Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find posting pictures on facebook of all your gifts tacky?

107 replies

chumbler · 13/11/2015 02:27

Ugh is it just my friends? when it's someone's birthday / leaving do / baby shower (!?) / end of school year they post pictures of all their cards and presents set out in a big pile. Drives me mad!! And sure I will see a LOT of this on Christmas!!

OP posts:
Vedamakesthebesttoast · 13/11/2015 09:46

Ivf rather not if

Crabbitface · 13/11/2015 09:53

Vedamakesthetoast

I'm really sorry you had such a hard time TTC. It sounds awful.

I can understand where you are coming from - but for me facebook is like having a conversation. I would never say or do anything on facebook that i wouldn't do in real life... In real life I too have experienced pregnancy loss and fertility issues but I would never expect my friends not to be excited about their own pregnancies or show me their scan pictures. Because I have had disappointments in my life doesn't mean that I can't celebrate the joy and happiness of my friends.

I kind of stand by the point - that if social media becomes too much for you - if being on it causes you anger, frustration, sadness etc come off it for a while.

MrsDiesel · 13/11/2015 09:55

I hate this too, the people that I know who do it are literally doing it to show off and have spent thousands on gifts but money they can't afford and have gone into debt for. What is the point!

MaxPepsi · 13/11/2015 10:00

Can I ask Max why you wanted to show them off?

Not being rude- just interested.

Pre-Facebook would you have laid them all out for visiting friends or shown them pictures at work or in the pub?

Because I was really touched all my friends and family thought so much of me to spend time getting cards - some of them were made specifically for me, not just shop bought, getting presents they knew I would love, rather than just grabbing the first thing they saw on the shelf of any generic shop.

At home my cards go on the mantelpiece or window sill. My presents stay in a pile for a few days so I can go through them properly, rather than just put them straight into the drawer/cupboard etc. So yes, they would have seen them. And yes, I probably would have taken photos on my camera for my memories, and although I wouldn't specifically have gone in to work/pub to show them off, my friends and colleagues would have asked what I'd been bought, so I would have shown them, easier than listing them I think.

sugar21 · 13/11/2015 10:04

I got rid of facebrag 2 years ago. I couldn't stand all the posing and boasting so pressed the delete button

usual · 13/11/2015 10:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StampyMum · 13/11/2015 10:21

Most of my friends post a pic on Christmas Eve once the kids are in bed, of the presents under the lit tree, just to say Santa's been. I think it's sweet. I don't think it's showing off, I think it's just that we're childishly excited about Christmas...

Dexterjamesmummy · 13/11/2015 12:32

It's my daughters first Christmas this year and I will no doubt be posting pics of the tree, her presents, her stocking, her overwhelmed little face at it all...... I had the worst Christmas last year because I lost my little boy in May 2014, he only got 1 Christmas day (it was the best Christmas ever).
This year will be different, this year there will be smiles at the dinner table, we will be celebrating and I use fb to share this with my friends and family.
People should be able to share their happy moments and I think fb is a great way to look back on happy times. How often do people look at photographs when they are in albums or forgotten about on your phone? I often look through mine and other people's online x

Whoknewitcouldbeso · 13/11/2015 13:27

I agree about scan photos and pregnancy announcements also being acutely painful after multiple losses and/or infertility. It's an absolute minefield and if I'm lucky enough to give birth to a healthy baby come Feb I shall be making sure only certain people on my list see the announcement as I have a couple of people on my friends list that would be gracious but devastated due to miscarriage.

miaowmix · 13/11/2015 13:29

Literally nobody I know on FB (or in reality) would do this. Having said that it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if they did...

hazeyjane · 13/11/2015 13:32

Most of my friends post a pic on Christmas Eve once the kids are in bed, of the presents under the lit tree, just to say Santa's been. I think it's sweet. I don't think it's showing off, I think it's just that we're childishly excited about Christmas...

^^this!

DisappointedOne · 13/11/2015 13:52

Most of my friends post a pic on Christmas Eve once the kids are in bed, of the presents under the lit tree, just to say Santa's been. I think it's sweet. I don't think it's showing off, I think it's just that we're childishly excited about Christmas...

Which would be fine if the presents didn't cover the entire living room floor, sofas, tree, telly unit......... It's like the Argos catalogue threw up in most of them. I hate it.

(These are the people that then complain that the "kids didn't play with any of it" Hmm)

Shirtsleeves · 13/11/2015 13:58

The irony of coming on a thread to criticise people for commenting negatively about something whilst commenting negatively yourself. Grin You are allowed to like your friends but dislike some of the the things they do. It's perfectly normal in adult relationships; families, friends and acquaintances.

My closest friend is the kindest person. She would give you the shirt off her back and wouldn't dream of boasting in person but yet, often Facebook to 'show off' about things she buys. I love her, so I don't care but I can see some people might not like it.

Original poster
chumbler · 13/11/2015 18:44

Hahaha pudcat I love that!!!

Still think some have misinterpreted my op - these are adults posting pictures of THEIR presents that they have been given in a huge pile, eg baby shower gifts - like - look at all this stuff I've been given. Ugh. It annoys me in the same way that people have started using their fb status to say things like "happy bday to the best friend ever..." Ugh. Why not post that on their wall? Why make it all about you? Just showing off like - what a great friend I am making a fuss for her bday. Grr!!

I know IABU by the way, but it just annoys me!!!

OP posts:
CerseiHeartsJaime4ever · 13/11/2015 19:12

I know a woman who does it with all her own gifts. Not just birthdays but everything. She tags her husband who is my friend so that's why I see it (until I muted him!)

It included:
New pandora gifts every week
Flowers brought home
New car
Cherished number plate
Trainers
Tattoos
Michael Kors handbag
Michael Kors watches

I just look at them and wonder about her emotional needs, I hope he sees to them as much as he does her material ones.

CerseiHeartsJaime4ever · 13/11/2015 19:14

Although if it's kids with presents, I quite like to see my friends little ones with all their gifts. I don't mind that.

Jhm9rhs · 13/11/2015 19:51

The ones I hate go like this:

'Feeling like a cheapskate this Christmas, do you guys think this is enough for my three-week-old?'

photo of pile of 195477 gifts, a pony, a Porsche and a kitchen sink

20 eager to help friends: Oh, yes, hon, that'll be fine.

Op: Aww, thanks.

Ffs.

SagaNorensLeatherTrousers · 13/11/2015 20:03

Well my family lives in another country so I show A LOT of detail/photos of my kids' lives which many of you according to this thread would find distasteful. But it's the easiest way for mum, dad, siblings, uncle, aunties, cousins, etc. to see what we're up to in one place.

Merguez · 13/11/2015 20:05

How very vulgar.

I don't know anyone who does that.

Apart from a very annoying school Mum who posted a photo of the new sports car her husband had given her for her birthday.

I blocked her after that.

SecretlyChartreuse · 13/11/2015 21:06

I will never forget the girl who posted all her presents on FB at 17 and tagged the givers into it. These were mainly school friends and her parents, not far flung relatives.

Tywinlannister · 14/11/2015 16:52

I used to get one un-birthday present. It was usually something not particularly expensive, that I really really wanted - like another book in my Beatrix Potter collection. My brother did too and it was something like a car or a video.

Things that you can get everyday in pound land now. The value of this stuff diminishes if you get presents all the time Sad

Mintyy · 14/11/2015 17:15

I feel nothing but embarrassment for the people who do this sort of thing. Including folk who would post a "birthday album" of their tiny children doing birthdayish things. What is wrong with posting one lovely picture ffs?

I honestly have rarely been as surprised by anything I've seen on the internet as a thread on Mumsnet last year where people were encouraged to post photos of the piles of presents they'd bought their kids. A bit repulsed, I was.

Floggingmolly · 14/11/2015 17:23

Most people post them after the kids are in bed just to say Santa's been?

To other adults... Can you possibly be serious? Hmm

Beebar · 14/11/2015 17:28

Yanbu. It's very tacky. Instead I post a pic of my dc smiling next to the tree, with no presents in view. Who the fuck cares whose dc got the most-est, or you're the richest? Grow the fuck up.

Philoslothy · 14/11/2015 17:32

It is the same with cars, holidays and experiences, and why i would never bother with facebook

I agree utter bastards sharing pictures of their holidays and experiences.

Do people really hate seeing pictures of their friends happy?