Do you ever get second-hand embarassment?

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I hate watching people do/say embarrassing things, even when they themselves are not embarrassed. I always cover my eyes and wish that it ends for their sake. I've never been able to watch shows were people do weird things in public (not that I have much of a desire to).

Yep. I know I would be very embarrassed if I did whatever embarrassing thing the person did .

I used to, mostly when others did things my parents had taught me not to. Now I get firsthand embarrassment, because I realize their behavior is normal and healthy, while my avoidance of it is not and gives me away as mentally diseased. And my parents agree.

If I'm with a person who unintentionally did something embarrassing, I feel embarrassed for them. If it's a stranger, I just get anxious about how embarrassed they might be feeling and so I try not to stare or do anything to embarrass them further.

However, if somebody is intentionally embarrassing themselves but don't care, I don't get embarrassed. Most people do if they are with somebody who is showing themselves up. But I just think that it's them who's drawing attention to themselves, not me. If I just act calm and casual, then they know that I'm not the one embarrassing myself. If I start to swear or snap at them, then I'd be showing myself up too, because it'd most probably turn into an argument. So I don't argue or swear or rant, etc. I just stay cool and calm.

When someone does something considered weird, I worry that they'll be criticized by other people.