Question of etiquette

[breadstick]

I have never been really comfortable talking about myself. I have an amazing life with a family that loves me, a job with a steady paycheck, and a house full of animals. I don't talk about any of these things with my friends or on Facebook or things like that.

Recently, my wife and I got new motorcycles. The first thing she did when she got home was take a few pictures and put them on Facebook. I understand it, she's proud of her new toy and wanted to show it off. We've had them for a few days now and my wife noticed that I hadn't put any pictures on Facebook or even mentioned that I got it. I told her that it felt like bragging and just didn't seem right to me. She knew that I didn't direct any of this to her, but it would just make me feel weird. I told her that I have some friends and family on Facebook that don't have the luxury to be able to get a nice car or motorcycle and I didn't want to flaunt how good I have it. She says if I don't word it to sound that way it's fine, but it still makes me uncomfortable.

What do you guys think? I feel like a jerk posting things like that, but I seem to be the only one it bothers.

 

[commanderkeen]

I don't share anything on Facebook. You should do what you are comfortable with, some people like flaunting their riches, some don't and you don't so don't. Enough don'ts for you?

Furthermore, I feel like possessions are nothing to be too proud about, family and friends are more important every time.

 

[jtb]

I don't even have an fb account anymore. I do agree with you though. The bike is for you, not to for you the flaunt. It's one thing to have a pic of you and the bike at some destination, but to just have one that says look what I've got can be misconstrued as bragging.

 

[OldSaw]

What's Facebook?

 

[Cochese2323]

I agree with you 100%. Nothing wrong with being humble.

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

I don't share anything on Facebook [what's that?]. You should do what you are comfortable with, some people like flaunting their riches, some don't and you don't so don't. Enough don'ts for you?Furthermore, I feel like possessions are nothing to be too proud about, family and friends are more important every time.

...kind of reminds me of the wise and sage advice;

"The nail that stands out…gets hammered first". Japanese proverb

 

[breadstick]

Thanks for the replies. I think humility has lost its place with a lot of people. I'm very proud of the things I have because I worked hard for them and work hard to maintain them, but I don't like to flaunt them. I don't like attention, really. I don't like chrome or flashy clothes or things. I like to keep to myself with the least amount of attention possible.

 

[ouch]

I like your style.

 

[Saturn]

What do you guys think? I feel like a jerk posting things like that, but I seem to be the only one it bothers.

You're probably not the only one, but you might be one of the few. Many people use Facebook specifically because they enjoy sharing aspects of their life with others. Pictures of friends, pictures of some vacation they recently took, pictures of pets, pictures of their children, pictures of a new car or bike they just bought, and so on. I don't think many people would judge you or consider you a rude jerk for sharing something like that; some might call it one of the main purposes of Facebook.

I actually agree with your attitude, though, but I think you shouldn't worry too much about etiquette on the net. People mostly just make it up as they go.

 

[Argonaut]

I like your style.

+1

 

[stuart12dz]

What's Facebook?

+1

 

[Kentos]

I would show it off to your fellow motorcycle friends, like I would show off a 5.00 Fatboy found at the antique shop. But I agree posting on Facebook doesn't make much sense to me either.

 

[professorchaos]

Facebook?

Honestly, I think that much of the information people share on it borders on crass. TMI people!

 

[Go West Young Man]

Sharing good news has nothing to do with bragging.

 

[Kentos]

I would guess misunderstandings begin with the definition of "good news".

 

[jesperw]

I have never been really comfortable talking about myself. I have an amazing life with a family that loves me, a job with a steady paycheck, and a house full of animals. I don't talk about any of these things with my friends or on Facebook or things like that.

Recently, my wife and I got new motorcycles. The first thing she did when she got home was take a few pictures and put them on Facebook. I understand it, she's proud of her new toy and wanted to show it off. We've had them for a few days now and my wife noticed that I hadn't put any pictures on Facebook or even mentioned that I got it. I told her that it felt like bragging and just didn't seem right to me. She knew that I didn't direct any of this to her, but it would just make me feel weird. I told her that I have some friends and family on Facebook that don't have the luxury to be able to get a nice car or motorcycle and I didn't want to flaunt how good I have it. She says if I don't word it to sound that way it's fine, but it still makes me uncomfortable.

What do you guys think? I feel like a jerk posting things like that, but I seem to be the only one it bothers.

you did the right thing. Stay humble!

 

[Toothpick]

i think the person on the other end thats looking at the picture and feeling jealous or thinking you are bragging is the one with the problem.

 

[Big_John]

I would show it off to your fellow motorcycle friends, like I would show off a 5.00 Fatboy found at the antique shop. But I agree posting on Facebook doesn't make much sense to me either.

+1

 

[Tummers09]

You're the only one that needs to be happy about having the motorcycle. If you talk to someone about it and they say, "Why didn't you tell me?" Just tell them it's not that important to you. TBH, I'm not sure it'll be that important to them. Facebook makes some people happy just to express themselves. It's more of a selfish thing. Most of the time, other people won't even really care that you got a motorcycle. They may comment or something, but really, what's it to them? And what does it matter to you if they comment?

I'm not sure if I'm explaining myself well, here, because it's kind of confusing to me as well, but you pretty adequately described exactly how I feel about owning things. I use my ipad all the time, but I don't just not tell people that I have one. I actually hate telling people about it. I'm not sure why. For me it feels like I'm bragging, even if that's not my intent. I actually think what I'm feeling could have a deep psychological meaning, because I'm not sure I really feel like I'm bragging. It's just that that's the best way I can describe it...

 

[superkreep]

+1 Boss