Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be absolutely sick of people bragging on social media

396 replies

SeagullSal · 31/08/2015 17:29

It's reached ridiculous proportions, people 'checking in' at posh hotels, sipping glasses of Champers in spas and even documenting new car purchases (that seems to be the new thing with a hands over eyes emoticon denoting the 'worrying' amount of money that they'll soon be spending.)

I am happy for people having nice times - but it's the ones who document every single sneeze of good fortune that I'm absolutely sick of.

Do these people not realise that a lot of people have nice times in nice places but just don't wish to ram it down other people's throats in a continuous stream?

Time I took a break I think. And breathe.

OP posts:
Shockers · 01/09/2015 16:31

I'm not sure what I'd say if someone asked to photograph my dinner!

DawnOfTheDoggers · 01/09/2015 16:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Morebiscuitsplease · 01/09/2015 16:41

I do see a lot of bragging and I don't like it either I was always brought up to believe that it is bad form to brag/boast, I do, however, find it very useful to stay in touch with genuine friend and family overseas. It can be very useful,particularly some of the groups i belong to. Where I can I block posts.... you can learn quite a lot about people through FB......

lastuseraccount123 · 01/09/2015 16:43

*Bambambini" that's my experience too, I love FB. By and large my friends post really interesting stuff, I enjoy my newsfeed. But I unfollow as needed.

Original poster
SeagullSal · 01/09/2015 16:56

Like I said unthread - I (and I'm sure lots of other Mnetters) have lovely things they could boast about.

However the need to do that is what I find confusing. Why? Why do you need to let people know about a new luxury car purchase, hotel stay or expensive shoe shop you visited?

Why?

You are absolutely deluded if you think people are sat at home after the fifth post about your luxury lifestyle in a week feeling absolutely so happy for you.

Either people don't give a shit or can see through it. I don't think there are many genuine VB types.

My OP was about the rudeness of it. It's fucking rude.

I used to find it rude if someone told me about their new BMW before FB and I find it just as rude now.

Enjoy it, if someone sees you and compliments your new car - lovely. You've kept your class in place.

OP posts:
LilyTucker · 01/09/2015 17:12

Yes re the A&E announcements,in my feed you get close ups of grazes children have endured too. I'm not interested in my own kid's grazes,why would I want to see those on other people's kids.

Raiyia · 01/09/2015 17:25

OK, so yes, if someone says every day for a week 'look at my expensive new car/shoes/jewellery/bag/blah' that's tedious.

That's very very different to 'we've had a nice day out'/'we're buying a new car for the first time in years'/'we've moved house'/even 'I'm treating myself to some louboutins because my messy divorce is over!' or 'what a great break in this hotel' etc... All of those are worth remembering and telling people about IMO - shopping much less so.

I know nobody who would post an endless stream of ostentatious shopping. I wouldn't be friends with people like that.

If for some politeness reason I felt I 'should' be friends with them I would simply unfollow so I didn't see this.

That's what I don't get OP. You mention five posts in a week. Why didn't you unfollow after one or two? Pre-FB if you kept bumping into bragging shopper you would be forced to hear them out or tell them to shut up to their face. Now on FB you can calmly blank them without them even knowing. So why don't you?

Is it because you just prefer to be nosey and then whinge about them?

Caprinihahahaha · 01/09/2015 17:31

Shockers

Dh said 'err. Ok' and laughed awkwardly.

It was a small restaurant so we had to wait hours before we could leave and go "what?"

JustDanceAddict · 01/09/2015 18:06

It's people who post continually about their 'amazing' lives/children/holidays/purchases that is grating. As in 'real' life, some people show off continually and others are more humble. I tend to post funny stuff and a few pics from holiday/day out occasionally. A lot of people say they like my posts so will carry on. I can't bear the continual 'memes' esp 'if you love your children, share this', why?!?!

scrulytrumptious · 01/09/2015 18:13

Haven't had time to read the whole thread, but has anyone mentioned the deliberately oblique fb updates 'checking in' at eg the local hospital and saying 'oh no! Boll*s! I wasn't expecting that!' presumably to see how many hundreds of replies they get saying "Oh no! what's wrong?" "You ok hun" etc etc before finally posting "I'm fine, sorry to worry you all!" Every bit as infuriating as her yummy meals and cheeky drinkies updates.

Ratty1975 · 01/09/2015 18:21

I find facebook so ridiculous that I shut down my account too and feel much happier. I mean it's utter bull... ' I love my kids sooooo much' ....um yeah your supposed to, they're your kids.....'my life is soooo amazing right now' ..'my amazing handsome husband blah blah' ..sounds like they are trying desperately hard to convince themselves to me. It seems traits like being honest and humble are looked down on these days, I miss them!

Sallystyle · 01/09/2015 18:27

I am not bragging if I post about a meal I have had with my husband at a fancy restaurant.

I am not bragging if I talk about something new I have bought. Although I don't personally post about purchases regularly because I don't buy much which makes me excited.

It is what I would talk about to a close friend who was sitting in my living room.

I am sharing with people my excitement. If they want to see it as me bragging then it says much more about them than it does me.

My friends know me, they know my life is far from perfect and I have my fair shit to deal with like most people. They are happy when I am happy though, like good friends should be.

I post photos of my son's artwork which I think is amazing. I am not bragging, but sharing my joy at my son's work while showing others who won't get to see it. I know a few relatives love seeing his work and love when I post photos of it. If people take it as bragging then that is on them. I also posted about his exam results because he worked darn hard for them under extremely awful circumstances. Again, if a friend was round my house I would talk about it with them. My friends know what he has been through and what a huge achievements he has made. It is just easier than ringing people individually and I knew that many people were very interested in his results.

If people don't want to read my updates then they can block me. People who go on about people bragging just come across to me as a bit bitter. Either come off FB or block people. Moaning at people for using FB the way it is intended to be used is a waste of energy.

Sallystyle · 01/09/2015 18:29

Ratty I don't have friends like that on my FB.

Well, that's not true. I have a couple who talk about 'loving life' and how amazing their boyfriends are but they are just kids so I let them off.

I am also very honest on my FB. I share the good times and I have also shared the bad.

ElkeDagMeisje · 01/09/2015 18:30

I actually have 3 friends on my FB (all women) who post constantly about themselves and never about anything or anyone else. Worse still, they do it in the most boastful way possible. In real life, they constantly talk at about a hundred words per minute, all about themselves. Not a conversation. They can, at their most active, literally post about 10 selfies per day. The implication is that they are much, much better than anyone else, and people need to be reminded of the fact.

You find yourself either being polite and trying to make a stealthy exit, blocking them on FB or avoiding them. Worse still, all 3 have rather dreary, adoring boyfriends/DHs who are total doormats, who, if you meet them outwith the presence of the Great One, will bore you to death about how great She is and how much better than you she is.

FB simply opens up another avenue for them to access people to bore. Likewise, lifestyle blogs are a dream come true for this type. But why are people silly enough to follow them?? They don't seem to actually get that many responses or Likes on FB but that doesn't stop them...

NoMoreRenting · 01/09/2015 18:41

Friends occasionally boasting about a genuine achievement or similar is one thing. I had to just get out because I couldn't stand all the 'big boy is now on Y2' and 'ds2 off to see whatever at the cinema' or even worse, ' ds1&2 enjoying the sun in the back garden'
You might think your DS/DD looks smart or handsome in their new school uniform this week but 99% of everyone else on your friends list don't care. I have no interest in your kids at the beach/in the garden/eating ice cream at the park. You think the pics are cool because they're your children. And that's as it should be but Nobody else, other than maybe GPs, care. Even relatives in Oz don't need to see 10 dull pictures a week.

Original poster
SeagullSal · 01/09/2015 18:49

If you are taking pictures of new belongings or nice meals out you are bragging - however you dress it up.

If your friends tolerate your bragging then great.

OP posts:
Original poster
SeagullSal · 01/09/2015 18:50

And posting them on FB.

OP posts:
FurryDogMother · 01/09/2015 19:08

I'm not bragging when I post a pic (or 20!) of a good meal out - I'm a foodie, my friends (a lot of them) are foodies - we like to share food experiences. I'm disappointed if a friend goes somewhere 'posh' to eat and doesn't post any pics! I posted a pic of a one-person teapot this week - my latest new purchase - is that bragging, or does the item have to have a certain value before it becomes a brag?

A friend bought her first pair of Louboutins the other week and posted a pic of them - I was delighted for her, and her obvious excitement, even though my usual footwear is either Muckers or wellies. It wasn't bragging, it was sharing! Same goes for another friend who's just back from an amazing once-in-a-lifetime holiday - I wanted to see her photos, to share in her experience. Yet another friend had a large extension to their house, and posted loads of photos as the work progressed - it was interesting, again, I didn't see it as bragging.

I love my Facebook - seeing what my friends are doing, seeing amazing photographs from all over the world in the photographic groups I belong to, seeing what other people are cooking and eating. Can't say I see any of it as bragging!

Original poster
SeagullSal · 01/09/2015 19:23

You were delighted for her? Bit odd.

OP posts:
Sallystyle · 01/09/2015 19:35

No, I'm really not.

What the fuck is there to brag about? Going out for a meal is not brag worthy is it?

If you think it is then perhaps you should look at why you feel that way. I don't care if others brag anyway because I am happy with my lot and other people going on expensive holidays or meals out does not affect me in any way whatsoever.

I don't look at others and compare what they have to what I have, so it just isn't on my radar to care.

Sallystyle · 01/09/2015 19:36

Bit odd that aren't delighted for a friend when they are happy.

DoJo · 01/09/2015 19:53

If your friends tolerate your bragging then great.

But you tolerate your friends' bragging by remaining friends with them despite finding their posts vulgar for whatever reason.

Raiyia · 01/09/2015 19:59

It's really not odd to be delighted for friends who are happy. It's really not bragging to say to your friends you've eaten a tasty meal.

It is very odd, and YABVU, to be made 'absolutely sick' by these sort of posts though, when you have 100% control over whether you see them or not. You will not answer why you don't hide or unfollow OP if it's that bad?

When it's so very easy not to see this stuff if you hate it so, it's hard not to draw the conclusion that you delight in continuing to see these posts so you can carry on having a good bitch about how they 'lack class'. Which in itself is hardly classy.

IHaveBrilloHair · 01/09/2015 20:10

I am finding you really odd Seagull
I s it ok for your friends to go on a nice holiday or buy an Audi so long as they don't post it on FB, or do you expect them to dress in bin bags, pretend to live in a shed and hide the car around around the corner?

Sallystyle · 01/09/2015 20:11

I find keeping friends on FB who you don't really like or think are bragging is vulgar as well.

Do you just keep them on there so you can look down on them to make yourself feel better?

Looking at people's posts and moaning about what they post about but doing nothing about it is quite pathetic. It is also pathetic to think someone is bragging because they shared with their friends that they went out to eat and had a good time.

If you are happy with your lot why do you even care? It stinks to me of people being unhappy and resenting others who are happy and making them in the wrong so they can feel better about themselves.

I really don't care what others post about. I read a post and move on. Sometimes I am interested and sometimes I'm not. I don't harbour resentment because they dared post about their holiday. I also choose not to have people on my FB who annoy me because I have better things to do then get pissed off with people I can avoid.

Swipe left for the next trending thread