Shame can be a powerful emotion, keeping our actions in check and helping us avoid some truly cringe-worthy moments. Yet, there are people who seem to live entirely without it, moving through life with a brazen attitude that leaves others in awe, horror, or disbelief. Here are 14 jaw-dropping stories of people who have scratched the word “shame” right out of their dictionary and behave in ways most of us wouldn’t dare.

1. The “Manipulative” Pregnancy Scheme

One young man shared the shocking story of dating a girl who, after a few weeks, announced she was pregnant. Panicked, he told her it was impossible because he was “infertile.” That night, he overheard her talking on the phone, confessing she planned to manipulate him into believing the baby was his so she wouldn’t be a single mom. Hearing this, he quietly left and never looked back. Sometimes, intuition saves us from a lifetime of trouble.

2. The Chicken Bone Refund

Imagine working at a fast-food restaurant, and someone comes in with bones—fully stripped of any meat—and demands a refund. When the manager denied him, the customer didn’t take it well. He threw the bones at the employee, making a scene in the restaurant. The sheer audacity left everyone stunned.

3. The “Debt-Ridden” Mother-in-Law

A young couple had been saving for a vacation until the husband’s mother mentioned her overwhelming debt. Out of compassion, they postponed their trip and gave her the money instead. A week later, she proudly showed off an expensive porcelain cat she’d just bought, telling her daughter-in-law, “A mother’s happiness comes before anything else.” The nerve!

4. The Soup-Scavenging Customer

In a Thai restaurant, a particular customer took frugality to an uncomfortable level. After ordering a meal, he would wander around, picking up half-eaten plates from recently vacated tables and eating the leftovers—soup and all. Watching him slurp down strangers’ discarded meals left everyone feeling queasy.

5. The Germ-Infested Tip

A customer once sneezed directly into his hand full of change and, without a second thought, handed it over to the cashier. Unfortunately, his quick-handedness didn’t give her co-worker a chance to avoid the “tip.” Some people just lack basic hygiene etiquette.

6. The Nose-Blowing Great-Uncle

Raised with household help, this great-uncle never learned basic manners. Now, as an adult, he shamelessly blows his nose into his bare hands and wipes it on his trousers, leaving onlookers horrified. Some habits just don’t have an excuse.

7. Mocking the Employee with a Disability

At a movie theater, an employee politely asked everyone to step out for a quick cleanup before the film. He had a stutter and a gentle demeanor, but one father with his kids decided to make fun of him, mimicking his speech and even encouraging his children to join in. The other patrons watched in disgust, seeing an example of the worst kind of role model.

8. Barefoot Dining at a Fine Restaurant

Dining in style comes with certain expectations, but one man at a high-end restaurant felt otherwise. He took off his shoes and propped his bare feet up on the chair beside him as if he were in his living room. The other diners were left speechless by his lack of decorum.

9. The Trash-Picker Popcorn Lover

An usher at a movie theater once saw a man fish out an empty popcorn bucket from the trash. He shook out the trash, then confidently walked to the concession stand to request a refill. For some people, saving a buck trumps any sense of cleanliness.

10. The Borrowed and Chewed Pen

In high school, a girl lent a classmate her pen only to watch him gnaw on it throughout the entire class. At the end, he tried to return the slobbered-on pen, as if she would want it back. She told him to keep it, and he seemed entirely oblivious to the problem.

11. The $100 Bill Tantrum

At a gas station, a customer tried paying for a $15 purchase with a $100 bill. When the cashier explained there wasn’t enough change, he erupted, cursing and refusing to leave until the police were called. Even the officers were taken aback by his stubbornness and advised the cashier to call them if he returned.

12. The Milk Expiration “Scandal”

In a supermarket, a woman was outraged that her milk had gone bad by the expiration date. She escalated her complaint, involving not just the manager but the front-end and dairy managers, too. After they resolved her issue, she turned to her teenage daughter and proudly said, “Now, that’s how it’s done.” That poor daughter probably wanted to disappear into the floor.

13. Sticky Pie Filling Disaster

A young boy visited a friend’s house, grabbed a can of pie filling, and started eating it with his hands. He then proceeded to touch everything in sight, leaving sticky fingerprints all over the house. When asked to clean up, both he and his friend refused, leaving the homeowner to deal with the mess.

14. The Lollipop Licker

While riding a train, one woman dropped her lollipop on the floor. Without a second thought, she picked it up and put it right back in her mouth, savoring the “extra flavor” of the floor. Moments later, she unwrapped a second lollipop, dropped it, and did the exact same thing. Some people just live by their own set of rules.

These stories remind us that some people walk through life with a level of shamelessness that’s both jaw-dropping and, at times, oddly fascinating. While most of us cringe at the thought of such behavior, for others, shame isn’t a consideration. Whether they’re brazenly flouting etiquette or acting with total disregard for others, these 14 individuals prove that some folks truly live by their own code—one where “shame” has long since been erased from their vocabulary.