Do you know people who "success bomb"? Do you worry that you've success bombed others?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (208866)
Walnut Creek, California
June 20, 2023 11:25am CST
I'll link the article I just read at the end of this post. It's about success bombing.
One of the reasons I rarely visit Facebook is because there's so much success bombing there.
Look at how many people were at our most recent gig! Look at how cute my kids are! Look at my face on the way to another gig! I just got a raise of $XYZA.BCDE! Look at my pretty new hairdo!
But wait! When something irks us in others, we have to look in the mirror. "Life is a projective test," my wise professor once said. I have been known to attach "cute kid" photos to my posts, and to link a song or two that I have recorded. Am I a closet success bomber? Oh no!
In any case, have you noticed success bombing? Have you ever worried that you do it yourself? And no, I don't consider MyLot posts about getting chores done to be success bombing. We should be allowed to talk abut our daily lives without feeling bad about it.
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/psychology-success-bombing-is-the-awkward-friendship-issue-that-no-one-talks-about?utm_source=pocket-newtab
15 people like this
15 responses
@averygirl72 (37860)
• Philippines
21 Jun
First time to hear the term success bombing. I don't like FB for that reason too
2 people like this
@TheHorse (208866)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jun
@averygirl72 It gets old pretty quickly.
1 person likes this
@much2say (54081)
• Los Angeles, California
20 Jun
Is that pretty much "bragging"? I know quite a few people who do that success bombing . . . I'm ok with tooting your horn every now and then, but it's annoying when the bragging is constant. I know too well what it's like to be on the bombed side . . . I like to think I am on the humble side.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (208866)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Jun
Well, as I always say (and @FourWalls usually sings along):
"Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble/when you're perfect in every way..."
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (86401)
• United States
20 Jun
@TheHorse I did read the first part of the article, but I'll go look at the strategies.
*Two of the four strategies I could use on them, and have already used the first one. The other techniques night get my head bit off. Because this relative scares me. She's so nice, and then she can turn fast.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45894)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
20 Jun
Hadn't heard that expression before. And what the heck is "a projective test"?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (208866)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Jun
@BarBaraPrz It's one of the most common defense mechanisms. And easiest to lecture about, as everyone can think of examples.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137154)
• United States
20 Jun
People lie all the time on Fakebook... I quit going there years ago.
1 person likes this
Stop punching her?@TheHorse (208866)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Jun
@DaddyEvil I've been told "Your Granddaughter is pretty, except for those lips, that look like someone punched her." Then they call Child Welfare on me. What's a fella to do?
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43332)
• Staten Island, New York
20 Jun
Haven't heard of this expression before. There are people who post a lot about their successes. And then there are people who post about things they shouldn't be posting about as well. Like you don't need to document every second of your day.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (208866)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Jun
@lovebuglena How much can you write on Twitter?
@lovebuglena (43332)
• Staten Island, New York
20 Jun
@TheHorse I don't really use twitter though I've done a few tweets lately. And I hate being limited by how much I can write...
1 person likes this
@Jenaisle (14079)
• Philippines
21 Jun
I've only encountered this term now, but what you said is true. Everyone is posting about their successes. I sometimes do it, but not all the time. I don't want people to know everything about me that could make them able to do something weird with my info. BTW, thanks for the info.
Perhaps, I've done it sometimes here? Because I'm using a pen name and I remain incognito?
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36743)
• Toccoa, Georgia
20 Jun
I know people who do that a lot on Facebook. I also know one who also puts all her gripes about situations on there. I think putting it all out there good and bad is too much. It gets sickening.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (97697)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Jun
@TheHorse Of course she is. She takes after grandma. 
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (208866)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jun
@wolfgirl569 Ah, I understand now. 
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (74845)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Jun
I am never happy with people who always push their success in other people's faces,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (74845)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jun
@TheHorse of have an awful lot of patience. When I published my two books of poems I spread the news over social media sites. Never knew of any of my friends were interested. When nothing much happened five years down the line in fact not too long ago I wrote about the books again. I guess that is just the way things go.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (208866)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jun
@RasmaSandra Did you get some compliments?
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15840)
• Raurkela, India
21 Jun
I did share some of my successes on Facebook like becoming the ambassador of a site "Urunji" and getting a certificate of moodle. I share my mylot links when I want my friends to read them.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (208866)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jun
@aninditasen Heh. I enjoy posting about my work. I hope it does not bore others.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15840)
• Raurkela, India
22 Jun
@TheHorse Sharing your good work with your friends and making your career go ahead is nothing wrong.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161112)
• United States
21 Jun
I haven't noticed it to the point that it bothers me.
1 person likes this
@laser_vision (56)
• United States
21 Jun
I never have made a Facebook account and I do not regret my decision. I get enough success bombing from people in my real life who brag about their achievements while my life seems to be going nowhere.
I console myself with the things that I have actually accomplished, against all odds and naysayers. They all feel epic.
@laser_vision (56)
• United States
22 Jun
@TheHorse Thank you, Mr. Horse. I appreciate the kind words.
I think there is a difference between humility and feelings of inferiority, however. Humility is a lack of entitlement, inferiority is a lack of status - one hasn't done enough actions to merit an identity that they want. The success bombers aren't looking to inspire humility, but rather feelings of inferiority, as if I am "less than" them.
"Inferior" people may feel entitled to help because they are inferior, and thus aren't humble at all. Humility starts with awareness of self and recognizing that you are owed nothing by people.
