Why do people need to show off gifts on Facebook?

[1AngelicFruitCake]

I don’t get it. Lovely seeing photos of people with Mums, messages etc. But why brag ‘I’ve been spoilt with my many presents’ then post photos of them? It just screams ‘Look at me!’ which I know Facebook is all about that but come on, it’s so needy!

YABU-people should put photos of their presents
YANBU-there’s no need to post photos of your presents

If you were not so insecure but had real friends, the normal reaction would be to be pleased for them. Not look down at them..

I asked a friend why she was posting so many gushing messages to her dh when he didn't have a fb account. She said she felt bad & left out/unloved when she saw others doing it so for some it's a vicious cycle.

1AngelicFruitCake

in fairness my reply was directed to the post I actually quoted in my post!

but my point stands... are people really your "friends" if your first reaction is not to feel happy for them?

It makes a nice change from the constant political posts & people complaining that the neighbours have been to the shops twice this week. I like my friends on Facebook & it makes me happy to see them happy.

You don’t understand much do you?
Wow and you call me nasty!

I'm not being nasty, I'm talking about within the context of your thread 🙄

All the wide-eyed 'I don't understand' doesn't fool everyone here.

Lots of people have pointed out it's pretty clear you're just pissing on the chips of many of the mothers here on Mother's Day.

But if that's what floats your boat 🤷‍♀️

It’s horrible, OP. Really cringy and totally unnecessary. I hate it too.

Bragging posts are always indicative of a not-so-happy life underneath. IMO.

‘Thank you for a wonderful night my wonderful wife’ to 400 people on FB. Dear readers, the next week I cheated on her with an escort.

Because this is the 1st Mother's Day since my mum died. My DD sent me a beautiful canvas of the last photo ever taken of me, mum and DD together, so I acknowledged her publicly and shared a photo of it.

Bragging posts are always indicative of a not-so-happy life underneath. IMO.

This is why I don't understand it. A lot of people do think like the above so why do it. Although I guess like in RL probably a lot of people aren't aware of their own bragging & boasting.

If you find it so crap, baffling, attention seeking or whatever else, why are you on FB? What is it bringing to your life apart from the excuse to moan about other people? Or is that your happy place?

Because this is the 1st Mother's Day since my mum died. My DD sent me a beautiful canvas of the last photo ever taken of me, mum and DD together, so I acknowledged her publicly and shared a photo of it.

That's not what the OP is talking about though is it.

Genuine question. What would be an acceptable list of things for people to post on Facebook?

People get criticised on MN all the time for being too happy, too whiny and for selling crap.

Is there an acceptable list, or is Facebook just the devil?

Although I guess like in RL probably a lot of people aren't aware of their own bragging & boasting.

People who are bitter and jealous tend to call EVERYTHING bragging and boasting (or attention-seeking if it's negative).

So social media posts say a lot more about people who look at them, based on their reaction, than about the ones who posted in the first place.

The jealousy is very strong. I pity people who have no real friends and just add random on social media to find something to bitch about.

It’s a Mother’s Day gift really I don’t care if people want to put a pic up it does seem a bit odd but they tend to be the folk who take pics of mountains of birthday or Christmas presents. I don’t look and think wow look what they got generally because I’m too busy with my lot and I look in the evening when I’m scrolling through. I don’t see the harm and if you don’t like it defriend the person and move on, or just scroll past.

If you find it so crap, baffling, attention seeking or whatever else, why are you on FB? What is it bringing to your life apart from the excuse to moan about other people? Or is that your happy place?

I don't understand this argument. Why do you have to like all elements of something? Why can you not complain.
I prefer the BBC to ITV but still moan about certain bits of it.

I like SM like the next person but i loathe seeing mothers days posts. Really hate it. Those posts on my feed today have been hidden.

They tell the world “great mum i love you best mun” blah blah but how many have actually told them?

People who are bitter and jealous tend to call EVERYTHING bragging and boasting (or attention-seeking if it's negative).

I certainly don't. I would call the below image boastful whereas someone just being really happy about a watch gift wouldn't be the same.

I just don't understand why it's not ok to say things are braggy & boastful & pretend those qualities are celebrated in real life.

@zingally

There's a woman on mine who is so braggy about everything... She has 4 kids, from full-grown adult to pre-teen, and it's always armfuls of expensive gifts for mothers day. Her whole fb is about how fabulously gorgeous, gifted, clever, talented, unique her kids are. Except I worked with her youngest kid in school, and when I knew him (not that long ago), he was dumb as bricks...

I should probably unfriend her!

Oh dear!

I was with you nodding, until you called a child dumb as bricks (as school staff 🙁)

That’s an awful thing to say about a child!

The jealousy is very strong. I pity people who have no real friends and just add random on social media to find something to bitch about.

Again this doesn't make sense. I barely use fb but think the Kardashian culture of showing off your closet or cars can be damaging to the younger generations. That doesn't mean I'm jealous of them or don't have friends.

So social media posts say a lot more about people who look at them, based on their reaction, than about the ones who posted in the first place.

I don't have to follow Trump to know most of his SM posts are crap & thinking that is no reflection on me 🤣🤣

I prefer the BBC to ITV but still moan about certain bits of it.

But this is the equivalent of moaning that the BBC make soap operas rather than just documentaries.

How so?

We are not talking about Trump burgerjack, we are talking about the people YOU chose to add as your FRIENDS.

If the first reaction when they post something is "how tacky!", why are you even friends with them in the first place?

I thought your point was a general one

My lot are in in differing world time zones. I say thanks and post a picture of the communally purchased flowers when received . So they can see the flowers whenever they get up in their country. It’s the fairest way of not disturbing them at night. Mothers day is celebrated on the date in our home country - where I reside, not where they live - it’s different. No cavalcade of commercialism here. Less needy, more practical.

I just don't understand why it's not ok to say things are braggy & boastful & pretend those qualities are celebrated in real life.

because when your first judgment against someone YOU called your friend is negative, then it's on you, not on them.

I don't think being braggy and boastful is especially pleasant, but I don't have braggy and boastful FRIENDS. So I don't need to scroll through social media to find things to smirk about. I can actually smile when my friends are happy.