To think people who constantly publicly share their achievements have something to prove?

[JennyWren5]

I’d be really interested to hear your thoughts.

For example, I went to school and university with someone who was an acquaintance of mine, with a different friendship circle. She was and still is very, very clever and talented and pretty, with - in my view - everything going for her. She is absolutely smashing life right now in terms of her job and salary, and also has a partner and a lovely house.

I am not in touch with her, but follow her on social media out of choice and curiosity, and she publicly shares details of all her achievements on there.

As I’ve said, it is entirely my choice about whether or not I follow her on social media. I’m not jealous of what she has achieved. I actually find it quite motivating to see what she has achieved and to use it to help me work out what I want out of my life and what I’d like to achieve. If it wasn’t helpful, I would stop following her.

My AIBU is: because she posts most of her achievements publicly on social media, is she trying to prove something? And if so, what? (And before some wag pops up and says ‘dunno, ask her!’, of course I can’t.)

if it’s LinkedIn I believe that is the whole point of it.

It’s not LinkedIn, it’s Instagram.

We can’t possibly know if she’s trying to prove something but why would it matter if she was? People are allowed to be proud of their accomplishments. Tall Poppy syndrome pisses me off. I say celebrate yourself.

What sort of achievements?

Yes, without a doubt. Its really boring when people do this and why I stopped using social media. I dont hate on people for it. I think they must be deeply insecure or missing something in their life to have to constantly big themselves up.

Does it matter? It sounds like she’s done very well for herself and lots of people like to share the ups on their social media, it’s basically what it was invented for. Like the post and move along with your day!

She mistakenly thinks that everyone on her SM wishes her well. Because we aren't bumping into our friends in the laundrette, at the shops etc, but we are on Social media (clue is in the name) we spread our news that way.

d. I actually find it quite motivating to see what she has achieved and to use it to help me work out what I want out of my life and what I’d like to achieve

well that doesn’t sound creepy and weird at all

Depends what you define as achievements really. Surely she's just sharing the highlights of her life, like most people who post?

Depends how she uses social media/what kind of work she's in, surely?

Tons of people use instagram to promote their work, especially if it's a visual field.

Surely it depends on what it is and how it's done.

Why shouldn't people post on social media if they have trained hard and run a marathon. Or if someone has worked bloody hard and completed their PhD.

I think achievements should be shared and celebrated. I like to hear about my friends achievements, both before and after. I support them when they are preparing for something difficult and want to celebrate their wins when they achieve them

I'd prefer to see stuff like this then people who repeatedly post moaning constantly about everything or about every little medical problem they have or how little they have slept. I genuinely love hearing good news and holiday pics etc.

It doesn’t matter if she’s trying to prove anything. I’ve just been thinking about it a lot over the last few years.

The first time I became aware of it, we were at university and she posted a photo of a prize she received during an internship she’d done.

Right after we’d graduated, she then decided to give up a job offer she’d had for a high-paying graduate job in favour of training to be a teacher of a certain skill. This then got picked up by national newspapers, and she posted photos of the newspaper headlines on her Instagram profile. She worked as a teacher in that area for a couple of years and then switched jobs to work in a very high-paying industry with long hours.

I am totally, totally on board with celebrating yourself. But this seems to me to be beyond that. She’s posted so many details of her house and living situation on social media that I was very easily able to find out her address.

I thought this was going to be another Tump thread...

I’m assuming you’re not being sarcastic. I don’t think it’s creepy or weird - why is it creepy or weird?

Forgot to say, it's not necessarily people having to prove something. It's just part of sharing your life. Tone is so important though, if they are full of themselves doing it, that's not a great way to be.

I enjoy the small achievements too... Especially if they are craft/arts/bakes things they have made. My social group is mostly professional/academic, so it's nice to hear about more well-being focused/fun activities as well

Woah ... you found out her address based on details she gave?!

You are a stalker. Stop it.

She sounds totally normal.

She posted her full address on social media.

A moment ago you said it was 'very easy to find,' not that she posted it.

good for her, doesn't matter if she has something to prove or not, who cares.

She's achieving, is proud of her achievement and celebrating. Many people do that, why should they hide? real friends cheer them on.

Doesn't matter if it's a sports medal, a prize. If it's newspaper headline, of course she should share!

if it's public instagram, she's stupid.

If you don’t know what you think she needs to “prove” how can we contribute to the discussion

You just sound jealous to be honest. And if you’re using her as a yardstick to measure your own success, that’s your problem surely?

It was easy to find because she’d posted it.

I don’t think I am jealous. I also don’t think it’s a bad thing for me to use her achievements to motivate myself.

What I’m asking is if people on here think people who post publicly about their achievements have something to prove.