Competitive whinging

Everyone likes to have a whinge (moan/whine/whatever your preferred term is) occasionally, don't they? I know I do. Mostly I just want to get those trivial annoyances out of my head before I turn them into much bigger annoyances - and I WILL turn them into bigger annoyances if I don't get them out, that's just the way my stupid, over thinking mind works. Although I do occasionally catch myself complaining about the most ridiculous things that even I get annoyed at how petty they are. Last week I had a particularly grumpy whinge about how I couldn't use my laptop outside because there was too much glare from the sun. I guess it wouldn't be completely unreasonable if I was doing something important and that was my only option, but I was actually complaining that I couldn't use my laptop (one of two computers I own, purely for entertainment purposes) while sitting on my veranda (where I like to sit and enjoy the water views) because the sun was shining too brightly (in the middle of winter). Not one of my biggest problems, I admit, and not one that I would expect any sympathy for or agreement with. While I like to imagine I don't do it all that much, in reality I probably whinge a lot more than I think I do. And I genuinely don't mind listening to other people whinge, especially when I know they'll listen to me. But I have learned over time that not everyone is as sympathetic to other people's trivial complaints, and I try to keep my moaning to a minimum around those people I like to think of as "competitive whingers". Oh you can whinge to them, they want you to, but you know their problems will always be bigger and better than yours. Even the pettiest annoyance is taken as a challenge. Just try complaining about anything at all, and before you know it you're hearing all about when they had something just like that happen to them - only much, much worse. Feeling unwell? They're feeling worse. So are their entire family. And just about everyone they know. They've all got what you have, only they have really serious cases that just put you to shame. Or at least they did that one time - which they will interrupt you mid-whinge to tell you about in tiny, nauseating detail. Is this really a competition that anyone wants to win? Is there something to be gained from being the most pathetic? And if so, what? Although I have to admit it amuses me as much as it annoys me. I'm more than happy for them to be even more pathetic than I am, one of the reasons I like to hear other people complain is because it reminds me to be grateful that I don't have their lives. And if you think this blog has just been one long, boring whinge you should read the other person's blog - it's longer, whingier and much more tedious than mine. Well, that's what they'll tell you, anyway.