Boasters

**Tamur** · 05-19-2008, 16:48

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7405373.stm

I'd be very interesting to see what everyone's take on this is.

Myself, I grew up in Canada surrounded by British immigrants who made sure I knew that, if I worked hard, gave my all, and succeeded gloriously, that was the perfect time to shut up and get working on the next task.

When the owner of a business I worked at several years ago landed $5 million in investment capital (of which I saw none, sadly), and began spouting to everyone about his big ideas and how irresistible they were, I cringed and inwardly said to myself that hubris would catch up with him eventually. I then got a position elsewhere. Hubris did its work, and he's now a fugitive last seen in California, wanted on federal insider trading charges.

The last thing this world needs is more of them. Anyone else deeply disturbed by this trend?

**InsaneApache** · 05-19-2008, 17:15

I'm not conceited but goodness knows I have reason to be.

**Adrian II** · 05-19-2008, 17:25

Pathetic, even repulsive, yes. But is it a trend? I thought this was part and parcel of human character since time immemorial. A nice satire I know is Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis, a book where everyone does it. It is set in Zenith, 'a city fit for giants'.

**LittleGrizzly** · 05-19-2008, 17:33

I think the occasional boast or self compliment is fine, its when every other sentence that comes out of that persons mouth is about something great they did or some awesome new things they've bought, the worst thing about people i have met like this in real life is not only do you have to listen to thier greatness 24/7 but that the majority of it they make up. So in the end i disbelieve almost all they say and ignore them when they bring up thier great self (unless stuck in the conversation then i just give them as little a compliment for whatever they've 'done great' as possible)

**Tamur** · 05-19-2008, 18:03

Will have to check out Babbitt, thanks for the reference Adrian. And, heaven spare us from boasting jokes (

InsaneApache)

**Beirut** · 05-19-2008, 21:57

My job demands a healthy dose of arrogance and loud mouthery, it gets us through the day. On a personal level, not much at all.

Except, of course, to women, to whom I boast without pause or shame.

**Rhyfelwyr** · 05-19-2008, 23:32

People should not boast.

I suppose this trend will continue so long as the current changes in employment develop. People have to look confident, have charisma etc to get anywhere these days.

I hate entrepreneurialism, mainly because I am not well suited to it. I say you should get a job, join a TU, and that's you till retirement and a nice pension.