Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will be internalized and held onto forever, echoing in the chambers of my mind. The more specific the insult, the more devastating, because it becomes memorable. Being called stupid doesn’t stick. Being called a filthy lummox does. That is an example that is in no way about me, of course.
Writer Sarah Dempster started a viral thread on Twitter for everyone to unload their horrible memories onto, writing, “What’s the most hauntingly specific insult you’ve ever received? I once made a joke about Dennis Waterman’s dentures and a man wrote to tell me I was ‘obviously lonely.'”
What’s the most hauntingly specific insult you’ve ever received? I once made a joke about Dennis Waterman’s dentures and a man wrote to tell me I was “obviously lonely”.
— Sarah Dempster (@Dempster2000) March 17, 2020
This tweet opened up a lot of wounds for people. The replies are all the most cutting remarks they’ve carried with them until now, ready to spill it onto the Internet. They will probably bring something up for you, too. If not, maybe this list will at lest give your some ideas for how to insult others.
1.
I stood up on the school bus and a fifth former shouted out “sit the fuck down, moonface.”
— Matthew Holness (@MrHolness) March 17, 2020
2.
A boy at school started calling me “Monobutt” as he decided I looked like I had one solitary butt cheek.
— Jim Field Smith (@jimfieldsmith) March 17, 2020
3.
In 1995, I was walking to a Middlesbrough match sporting beige flares, a brown suede jacket and mutton-chop sideburns, and a random bloke in the street shouted “MAN ABOUT THE F***ING HOUSE” at me. https://t.co/oC3qwFLLzj
— Bob Fischer (@Bob_Fischer) March 17, 2020
4.
In my leaver’s book from senior school, a boy called Andrew wrote, “Nice legs, shame about the face.”
— Julia Raeside (@JNRaeside) March 17, 2020
5.
Radio Four announcer before complaints show: “And if you’re David Quantick, you might want to cover your ears.” https://t.co/zyBkLvOm7e
— David Quantick (@quantick) March 17, 2020
6.
A woman I had a very messy half-relationship with once told me ‘Angus, everyone falls in love with you until they work out that you’re not magic.’ https://t.co/HVqKZnElSF
— Angus Dunican (@AngusDunican) March 17, 2020
7.
Someone described my autobiography as being a bit ‘Me, me, me.’
— Sarah Millican (@SarahMillican75) March 17, 2020
8.
Was once playing a gig and a drunk man shouted up “You’re having your fun, but what about us?”
— Lisa Carey (@msleedy) March 17, 2020
9.
I criticised Zoella and one of her fans said I sounded like I was 40, which was obviously the most terrible insult they could think of. I was, in fact, 40
— Anita Singh (@anitathetweeter) March 17, 2020
10.
“Fucking statue!” shouted at me from a car, when I was standing still, reading a book.
— Nathaniel Tapley (@Natt) March 17, 2020