EM I love to hear about kids bragging about their siblings. So sweet.
ibad96, read your " I’m someone who’s not really had a lot to brag about in general. " and checked in on your story . And, I teared up a little bit.
Goes to show that we need to know more about blanket judgements. I think the bragging depends on who you are, where you come from, and what you are reporting. I can feel joy in the success of others. It can be an inspiration. My kid isn’t one who could say “I don’t have a lot to brag about”, so we generally counsel that she can’t celebrate her successes as publicly (though that sometimes feels a little bit unfair, it also feels right). But, sometimes, I realize that she’s an inspiration, too, and that’s an important role to play.
Looking forward to hearing where you do go, and wishing you all the success you can earn.
Most of my friends on facebook live far away, and I like seeing whatever they post, whether it’s stuff they’re reading or pictures or whatever (although I could do without the inspirational mottoes and pictures, thank you!) I’ve never seen anyone post each acceptance as received; sometimes the first “thank god I know she’s in somewhere” post appears, but almost always it’s a “Phyllis is going to be SUNY Geneseo Class of 2019!” But none of my friends would dream of posting scores or scholarship amounts. I have posted about my own achievements and milestones, in as self-deprecatory a way as seems fitting, because these are the things I’d like to know about others. It’s like the Christmas card letter some people send: I’ve gotten ones that are really a list of brags, which are still interesting but can be a bit much, and ones that are less braggy and more informative. I would hate to miss out on knowing the good stuff because someone was afraid to sound boastful, just like I’d hate not knowing about something major that was bad because someone didn’t want to ask for help or sympathy. That’s what friends are for.
Much is being said about whether something is bragging or not. My question is why is it bad to brag? Is it just a numbers game, that is that bragging is bad because it means that the bragger has something that most do not and so the consensus is against it? Why should achievement not be publicly celebrated?
@myyalieboy, consider the definition of “to brag.”
Bragging imo isn’t a matter of “good” or “bad”. Have a conversation with someone who brags and many if not most will admit it is a social turnoff. Whatever any given individual’s gut reaction to it is, it’s usually going to be negative. It’s going to rub people wrong. I don’t know that I can give you a concrete reason for it, as the reasons may vary from person to person.
These kinds of questions always remind of of the next to last Seinfeld episode. George is on his knees in his airplane seat, facing Elaine, who is seated behind him. She tells him to “Sit down! You’re being effeminate.” George sputters, “HOW is this effeminate?!” Elaine answers “I don’t know. IT JUST IS.”
That’s the same with people who brag or boast or gloat. It’s annoying. It just IS. And it’s not annoying because we take it as meaning that we are inferior. It’s just very off putting.
I think the USA is a fairly “braggy” culture compared to many others. Japan, many Scandinavian cultures, for example, strike me as places where bragging is definitely looked down on. Is there a country/culture that is more self-promoting than the USA?
If/when S gets into his preferred schools, it’s his story to tell, and I won’t post it on Facebook unless he’s okay with it, in part because several of the people on my friends’ list are parents of his classmates and friends. And I’ll likely only post when we know where he’s going, because posting that he’s accepted to, say, Vanderbilt and then not being able to make it work financially…awkward.
That having been said, a lot of parents post when their kids’ teams go to the playoffs, or when their child goes to State Solo/Ensemble, or when they’ve been admitted to [insert college here]. Maybe it’s braggy, maybe not, but it doesn’t cost me anything to hit “like” or say congratulations. I think we’ve lost the art of being happy for one another.
One of the top seniors at my high school last year said during the application season, “It will be so nice in May when I can spread out all my acceptances on the table and just look at them!” Like…okay, dude. It was interesting to know where he went in the end, and I was happy when he got accepted to (some of) his schools, but there’s no reason to say stuff like that. It’s just rude. Bragging makes it hard to be happy for you, I think.
I don’t have a problem with parents touting their children’s various accomplishments. I enjoy most of them, really…but some of my FB friends go overboard. I have posted about my own children , but try not to over do it.
I am glad to hear that the majority of posters agree that posting the intended school is perfectly acceptable and the posting of each and every acceptance is NOT. Posting of any kind of scholarship awarded is totally inappropriate in my book. How you pay for your kids’ tuition is really only a topic for close family and your closest circle of friends, if you even choose to share that information.
I don’t think it’s always inappropriate to post scholarships awarded if done carefully. I think it should only be posted if it is of significant meaning and should not post the amount. I also think, as I described before, that it could easily be included in one encompassing celebratory post, once a student knows where he/she is matriculating. I think scholarships such as the Gates Millenium, large scholarships mentioned by name and not amount - “University of Alabama Presidential Scholarship” are not necessarily inappropriate considering that these same awards would be the sort to be presented at a school’s award ceremony. But since it’s easier to come off inappropriately when posting about scholarships than it is college acceptances, it should be done with care.
I don’t think I would post anything financial at all…that seems like it is crossing a line.
Seeing how my daughter has hit some bumps in the road with her various results, I will likely not post anything at all until she is actually moving in to her school…wherever that may be 
I remain fascinated that there are so many rules about this.
I am not one to call attention to myself or my family but I couldn’t care in the least what anyone else does.
In regard to joining a Facebook page for accepted students I believe that can be a very useful tool. Our daughter found it very helpful.
I can see how numerous postings about the same type of thing (a picture of food every other day, the baby’s cute smiley face everyday, selfies every week, each of the 11 college acceptances as they roll in and each scholarship amount as they are awarded) might be annoying, but one or two over a period of time isn’t bothersome or braggy to me.
That being said, I’m going to have to go onto my FB page and apologize for my bragging spree from my own child’s college admissions process. Looking back, I listed every school (although I did group some together) and every scholarship offer. Good grief! I usually only post in FB about twice a month, but I was so freakin excited during this time that it seems that I went overboard.
Hi, my name is exitstageleft and I’m a FB college acceptance braggart!
@exitstageleft: I suspect you were actually quite charming about it from ironic the tone of your post, and I suspect your apology will be even more endearing.
@exitstageleft And some of us are not bothered a bit by it.
I’m very shocked that people are so invested in what other’s post on FB. I think the story about the student spreading his letters out is awesome! He earned every one and he should be excited. Some people are just genuinely excited, grateful, slightly humbled or maybe boasting a little. So what, it’s their moment to do with as they please. If I purchase a new home, should I not discuss it in case someone is losing their home? What about if I spend the day with my mom? Should I not post it because someone just lost their mother? I post what I want and if you don’t like it, please hit delete friend. I haven’t posted because my child hasn’t given me permission to yet, but I have mentioned the process and feeling extremely blessed by an unexpected, large scholarship.
Maybe I would have agreed that he deserved to be proud…had he actually been accepted to the schools. He was merely applying at that point. Preemptive bragging. 
I tend to err on the side of caution. I don’t even publicize my SAT score to people if we’re talking about them, unless they specifically ask, in which case I downplay it. I had a friend react extremely negatively when he heard what it was. I’d rather avoid that unnecessary conflict.
The preemptive bragging falls under the stupid category!!!