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[Just Like Mr Benn]

My thoughts aren't particularly worthy of a new topic, but they're prompted by the discussions on the opportunities in Shanghai one, which is supposed to be 'on-topic'.

Having swapped a couple of emails with Ivyman earlier in the year, when I was trying to persuade my Uni to take on an extra teacher for the second semester, I think that he's been misconstrued on the basis of posts on one narrow topic. Perhaps the 'ivyman' monikor is a sign of arrogance; perhaps it's just the first thing he thought of when he was in a hurry to join up and take advantage of our friendliness and support.

However, in a more general sense, I do have a thing about people who flaunt their achievements. We recently received a CV from a potential teacher that had more about his achievements in a non-teaching field than in teaching. The other day another foreigner initiated a conversation with me in Starbucks, (never a good idea given that I'm a misanthrope) and had soon dropped the fact that he had gone to both Oxbridge and Harvard (or Yale, i'm not sure. I was too busy instantly disliking him).

Maybe it's because I'm a bit more of a private person, maybe because I'm British, maybe because I'm older, or maybe because my biggest achievement in life so far is winning third prize in a beautiful baby contest, but I downplay this stuff.  One of the nice things for me being in China is that nobody cares about, or would appreciate them even if they did, my accomplishments or lack thereof. I like being judged on what kind of person I am and what I'm bringing to the table right now. For better or worse, that's largely how things are in China.

Do you think self-promotion is a particularly American thing? I do. I'm not saying that in a derogatory sense. I just think that America celebrates personal (rather than group) achievement. Is self-promotion a good idea in China?

[The Local Dialect]

I don't think it is an American thing, I think it is a foreigner in China thing. I had a good British friend who would always somehow work into conversation with strangers that he graduated from St. Andrew's.

I think foreigners here, especially teachers, sometimes get sort of insecure about their accomplishments, especially if you're living in a big city where there are lots of high-falutin expat package types. People get the 'just a lowly teacher' complex and feel the need to remind others, and themselves, that they were once valued for something other than their pretty face.

[Raoul F. Duke]

Do you think self-promotion is a particularly American thing?

Absolutely not. I personally fought a multi-year war with an Australian former member who raised self-promotion to unheard-of new heights. And I've experienced plenty of Brits, Canadians, and others who were just as capable of horn-blowing as anyone else.

[Borkya]

I agree with the others. Self promotion is not a uniquely American thing. I think it is exclusively the province of d-bags and they come from all countries. 

Maybe you just noticed it more with americans because there are more americans around you than other nationalities?

But I will agree with you, I do hate when people boast about their high pedigree without reason. But, to show you where my mind is, when I first saw "Ivymans" moniker I didn't think Ivy League Man, but Ivyman, some crazy superhero with powers to shoot ivy from his wrists like spidey. 

Also, just an aside, I find people who boast the most are actually quite insecure. They feel like nobody likes them, so they try to sound impressive in hopes of people admiring them, but then that usually backfires and they end up sounding like know-it-all jerks. Anyway, it helps you get less mad at them if you just keep in mind they are insecure and care too much about other peoples opinions.

[Raoul F. Duke]

Self promotion is not a uniquely American thing. I think it is exclusively the province of d-bags and they come from all countries

I think there are some times when a little self-promotion is appropriate. Job hunting and dating are two instances that come to mind. It's just when one does it all the time and can't shut it up that it becomes assholetry.

[Escaped Lunatic]

Based on the many papers I have published in the most well regarded scholarly journals, as well as being awarded "Most Modest Man On Earth" by the United Nations General Assembly 3 years in a row, I must violently disagree that self promotion is an American thing.

Just last month, I was dining with Queen Elizabeth II, and we both agreed that Belgians are the ones who really are into self promotion.



Arthur: Are all men from the future loud-mouthed braggarts?
Ash: Nope. Just me baby... Just me.

[latefordinner]

I think there are some times when a little self-promotion is appropriate. Job hunting and dating are two instances that come to mind.

I'll agree with that, to a limited extent. Considering that EL is the one handing out "Kiss me I'm Irish" buttons, I guess we know where that last comment is coming from.

[Borkya]

Self promotion is not a uniquely American thing. I think it is exclusively the province of d-bags and they come from all countries

I think there are some times when a little self-promotion is appropriate. Job hunting and dating are two instances that come to mind. It's just when one does it all the time and can't shut it up that it becomes assholetry.

Of course, I was just responding to the incident the original OP wrote about. Although, tread carefully when self promoting on a date. It's a thin line between confidence and total bragging. 

And assholetry, nice word! 

[AMonk]

If the person wasn't so bloody insecure, then s/he wouldn't need to boast or name-drop, imho

[CWL]

Do you think self-promotion is a particularly American thing?

No. 

I think it is exclusively the province of d-bags and they come from all countries.....
Maybe you just noticed it more with americans because there are more americans around you than other nationalities?

Yes.

I'm a ways off the beaten path so I don't see other English speakers unless I leave my area.  However, there are more Brits & S. Africans in the extended area that I am located in.  Because of that, I tend to see more Brits being assholes than others.