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My colleague is embarrassing himself by bragging on social media, at lunch, and in the office about his son getting accepted to a highly coveted college. It is not serving him well. His friends sneer at him behind his back when he says, “We’re going to Harvard.”

He’s my friend and I’d like to give him the heads-up to cool it. How do I tell him it is rude to brag when some of his colleagues’ children are disappointed — as are their parents?

–Anonymous, Providence

Your colleague may have earned some bragging rights, but when he says ‘We’re going to Harvard,’ it makes him sound foolish. He’s not the one who did the hard work. Help him to examine the fact that he’s taking too much credit. Kid him about using ‘we’re‘ — and gently remind him that he does not need to boast, especially on the Internet.

Challenge him to stop bragging on social media until the brouhaha of the college acceptance season is no longer in full swing.

You might even add, “You know, don’t you, that NOT all of your colleagues’ children were as lucky. So button up.” ~Didi

~Didi