The annual 'present pile' photo thing...

[turquoise88]

I want to start by saying that this discussion is out of genuine interest and not a dig at what anyone else chooses to post to their Facebook/social media pages. I fully appreciate that I can unfollow anyone if I'm not a fan of their content (as they can me).

It seems that this has become a 'thing' over the past couple of years, at least on my feed. Posting a photograph of a ginormous pile of presents with a caption along the lines of 'Santa's been!'

For anyone who does this, can I ask why you choose to? I first thought that it may just be a way of showing how excited/proud you are but it seems to be a quantity thing, i.e. there are masses of presents rather than just a few.

Just found it interesting as it wouldn't even cross my mind to post that sort of thing, but it seems to almost be a bit of a trend?!

I used to, couldn’t this year as DS looks on my mums Facebook so might have seen it. However a lot of my Facebook friends do and I have a pile 4x smaller than they do so I don’t feel like I’m bragging. I do feel proud I managed to secure the presents I did as my dc currently like all the popular stuff so it’s always harder. I think as they get older the presents are more expensive so quantity decreases.

I don't know but they have way more under their tree than we do even with 3 dc.

Doesn't bother me, but whilst I did it a couple of times in the past when they were little I don't now as people get twisty about it. If I did it would be a sack and a stocking each but that is everything they get and there are people who spend more on one present than I do on the whole lot, so tells others nothing about cost.

I however do have one that shows the night before plus every opened present, I like it, I like to know what can possibly be still left to buy.

I've never seen it and I think it's obscene and tasteless.

I think it's absolutely vile and makes me just think people are braggy twats. Really disappoints me when people I actually like do it cos it makes me like them a little less.

I've seen a few. I did very minimal looking at social media on Xmas day to avoid it. The only post I liked was my mate volunteering at a greyhound shelter

Because I'm a dick
No, not really. I do it on WhatsApp anyways with some friends at about 10pm the pics of he's been start showing. The only bragging and competition is who was wrapped weeks ago, who finished sooner and whose kids are already in bed. And a lot of "ohhh where did you get that wrapping paper from?" and "ffs this wrapping paper is the devil's work..there's glitter herpes all over the house".

I can relate to a PP thinking how lovely the tree looks,the lights on , it's finally done and there's peace,quiet and excitement for seeing their faces the next day. But then again mine,OH's and DD's presents didn't get anywhere near 30,much less a 50.

P.S. Because I'm not a complete dick, I admit that there is a significant amount of pride because I did all that,despite my various issues, the feelings that December bring and past memories ,the low wage I've got and so on. DD gets the Christmases I've never got...sue me! (Please don't..low wage remember?)

I had two Facebook friends who have done this. I hate it as it is totally tacky and look at me.

One of them posted that on Christmas Day and then boxing day an update of them at the airport going to Dubai. Totally intentionally showing off. Think I will unfriend as all their posts are of them on holidays.

I think with the wrapped gifts and tree loads of people that do this are proud of the effort they have put in to preparing for that morning moment. I know my parents took and printed pictures of our tree and the gifts every year. They both had very difficult childhoods and were proud of the very normal gifts and childhood traditions they were able to give us (we certainly weren't a spoiled wasteful mountain family as some imply whenever this comes up) .

That doesn't make them bad people. It's kind of beautiful really.

I have noticed less people doing it this year though. Maybe more conscious that it might not be appropriate to share, even if they are still taking the photos because they want to.

We have photos of all the presents under the tree. A combination of gifts from Dh and I, our children, their best friends and our best friends. It looks so Christmassy and was the start of a lovely day of food, present sharing and slightly! drunk giggling and inappropriate board games. Not shared them but can see why people do, excitement and a bit of pride at being able to give what they can, feeling Christmassy. Don’t see the problem tbh, although I don’t go on sm enough to have seen any.

I take a picture but never share it. All my family( and im one of 8 )buy my
Children presents , and it's too much . Also my in laws buy them presents . It's obscene the amount they get.

We have tried to ask them not to buy them anything , but they do anyway.

I never post it on social media, because I know other people are struggling and some people arnt lucky enough to be able to afford lots of presents and don't have big families that are generous

I took the OP as being about the pics of unwrapped presents along with #solucky #blessed etc. My DC are 17 & 14 and it is definitely a thing. They have never done it & hate it, but their Instagram feeds are full of it on Christmas Day. A strange sign of the times.

I took a photo and video of my gift (unwrapped) from my parents...because I was completely in awe and knew that a few of my facebook friends would be equally impressed with them. If people don't like it they can not look.

It's bragging. I hate it. It's not subtle at all. The joyous, heartwarming captions about family and food don't hide the fact it's a boast post.

I took a photo and video of my gift (unwrapped) from my parents.

I may be wrong but I don't think that's at all what the OP is talking about. Taking a photo if a special gift is one thing, bragging about your massive pile of unwrapped presents under the tree is another.

I think it's rather gross, to be honest. No one needs that many presents

I don’t do this but who the fuck cares? If people like doing it and you are utterly miserly about them enjoying their christmas however they like, just hit unfollow. People can put what the fuck they want on their own FB page, unless they have tagged you in it, it’s really not your business to whinge is it?

It just strikes me as obscene to have pictures of piles of presents like that one posted above under the tree. All sellotaped and wrapped in plastic. I bet a lot of it is tat too, just to get it to look like that. Just buying for the sake of it stuff that will be chucked aside so that the next present can be opened, and the next.

I don’t do this why so defensive then?

I don't know how we coped growing up in the 80s not being able to photograph everything and show everyone immediately.

First day back to school after the Christmas holiday-ask all your friends what they got. Imagine that.

24 hour Boots photo developing was as good as it got. Thank god.

Only one friend who does this but it’s more of a “phew it’s all done...see”.
She also adores Xmas.so it’s just something she does.

Seen much less of it this year tbh.

What's wrong with boasting?

I have 173 friends in FB
Mix of school, university, colleagues and friends made since having children.

Not one photo of a pile of presents. Not one. And nothing even resembling something so showy-off

I thought it was rather ironic when one of the mums from school posted pictures of piles of presents around her tree on Christmas Eve and wished everyone a happy Christmas. Then went on to say she's thinking of all the needy people who might not be having a happy Christmas, on a post with a picture of her pile of presents! Didn't quite know how to react to that.