Social media bragging

[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?

There is nothing wrong about posting this IF you aren’t also posting the 69,325 other posts about the kid that lead up to this post. Would you send the same info to ALL your friends by text?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a swim parent, today I am blown away after SC champs at the level of intense, shameless bragging by some other swim parents about their kid's performance. I'm talking multiple pictures, video, time standards reports, MeetMobile screen shots, and in one case, even a specific mention of who their kid beat! Then all the comments and likes that further encourage this behavior - it's mind blowing. I have to admit, I am feeling very differently about a few people who have shocked me with their tacky, tasteless bragging and carrying on. I know, I know - just stay off social media, don't look if you don't like it, etc. But I have seen it now and I just really have to wonder about the psychology of these parents. Is is living vicariously or some deep insecurity? I have to wonder what it does to the kids. These are young children, who knows what the future holds for them athletically or otherwise. It's just so interesting that people feel the need to brag so outwardly. I would be so embarrassed. Anyway, just had to share my shock.

Worry about yourself and being such a judgmental jacka$$. There's plenty to work with there.

But a nerve, have we? How many posts have you done in 2023? Give or take…

How many? maybe 20, being generous. Most are gardening articles, pics of my pets, and a few of my kid's sport.
To be clear, I don't care what you think of that. But, you were surely implying I'm constantly posting of my kids successes but I'm not.

So, no. No nerve hit and my characterization of you stands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a swim parent, today I am blown away after SC champs at the level of intense, shameless bragging by some other swim parents about their kid's performance. I'm talking multiple pictures, video, time standards reports, MeetMobile screen shots, and in one case, even a specific mention of who their kid beat! Then all the comments and likes that further encourage this behavior - it's mind blowing. I have to admit, I am feeling very differently about a few people who have shocked me with their tacky, tasteless bragging and carrying on. I know, I know - just stay off social media, don't look if you don't like it, etc. But I have seen it now and I just really have to wonder about the psychology of these parents. Is is living vicariously or some deep insecurity? I have to wonder what it does to the kids. These are young children, who knows what the future holds for them athletically or otherwise. It's just so interesting that people feel the need to brag so outwardly. I would be so embarrassed. Anyway, just had to share my shock.

Worry about yourself and being such a judgmental jacka$$. There's plenty to work with there.

But a nerve, have we? How many posts have you done in 2023? Give or take…

How many? maybe 20, being generous. Most are gardening articles, pics of my pets, and a few of my kid's sport.
To be clear, I don't care what you think of that. But, you were surely implying I'm constantly posting of my kids successes but I'm not.

So, no. No nerve hit and my characterization of you stands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This right here. They’ll never see it though. Lack of self awareness goes hand in hand with toxic insecurity.

[Anonymous]

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.

I do the exact thing. I have found it has been amazing for memories and my kids love to revisit what they did several years back (as do I). I am blown away at how little they looked or what an accomplishment something was back then. I think I will feel the same about today's accomplishments. Only close friends and family engages and we root one another (and the kids) on.

Why do you care what is in someone else's feed, scroll on. I do think it is completely obnoxious to talk about beating another kid. That is gross.

I do the exact thing too! We are in a different LSC, and my kid won the fly events for 10u, so we looked back at his very first fly race from a couple of years ago.

Except I have all the videos and photos saved in google drive and I never posted any swim results, photos or videos to social media. Posting things to social media so that you can “save them” is transparently disingenuous. You can share the videos with your family in many ways without posting to social media. People post to social media to share news that they want to share with everyone, not just their family, but it’s so hard for people to admit it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a swim parent, today I am blown away after SC champs at the level of intense, shameless bragging by some other swim parents about their kid's performance. I'm talking multiple pictures, video, time standards reports, MeetMobile screen shots, and in one case, even a specific mention of who their kid beat! Then all the comments and likes that further encourage this behavior - it's mind blowing. I have to admit, I am feeling very differently about a few people who have shocked me with their tacky, tasteless bragging and carrying on. I know, I know - just stay off social media, don't look if you don't like it, etc. But I have seen it now and I just really have to wonder about the psychology of these parents. Is is living vicariously or some deep insecurity? I have to wonder what it does to the kids. These are young children, who knows what the future holds for them athletically or otherwise. It's just so interesting that people feel the need to brag so outwardly. I would be so embarrassed. Anyway, just had to share my shock.

Worry about yourself and being such a judgmental jacka$$. There's plenty to work with there.

But a nerve, have we? How many posts have you done in 2023? Give or take…

How many? maybe 20, being generous. Most are gardening articles, pics of my pets, and a few of my kid's sport.
To be clear, I don't care what you think of that. But, you were surely implying I'm constantly posting of my kids successes but I'm not.

So, no. No nerve hit and my characterization of you stands.

I am the one who asked how many 2023 posts you’ve done but I’m not OP.

20 posts? We don’t need to see your pet. Really, we don’t.

So 20 posts by mid March, only 2.5 months into 2023. That’s about 96 posts a year or one every 3.96 days. Who needs to see that much of your life? Send the same stuff to your mom or siblings or aunties.

[Anonymous]

One of the best swimmers that was there is one of the most humble kids I have ever met. The parents never brag about this kid's talents and have done a great job raising their child. Never post on social, have friends that have NO clue how freaking talented this kid is.

Some adults get their self worth from their children unfortunately.

[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!

I don’t know anything about swim, but if you’re posting on FB or other social media about your child’s swim successes….NO ONE CARES.

[Anonymous]

I see it a lot with the parents of the 10U. Then their kid is 11 and freaks out when they aren't winning everything, or 13 and they aren't going to be tall. the parents place so much being proud on their kid, so how will the kid feel if they don't have all the cuts in the difficult tween/teen years.

99% of swimmers will hit plateaus and some won't be that great (but still really good) after puberty hits.

I wish parents would think about it before they post reels and brag on their kids cuts incessantly. It makes it hard on their kids later on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see it a lot with the parents of the 10U. Then their kid is 11 and freaks out when they aren't winning everything, or 13 and they aren't going to be tall. the parents place so much being proud on their kid, so how will the kid feel if they don't have all the cuts in the difficult tween/teen years.

99% of swimmers will hit plateaus and some won't be that great (but still really good) after puberty hits.

I wish parents would think about it before they post reels and brag on their kids cuts incessantly. It makes it hard on their kids later on.

Me again. I will say that our fasters swimmers on our club have parents that never say a word, and the kids don't brag either. When you are fast, everyone knows it.

Some of the boys at another club are jerks in the top group so it isn't universal. But I think times can stand on their own

[Anonymous]

I grew up running track and cross country. I love seeing posts from my friends and colleagues who have kids who are now amazing runners. I look forward to seeing their results and how well they did. I love seeing my friends athletic accomplishment (even in their 40s and 50s). I find it motivational and am happy to show support for their hard work. I understand how a blow by blow every single weekend might be too much but I’m also mindboggled at how insecure and jealous people are of others accomplishments. There is nothing wrong with celebrating and acknowledging big moments. Unfollow if you don’t like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see it a lot with the parents of the 10U. Then their kid is 11 and freaks out when they aren't winning everything, or 13 and they aren't going to be tall. the parents place so much being proud on their kid, so how will the kid feel if they don't have all the cuts in the difficult tween/teen years.

99% of swimmers will hit plateaus and some won't be that great (but still really good) after puberty hits.

I wish parents would think about it before they post reels and brag on their kids cuts incessantly. It makes it hard on their kids later on.

Yes this is so true. I’m pp with a 10u who has had a lot of success so far but it’s not likely to be the same when he’s 12u and 14u. We told him that he swims to be fit, learn good habits, and set goals, and winning as a 10u doesn’t mean much about the future. I also have a 14u who never made Jo cuts until he turned 14 and is now doing really well. It all fluctuates.

[Anonymous]

Even great swimmers are often not a part of a core "popular" school group prior to college, so I'm sure some would probably prefer their parents hit the breaks at putting too much out there publicly (especially involving pictures of them in the suits). My wife was a good college swimmer and her dad, who also swam in college, was always very into it. He even timed some things himself at college meets in addition to pictures; however, he only sent things privately to family and friends.

I played basketball in college and my mom was very supportive attendance wise but didn't really enjoy all the games. We were joking the other day that she still doesn't know all the rules after 17 years of cheering at games. I think parents should just support their kids and as long as the kids don't mind too much info sharing, do what they are comfortable with. Proud parents are great. Do I or most other people care if X is an honor student or amazing athlete or musician? Not really, but if you want to let everyone know on social media or on a bumper sticker, go for it!

[Anonymous]

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.

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?

Well, no, because as I said, grandparents, and aunts/uncles want to see it too. Its just easier than uploading to google drive and emailing a link.

And I promise, the video of my kid coming in last, or of him getting a groundball basehit, or even better, when I post a video of him losing a wrestling match is not social media bragging

But his family loves him and just want to see the videos of him doing something that he loves.

Man, everyone around here is just so cranky. Always assuming the worst

[Anonymous]

The funniest thing about all of this, is that literally nobody outside of the swimming world even remotely cares about swimming.

Neither of my kids play basketball, but I'll watch the youth highlights from friends, or even go to the HS games.

My DS plays tackle football. And people without kids in football will take an interest and comment on his videos or the outcome of his game.

But swimming? GTFO. Nobody cares