The One-Uppers

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Let's see if I can explain this without punching my wall again.

I can't stand those people who, whenever you come to them with good news or bad news, always have to have news that is either better or worse depending on the situation. It's infuriating when you pretty much know they're lying straight to your face, just so they can be the center of attention.

On the flip side, if they somehow know it would be really hard to have better or worse news, they will then try to undermine your good or bad news.

I'm going through a kind of rough time right now because my secondary parents (parents of my best friend who I love just as much as my own parents) are having a lot of medical issues. My second dad is currently in hospice due to his issues, and we know it's not much longer, and my second mum has just had major surgery, though she's recovering well just in some pain. He's in a lot of pain at times, hence the hospice care.

Here comes one of my "friends" to ask me why I wasn't home all day (I was visiting secondary parents) and then when I answer she goes on and on about how she's in pain too because some person she's never mentioned to me before - and trust me, she'll always tell me about people/events that gives her a sob story or a gloat story - has been dying to cancer since forever and has just gone downhill.

Yeah. I might've believed her, if this wasn't the first time she's lied to me to bring attention back onto her and shove my own pain/happiness under a rug.

[bara]

Sorry to hear about those you care about. But I know what you mean. I think we all know at least one person like this, normally a co-worker that cant keep their nose out of other people's business.

[kaycivine]

I hate that type.

[TheHuckster]

I do wonder about their intentions when "one-upping." I think sometimes it is to try to sort of redirect the sympathy back to that person, but it's also possible that person is, in fact, incorrectly trying to make you feel better by thinking, "Well, at first I thought I was having a hard time, but now that you say that, it makes me feel better."

It's a poor way to do that though, if that is in fact their intention, especially if you're outright making things up.

[HYHYBT]

"Dilbert" has a recurring character named Topper whose sole reason for existing is to do this.

There line between those people and the ones trying to empathize and just not doing it very well is sometimes fine, but always sharp enough to cut.

[blas87]

There's people like that, and then there's the people that no matter what, whatever they have/do/see for their doc/whatever is better than yours.

Drives me nuts. You'll say you got new headlights from O'Reily Auto, but they get theirs at AutoZone because O'Reilys is a ripoff. You get your tattoos done at X parlor, they get theirs at Y parlor because the artists at X parlor are so rude and unprofessional, you drink soda, they drink soda zero, blah blah.

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

I used to work with a guy like that. In his case he just loved being the focus of attention and this was one way to do that. No matter what someone would come up with he always had something better or worse. ALWAYS.

[Mr Hero]

Brian Regan calls this person the Me Monster.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vymaDgJ7KLg

[jackfaire]

"Dilbert" has a recurring character named Topper whose sole reason for existing is to do this.

How to get rid of Topper

Step 1 tell Topper you can jump off of this bridge with a bungee cord

Step 2 he says he can do it without one

Step 3 bungee off the bridge

Step 4 wave at Topper as he hurtles past without one.