Story-toppers- why?

[hilldweller]

What's the deal with people who are always trying to one-up your account of interesting/unique experiences? There's a guy I run into when I'm out (but try to avoid), and I think it's fair to say that nobody's really ever happy to see him because he's such a rapid story-topper. No matter how great you say that Rush concert was, this guy went to an even more amazing show in a cooler venue and got backstage. That pizza joint you think has the best slices? Pure crap compared to this guy's place that of course "not that many people know about" on the other side of town... which brings him to this other time when he was there late-night with his ex-girlfriend blah blah blah.. is this not the most ingratiating personal trait or what?

[The One]

What's the deal with people who are always trying to one-up your account of interesting/unique experiences? There's a guy I run into when I'm out (but try to avoid), and I think it's fair to say that nobody's really ever happy to see him because he's such a rapid story-topper. No matter how great you say that Rush concert was, this guy went to an even more amazing show in a cooler venue and got backstage. That pizza joint you think has the best slices? Pure crap compared to this guy's place that of course "not that many people know about" on the other side of town... which brings him to this other time when he was there late-night with his ex-girlfriend blah blah blah.. is this not the most ingratiating personal trait or what?

You think that's bad, there is a guy here that just won't shut up about his new plane, boat, car, trucks and three houses being built just for him!

I agree one-uppers suck

[imaplanner]

You think that's bad, there is a guy here that just won't shut up about his new plane, boat, car, trucks and three houses being built just for him!

I agree one-uppers suck

You beat me to it. Dam one-upper

[Hink]

I always enjoy that it is usally on things that I could care less about... yea I got $3 on the scratch off yesterday... well one time I got $10...umm okay?

[Otis]

is this not the most ingratiating personal trait or what?

No, it's not the least bit ingratiating. In fact, it's just the opposite. It's irritating and annoying, but not ingratiating.

I used to work with a guy who made much worse mistakes.

[Richmond Jake]

yeah, like those people who mention their pools and hot tubs every chance they get or whenever the mood strikes them.

[Bubba]

One of my great-aunts used to do that...but only with medical conditions. You have a cold? She just got over the flu. Your kid broke his wrist? That's nothing compared to when her femur broke in eight places back in '66.

[Mud Princess]

What's the deal with people who are always trying to one-up your account of interesting/unique experiences? There's a guy I run into when I'm out (but try to avoid), and I think it's fair to say that nobody's really ever happy to see him because he's such a rapid story-topper. No matter how great you say that Rush concert was, this guy went to an even more amazing show in a cooler venue and got backstage. That pizza joint you think has the best slices? Pure crap compared to this guy's place that of course "not that many people know about" on the other side of town... which brings him to this other time when he was there late-night with his ex-girlfriend blah blah blah.. is this not the most ingratiating personal trait or what?

This sounds exactly like someone I used to work for! Maybe those two should get together...

I would what would happen if you put two "one-uppers" together. Would they both explode?

[JNA]

yeah, like those people who mention their pools and hot tubs every chance they get or whenever the mood strikes them.

You know somebody like that ?

[dandy_warhol]

I would what would happen if you put two "one-uppers" together. Would they both explode?

I think they would just keep topping each other until they had nothing left to say. It would be amusing to fuel their discussion.

[H]

this was a SNL skit a few years ago, right? pretty funny when you know someone like that... I get to see one every Christmas.

[rcgplanner]

this was a SNL skit a few years ago, right? pretty funny when you know someone like that... I get to see one every Christmas.

Ahh, yes Penelope played by Kristen Wiig. One of the funnier characters from SNL in recent seasons. Not the best quality, but I hope this works...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...5320839977330#

I posted a screengrab of Penelope in my member gallery but can't figure out how to attach it to a post.

[zman]

*appreciate the Rush reference... that is AWESOME. BTW, Saw them at the famed Red Rocks venue in the foothills west of Denver...

[Seabishop]

There are many planners like this also . . .

"Well, you should have been there when MY plan was adopted in 1985! There was a room of 200 people all sneering at me until I got up and explained how my groundbreaking plan would blah blah blah . . ."


BTW - Not to brag but when I saw Rush they changed Tom Sawyer's lyrics to my name - "_____ ______, AICP"

[Rygor]

Unless said person is "The Most Interesting Man in the World", then yes, it's annoying.

[TerraSapient]

Most of these stories have to be made up too, right? These people can't have THAT much happen to them.

[Maister]

Ahh, yes Penelope played by Kristen Wiig. One of the funnier characters from SNL in recent seasons. Not the best quality, but I hope this works...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...5320839977330#

I posted a screengrab of Penelope in my member gallery but can't figure out how to attach it to a post.

Why, you call that story topping do ye? What about the Four Yorkshiremen?

[otterpop]

My wife is the ultimate story topper and for good reason. She grew up on a farm in Colombia. Her mother had eleven children and without a doctor. The guerrillas passes through their farm regularly. My wife got one toy during her whole childhood. Her big treat on her birthday was to get two eggs. She will tell you when she was a kid she cannot remember not being hungry. She never made less than a A in any subject and loved school (beat being put to work on the farm). Broke her arm and her father set it.

So no matter how tough you think you had it, she come back with a story that will probably break your heart.

She told a story a while back about one of her brothers and one of her sisters whose bus got stopped at a roadblock by the FARC (Colombian rebels). The bus was far enough back in the line that the rebels didn't see them slip off the bus and take off cross-country with all their baggage to the nearest town. Her sister was wearing a dress and heels and had to cross a river. It sounded like quite an ordeal. My wife thought it was funny.

[kjel]

yeah, like those people who mention their pools and hot tubs every chance they get or whenever the mood strikes them.

You know somebody like that ?

Yeah, I know somebody like that. He likes to call me when it's 20F here and tell me that

Most of these stories have to be made up too, right? These people can't have THAT much happen to them.

Depends, I've had a pretty interesting existence during the past 5 years that include extensive/intensive travel through developing countries in the global south.