# The Humblebrag Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 1, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934 "2022-08-01T20:16:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/21 "2022-08-02T12:00:58Z")
Well, I do plan to live forever or die trying…but yeah, 2023 minus 1953 is 70 years. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/22 "2022-08-02T12:17:09Z")
I am _not_ a professional race car driver. Never was. Never will be. Did I win the regional cub scout Pinewood Derby in 1965? Well, since you asked…yes, yes I did. Did I come in 3rd place? No, I did not come in 3rd place. Did I come in 2nd place? No, I did not come in 2nd place. Did I come in 1st place? Yes, yes I did come in 1st place. Numero Uno. The cub scout who left _all other_ cub scouts in the dust. Winning really wasn’t a big deal for me. Maybe to others, it was a big deal, but not for me. For me, it just seemed kind of expected. No big deal really. Did I cheat in order to come in 1st place in the regional 1965 Pinewood Derby? No, not _blatantly_. Sure, I did covertly drill a small lead weight into the wooden body of my Pinewood race car to give it a little extra gravity-assist—a little kick in the pants. I certainly don’t expect accolades for my sneaky ingenuity at such a young age…though I suppose it was kind of ingenious. I’ve never been one to brag and being a genius kid isn’t such a big deal. Do I believe coming in 1st place in the regional 1965 Pinewood Derby is as important as, say, curing cancer? No, of course not, that would be silly. I mean, sure, I suppose it’s _almost_ as important as curing cancer, but not exactly the same. Have any prominent cancer research scientists won the Pinewood Derby? Probably not. But, maybe they have other worthy skills. No big deal…for a kid like me. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/23 "2022-08-02T15:28:40Z")
My playing can be found on a track from [this](https://www.discogs.com/release/493776-Various-Jazz-Funk-Sessions) compilation, which also features such luminaries as Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Roy Ayres, Lonnie Liston Smith, Idris Muhammad & more. Have they ever heard of me ? No. Still gives me a short ego trip though. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/24 "2022-08-02T15:48:17Z")
Examples of a humble brag: “Jeez, since I turned 60 I have gotten so much weaker. I can barely do 50 pushups any more.” “I’m an average driver. I only came in third in my last pro race.” “I wish I was smarter than I am. Then maybe I would have graduated higher in my class at Harvard.” A humble brag isn’t bragging about a small thing, it’s about exhibiting false humility that is actually a brag. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/25 "2022-08-02T16:01:19Z")
I am aware of this. I wanted a snappily named thread where one could brag about triviata “humbly, or less so”. “I’ve never been very good at crosswords so the NYT one took me half an hour this weekend. That’s so far off the world record.” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/26 "2022-08-02T16:09:51Z")
On Wednesday of last week, my wife lamented the shortcomings of the radio in her 2009 Toyota Matrix. By Sunday, I had a new unit purchased and installed despite never having done anything behind the console of a car before. It was both easier than I feared and a little harder than it needed to be due to third party parts build to a tolerance of “close enough”. I’m sure for some people it would have been completely rote and “back in MY day…” but I’m pleased with myself regardless and my wife is tickled to have access to maps, Spotify, Bluetooth phone and other such futuristic luxuries in her otherwise stock vehicle (it has crank windows for heavens sake). ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/27 "2022-08-02T16:29:49Z")
That fly that’s been plaguing us all day. I killed it with one blow. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/28 "2022-08-02T16:32:17Z")
@Dr_Paprika you didn’t mention which day of the week’s NYT crossword - is it safe to assume it was a Sunday puzzle? I once completed a whole week’s worth of NYT crossword puzzles (Mon - Sun) in ink. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/29 "2022-08-02T17:24:06Z")
This is so. I’ve done better, but usually do quite a bit worse. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/30 "2022-08-02T17:28:22Z")
Cecil said in a column many moons ago, in response to those claiming to complete their crosswords in ink, said “I do one better. I type.” ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/31 "2022-08-02T17:35:42Z")
I don’t understand why that even means anything. If you get a letter wrong you just write over it. Plus it is less messy than watercolours. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/32 "2022-08-02T22:05:13Z")
I do every Sunday NYT crossword in ink (I don’t know why that matters, either; I just hate writing with a pencil). I complete almost all of them, though I do not time myself. I can also recite the alphabet backwards as quickly as most can recite it forwards. mmm ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/33 "2022-08-03T11:13:02Z")
We just spent 10 weeks traveling to celebrate my wife’s retirement. A large part of the trip was to re-acquaint with various relatives who’d become (sort of) estranged, due to the last several years. Our “bury the hatchet” tour was surprisingly successful. We plan to continue these contacts. Too much sand has fallen thru the hourglass and too little is left. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/34 "2022-08-03T12:30:08Z")
Come on he was just a baby rat in 1323. Ask about 1328. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/35 "2022-08-03T13:04:55Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > A humble brag isn’t bragging about a small thing, it’s about exhibiting false humility that is actually a brag. Mea culpa. You’d think someone with an Einstein level IQ, such as myself, wouldn’t make a stupid mistake like conflating a _humble_ brag with an _insignificant_ brag, but I do just that on rare occasion. Guilty as charged! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/36 "2022-08-03T15:26:43Z")
But your re-creation of the event was brilliant piece of prose. I’m still chuckling. And by the way, your little ‘cheat’ was minuscule compared to the kids with fathers that took over the project and basically built the kid’s car for them. (Hey, I was in a Pinewood Derby with a Tibby…did you graduate to Post 21 and help build a raft that spent nine days floating down the Mississippi?) See, now that on the other hand is a sneak-brag… . > [@kambuckta](#): > > In less than two weeks I am moving overseas to become a digital nomad. You have GOT to start a thread on that! ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/37 "2022-08-03T21:41:51Z")
Yes @kambuckta, we want to know about challenges, successes and so forth. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/38 "2022-08-03T22:11:55Z")
Have any of you ever read a book by A. J. Jacobs? His is the image that will appear in dictionaries next to the word humblebrag. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2022, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/39 "2022-08-07T23:26:22Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > e following week I was being trained how to ride the back of an 8,000-pound Orca and not fall off and die. Th username checks out ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934/40 "2022-08-08T11:46:31Z")
About 3 months ago I came back from a 2-week trip to Tasmania. At the baggage carousel, my bag was first out. My wife’s was 3rd. I have mastered travel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934.md?page=3)