A cardboard sign in a garden bed reads, “It is no longer petty theft you stole 29 plants and the police are involved.”
via Canva

To give another respect is a tricky thing for some people. I’m not sure why. Some people subscribe to a belief system that’s rooted in respect is earned. Other people choose to provide a certain semblance of respect regardless of conditions. More on the that is a human being in front of you stance. There can be cases that present where someone will act in a way that’s morally wrong, detestable and then the stance is changed. Sure. Whether there’s a path toward redemption for that person too can be a question of the context involved. These folks and their issues with forking over respect are really just a wonder to look at.

This list is all about those people, the ones who seem to thrive on disrespect and drama. Some are intentionally offensive, while others are so unaware it’s almost impressive. From cringy and mean replies to downright toxic behavior, these examples remind us that just because you’re behind a screen doesn’t mean you get a free pass to be a jerk. Let’s take a look at 15 folks who clearly missed the memo on how to behave.

1. He could have just replied with “Happy New Year to you.”

A text message conversation where one person wishes "Happy New Year!" and the other replies that they don’t celebrate New Year’s, saying they are aware of time passing daily and have no need for such a holiday.
pseudo_potatoes/via reddit.com

2. Nothing like using your child’s educational growth for views

A tweet by Taylor Lorenz jokes, "Imagine coming home with your report card and ur parents do a react video," above a YouTube thumbnail of a woman and a boy, with a red arrow pointing at them and the video title about reacting to Oliver's report card.
userdeleted/via reddit/com

3. Well, that isn’t very nice

A woman with long blonde hair and a neutral expression sits indoors. She is wearing a light blue top with black dots. Text below the image discusses a controversy involving YouTuber Trisha Paytas and a fan.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

4. That’s just cold

A Reddit post asks, "What do you genuinely not understand??" The top comments joke about growing taller and more handsome when visiting grandma, and her shrinking and losing eyesight. Both comments have many upvotes and awards.
empressoflight72/via reddit.com

5. This poor guy spent 20 years breeding a super colony, just to have it destroyed

A smiling elderly man stands beside colorful beehives in one photo; the adjacent image shows burnt debris and ruins of destroyed hives and sheds in a garden.
reasonsforreason/via reddit.com

6. The audacity to call someone’s art trash, tag them, and then “fix it”

Split image of a black-and-white drawing of a young person’s profile; left side labeled "before" with softer features, right side labeled "after" showing sharper, more defined lines. YouTube interface is visible below.
anan_z/via reddit.com

7. This is just ruthless

A worn blue and white soccer ball filled with concrete sits on grass. Above, a headline reads, "Some D**head Left A Football Filled With Concrete In The Middle Of A Field.
_nitriss_/via reddit.com

8. Who caused this sign to be necessary?

A blue sign at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum asks visitors to alert staff if they see anyone scratching, sitting on, or damaging the name panels. The sign is on a paved walkway with people walking nearby.
swiper-da-cat/via reddit.com

9. Someone stole all the plants from their outdoor garden

A cardboard sign in a flower bed reads: "IT IS NO LONGER PETTY THEFT YOU STOLE 29 PLANTS AND THE POLICE ARE INVOLVED." Flowers and greenery surround the sign.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

10. The aftermath of a frat party in Columbus, Ohio

Several cars are overturned on a suburban street at night, with debris scattered across the road and lawns. People stand on sidewalks and porches in front of houses, observing the scene.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

11. “Don’t tweet. Ever.”

Two tweets from Onision: The first says, "Take an IQ test. If it is low, don't tweet. Ever." The second says, "I will literally block you for being dumb. I discriminate heavily against people with low IQs.
dovister/via reddit.com

12. I have a feeling he didn’t get a text back after this

A dating app chat. The first person compliments the other and suggests meeting up. The second person replies positively and asks about their day. The first person asks about a car, license, and living situation, then comments on language use and abbreviations.
aidan0157/via reddit.com

13. This landlord should be sued

A tweet shows a person questioning why they never get their deposit back, above a Facebook post where someone shares their experience of struggling to get their security deposit after tenants left, sparking a discussion about property investments.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

14. The downvotes really show how people feel about this comment

A Reddit comment thread: The top comment reads, "I'm not really the type of a dude who debates people. Most people are below me mentally," with -82 votes. Two replies express shock, one saying, "Oh my god," and another, "I can't believe it really happened.
trusty-mcgoodguy/via reddit.com

15. Please don’t sit like this on a plane

A person with very long hair drapes it over the back of an airplane seat, covering the tray table of the passenger behind them. Text at the top reads, "Please don’t do this.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

Want to see more cringeworthy content?

Take a look at 20 Photos That Inspired Historic Levels of Cringe, or check out 20 Times People Got Too Deep For No Reason. Finally, if you want to see people with no sense of humor, check out 25 People Who Have No Sense of Humor (And The Internet Noticed).

Meet the Writer

Matt has spent over the last 8 years as both a writer and editor, working in Seattle and Brooklyn, where he is now based. He loves escaping the tirelessly fast pace of the “Mad Apple” that is NYC by taking walks and runs through parks where he’s able to catch up on the latest tea about society from the city’s ever chatty, always hungry, occasionally maniacal, pigeons. They always have a lot to say. When he’s not taking his urban nature strolls, or dutifully combing the deepest rabbit holes of the internet to find the content that’s worth sinking your mind’s teeth into, he’s likely holed up at a dark-lit dive bar with a new book and/or some friends, or just as easily he could be on the hunt for the next addition to his steadily growing plant family.

These days Matt’s caught up in trying to provide folks as many vivid glimpses into the days long since passed as he can, through fun and engaging collections of hand-picked vintage photos.