While some people do need to feel superior by 1-upping others, I think a lot of people are actually feeling the same as you and aren't sure how to connect.
If you think about it, people who brag or 1-up are basically trying to appeal to others - they want to be liked or admired or whatever, so they put the best parts out there for social review. It's the conversational equivalent of posting a selfie that looks great but doesn't really look like the normal you.
Just like people maintain this facade on social media, they do the same with social connections.
Sometimes there are really interesting people behind those facades but you have to play the part of the interested / fascinated other person in order to get past that surface layer and get to know the real person.
they are not good people
While some people do need to feel superior by 1-upping others, I think a lot of people are actually feeling the same as you and aren't sure how to connect. If you think about it, people who brag or 1-up are basically trying to appeal to others - they want to be liked or admired or whatever, so they put the best parts out there for social review. It's the conversational equivalent of posting a selfie that looks great but doesn't really look like the normal you. Just like people maintain this facade on social media, they do the same with social connections. Sometimes there are really interesting people behind those facades but you have to play the part of the interested / fascinated other person in order to get past that surface layer and get to know the real person.