I'd say @Jenny-Toons summed it up pretty well
It's definitely exhausting to say the least especially when things being called cringe-y like was said is just people trying to enjoy things that make them happy. Obviously some things are harmful and in those cases it's not cringe it's just bad.
Most often I've seen cringe culture target specific fandoms, beginner artists or things people don't take interest in. It's way to easy to find "cringe compilations" on Youtube (or elsewhere as I'm sure it's out there) and it's always the same thing yet every time it's masked as being a critique or "entertainment"
Other people have summed it up well, but one thing I find annoying about it is that it tends to target kids.
If you like Minecraft, that's cringe—because kids play it.
If you like Fortnite, that's cringe—because kids play it.
If you make a so-called "edgy" OC, that's cringe—because those are the types of OCs that kids make.
Like, is it really so wrong to like something that kids enjoy? And maybe you're making fun of actual children. Do you really want to destroy their self-esteem just because what they're doing is somehow personally offensive to you?
It's just dumb. Let people do what they want, for Pete's sake. It's not like you have to participate.
Especially this. A lot of times, it's "critiquing" without the artists knowing and giving consent. The intent is never to actually help someone but to tear them down, and people get a kick outta doing it.
Cringe Culture also has hypocrisy to it. Person A will make fun of beginner artists and everyone else. But if someone starts to shit on them for what they like, Person A immediately claims "Oh, you just don't get it. What I like is for serious people" or something along those lines. Never mind that what they like could also appeal to kids too or if it's no different than the content they shit on.
They're not very fun at parties.
This is the big one for me especially when it's unwarranted critique. I've seen folks throw in the towel or come close because of winding up in those and it agitates me to no end.
I look at this two ways and accept critique if I'm wrong. There's definitely cases where a person absolutely means no harm to minors and simply enjoys things that may be targeted towards a younger audience and that's fine. I still like care bears, MLP and the strawberry shortcake franchises but that doesn't make me a creeper.
I think the issue is when there's clear harm or suggested harm of a minor. Instances of an underage character being sexualized or assaulted, that's problematic. What it boils down to I think is knowing what's what and properly pointing it out
It's something so baaaddd, but you just can't stop watching because its like either a dumpster fire, or a really bad car-wreck happening in real time.
It can be from really bad stuff, so-bad-its-good stuff, good stuff but with a really bad scene, gross moments on TV or movies, whatever it may be. You just basically look like this when you're done.
It's basically "I'm too cool and adult for this kids stuff" bully teen additude that was run to the ground in 80's-90's cliches. Only it was boring then and is a cringe in itself now - because being mad or irritated at other people for harmless creativity and fun only makes you the wet sock. I actually only stopped to rethink this mindset myself rather recently, since I realized of how much fun I robbed myself as a teen in fear of being seen as cringy. And that it's just a negative attitude that's not productive for anyone.
tbh, I didn't know there was something like a "cringe culture" O_o
For me "cringey" is something I can't look at because it is like Fremdschämen (external embarassement), or some things I can simply not understand (like: people know that there are certain TV channels that aim for public embarassment of their participants in gameshows or "documentations", looking at you here RTL! But still people sign these contracts and are forced to act like their IQ is negative, I mean, why???)
Oh, yeah, end self-cringe XD I admittedly wrote fanfics and added some Mary Sue self insert ones... some of them are actually pleasant to read, while others... well, kill it with fire ^^". And old art. You can't beat your old art - from Kindergarten it's sweet and cute, while there are some phases of your artistic life that better never come to the public XD;
It is not about dissing someone having fun what tey are doing. I especially hate it when people discourage young artists that way - we all started out on the bottom and noone was born as a master. In my understanding, cringe had something to do with deliberately being a dork (or let others make you a dork and embarrass in public).
I could be mistaken though =) Sorry if I did not phrase my thoughts correctly, I sometimes still have trouble with the English language. Please correct me if you find any mistakes, also, please share your opinion on what I said =)
I read somewhere that the reason those cringy reality shows are popular is because many people enjoy others being worse off than they are (not in a tragic way, but in an idiotic way). They also claim that’s the reason shows like ‘the Simpsons’ are popular. (Although they are not really cringe...imo)
I assume it’s the same way with cringe culture. People want to make themselves and their situation appear better, so they mock other’s efforts or likings or failures....or all of them combined.
That mindset is pretty awful tho
13 days later
Doesn't it all depend on what's in the cringe compilation? Like its based on involuntary embarrassment right? You watch a guy start stuttering uncontrollably while trying to deliver an important speech that's "cringe" because you're going to feel second-hand embarrassment for the poor guy. You're going to cringe. It's reflexive. See embarrassment, feel embarrassed.
9 months later
Sighs
I am so sorry for what I am about to unleash, except I'm not.
Cringe culture has almost left me emotionally crippled, mentally fractured, socially defamed, and physically scarred just because I am a Sonic fan and a former brony. Cringe culture, although I have thankfully never gone through with it, has made me ponder the benefits of suicide on a daily basis. I don't have a care in the world about what one's fetish is. I have no right whatsoever to so much as even think about that person engaging in the fetish. Anyone who believes that have something worse than a developmental disability other than the autism I was professionally diagnosed with, they will never be worth my consideration. Cringe culture almost taught me that I will never amount to anything, solely because of my special interests.The toxic idea that almost everything must be entertained with the upmost irony nearly drove me to apathy towards my dreams and desires. It almost robbed me of my ability to be a human being, teaching me to outright hate myself at worst.
This is not exaggeration.