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?!

A woman I used to work with does this. Only it’s photos of her own gifts, every birthday & Xmas. All laid out in a hierarchy of how expensive they are. Multiple bottles of champagne, perfume, jewellery, etc.
She’s not a young woman & has a grown up child. I just find it odd & pretentious.

What's wrong with boasting?

Um...

Only one on my FB this year, I was shocked when I seen it but only because it was a "look how many he got" and not the usual stealth boast, quite refreshing.

Vulgarity and boasting used to be completely unacceptable.
These days not so much. The kardashians put the final nail in that coffin.

But the reaction is the same - it is actually cringy and embarrassing still.

I could boastfully show a picture of my credit card bill, its fecking huge

I did it once (with ds’s first proper Christmas apart from being a tiny baby) . He was in the pic sat on his main rocking horse present. It was more to do my excitement of his present opening, the Christmassy scene with the Christmas tree in etc, how cute he looked.It was not related to boasting how any presents we had bought. he didn’t actually get loads. I don’t see the big deal. People are just excited about Christmas. All fb is boasting anyway. I don’t do it anymore, mostly because I am aware now it’s passé. I haven’t seen it much this year.

Nothing wrong with boasting...if you’re 5. Adults need to grow up a bit.

Yes, sparklingbrook, my fav. too. I hope when the child is big enough one year they will have a trailer ready and donate the lot to a care residence or some such. I think by the time they're six their conscience should be about developed enough - unlike that of their parent who clearly has a problem with acquiring stuff. Maybe their house will be in one of those hoarding tv series in a few years...Not usually so down on gift giving, but this stack looks more like a threat than an act of goodwill...

SparklingBrook

I hate it. With a passion. 4 of my friends post humongous piles for Christmas. And birthdays. And I hate it.

I hate when people say l wouldn't post it as it would upset people who cant afford much. People with only a few presents under the street are not necessarily poor just have different priorities.
In my pretty wide experience the poorer you are the more crap is under that dam tree.We are not poor. We could afford to pile it up but it would make me sick.
Our dc , now students at college and begining work, actually asked us to cut down our very modest amount and do Secret Santa . They absolutely hate when people put piles up and, l have to say, judge quite strongly.
As in big pile no class!!

There's one particular mum on my Facebook feed, who posts 20+ pictures every bday and Xmas. So this year for her child it was a large Santa sack full of Lindt and specialty chocolates - about 30 different types, a hover board, console, Fitbit, computer games, football kits, Hugo boss mini wardrobe, electric cars etc. Also the obligatory fan of cash. I love seeing it for the laughs -it's like the game show with the conveyer belt full of prizes. The comments are equally hilarious 'lend me some money', and 'did he like the socks I gave him' etc.

I think all credibility is lost when people post like this. Kind of like, did you buy them for your child to be happy, or just to show off to everyone? In which case your child is a bit of a victim of your need to brag and make other people jealous.

However, there are some mums who I know are skint who have posted the big Christmas pile, and I guess for them it's the pride that they have provided for their children, but it makes me feel sad that they think that the amount of presents is so important. It does come across as vulgar but I think for some it's more aimed towards the ex husband or to make certain people jealous rather than show off.

and I guess for them it's the pride that they have provided for their children, but it makes me feel sad that they think that the amount of presents is so important

winter this sums it up for me I think.