Subtle bragging
This doesn’t apply to me - I have absolutely nothing to brag about, but I have noticed other people indulging.
For instance, someone I knew received a course of flying lessons as a present from her husband. She was pleased and excited. Not unnaturally, she mentioned it in a social media post. Most of her friends congratulated her and said how lucky she was. They were happy for her and hoped she would enjoy the course.
One person, however, took it one step further and asked if she was considering buying a small aircraft. This person recommended the plane he had, a Cessna, I think, or perhaps a Piper, and said how much fun he and his family were having and where and how often they were flying. Maybe he just wanted to share his enthusiasm but the effect was to devalue the gift.
It deadened the pleasure my acquaintance felt momentarily but she proceeded to have her lessons and thoroughly enjoyed them. So far, some months later, she has resisted the urge to buy her own plane!
I'm sure the friend didn't mean to take away from the first friends excitement, was probably trying to share in the joys of flying.
ReplyDeleteThat is a generous reaction and shows what a nice person you are.
DeleteIt would be interesting to learn about flying but I am not sure I would want to fly. It's dangerous enough on the ground, let alone in the air.
ReplyDeleteIt is a little worrying, I agree. In my youth I fancied being a wing -walker but never had the opportunity.
DeleteWho on earth buys an airplane?
ReplyDeleteA millionaire? And then to brag about it!
Sounds like an idiot to me with too much money to burn. I am way too frugal for these kinds of indulgences even if I was a millionaire.. :)
. . . and where would you keep it? There is a house for sale complete with jet fighter - I think it's in Hampshire or Surrey - that would do!
DeleteUh-Oh, I suspect I do a similar thing when commenting sometimes. I shall be more careful in future. I don't want to be known as a bragger.
ReplyDeleteIt's all too easy to slip into it, often without realising. I haven't noticed you bragging, though:-)
DeleteOoh... I feel that I am on shaky ground here. I get quite excited about things and share it all over the place but, thinking about it, yes, it probably comes across as bragging 😏
ReplyDeleteNo, Jaycee, you're not the bragging type. Sharing pleasures and excitement is different. :-)
DeleteI say good on you sister, if you had your lessons and thoroughly enjoyed them!! If she does have the urge to buy her own plane in the future, I hope the family has a LOT of money.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise she can rent a plane any time in the future she feels like having a flying adventure close to home.
Planes are not cheap and you'd have to do a lot of flying to justify the purchase. As you say, it's better to rent.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend in Australia with a lifelong passion for gliding, which he first took up when at university. He's a qualified advanced instructor who has long been teaching Australian Air Force Cadets to glide. Last year, age 69 (I think) and after post a quadruple heart bypass operation, he finally bought his own glider!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
That's a wonderful story. I hope he has many happy hours with his glider.
DeleteI had to look up the word bragging, I didn't understand. When I had read your post I thought of Hyacinth Bucket (Bouquet) She is priceless. It's not my style either but I know women like that. She told me she had bought a house with a swimming pool, and I imagined that it was a huge house and a huge swimming pool when she described it, but when I saw it, it was not bigger then ours and the swimming pool was so small that it looked like a fish pond. You could swim a few meters and then turn around (the end was near) she uses it when it is hot to sit inside !
ReplyDeleteThere's an expression to describe such people - 'you can make your own story good' and that's fine so long as no one checks up;-)
ReplyDeleteThere's a subtle difference between comparing notes and oneupmanship sometimes isn't there?!
ReplyDeleteI'm rather too quick to judge........
Alison in Wales x
I agree - some people just cannot resist proving they're 'one up'. x x x
DeleteMy husband has a theory that no matter what one wants to say or tell, someone else always jumps in with "more" and it does put the first person at a halt.
ReplyDeleteI think your husband has a point. :-)
DeleteI can think of nothing worse than flying lessons! Argh! I would find it hard to say something appropriately enthusiastic if my friend got them - I'd have to think quickly, and then lie...
ReplyDeleteThat's when you need a phrase that covers all eventualities, something like, 'That's quite a present.' Actually, I can never think of the right thing to say . . .
DeleteYour title has nailed it. One upmanship.
ReplyDeleteWhy do people do that? Is it self-aggrandisement or lack of confidence?
DeleteWell done to your friend for resisting the urge to buy her own plane ;-) xxx
ReplyDeleteNot too hard to resist, I imagine. Even secondhand planes are expensive. x x x
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased your friend/acquaintance enjoyed the flying lessons.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Rather her than me, I think. When I was in my salad days I might have embraced the idea.
DeleteI couldn't even afford the garage to put a plane in. Or can you park those on the street? I don't know. I've never known anyone who owned one!
ReplyDeleteYou made me laugh at the thought of a plane parked in the street.
ReplyDelete