Pride - When is it appropriate?

I feel pride for someone when they can do something that I am not able to do. Like swim the English Channel, climb Mt. Everest or feed the hungry like Mother Theresa.

from the Oxford American

pride
noun
1 a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
• the consciousness of one’s own dignity.
• the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself or one’s importance.
• a person or thing that is the object or source of a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction.

So from that, you could surmise that woman #2 felt pride for woman #1 because her ability to resist a sweet is a quality that is “widely admired” (in her opinion).

Personally, I would say: “Well, good for you!” Sometimes with the ~ and sometimes without depending on my mood.

For some reason this reminds me of something George Carlin once said, and I’m paraphrasing…

“Try this once…walk up to a complete stranger, tap ‘em on the shoulder and say, excuse me…I have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO SAY. That oughta keep ‘em on their toes!”

@dalepetrie: I’m proud of you for your witty answer! ;)

heheh

Too proud to answer this question.~

It is kind of rare to receive support for something, especially something that is rather personal, like losing weight. These things are usually done on one’s own, although I understand there are clubs online and maybe in meat life to provide support.

I believe that the way most weight loss organizations work is by having members meet to discuss their goals and progress, and give each other support.

So, perhaps that woman had experience trying to lose weight, and knew how important support is in the process. She saw the opportunity, and she took it.

I do that sometimes, when I see a behavior I want to encourage. People need positive feedback, and I don’t see why I shouldn’t give it just because I don’t know the person. In fact it’s easier for me to do it anonymously, and I suspect, it’s easier for people to hear praise from people they don’t know. That praise is likely to be honest; after all, there’s no need to give it.

of course, that doesn’t stop me from discounting anonymous praise, but that’s another story entirely

I probably wouldn’t use the word ‘proud’ in that instance, but I feel proud of other’s acheivements all the time. For example: Obama’s election night, the underdog winning the gold in the Olympics, Shilolo saving JudoChop’s life, the homeless man who cares for a stray. Those kinds of things make my heart swell…maybe it’s pride in humankind?

I think Pride and admiration are sometimes used interchangeably. “I’m so Proud of you” probably felt less awkward that “I admire you.”

I don’t have any qualms about saying I’m proud of someone I don’t know. I encourage the inmates at work as they take their GED tests, and I’m honestly proud of their accomplishments when they acquire that valuable piece of paper. A large part of my job is to encourage people to better themselves and find socially acceptable ways to deal with stress, express dissatisfaction, and solve problems. You never know how much a word of support will mean to a person, and it costs you nothing.

Passing up pastry may not seem as lofty as other things, but maybe she’s a newly diagnosed diabetic learning to cope with new eating habits. It certainly can’t hurt to encourage the people you encounter daily.

Isn’t taking pride in someone else’s achievements stealing? (I’m including taking pride in your spouse and children.) If someone achieves something, shouldn’t all the credit go to them? I find pride in the accomplishments of others to be arrogant and presumptive, and blurs the boundaries between individuals. Perhaps its just a linguistic technicality. However I wish a distinction could be made between pride vs support, admiration etc.

I don’t think it’s that significant unless someone really draws it out and hams it up like, I’m sooo proud of you like they were a child or something. Otherwise it’s just a little joke between two women. I doubt either of them thought it was that significant an accomplishment but just a nice pat on the back from one to the other.

When do you think it’s appropriate to say “I’m proud of you” to someone you don’t know?
Whenever they look like they are open, warm and might have a sense of humor.