Social media bragging

[Anonymous]

Wow, there’s so much bitterness here about all this. I’m sort of surprised that people aren’t more supportive of swim friends. I have favorited a ton of kids in meet mobile because I LOVE seeing their results and getting excited for them. Lots of these are summer swim teammates of my kids who are older and younger, so we may not see them at meets during the year. I did a little dance alone in my kitchen this weekend when I got the notification that one of them had dropped almost 2 seconds in finals - who could NOT be excited for the kid?!?

It does the heart good to be generous with your good wishes and support, and it’s easy to cheer for these hard working swimmers. Keep the posts coming, parents!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For what its worth, I post it on social media so it's saved, and I can revisit it in the future.

I don't really care that much how much engagement it gets.

Plus, its a great way for my Dad to watch the highlights of his grandchildren.

Oh, the well-worn “I just use it to save the photo/info” excuse.

So your posts are set to the privacy setting equivalent of “Only Me,” then, correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what its worth, I post it on social media so it's saved, and I can revisit it in the future.

I don't really care that much how much engagement it gets.

Plus, its a great way for my Dad to watch the highlights of his grandchildren.

You could just…save it? And send it to your dad? Ridiculous.

Just so you know, others are judging you for your tacky behavior.

I am judging you for your toxic insecurity.

The hilarious part is that the internet braggarts ARE the toxically insecure people, but they project that onto others and pretend that their own behavior isn’t laughably transparent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The funny thing is that the parents of the very best swimmers say absolutely nothing on social media. They don’t need to. Their kid’s performance speaks for itself, and anyone who cares about how the kid did already knows.

It’s only the strivers/insecure ones who post all that stuff.

Da troof and nothing but the troof

Not true at all: one swimmer is top in the nation in many strokes. Parents post frequently, including after the meet this weekend.

Sure Jan

Yeah, that was total BS, but yay anonymous message board!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep, all the posters who do this pop up here and get defensive, saying they love to read posts like this. Lol! You mean you love to POST things like this. No one reads that crap and when you do it frequently people really start to roll their eyes about you.

Nailed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The funny thing is that the parents of the very best swimmers say absolutely nothing on social media. They don’t need to. Their kid’s performance speaks for itself, and anyone who cares about how the kid did already knows.

It’s only the strivers/insecure ones who post all that stuff.

Exactly.

This. None of the truly exceptional athletes that I know have parents posting about them online. Granted, some have individual scouting SM accounts for college purposes.

I did have a FB friend with a DC at the Olympics. She was elated and did post his race times, dates, and network links for watch parties. I can totally understand that and was so happy for her and the whole family

[Anonymous]

Unfriend people if you don't like their posts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The funny thing is that the parents of the very best swimmers say absolutely nothing on social media. They don’t need to. Their kid’s performance speaks for itself, and anyone who cares about how the kid did already knows.

It’s only the strivers/insecure ones who post all that stuff.

Da troof and nothing but the troof

Not true at all: one swimmer is top in the nation in many strokes. Parents post frequently, including after the meet this weekend.

Sure Jan

Yeah, that was total BS, but yay anonymous message board!

It is not. There is one on our team who does this. Highly ranked, bottom of age group. Three posts in the last week or so (child swam in jr champs, senior champs and then JOs.). Child will also be at sectionals next week so I’m guessing there will be a post then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfriend people if you don't like their posts.

Or hide them. And try to avoid them IRL. Swim parents in the stands can be brutally competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The funny thing is that the parents of the very best swimmers say absolutely nothing on social media. They don’t need to. Their kid’s performance speaks for itself, and anyone who cares about how the kid did already knows.

It’s only the strivers/insecure ones who post all that stuff.

Da troof and nothing but the troof

Not true at all: one swimmer is top in the nation in many strokes. Parents post frequently, including after the meet this weekend.

Sure Jan

Yeah, that was total BS, but yay anonymous message board!

It is not. There is one on our team who does this. Highly ranked, bottom of age group. Three posts in the last week or so (child swam in jr champs, senior champs and then JOs.). Child will also be at sectionals next week so I’m guessing there will be a post then.

Ok but fwiw I never heard the phenom parents at our pool brag. Think higher than sectionals - nationally ranked. I mean what would the parent even say? Yay my kid is done before the others even jump in?

I mean real phenom too. I’ve only seen one other athlete as good in my 41 years - and it was a girl I ran against in HS and she did go to the Olympics.

[Anonymous]

Ok. So should the rest of the parents who don't have phenoms feel like it isn't worth mentioning a sectionals cut? That parent probably has been hearing about trying to make that cut for years and supporting this kid through early practices. What is wrong with posting this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, there’s so much bitterness here about all this. I’m sort of surprised that people aren’t more supportive of swim friends. I have favorited a ton of kids in meet mobile because I LOVE seeing their results and getting excited for them. Lots of these are summer swim teammates of my kids who are older and younger, so we may not see them at meets during the year. I did a little dance alone in my kitchen this weekend when I got the notification that one of them had dropped almost 2 seconds in finals - who could NOT be excited for the kid?!?

It does the heart good to be generous with your good wishes and support, and it’s easy to cheer for these hard working swimmers. Keep the posts coming, parents!

So I am not the only one! I do the same. I will text parents and be like WOW. These are kids, all of it is big to them.

[Anonymous]

Agree I also text parents to say wow and they appreciate it. We are all doing this slog together it is nice that some days a kid has some success with so many meets of disappointments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree I also text parents to say wow and they appreciate it. We are all doing this slog together it is nice that some days a kid has some success with so many meets of disappointments.

Following along on meet mobile and personally texting/reaching out to other parents is very, very different than bragging shamelessly and annoyingly on social media to everyone, most of whom know and care nothing about the sport. As you illustrated, the ones who do care already know and offer support. The social media stuff is just tacky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok. So should the rest of the parents who don't have phenoms feel like it isn't worth mentioning a sectionals cut? That parent probably has been hearing about trying to make that cut for years and supporting this kid through early practices. What is wrong with posting this?

If you post after a major accomplishment, no issue. Sectionals, futures, graduation, etc. are all fine as maybe a single post in the year or one every 4-5 months with a general pic or generic “great season,” but if you’re posting minutia OR frequently postings about your kids’ accomplishments- just no. It’s as tacky as it is in person or sending an email blast abt it, so think of it that way. Would you be going up to everyone you know or emailing your contacts list: Billy had an all best time meet! Off to JOs this weekend! Billy made the honor roll again! Billy killed it this weekend! (this is completely different than a very occasional message about Billy.

I follow on meet mobile and always send supportive texts. I’ll also like obnoxious posts…but…they are obnoxious.