Walk of shame

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Although many contest the authenticity of the term, the walk of shame in much of the western world, usually refers to a phenomenon in which a person must walk past strangers or peers alone for an embarrassing reason before reaching a place of privacy. Most commonly, it occurs the morning after a night out at a bar, dance club, or party. People undertaking the walk of shame are understood to have spent the night at the house, apartment, or dorm of a sexual partner (or perceived sexual partner), particularly a one night stand. Due to this, he or she can be recognized by the fact that he or she is still wearing the clothes that he or she wore the night before, has disheveled "bed head" hair or "sex hair." He or she may also smell like cigarettes and/or alcohol, and may suffer from a hangover due to excessive alcohol or drug intake from the previous night. A woman might have smudged makeup on her face. Particularly pathetic is the post-Halloween Walk of Shame where people head home still wearing their costumes from the night before.

In the television programs The Weakest Link and Survivor, the walk of shame is the walk from the podium or Tribal Council, to an area offstage, where the contestant gives his or her final thoughts.

In football (soccer), the walk of shame refers to when a player gets a red card, which is a suspension from the game. Returning directly to the clubhouse from the field is a walk of shame due to the embarrassment one must endure as they are banned from the game.

In poker, the walk of shame refers to a player's elimination and subsequent dismissal from the table.

[edit] See also

• Perp walk

[edit] Further reading

• "The walk of shame". Regretful Morning. 2008. http://regretfulmorning.com.  — We laugh at your misfortune.
• Widboom, Nate (2004-04-14). "The walk of shame". The Badger Herald. http://badgerherald.com/artsetc/2004/04/14/the_walk_of_shame.php.  — Widboom describes the hairstyles and etiquette of the Walk of Shame.
• Robin Anderton and Jay Desario (2005-10-25). The Walk of Shame : A Survival Guide. Chamberlain Bros. ISBN 1-59609-047-2. 
• Lube (2005-09-01). "Walk of shame no longer embarrasses; embrace morning-after". Independent Florida Alligator. http://www.alligator.org/pt2/050901shame.php.  — Lube asserts that the phrase is a "misnomer" because "shame is so rarely involved."
• Rice, Kate (2004-05-19). "The Wednesday Hump: Strutting With Pride: The Walk of Shame Need Not Be So Shameful". Daily Nexus. http://www.dailynexus.com/opinion/2004/7589.html.  — Rice provides tips on how to avoid appearing as if one is on the walk of shame, but concludes by asserting that there is nothing to be ashamed of, asking "What is so damn wrong with getting your freak on and waiting until morning to venture back home?"

[edit] External links

• Ali Wisch. "The Walk of Shame". Points in Case. http://www.pointsincase.com/walk_of_shame.htm. Retrieved on November 11 2005.