Current Events > Why do some people flex how broke they are / poor they grew up?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Like it's some ****-measuring contest on just how bad you had it as a kid. This is often synonymous with "1-upper" storytellers. No original content, just take your story and add to it for themself.

"Oh man we could never afford lunchables as kids, we ate macaroni for dinner 5 nights a week!"
-->"THAT'S NOTHING! When I was a kid my mom burned us with cigarettes because she said that would cure the hunger! And we only ate 3 days a week, and it was usually scraps from the neighbours trash! You had it easy man!"

Or maybe I'm just thinking of a couple of specific people in my life. Who use "growing up broke" as an excuse to act shitty as an adult, steal from people they know, etc. "I can't help it, i grew up broke!"

Is it flexing, or just being relatable?

People flex everything every chance they can. People are weird and insecure.

last week I made a topic about how much food came in a combo from Taco Bell and it turned into a flex for who could eat the most Taco Bell, as if it was a contest

A lot of times they do it because theyve been brainwashed into thinking theyre capitalists.

GeminiDeus posted...

Is it flexing, or just being relatable?

Depends. Sometimes it's definitely trying to one up others.

Im kind of proud of the shitty start I had in life, mostly because Ive been able to rise above it and make something of myself.

GeminiDeus posted...

Is it flexing, or just being relatable?

its absolutely a flex. If you don't know people like this, that is a good thing. Because they are usually very, very negative. I mean, hell think about it -- flexing on being broke? What do they consider bad in their life?

You grew up broke? That's nothing, I'm broke as an adult too!

Having an easy start is bad, especially if you have an easy end

I thought its just being relatable as well.
The flex is about where they are now vs where they were in the past.

Probably wont relate from the hardships some experienced but it does feel like a community when them kinda stories are shared.

HBOSS posted...

I thought its just being relatable as well.
The flex is about where they are now vs where they were in the past.

Probably wont relate from the hardships some experienced but it does feel like a community when them kinda stories are shared.

Yeah, I agree with this.

HBOSS posted...

I thought its just being relatable as well.
The flex is about where they are now vs where they were in the past.

Probably wont relate from the hardships some experienced but it does feel like a community when them kinda stories are shared.

You can definitely flex telling others how broke they are or how broke they used to be.

It all depends on context and the delivery. Because some most definitely treat it like it's a competition, feeling the need to one up the story they just heard. Its one thing if we are having a discussion fishing for stories. It's another to volunteer it everytime just because to match or beat someone.

It really comes down to knowing those type of people. Because its definitely not being relatable to randomly bring up every trivial or large hardship you notice someone had/has, and you have to express just how much worse you think yours is/was. Everytime. Like it's a competition about who's got it worse.

I've had a pretty easy life where everything just kinda fell into my lap. Where's my damn medal?

The ones who brag about working two jobs are worse.

You're not "making bank". You're working two minimum wage jobs and sleeping 3 hours a night.

Naysaspace posted...

its absolutely a flex. If you don't know people like this, that is a good thing. Because they are usually very, very negative. I mean, hell think about it -- flexing on being broke? What do they consider bad in their life?

I'm sure I used to know people like this when I was a kid and just don't remember much, but thankfully as an adult I have had better encounters with the people I associate with.