Bragging has always been a part of society. The practice is much older than any of us. Why, I can imagine a caveman showing off a freshly killed beast, much to the chagrin of his counterparts. There’s one in every crowd. I wonder if those prehistoric folks rolled their eyes?
Fast forward a few million years later, greed and excess became iconic in the 1980s. I still remember watching Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with my parents. The fancy clothes, the 5-star vacations, and the yachts – who wouldn’t want to be a part of that world? It was certainly one way to live.
So yeah, the wealthy and powerful have their admirers. However, I think the advent of social media turned this concept on its head.
These platforms help us follow the travails of celebrities. We see them at lavish parties and award shows. We gawk at their selfies with famous friends or awestruck fans.
But bragging rights have also become a mainstream practice. It’s your neighbor celebrating a new car purchase or your cousin cuddling up with a puppy. It’s your boss taking a photo of every stinking meal. It’s your teenager’s urge to send pics of their new sneakers to everyone they know.
The result is that, just like “Lifestyles” host Robin Leach did in the 80s, social media platforms are rewarding excess. And we’re all too happy to take part.
A Childhood Lesson Lost to Time
I don’t reminisce about too many childhood lessons. I think most were pretty basic: be polite, do what you say you’ll do, don’t lie, etc. They’re just a part of everyday life (whether I listen to them is not the point 😜).
One that sticks with me is a lesson on humility. I was bullied a lot as a child. Thus, I was always searching for ways to get people to like me (long story short: it never worked).
One misguided strategy was to brag about the things I had. My family was far from rich. But the acquisition of a new bike or video game seemed like something I could use to impress the other kids.
The idea failed miserably. It only seemed to create an even bigger gap between me and my classmates. That didn’t set me up well for future years of school. 😆
Once, I recall running to tell my neighbor about our family’s new vehicle (it really wasn’t that great – the damn thing didn’t even have air conditioning). My mom talked to me when I came back home. She told me it wasn’t a good thing to run around the neighborhood blabbing about your stuff. Some people didn’t have those things or couldn’t afford them. Bragging might make them feel badly – and make me look like a jerk. She was so right.
I fear that younger generations are going to miss out on this sort of lesson. People talk about their stuff on social media like an old-school rapper. Dollar bills in the air, it don’t have to be fair.
Will they grow up thinking it’s OK to be this way?
Realizing I Was Part of the Problem
Parents, including myself, have done it. I made the mistake of showing off my new PC a few years ago (geeky, I know). I didn’t realize the potential harm and just plain classless display I was making.
A post from another person hit me not long after. They were showing off their new Mercedes-Benz. It was a step up from the PC, for sure. My first reaction was, “Oh, come on.”
I was driving an older (but still fine) car at the time. It made me feel like a bit of a loser. Where was my Benz? Side note: The reality is I prefer a Honda, but that’s another story.
That moment of ire got me thinking about my behavior. Do I need to post these ridiculous things? Does anyone care what I do or don’t own? Is that going to make anyone else feel better about life?
The answer was no. I became caught up in this phony race to nowhere. Robin Leach, rest his soul, was looking down at me with shame. Or maybe he thought it was cool? It’s hard to know for sure.
What the World Needs Now Are Humble Humans
Social media feels like a toxic stew of cockiness and ginned-up anger these days. Together, they serve to divide us. And where has that led us? It’s enough to make anyone overwhelmed with despair.
I think the antidote is looking in the mirror before we post certain things. You know, consider the feelings of others. I realize that’s a bridge too far for some.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t celebrate achievements together. We can still be proud of what our kids did in school. A promotion at work shouldn’t go unnoticed, either. Reaching a personal milestone is always worth sharing.
It’s the material things we would do well to think twice about. Anyway, I’ve found it to be a hollow experience. It’s something to make you feel better for a moment – even if it’s at the expense of someone else’s feelings.
Stay humble, world. It may be our best chance at building some semblance of unity.