What is the need to show off?

IN life one comes across thousands of people over the years. Some of them are forgotten because one does not meet them often. And there are others with whom you develop a rapport within one meeting only. But there are some painful relations which one has to endure. One goes through the torture of putting up with them because you do not want to be rude while listening to their bragging. And in such situations if one happens to respond with proper exclamations, the ordeal can last for hours together.

Many a times people brag about how young they look, how people mistake them for being unmarried in spite of their having children, or, say, how people comment on their youthful looks. This reminds one what Washington Irving, an American author, had to say about looking young compliments. He says: "Whenever a man’s friends begin to compliment him about looking young, he may be sure that they think he is growing old."

There are other people who show off their style of living. They talk about their cars, chauffeurs, domestic help or their expecting things befitting their status. Sometimes it is below their dignity to sit in a taxi, or a particular kind of vehicle. Some people like to talk about the number of domestic servants they have hired to show their status, and most of the times they have no other topic of conversation but the behaviour of servants. One often wonders why do they have to talk about this subject. Is it not obvious? Are they not employed because they are required to do those jobs? If yes, then why talk about them? If no, then remove them because the other person is not interested in your household affairs. 

Generally, while trying to show off, people tend to give themselves away rather than impress the listener. And why must they try to impress? Is it their own insecurity or naivety? Why is the person full of so much self-importance? Is he trying to sell himself as an expensive or exclusive commodity? Are we not confident enough of ourselves to be accepted as we are? Why doesn’t one realise that one’s behaviour and conduct conveys everything? One does not have to brag about possessions, or style of living because this ironically creates a negative impression. Perhaps we need to take cue from the sun which prominently but silently rules the sky during the day.