Facebook as a bragging tool....

[RangerPooh]

Some people on my list brag about things, others post because it's the highlight of their day, and others post to share good news. Personally I don't mind reading what people post. For other moms like myself, it's comforting to know what my friends are going through (both marriage and kids). I do have one friend who I would consider posts a daily brag, she posts a picture almost daily of her clothes for the day. While I do see it as bragging about the $ that she spends on her outfits (and purchases she buys are occassionally posted), I also see it as a privilage that she has after losing almost 100 pounds.

What I find more annoying are the depressing posts, the "whoa is me" type. I have family members who frequently post these; the topics always being $, marriage, or illness of themselves or their kids. This compiled with the heavily religious ones that try to scream "I'm a better wife and mother than you" are just plain annoying. However with one family member, these become the fodder for others to discuss as this person is a train wreck that we watch happen.

 

[scrapquitler]

Excellent post and this sums up my feelings as well. A lot of people feel like "well I didn't talk to you in high school, why would I talk to you now?" And my thought regarding that is because we were stupid in high school. I have a set of FB friends that I didn't talk to in high school because NOBODY talked to them in high school. These two have been very interesting, funny, and informative since we connected and we now get together in real life for a lunch now and then. Kind of reconnected due to the common bond of HS, but connected because of what kind of people we have become.

I totally agree with this. I've got something like 75-80 of my high school classmates as my friends on Facebook. Some of them people who would NOT have talked to me in high school, others who I talked to but the 'cool kids' didn't talk to. And you know what? We all talk to each other now (25 years after graduation) and I found out that I even LIKE some of those people that I hated in high school because nobody is worried about looking cool or being popular anymore. And we recently had the rockingist most fun reunion ever...and the nerds and the popular kids and the burnouts were there and we were all having fun together with noone feeling wierd about it. And I think facebook was part of what contributed to that.

 

[DMRick]

I only have close friends and family on my facebook, and I am truly interested in what they have to say. So nope, I don't consider it bragging.

 

[Carlyzmom]

I totally agree! I love to post accomplishments of my kids! If people don't like it they can block me. But, in my excperience, most people enjoy seeing it. As, I love seeing posts about friends kids!

I have REALLY enjoyed FB. I just had my 20 year class reunion last weekend and since there are a TON of my classmates on FB, it kind of eliminated the awkwardness of not knowing what people looked like.

What I DO hate is the Negative Nellies that are always saying stuff like "oh, I'm having such a bad day" or "my husband is a jerk" or "so and so just did ____ to me". I usually hide those people!

 

[dismom2]

I think it's the way some people word things. I have a friend who has an awesome life, high achieving children, and shares all the great news daily, and does not sound like she is bragging at all. I am truly happy for her and always tell her so.

I have another friend who wants everyone to know that everything she does, everything she buys, everywhere she goes, is better than that of everyone else. I'm having a difficult time trying to find words that truly describe the differences between these two types of people, but person #2 comes off as a person who wants everyone to know she can 'one up' everyone on everything. This person does NOT complement anybody else for their achievements or good news, but wants everyone to comment on hers. Also, if you do or buy something she hasn't yet, you can bet she will do so as soon as possible, then let you know hers is better. I reply to this persons good news as well, but it does get old that she doesn't acknowledge anybody else. I would say she has a problem, not the other way around.

I think it's all in the wording and attitude. Friend #1 shares her good news and shares in the happiness of others. Friend #2 only wants praise for herself, without commenting on her friends' good news.

I hope this makes sense.