Things that make you cringe

[Seaby]

Specifically popular scenes in novels and comics that make you physically avert your eyes away from the awkwardness.

I'm asking this because I was in the middle of reading a romance novel where two characters sing to each other in what I'm sure the author meant to portray as a romantic/sweet scene, but I couldn't take it as anything other than awkward. (Especially since this singing occurred in front of other characters, who might not have acknowledged the strangeness but emphasized it nonetheless.) Singing where one character sings to another (or together) a song with lyrics that describe their love for each other has always been unnatural to me. People - as far as I know - just don't do that.

I'm not necessarily asking about things that amateur writers do, but rather the diegetic scenes within a novel or comic that come off as weird/unbelievable or vastly disconnected from the emotions presented - or just things that make you cringe and wonder how anyone else enjoys them.

{Which, is not to say that no one can enjoy them. If you do happen to enjoy something considered cringe-y, feel free to share it.)

[DualDragons]

When the villain completely outsmarts the good guys. He/she absolutely planned it out and there is no way they could win. But for comedic relief and plot the villain's plan gets destroyed by a simple thing OR the power of friendship. It's just so unsatisfying to watch for me, especially in more serious comics and media. I want to see a scene where the villain executes their plan almost flawlessly and leaves a great impact.

[Random_Guy]

Oh, god, okay, let me see...

Meet cutes
Romantic tension
Awkward romantic scenes
Scenes where the MC or some other character is publicly embarrassed.
Scenes where the MC or some other characters are privately embarrassed.
Scenes where the MCs are doing something stupid and you know they're doing something stupid and you know that something's gonna go wrong and you just can't stop it and-

[Seaby]

I completely agree with you. Second hand embarrassment is enough to get me to stop reading a book all together no matter how much I liked it before hand.

[skicoak]

I could never get into the American version of The Office because of the focus on laughing AT the Michael Scott character... who was 95% of the time trying his best to be a good boss/person.

[unknown_user]

When a hero makes a long monologue during the battle, and villain is staying quietly and listening. And vice versa.

(*) Wrong: Anyone who at least tried to study martial arts, know, that in the very moment when you'll distract yourself on anything during the (more or less) serious sparring, you'll get a punch in the face very quickly.

---

(*) UPD: Discussion below quickly revealed, that I was WRONG in starred paragraph. I made way too strong statement: 1) having in mind intuition, based only on specific experience of knife fights, which can't be generalized on everything; and 2) carried away by indignation
In truth, yes, there are IRL situations, in which fighters say phrases to each other during the fight - without "immediately getting a punch", as I wrongly wrote.

Now I would say the following instead:

"I don't believe that in real life fighters would make long (~5-10 minutes...) and consistent monologues in the heat of fight-to-death. I think that opponent would take advantage of it to attack battle philosopher.
So when I see it in fiction, it breaks the immersion ✿ڿڰۣ— "

[DualDragons]

Wait wait I got a worse one!
Romance miscommunication is probably THE thing that makes me cringe the most. I can't watch an anime where the whole season is the mc and love interest being anxious of getting rejected while they like each other.
(And yeah I may be bias because I was rejected the only ever time I asked a girl out but atleast I didn't spend half a year asking her out!
Sorry for the rant)

[joannekwan]

I don't get second-hand embarrassment so most of the things that make me cringe are just like 'Really???' moments.

For example, when a couple addresses each other as 'love' when they've only been together like two weeks (and they aren't British).

I also never got into confessions of love scenes, specifically the Japanese kinds set in school. I just immediately roll my eyes.

[Random_Guy]

As someone who writes a lot of action, I can appreciate the dialogue that happens during a fight, the clashing of ideals is almost more interesting then the clashing of fists.

But I absolutely despise when one character is just talking at the other and there is no response, it's garbage.
Like, they clearly aren't talking, why the f#ck are you still speaking?

The only time that's excusable is when they are absolutely styling on their opponent and you've got time for smack talk.

[Seaby]

Ah, the pet-names after a two-day relationship. I forgot about how jarring it is to see that, seeing as how people starting out dating are rarely ever so comfortable with one another to do that so early on.

[AVXP]

When a hero makes a long monologue during the battle, and villain is staying quietly and listening. And vice versa.

You obviously don't watch any combat sports.

Anyone who at least tried to study martial arts, know

Opinion and writer's preference passed as fact.....

[IndigoShirtProd]

Opinion and writer's preference passed as fact.....

I mean, I guess. Isn't that what this topic is about? Opinions?

@DualDragons Yea, the miscommunication thing is major cringe. That and really bad roasts. Like someone trying really hard to call someone out but they flop because their insult is so poor.

[brilliiant]

Whenever a character is supposed to be cool/above it all/closer-to-the-earth, whatever, just the creator clearly WANTS you to see them as super cool and sexy and whatever and they just come off as the most hateful, annoying thing on the face of the earth.

Also when the good guys are the good guys just because the author says so and not because they actually do anything to make them heroic, likeable, whatever. Obviously protagonists don't HAVE to be heroic, but it's when it's the clear tone of the story and there's no actual data to back it up. Usually I think it's a creator maturity thing, but it makes my skin crawl.

When a love is supposed to be THE REALEST TRUEST MOST BEAUTIFUL SHIP YOU GUISE but it's clearly abusive or contrived as hell.

[unknown_user]

You obviously don't watch any combat sports.

Oh, really? Then name me, in which "combat sport" fighter can win against strong opponent without fully concentrating on their movements during the whole fight round.
Staged wrestling doesn't count.

As someone who writes a lot of action, I can appreciate the dialogue that happens during a fight, the clashing of ideals is almost more interesting then the clashing of fists.

Well, for you it's fun. But for me it breaks immersion. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[joannekwan]

Oh, another thing that makes me cringe, overly exaggerated, prolonged breakdowns. Especially if like a character dies and the person mourning is beating their dead friend/relation's body.

[Random_Guy]

I can understand that, if we're talking about worlds with reasonably similar rules and physics.

Obviously worlds like Dragon Ball don't have the same issue when they're literally fighting with gods, but in a more realistic setting I can see how it would break immersion.

[Seaby]

I suppose when it depends on the context of the fight and the techniques used. I know there are a ton of people out there that love the lead-up to wrestling matches as much as the fight itself (though I don't know much about fighting). I think what @tired_programmer is referencing are the life-or-death/in the moment types of action scenes in novels or comics. The reason why the monologuing seems strange is because, in the narrative of the story, the two people in the fight are looking to kill one another - in the midst of a major climax of a novel/comic and have been out for blood for chapters and just want the other dead, would they let their enemy talk freely, or take that moment to end them?.
Though, in the context of combat sports (as was mentioned) it's totally fine to think that the monologuing there is cringe-y too! It's all about preferences.

[AVXP]

Anyone who at least tried to study martial arts, know, that in the very moment

That is not a statement of opinion. It is a reference to events in the real world.
Read it again.

The opinion would be: "I hate when villains and heroes stop fighting to make speeches...it makes me cringe"
Once you say XYZ is what would really happen, you are being a writer and painting a scenario.
Writers and creatives are free to do that .....

Once you say "Anyone who at least tried to study martial arts, know..." you are saying if anyone took martial arts, they must agree with you. That is not a reference to an opinion. That is a statement pertaining to all martial artists to bolster their stance. And those who do not fit the criteria (in at least trying to train) do not have enough of a reference to disagree.

I don't care about their opinion- believe what you want and create your worlds as you see fit.
As someone who has seen enough martial arts stuff, that statement is 100% untrue.
I can name at least 10 reasons why that statement is false.

But now that we got that at the way.....
-
I can't think of a cringe, mostly I eye roll.
Maybe at stuff that I know is lifted from other works.
Like, when I can read the influences too easily.
Guy with huge blonde hair and massive sword...
The massive sword thing is probably one of them..creates a hard pass on whatever that world is about.

[AVXP]

Oh, really? Then name me, in which "combat sport" fighter can win against strong opponent without fully concentrating on their movements during the whole fight round.

Anyone who at least tried to study martial arts, know, that in the very moment when you'll distract yourself on anything during the (more or less) serious sparring, you'll get a punch in the face very quickly.

You're moving the goal post.
How does "the very moment" become "the whole fight round"?

And again, you are writing a story. I guess that's the part you don't understand.
Once you say "This is what would happen" you are writing a story."

In your story, if the villain stopped to talk, YOUR good guy would punch them in the mouth.
In someone else's story, they didn't/wouldn't.
So again, as far as your opinion goes, fine. Cringe whenever you see that.
Cringe away, my friend.

Just don't suggest that a tired and true trope and writing mechanism, exaggerated (which is what a COMIC is/does), is somehow unrealistic.

Fighters talk smack during the fight. A lot of smack, often. That's why I said you must not watch combat sports. Professional Wrestling is actually the opposite as they don't talk smack to each other, they give directions for the next move. They talk smack to/for the crowd. I guess you don't watch wrestling either.

[vothnthorvaldson]

Romance as a whole I do read some, but I'm always ready for the cringe, so it's easier to deal with.

More seriously: super juvenile/immature things that make me feel bad for the author future self.
I got acces to Internet at 15, and for at least 5 years I was REALLY careful, because it was a new tool for my generation. So I escaped that, even if I wrote my share of super cringy juvenile prose.

I feel bad for kids who will have their cringy works following them all their life everywhere, instead of having only to deal with them at family dinners...
And I know I'm not overreacting, as I realized that after several panicked kids asked me for advice back when I was a forum mod.