I started with another site and was shocked by the attitudes. The site was all about bragging rights and proving that your child was more gifted than others. Then I stumbled across this site and have been delighted ever since.
I've seen this kind of thing as well, and it can be so negative. FWIW, I think of someone as bragging negatively when a statement seems to be more about one-upsmanship than camaraderie. I figure it comes from insecurity. When another parent brags about a child's abilities, I prefer to keep quiet. I hate one-upsmanship battles!
One of the good things about this board is the lack of that kind of bragging. When we brag, we go to the thread specifically designed for it --- and it's a friendly thread that's there for us to cheer all our children's accomplishments, not for making others feel lousy.
I dunno about others here, but when I'm out and about and someone remarks on my child's abilities, my instinctive reaction is to feel sheepish and say "But you should hear about those OTHER kids out there and what THEY can do!!"
Val