Is this bragging about Christmas?

As someone who lost their family and can't afford a big Xmas for my son, I'm 0% offended by someone else's joy.

There is some sadness, but the world doesn't revolve around me. I'm just happy for people.

Okay, so for a lot of years I was really turned off by Christmas. And not because we didn't have great Christmases. Ours typically looked very much like the one in the picture above.

I always maintained (and still do) that I preferred Thanksgiving over Christmas because its just like Christmas without the commercialism.

Now that my bro and I are adults, I've convinced my parents (read: Mom) to tone it down. Now we get together at Thanksgiving and decide what we, as a family, are going to do for Christmas. We've made large group donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, to Toys for Tots, to Catholic Charities, and a variety of other charities. We've been supporting a local women's shelter. And other things. But we no longer give each other gifts other than a Yankee Swap.

Now I like Christmas a lot more. We still spend too much, but it goes to people in need instead of to each other and I like that a lot better. I can buy my own sweaters. :)

I think we live sheltered lives and close our eyes so we don’t see what we don’t want to.
I’m grateful for everything I’ve been blessed with and try to pay it forward when I can 🎄❤️🎄
Merry Christmas my friend!

Seems like so many want to tell others what they can and cannot post. If they don’t like looking at the photos then they have the power to keep scrolling past them.

This has been the worst financial year of my life but I am making a Christmas for my wife and I with what we have, each other!

The problem with that logic is, where does it end? Should you not post photos of you and your partner because some people are single or have lost their partners to tragedy? Should you not drive your nice car down the road because some people can't afford cars? I think it's more than fine to show your happiness at what you have. Even if you want to brag, go nuts. We all have the freedom to make judgements about that but we have no right to restrict it. You don't get to bring down someone else's life because yours isn't ideal.

That's my opinion anyway.

I think it's bragging. After being on FB for so many years I've come to the conclusion that it's nothing more than one big popularity contest, so I stopped participating.

It’s not offensive, but I do question why people want to share photos like this. There is zero reason other than to want to show off what they have. This is why I just don’t do social media. People are always seeking compliments, approval and validation or simply to brag. It’s gross to me

I don't get why someone should calm their happiness because someone might feel bad.. The fact that people can see someone succeed and actually ask them to not show it is crazy to me.. If they wanna post pics, post pics, if someone gets butt-hurt over it, then just don't go on social media.. I grew up poor, and saw other people having more than me, never made me mad at them, just made me want to get there one day^^

Given that it's social media, there's no way to know if there's anything IN those gift boxes.

It just seems like competition. Or maybe it's dead broke by January and divorced by June. Or maybe more "creators" arrested for fraud and theft.

SW is the only social site I deal with. The rest seem empty to me. with posts like this trumpeting "We are so successful!"

If you are successful, congratulations.

Unless you live under a rock in the Outback, there's no way to avoid the insane commercial rush that Christmas has become.

People do what they do.

I think it's kind of tacky to post stuff like this ..just my opinion

My first reaction made me think of my in-laws. The presents were for a lot of people so not many per person. Or my second cousin that had 15 children. Than of myself as I’m obsessive with order. Not knowing the person changes one’s perspective. Personally, I’m thoughtful of what I post on FB but I know my friends. One doesn’t discuss caviar with a homeless person!

All I see are former schoolmates posting pics from some tropical places with sea, beaches and palm or other fancy vacations. 🙄 I wonder if there's a way to disable the stories on top of the feed.

But no, I don't think people should be considerate towards those who see their feed when posting stuff. Nobody forces anyone to visit social media and consume the content in the first place. And if someone gets bothered, there are options to hide entire profiles on Facebook.

This is interesting. Theoretically on Facebook we know the people in our network and so we should know whether anyone would feel left out by our posts, and whether anyone is in serious need.
But of course in practice our social media networks extend beyond people we actually know.
If we were going to be considerate as suggested here it would rule out all those photos of great restaurant meals or even lavish home cooking too, because many people can hardly afford the basics.

This does raise big questions about what social media is for and what our connections with people are like.

Looking at the photo, I'd say it was less about the tree and more about the presentation of conspicuous consumption and wealth represented by all those gifts spreading far and wide across the floor. It is distasteful, rather than offensive. Imagine that photo without the gifts, but just showing the beautiful tree. It would appear in a completely different context. It's not the tree that's the issue.

I remember the people of Whoville. That even despite having Christmas stolen from them, hadn't lost their Christmas spirit

If you are happy, why should it matter if someone else has more?

I understand the deeper message here... many are for one reason or another, struggling and this person is touched by their struggles.

I do think the message is a little over the top... sort of a downer instead of an uplifting message.

I address the person's intent by using local social media to find a neighborhood family (usually a single-parent family), that is struggling with Christmas and offer to buy presents for their children.

I like the idea of an uplifting message/act, but I do get what the person is trying to say.

Sharing happiness should be encouraged, not taken away by someone who is never happy unless everyone else is unhappy…

one of the most pleasing events I'm involved in is the DWA fund raiser to help needy families at Christmas. this year we raised over $25000 and sponsored shop with a cop and shop with a fireman events.

I think the key to the post is, "For me". Someone is expressing an opinion, they're God given right. However, keep in mind, they're commenting on a photo. They don't know how many people contributed to the gifts, or who they're for... How many are to be donated to Toys for Tots? I think the post creator is being presumptuous, critical and 'snooty'. The best thing about FB is that you can scroll right past things you don't like....

And, that my dear, is my $.02 :)

I am in no way offended if people want to post pics of their Christmas trees on social nedia. It's times like these we need to appreciate the things we do have and find ways to help others that are less fortunate than us. If looking at a Christmas tree online is offensive to people, just don't click on it. Simple as that.

I’m not offended nor jealous at someone posting pictures like this.
I don’t want to overthink about it. If they are proud of their Christmas tree/presents, let them have joy. It’s the Christmas spirit.

With those situations the virtue signaller is mentioning- complaining about someone's christmas post would be the least thing on these people's minds- the post may even cheer people up.

Using social media to attack social media posts is wrong. Speaking out for others in this manner is not effective (and some would say “projecting”)

If that person is struggling, then they should just come out and say they were struggling. Maybe not online for the world to see but to family and friends.

They don’t need to project about all the other supposed struggle families. Let them handle it their own way.

But… I think we should handle it as someone who has expressed they are struggling and not gaslight them for their misuse of the medium.

I understand the "being considerate" theory. But you are not trying to hurt anyone's feelings.
Tough call, can go either way !!

Some people seem to only feel validated when condemning others and laying guilt trips. In reality, they're all about feeling morally superior rather than doing actual good.

I think the message is a bit preachy. Facebook is for friend's and family, so assuming this is one of those...

Fair point. No issue with a decorated or lit up tree, but the focus on gifts might be too much

Its either trolling or as you said, bragging. The picture and the message do not belong together. It's like an insensitive caption: "Click all the boxes that say you're not poor"

A liitle empathy and self-awareness never goes amiss! 🙂

I agree wholeheartedly!! It’s who, not what!!

My first thought is always, what is the poster doing to make their community a better place? Attempting to shame others for their joy (in any season of life) is ignorant. No one knows the path that led someone to their joy or how they share it with someone else. I've seen a similar post about instead of paying for someone's coffee they should buy a child's school lunch because the anyone in line for coffee can afford their own. Their own entitlement is disgusting.

some of us get nothing...not a single card, phone call, etc. it hurts to be forgotten and unwanted

Couple things come to mind -

90% of presents are normally worthless junk anyways. A big present might just be some needless tupperware set. In the bags, might be Walmart special $5 makeup palettes.
One should not be envious.

But also some crook on their contact list might see that and be thinking, "Hey look at all the stuff the Jones'es have to steal!"

Want to avoid crooks? Do not brag on social media.

The part about parents recently losing their jobs and cannot buy Christmas - oh yeah that IS true.
Companies LOOOOVE to do lay-offs and fire people close to Christmas. Hell they probably dance around and giggle like little kids when the "get" to announce lay-offs.

But yeah it is pretty well documented and known that social media can make people feel like crap about their own lives. Someone else is richer, prettier, has nicer vacations, bigger house, new Tesla, and their family life is perfect.

Take into consideration the truly poor people in this world who don't have food, clothing, and shelter. Then think about how the birth of Christ was in a manger and was without decoration. This commercial exploitation of a religious holiday in the name of profit is shameful. Then stop and think how this ridiculous holiday season puts people without families into a depression every year. I am more than tired of hearing about it every year and feel like Christmas will never end.

I think we should be careful .

Poverty is rising
So is loneliness .
So is homelessness .

There are many who don't have presents , or a tree, or someone to give presents to , or a place to put a tree.

My Facebook and Instagram profiles are set to private / friends only, so only the people on my friends list should be seeing my photos.

I don’t post that many Christmas morning pics anymore since my son is 13 now. But neither I nor anybody on my friends lists would expect people to not share their joy for fear of upsetting others. At least we are sharing actual family joy, and not the “girls have to be model skinny” innuendos that The Zuck and the social media ”influencers” are endlessly promoting for profit, which actually cause mental health issues in people.

If this is for FB, I think of FB as for close family and friends, so they already know the situation of everybody who's gonna be seeing the photos.
They have a point if they're talking about people posting these pictures publicly, but I don't know why people would do that.

Everyone has their own struggles. There are always going to be people suffering in some form or another in the world. I think it's a personal choice. But if you know someone who's struggling then it's always best not to boast infront of them.

That's just ridiculous and very immature.

I mean, I don’t think Bob should drive his Corvette down the road because he is bragging. Susie looks like Raquel Welch because she lives healthy and takes care of her body, but, she shouldn’t post pictures cause it makes other people feel bad. See how fuckin stupid that sounds. LOL

Posted by Debbie Downer, the joy-sucker.