Why would someone brag about being drunk and stupid?

Baby imp that is a very mature observation. When we watch people, and we see the mistakes they have made, we are not always doomed to make the same mistakes.

You are right on that one. I read a lot of books and I'm sorry to say but the characters in the books make dumb mistakes. So I learn from their mistakes. Uh, can we say I need a social life? Sure do.

If she was young and had nothing else to talk about; I could understand it. But, she is in her 30's, has a 4 yr old daughter, is preparing to get married, moonlights by planning parties (birthdays, weddings, showers, etc), helps her fiance "flip houses", and has had several other jobs before this one (she has been there for more than a year). Plus, she thinks she "knows it all" and comments on every subject under the sun even when she knows nothing about a topic. So, why would she suddenly get onto a subject that makes her look bad and refuse to get off it when several people tried to change the subject. One of them actaully came right out and asked if she was "bragging" and her reply was "no, I am just telling you what happened" and then she told another drunk and stupid story about herself! She finally got off this subject when the office started to get a bunch of incoming calls and she was too busy to keep talking about it.

You are right about wanting attention - she has to be the center of attention 95% of the time. If someone else becomes the center of attention for even a few minutes, she will find a way to turn the subject back to herself. We all know more about her, her family, every pet she has ever had, every car she owned, every class in every school she attended, etc., than we could possibly want to know. That is kind of what is so shocking about this; because, before all her stories were about good things she has done or an occasional dumb thing with a quick change of topic.

Then you should just ignore her. It may have occurred to you before that it's not worth it being sucked in her "attention vortex" or whatever and that supple feeling is right. Just keep on with your business. It's much better that way. She's not really causing you harm in any way, right? She's actually ruining her own reputation so, in a sense, she's setting up her own downfall.

I do my best to ignore her; but, it is not easy. She sits less than 3 ft away from me, is very loud, and has a very high pitched irritating "whiny" voice. I refuse to get "drawn in" to her conversations; but, it is very difficult to completely ignore her. Most of her topics just wash over me; but, this particular incident left me wondering why anyone would sabotage themselves this way. I have requested to be reassigned to a different seat further away; but, my request was denied.

She does need attention and she is constantly talking about every topic under the sun (whether she knows anything about it or not). We already know this about her. But, all her stories before were about things which made her appear in a good light or about dumb, stupid things others do/have done. For her to suddenly make herself the stupid drunk in story, after story, after story and not go along with attempts to change the topic is not her normal behavior. She is just lucky that no manager was around at the time; but, knowing how office gossip spreads others will have heard at least one or more of these stories within a few days.

Self absorbed - yes. Needs attention - yes. But, usually, she tells us good things about her and bad things about friends and family. This time, it was all the stupid things she had done when drunk ever since she was 15 (and drinking illegally). Not a single story about anyone else that she knew who also did these things. That is why one of her coworkers actually asked her if she was bragging.

What was going on in her head was not something she was sharing. One person actually asked her if she was bragging and she replied that she was not bragging, she was just telling us what happened.

If it was one or two stories about her getting drunk and acting stupid, I might agree with you. It was story after story about her getting drunk and acting stupid first in high school, then college; and then, after college. Things got too busy for her to tell any current drunk and stupid stories. Overall, she is a very annoying self-centered person who talks constantly; but, she rarely is the one who looks bad in any of her stories. The sudden change in the type of story - where she looks bad - is what is so puzzling along with her refusal to get sidetracked to a different topic (she can and will talk about everything).

These were stories about her being drunk and stupid from the time she was 15 up until her mid 20's. I think she would have continued on through to current times except we started getting a lot of phone calls that had to be answered and she was too busy to continue. Also, none of the stories had anything to do with getting over a break up or problems at home or in school. These were all about times when she and her friends (or even family) went out and got wasted and then ..............

I agree it sounds rather pathetic; especially if she thought it would impress us. The people working with her that night include 1 20-something, 1 40-something, 1 50-something, and a lady in her late 60's. I know the 3 older people were not impressed; and, the 20-something actually came right out and asked her if she was bragging about it - so I don't think she was impressed either!

You are right about the "attention seeking" part. Her mouth is constantly going and she feels free to interupt others but get angry is anyone interupts her in anyway. But, this is the first time she got onto this topic and refused to change the subject, even when others tried. Also, these weren't stories about the stupid things other did while drunk - just her.

Personally, I ignore her 90% of the time and the rest of the coworkers ignore her to varying degrees because she is always talking and unless it is a topic we actually have an interest in there is no point in paying attention. An occassional "oh, yeah" or "you don't say" keeps her happy and talking all shift long. This was out of the ordinary though; because, all of the stories made her look bad. Normally her stories make her and her 4 year old daughter look good and everyone else look bad. So, this complete reversal was out of character. It sounded like she was bragging. Like getting really drunk and doing stupid things was something to brag about. One person even asked her if she was bragging; but, she denied it and said she was just "telling us what happened". Maybe we should have asked her if she was still drunk!

hehehhehe!!!! I think yes. she is just sharing her experience.

Well, I used to drink; but, rarely to excess (my allergies severely restrict my drinking). I do have one or two stories, if we are talking about the "dumbest thing I ever did" or the "most drunk I ever got". But, these stories are reserved for special occasions when EVERYONE is sharing A similar story. But, this woman was going on and on and on with one stupid drunk story after another and if we had not gotten busy; I don't know how much longer she would have continued. We all know she is not the "smartest" person around; but, now we think the reason for that is too many brain cells killed off by all her drinking.