Do With Anything
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 day ago
Is there a context where someone would ask that question IRL? I can't think of one.
#21
Akcthually Time Zones Don't Work Like That
We love stories where the underdog wins and the boastful giant gets defeated. In the world of social media, the giant is often just a person with a keyboard and a very inflated sense of self importance. This phenomenon is often linked to the concept of hubris, which has been a staple of storytelling since the days of ancient Greece. It is the classic story arc of pride coming before a fall, and we are all just here to watch the tumble.
#22
When Someone Says He Use "Facts And Logic" Its More Often Than Not An Opinion Not Based On Fact Nor Logic
Elladine DesIsles 1 day ago
Right. The average pre-K or kindie absolutely has nothing better to do, and no other responsibilities taking priority, over engaging in three-hour political debates with a single, insufferable student. Presumably, the 20-30 other five-year-olds in the room just watched in awe, completely oblivious to the fact that they were hungry or needed help using the washroom, nobody had a sudden urge to climb the bookshelf, or draw on a wall, or poke their neighbour?
#23
Definitely Relevant Comment On A Kitchen Nightmares Episode
StrangeOne 1 day ago
Chef Ramsey would scream at you for daring to call him Gordon so casually. Then, if he hasn't fired your sorry a**e, he would shout at you to get back to f*****g work and wash those d**n dishes harder so you can actually earn to level up in the kitchen. FFS.
#24
Yes, Because You Need To Be A Grad Student To Do Basic Middle School Math
Furthermore, these moments of public failure serve as a cautionary tale for the rest of us. They remind us to stay humble and to check our facts before we start acting like we know everything. Seeing someone else take the hit for being a bit too proud allows us to learn that lesson without having to experience the embarrassment ourselves. It is a form of collective learning. We watch, we laugh, and then we think to ourselves that we should probably double check that thing we were about to post. It is a cycle of social correction that keeps everyone a little bit more grounded.
#25
Ah Yes, The Only Man Qualified To Speak On World War 1
#26
Gather Round Everyone It’s Time For The Weekly Family IQ Test
Speak easy buttercup 1 day ago
Amazingly I have 3 children over the age of 18(and one nipping on 18s door!) And EVERY SINGLE ONE of them KNOWS they are smarter than me!! What a crazy coincidence!! 🤣🤣🤣
#27
If This Isn't Satire, I'm Done With Life
Stephanie Did It 23 hours ago
SO intelligent, yet unable to type 15 words without a grammatical error.
In the end, it is not about being cruel or wanting people to suffer in any meaningful way. It is about the love of irony. There is nothing more ironic than a person who claims to be the smartest person in the room failing at something that a child could do. That contrast between their perceived self and their actual reality is the foundation of almost all great comedy. So, as you look through these examples of people tripping over their own egos, do not feel too bad about laughing.
#28
Okay Good IQ Level
Grape Walls of Ire 1 day ago
If you're just trying to show off, Bach and Mozart wrote much more interesting music than those pieces. For that matter, listen to the whole Ring cycle, not just a snippet.
#29
His Entire Facebook Is Like This
#30
Academic Reads Alot
You are just participating in a very old human tradition of finding humor in the arrogance of others. It is one of the things that makes the internet such a wild and interesting place to spend time. Just remember that the next time you feel like bragging about your latest achievement, there is probably someone out there waiting for you to make a typo. We all need a reality check now and then, and sometimes that check comes in the form of a very public and very funny mistake that reminds us we are all just human.
#31
Because Space Is Epic
Andrew Keir 19 hours ago
Well, I have to agree that it's difficult to have deep thoughts while fighting off an entire swamp's worth of alligators ...
#32
Poor Guy
#33
I'm So Smart And Rich
Andrew Keir 19 hours ago
$3 that has actually arrived is more helpful than a promise to pay after you're d**d. And one of the things I learnt at college was that independent sources of information (like Wikipedia) are of value in today's argumentative world.
#34
Being A Genius
#35
Are We For Real Right Now?
#36
Well, If That's What AI Said
#37
I Went To Harvard
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 day ago
an·ec·do·tal /ˌanəkˈdōd(ə)l/ adjective (of an account) not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research. Like talking about your personal experience in college and using it to make a vast generalization about other people's experiences.
#38
Apparently You Can't Use 'Lmao' Anymore
#39
A Genius Among Us
Speak easy buttercup 1 day ago
It amazes me how many people claim to have genius level IQs these days! 🤣 and its usually the ones that can't put a coherent thought together! 🤣
#40
I Am The Only One Who Understands Nipponese
#41
Zombie Apocalypse
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 day ago
Oh great. I'll eat him first. Who needs to grow their own food when there are so many people you can just gobble up.
#42
Boy Genius Gets Shut Down
#43
Good For You
#44
I Don't Want To Come Off As Ableist, But Come On
#45
Don't Lie To This Man's Trained Mind
#46
Trying To One Up A Literal Baby
Robert Millar 21 hours ago
I was speaking full sentences at 12 months as well. Unfortunately, nobody could understand me.
#47
Be Very Scared, This Guy Understands Music And Has A Good Brain
#48
Look At Me... I Am So Smart In This Hypothetical Situation
Lost Panda 1 day ago
I may be wrong, but even still that is a weak password that given the owner admitted it was 12345678 a brute force application could be setup to try all the many different ways it could be set...
#49
You Can Try To Talk To Me, But I’m Thinking Of Your Behavioural Incongruity
#50
I Learnt A Language In 2 Weeks
Lukas (he/him, it/its) 1 day ago
This one doesn't fit here tbh, they're just saying they had to learn the basics for going to school in two weeks. They're not bragging and saying they became fluent in two weeks, they're laughing at the situation.
#51
Almost Every Tweet Is About How They Went To Harvard
Speak easy buttercup 1 day ago
Yeah well I went to The University of Arkansas!! WOO PIG SOOIE!! Razorbacks! 🤣🤣🤣
#52
Like 800 Letters A Minute?
Andrew Keir 18 hours ago
Fully agreed. What do you know about your professor that they don't want told?
#53
Learning About Old Paintings
#54
In Case You Didn’t Know, She’s A Fantastic Speed Reader
Elladine DesIsles 1 day ago
Can we introduce her to the dude (currently #36) who reads "so much" by regularly meeting his Goodreads goals of 25-50 books a year? I'd like to see these two have a go at sorting out who is the sharpest, most academic, dominant bibliophile.
#55
He Is A Very Smart
Elladine DesIsles 1 day ago
By logic, if my great grandparents had never existed, neither would I. It seems this believer is unfamiliar with the concept of evidence.
#57
On A Post About Someone Getting Money From Redditors To Visit His Mother Who Is Passing Away
#58
Is The Master’s Degree In How To Be A Karen? Or Is That The High-Level Job?
#59
Believe It Not, This Is Not About A "Rick And Morty" Movie
Andrew Keir 18 hours ago
I know average. And I know pretentious. And I know condescending. And I know 'walk away, shaking my head'.
#60
She Has Been In College For One Semester
Andrew Keir 18 hours ago (edited)
Upvote for reference to research , downvote for tone / attitude. Indeed, don't get petty with her - she's had more practice at that than you have.
#61
Seems Like Something You'd Tell Yourself As An Excuse For Being Lonely
#62
We Learn This In Highschool
#63
Yikes
Elladine DesIsles 1 day ago
I see versions of this frequently pop up on social media. I really, really want to believe that answers like this - of which there are many - are posted by bots. But unless the bots are also voting and wearing red hats, there really must be plenty of people with critical thinking skills this atrophied.
#64
We Are Not Worthy
#65
And People Wonder Why Atheists Get A Bad Name. He Makes Us All Look Bad
#66
He’s Transcended Language
#67
On A Post About The Discovery Of Universes Existing Before Our One
#68
Shes A Really Good Friend But She Does This Often
#69
I Know So Much About This Man Now, And I Did Not Ask
#70
The “Prediction”
#71
More Advice From Another Financial Genius Totally In Touch With Reality
#72
Sooo Smart
Andrew Keir 18 hours ago
I do remember one professional examination I took, decades back, where "the use of electronic calculators is forbidden". So I turned up with a slide rule. After a frantic phone call to Exam HQ, they let me use it. Yay for guessing-sticks!
#73
This Kid I Went To High School With
#74
They Read So Many Books, Bro
Lee Gilliland 11 hours ago
Mostly because it paid better, hello? George is a very smart man, he took the money and ran.
#75
So Shocking
Lost Panda 1 day ago
Wow, people from your country only learn European based languages? Why haven't you learned any Eastern languages? Or African languages? Man, I can't believe there are people who only speak European languages XD
#76
Someone I Found On Instagram, Sorry For The Awful Blurring
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What do you think ?
Mrreoww 21 hours ago
If you need to loudly proclaim that you are smart, then maybe you’re not.
CloPotato 7 hours ago (edited)
I'm kinda half and half on this article. A few were hilarious. But I don't enjoy mocking the younger people here, because when they're from kids/teenagers just sharing how life is when they're developing more quickly intellectually, these posts can actually help other non neurotypicals figure themselves out, despite lacking humility. Life can be tough for the kids who develop early, skip grades and end up feeling fully unrelated to their peers, being seen by others (including adults, too often) as their grades and skills rather than a child with a personality. It often takes a while for them to settle into a sense of normal identity and see they're not unicorns (or "zebras" or whatever). If they see posts by fellow "I'm only in high school but I speak 3 languages, do calculus and listen only to classical music", it can be the first bridge between their island and others. And they have all the time to keep maturing after teenagehood.
Mrreoww 21 hours ago
If you need to loudly proclaim that you are smart, then maybe you’re not.
CloPotato 7 hours ago (edited)
I'm kinda half and half on this article. A few were hilarious. But I don't enjoy mocking the younger people here, because when they're from kids/teenagers just sharing how life is when they're developing more quickly intellectually, these posts can actually help other non neurotypicals figure themselves out, despite lacking humility. Life can be tough for the kids who develop early, skip grades and end up feeling fully unrelated to their peers, being seen by others (including adults, too often) as their grades and skills rather than a child with a personality. It often takes a while for them to settle into a sense of normal identity and see they're not unicorns (or "zebras" or whatever). If they see posts by fellow "I'm only in high school but I speak 3 languages, do calculus and listen only to classical music", it can be the first bridge between their island and others. And they have all the time to keep maturing after teenagehood.
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