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Sometimes in life, things just don’t go your way. A hand slips when taking a pie out of the oven, one accidentally clicks out of a document before saving or just the good, old “slipped on some ice” are all examples of times humans tried (and failed) to do something.

We’ve gathered some of the best examples of people documenting their or someone’s failure from the “there was an attempt” internet group. So get comfortable as you scroll through this collection of other’s mistakes, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments down below.

#1 To Gain Sympathy

Image credits: what_eve_r

#2 To Be Consistent,

Image credits: bigcatcleve

#3 To Get Married By A Priest

Image credits: HerpesIsItchy

There’s something oddly fascinating about “fail” content, the videos, clips, and images of people stepping wrong, botching a stunt, or botching a situation in ridiculous ways. It may appear a little sadistic from afar: why laugh at someone falling on a skateboard or misjudging a jump? But the truth is that fail content taps into a very human mix of emotions, from empathy to relief to the simple joy of watching life’s imperfections play out in exaggerated form.

Part of the appeal comes from relatability. Everyone has experienced clumsy moments, embarrassing mishaps, or plans that didn’t pan out as expected. Watching a fail video is somewhat similar to seeing those everyday glitches turbocharged, wrapped, and made funny instead of embarrassing.

#4 To Be A Christian

Image credits: al_fayadh

#5 To Blame The Band For Your Infidelity

Image credits: HerpesIsItchy

#6 To Get Fit And Healthy

Image credits: anikkundu1998

It’s comforting to realize that failure is not unique to us, that even the most self-assured, sporty, or well-trained individual has a moment when gravity, timing, or just sheer bad luck gets the best of them. Laughing at another’s pratfall can, in a roundabout way, make one feel better about his or her own.

#7 To Call Women “Ugly”

Image credits: Tulpah

#8 To Project P***philia Onto Democrats

Image credits: PairRevolutionary669

#9 To Call Yourself A Genius Businessman

Image credits: what_eve_r

There’s even a little harmless defiance in mocking fails. Perfection, control, and achievement are prevalent social expectations that are strongly promoted, but fail content does away with all that. It reminds us that life is dirty, unpredictable, and sometimes just downright absurd.

#10 To Teach France A Lesson About ‘Whisky’ And ‘Champagne’

Image credits: scarytree1

#11 To Blame Democrats For A Government Shut Down

Image credits: TheRealRosey

#12 To Cut Federal Spending

Image credits: coachlife

Seeing someone trip over their own enthusiasm or miserably mess up a straightforward task is a relief from the scripted, filtered world of social media, where everything looks perfect. Fails restore balance to things, they’re a reminder that under the glaze, humans are beautifully imperfect.

#13 To Stand Up For America And The Constitution

Image credits: Nuraldin30

#14 To Give Americans A Tax Break!

Image credits: Dr_sc_Harlatan

#15 To Promote An Ethnic Cleasing In The 21st Century By The Wsj

Image credits: SameItem

On a more primal level, fail content works because it takes us by surprise. Comedy is often about the unexpected, and there’s nothing more unexpected than watching someone switch from being absolutely confident to being absolutely wrecked in an instant. That sudden shift, a skateboarder soaring toward what looks like a flawless landing, only to smash up spectacularly, provides us with the comic tension and resolution our brains naturally desire. The humor isn’t just at the individual, but at the absurdity of the speed with which things can turn around.

#16 To Hide What Kind Of Car They’re Driving

Image credits: littlebabybuddy24

#17 To Claim Greenland Wants To Be Part Of USA: Press Release From All Five Greenlandic Party Leaders Strongly Condemns Trump’s Statements On Annexing Greenland

Image credits: lightenupwillyou

#18 To Be Chuck Schumer And Think Selling Out Your Base Would Have No Consequences

Image credits: victorybus

And, of course, the best fail clips are the ones where nobody gets seriously harmed. The comedy comes from trips, slips, and harmless errors rather than true hurt or suffering. Viewers instinctively want reassurance that the subject is okay before they will laugh. It’s the difference between wincing because one is afraid of injury and laughing at a harmless tumble. That thin line is the reason why fail compilations exist, they gather the most amusing, safest moments when something went wrong in the best way possible.

#19 To Be An “Alpha” Male

Image credits: Eienkei

#20 To Not Be A Russian Puppet

Image credits: wyldcat

#21 To State A Fact On Reddit

Image credits: Dr-DDT

There’s also shared experience. Fail content is socially highly engaging. People like to send clips to friends or laugh together over a montage, because it employs a shared vocabulary of humor. You don’t need cultural reference, translation, or explanation to find it funny, witnessing someone overestimate the depth of a puddle or hit themselves with their own broom is amusing everywhere, everywhere.

#22 To Predict The Future

Image credits: realDonaldTrump

#23 To Form A Competent Health Department

Image credits: IsThisAUserName86

#24 To Blame Others For A Genocide

Image credits: al_fayadh

Essentially, our affection for fails is due to the way they humanize us. They remind us that there is no such thing as perfection, that mistakes can be funny and not fatal, and that laughter is the best response to life’s inevitable mistakes. Fail content can be about failing, but the joy it evokes testifies to how right it is for our collective sense of humor.