19 April 2021

One of the best lines I’ve ever heard, is: “I’m the most humble person in the world”. I really hoped in the last four years that a certain US President had come out with it, because it would have suited him perfectly.

If you have to tell someone you’re humble, you’re not.

I read earlier today about “humblebrag”s. Not being an Instagram or Twitter devotee, it’s something that was unfamiliar to me. Basically a humblebrag is when you want to boast but pretend to be modest about it, or if you gripe about something most people would desire.

Examples of humblebrags:

“I’m wearing a ponytail, rolled out of bed from a nap, at the bar with my guy and guys are still hitting on me. Like really?”

“Just paid for someone’s lunch – enjoy your day!”

“When random women feel the need to compliment my eyes (daily), I just say “how original, I never heard that before” and walk away”.

Complaining about costs in a foreign country, showing a bank withdrawal receipt showing $1.8 million available balance.

“Is it bad that I’m not going anywhere but I’m still wearing $800 worth of clothes?”

“Love is when your child knocks your Woman of the Year award off the shelf and smashes it, but you scoop him up and tell him it’s fine.”

The author of the book I was reading, suggested that we would all have much more respect for the person if they titled their post “Blatant brag about me”. It goes against the grain in our world to publicly toot you own horn, but at least they would be honest about it.

In the news tonight, a man was being interviewed – about something, I must confess to not paying too much attention. He went on to explain that his family think he is a bit strange, giving as evidence in support of this, the fact that he recently accidentally cut his toe off with an axe. He looked as if he expected some applause for this.

I got into one of ‘those’ discussions with a teenager recently, calling her up on her statement which started with “In my humble opinion”. My question was “Is it, really? Humble?”. I didn’t really think the opinion was humble, and was in actual fact teenage speak for “I know what I’m talking about, and you’re wrong”.

BUT – I also have an issue with people having to temper their opinions and speech, and particularly in this instance from a young female, by almost denying her rights up front, to an opinion. If our young people aren’t entitled to an opinion, right or wrong, we are setting them up for a troubled and repressed adulthood.

She didn’t have to be humble about her opinion. Like most teenagers, she will eventually learn to pick her battles in which matters she offers her determined opinion in, but for now, don’t try to hide it as humble.

By the way, I’m one of the top fifty humble people you know.