I'm in Europe and I recognize the mentality. In my country it has to do with Calvinist heritage: don't think you're better than other people, don't think you're good - we are all very bad by nature. It's called tall grass in my country, a similar thing in Scandinavia is Janteloven.
It would be uncommon in here for someone to post they've won this or that price, usually their employer of the price giver will do that. The winner can then share that message and picture and include something about how thankful they are and they couldn't have done it without their fantastic team. End result is the same but to announce directly that you've won an award is a bit of a faux pas.
Fascinating. My heritage is mostly German and Scottish and sometimes those cultural norms bled through in my upbringing while other times a more American set of values prevailed. Even in business school today they teach about how modest Europeans are when receiving awards compared to Americans. I wonder if some of the discomfort that @Bloop Bloop experiences around this issue is actually a difference in cultural norms. My spouse and I actually have a bit of conflict over this as I want to act like a German American and she wants to act like an east coast American and I don't understand why she is trying to ruin the west coast!
Yep, I was raised by Danes in Canada.
I deeply absorbed the whole not taking yourself and your own bullshit too seriously of the Danes, but I also absorbed the whole celebrate yourself north American culture. So I'm a funny combo that doesn't fit with either culture very well.
I enjoy people celebrating themselves and think it can be done from a place of deep humility. Kind of a "I'm so excited that I'm great, I just don't think I'm any more great than anyone else". It's the humility of knowing that we're all equal without the Calvinist "we all suck" part.
I fucking despise false modesty. I think that's the absolute worst of both worlds and have no patience for it. It's "I think I'm great, but I won't talk about it because I don't want to hurt your feelings that I'm greater than you".
Fuck that bullshit.
One of my very favourite hobbies is watching attractive people dance around the subject of their attractiveness as if they're supposed to be either completely unaware of it or pretend as if they're not as good looking as they are, lol.
This is especially hilarious since being attractive isn't an accomplishment, so it really should be the most benign thing to acknowledge, like eye colour.
I don't blame the people who do this awkward silly dance, they really don't have much of a choice. They get a lot of attention for their appearance, but God help them if they ever dare to recognize the beauty they see in the mirror every day.
There's a similar thing for intelligence, athletic prowess, likeability, humour, and financial success, but the appearance one is the most absurd, which is why it's my favourite example.
Whatever someone's culture though, being super judgemental isn't a cultural thing, it's a personality thing that transcends all culture.
A lot of people like to judge, and whatever their circumstance or cultural background, they'll find a way to judge people. It's like a sport.
I'm personally far more comfortable with someone who brags over someone who judges. In fact, I force my loved ones to brag. If I haven't seen someone in awhile, I make a point of making them list off all of the things they're most excited and proud to share with me in an uncensored brag-fest. It's a remarkably intimate experience, I highly recommend it.