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Original poster

Boasting about your wealth on Facebook. Why?

94 replies

tellmelies · 27/01/2016 08:58

Why are people so keen for others to see how many expensive material possessions they have.

Is this a 'thing' now?

OP posts:
araiba · 27/01/2016 09:17

*But do people who are struggling, and there are a lot who are struggling, really needs to see that you have so much money coming out your ears you don't know what to spend it on.

It seems insensitive.
They should adjust their settings.*

i think if you are offended by someoneelse's pictures, then it is down to you to change your settings or friends

ShanghaiDiva · 27/01/2016 09:18

It's impossible to be sensitive to everyone's needs or to have a comprehensive understanding of problems friends/acquaintances may have. Posting photos of material goods, doesn't actually mean you are very wealthy, just that you buy lots of things. They could actually be in debt.
Anyway - agree with others - what they post is up to them.
I post photos of my holidays - should I not do that in case one of my friends cannot afford to go on holiday?

usual · 27/01/2016 09:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Peevedquitter · 27/01/2016 09:19

I really don't see why people get their knickers in a twist about FB but then continue to use it.

I had enough of the people I worked with efforts to out wit each other. I stopped using it about 3 years ago and don't miss it at all.

ShanghaiDiva · 27/01/2016 09:21

Neither do I, but as I live overseas am not up to date with all my friends' financial situations.

Katenka · 27/01/2016 09:21

You could say people shouldn't do it because others can't afford it.

But does that go for every thing?

Don't post photos of your kids, incase your some of your friends can't have them.
Don't post photos of dogs because some friends live in rented accommodation and can't have a dog.
Don't post photos of holidays because some can't afford a holiday

Don't post about days out because some can't afford them

No one would post anything

gamerchick · 27/01/2016 09:22

I don't mind it on Facebook.. At least you have the option to hide it, unlike IRL and you have to actively avoid one of your neighbours who hangs on about how well off they are. It's weird.

gamerchick · 27/01/2016 09:22

*bangs

ShanghaiDiva · 27/01/2016 09:22

Exactly Katenka.

AlwaysHopeful1 · 27/01/2016 09:23

Think fb isn't for you. Most people are just going through their normal lives. You seem deeply offended by this person.

Original poster
tellmelies · 27/01/2016 09:28

deeply offended, too strong.
Mildly irritated yes.

and you are absolutely right, it is my problem.
People have always bragged and will continue to brag, in rl and on fb.

OP posts:
Alicewasinwonderland · 27/01/2016 09:33

Katenka you are so right.

OP, what exactly is bothering you?

I have a friend who just posted many (many) photos of her (very VERY) expensive new car. She is not bragging, she is excited like a small child. She worked hard to get it, she is jumping around because it makes her happy. Yes, it's only a car, but it's cute, she's happy.

When my FRIENDS are happy, it makes me happy too. If you only have real friends and family on FB, it's just a way of keeping in touch. I might not be interested by somebody's new puppy, or latest baking creation, but I just scroll. If people really mean something to you, there's no big deal. Maybe you should clean up your friends list!

FlamingoFandango · 27/01/2016 09:35

You'd love my brother-in-law OP.

When having some work done on his house while back, he actually posted before and after pictures of his wallet when paying the builders!

He is also a fan of name dropping designers when he buys new clothes/shoes.

He is rather like this in RL but also good fun and tbh he has done well for himself, so I take it all with a pinch of salt. DH (it's his brother) can't stand him.

Birdsgottafly · 27/01/2016 09:37

I'd click to not see their posts.

One of my distant relative 'brags' as such, but I know that she has people on her FB, that bullied and laughed at her, she was brought up in a Heroin dependant household, she's done fantastic to get over this, but her self esteem isn't quite what it should be.

There are always people better and worse off than you, the Internet just brings it into your Living Room.

LovelyFriend · 27/01/2016 09:37

They should adjust their settings.
No you should adjust yours if it bothers or annoys you. It's pretty easy to do and completely in your power to control. What they post is not within your power to control. Focus on what you can influence.

Vintagebeads · 27/01/2016 09:38

I have a friend like that,she tags herself at home she lives in Coopers Road,but tags herself at Coopers palace Grin not real road
She puts up pictures of her birthday presents, with a note under saying not including £400 of vouchers,she is 45.Tbh she is funny although she isn't trying to be.
In RL lots of people I know find this sort of thing eye roll and annoying.

FlamingoFandango · 27/01/2016 09:38

TBF to the OP there are some people who take it too far.

We have one acquaintance who will post things along the lines of:

"3k tax rebate - suppose I'd better make another trip to the Apple store and upgrade my [whatever the latest Apple gadget that has only been out for a matter of months is]"

Consumerism and showing off for the sake of it.

angelos02 · 27/01/2016 09:39

Flamingo I would bet your BIL didn't have much money when growing up?

This is usually the case with braggers IMO.

Owllady · 27/01/2016 09:40

I agree with peevedquiter too. If you can't cope with it, delete your account.
I did too. Years and years ago.
I just don't feel the need to know about my friends and family's life in such detail
Maybe I am old school

Hoppinggreen · 27/01/2016 09:40

I have a family member/s who do this, photographs of loads of Selfridges bags on the table after a day out shopping, comments on how they are getting a flash new car as they don't like them once they lose the new car smell, public husband/wife discussions about the latest expensive purchase
" we should get one of these/go to this exotic holiday location"
" just book it babe"
Despite them being in the same house!!!
I actually feel a bit sorry for them, they can't enjoy anything unless other people approve/comment on it and they live in a very " keeping up with the Jones" place where everyone is the same. I know I that if they ended up without money they wouldn't be able to cope and would probably bankrupt themselves trying to keep up appearances, I imagine most of the flash friends would disappear too. It's sad rather than annoying to me.
There's no jealousy on my part, in fact we probably earn a lot more than them but we have very different priorities.
I went to Private school and learnt that the really wealthy don't usually brag about it and aren't generally that flash.

Gottagetmoving · 27/01/2016 09:41

I think some people can be insensitive. I have an in law who brags about all the holidays they have and posts about every expensive thing they buy. He has retired and has a really good private pension so when he got his state pension he posted he was surprised how much he was getting because it was more than he thought,..and how it was a nice little bonus for him and his wife to have extra holidays!
The fact that the state pension is all some people have and they struggle doesn't enter his thoughts.

Showing off is a sign of insecurity. Don't let it bother you.

LovelyFriend · 27/01/2016 09:42

They probably do it because they have boring lives and they think spending money makes them "special" and "interesting". They completely fail to recognize it makes them look like twats which indicates a lack of self awareness - not a great trait in anyone.

Hit them where it hurts and unfriend them.

FlamingoFandango · 27/01/2016 09:43

The IL's had DH and his brothers very young so I suspect there is an element of that. Hasn't affected DH or their older brother though and IL's are minted these days

DBIL just rather likes being the centre of attention I think Grin.

tinofbiscuits · 27/01/2016 09:44

This is why I don't like FB. It's like a constant "round robin" Christmas letter.

It's not difficult to write an individual email to a friend asking how they are and attaching some photos that they personally would like to see.

Bogeyface · 27/01/2016 09:48

I always feel slightly sorry for the people I know who do this.

It must be very tiring to need other peoples approval all the time instead of being happy to live in your own skin, making decisions that improve your life and just getting on with it.

One woman in particular who does it I have known since she was a child and she really only seems to value herself in terms of what other people think of her. She doesnt seem to consider that how she thinks of herself is far more important so there are endless posts about the new porsche 4x4, the luxury holidays, the designer clothes she just "has" to buy for her kids.....

Sad really.