7 Things That Instantly Give Me the Ick (And Probably You Too)
There are certain things in life that trigger an immediate, visceral reaction—the kind that makes your soul shrivel up like a raisin and your brain quietly whisper, nope, absolutely not.
That’s the ick.
It’s not just about attraction; it’s a full-body, can’t-ignore-it, once-you-see-it-you-can’t-unsee-it kind of feeling. And once the ick sets in? There’s no coming back from it.
You might think you’re reasonable, that you can handle social quirks and personality flaws like a well-adjusted human being. But then—BAM. Someone confidently explains something they clearly have no clue about, or your coworker starts one-upping you in the most exhausting way possible, and suddenly, you feel an overwhelming urge to exit the conversation, the room, and possibly the entire planet.
So, let’s talk about it—the things that immediately make my brain hit the emergency shutdown button. And if you don’t relate? Well, congratulations on your patience, because I can guarantee most people do.
The Overly Confident Yet Incredibly Wrong Person
There’s nothing quite like watching someone boldly dive into a conversation with the confidence of a seasoned expert—only to be so painfully, irreversibly wrong that you start questioning how they’ve functioned in the world this long.
Image Credit: Midjourney AI
You know exactly the type. They’ll correct you on something you literally have first-hand knowledge of. They’ll throw out “facts” that sound more like conspiracy theories than actual information. They’ll double down when proven wrong, sometimes even arguing against Google itself.
And somehow, instead of being embarrassed, they just… keep going.
At that point, all I can do is stare into the void, wondering how we ended up in a society where shameless confidence outweighs actual knowledge.
People Who Are Rude to Service Workers
If you ever want to know what someone is really like, watch how they treat people in customer service. The way a person speaks to a cashier, a waiter, or literally anyone just doing their job tells you everything you need to know.
The entitlement? The unnecessary attitude? The dramatic sighs over minor inconveniences? Disgusting behavior.
There is absolutely no reason to snap at a barista because your latte took an extra minute. No justification for rolling your eyes when a cashier asks if you have a rewards card. And if I ever see you berating a customer service rep on the phone for something that isn’t even their fault? You are permanently canceled in my mind.
Being rude to people who can’t argue back isn’t a flex—it’s an instant disqualification from being a decent human.
The Gym-Bro Personality Takeover
Image Credit: Midjourney AI
Look, working out is great. Taking care of yourself? Love that for you. But if every single conversation circles back to your personal fitness journey, I need you to know that I have already left this conversation mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.
You know what I’m talking about.
"How much do you bench?"
"You should try intermittent fasting."
"I only eat clean. Can’t believe you still drink soda."
Sir, please. I was just trying to enjoy my fries in peace.
Going to the gym doesn’t need to be a personality trait. You can, in fact, lift weights without making it your entire identity.
The Fake Self-Deprecation for Compliments Act
We’ve all seen it. Someone dramatically sighs, frowns at their reflection, and goes, "Ugh, I look so ugly today."
And suddenly, it’s an unpaid full-time job for everyone in the room to rush in with, "No, you’re gorgeous! Shut up, you look amazing!"
It’s exhausting.
Now, let’s be clear—I get insecurity. I understand needing a little reassurance now and then. But the forced self-deprecation for validation? It’s a no from me.
If you want a compliment, just own it and ask. I’ll gladly hype you up. But if I have to perform emotional CPR every five minutes to keep your self-esteem alive, we’ve got a problem.
The "I’m Just Honest" People Who Are Actually Just Jerks
There is a very specific type of person who hides behind the phrase "I’m just honest" as an excuse to be an unbearable human being.
They don’t give constructive criticism. They don’t offer thoughtful opinions. They just use "honesty" as a shield while they deliver insults with zero social awareness.
"That outfit makes you look bigger." (Unnecessary.)
"Your haircut was better before." (Did I ask?)
"Not to be rude, but…" (Then don’t?)
There is a huge difference between honesty and being insufferable. If your "truth" doesn’t serve a purpose beyond making someone feel bad, keep it to yourself.
The Workplace One-Uppers
You know what’s already exhausting? Having a bad day at work. You know what makes it worse? The Workplace One-Upper.
You mention being overwhelmed with projects? "Oh, you think you’re busy? I haven’t had a break all day."
You casually say you’re tired? "I only got three hours of sleep last night."
You vent about an annoying client? "Oh, you should hear what happened to me."
At a certain point, you realize nothing is a conversation—it’s just an ongoing competition.
And I need to know—what is the prize? What do you gain from proving your suffering is worse? Do you get an award? A medal? A lifetime supply of sympathy?
I promise you, we can all be tired together. It’s not a race.
The "I’m Better Than You" People Over the Most Random Things
Few things trigger an instant ick faster than someone acting superior over something completely pointless.
"Oh, you still use Spotify? I only listen to vinyl."
"You watch reality TV? I only watch documentaries."
"You eat at chain restaurants? I only go to authentic hole-in-the-wall places."
Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize basic personal preferences were a competition. Let me know when the Michelin Guide starts handing out awards for Pretentious Lifestyle Choices.
There is nothing more exhausting than performative superiority.
Once you get the ick, there’s no coming back from it. It burrows into your brain like a permanent cringe memory, forever tied to that person. Some things, sure, you can move past. But some? Some are irreversible.
And while we all have different triggers, I think we can all agree: some people are just walking icks waiting to happen.
So tell me—what instantly gives YOU the ick? Let’s discuss (and bond over mutual horror) in the comments.
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