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My thought on giftcards and cash not being "personal enough", that's why you include a personal note with the giftcard or cash. My nieces and nephews graduation? Giftcard! I'm not going to bother shopping for someone I have seen maybe six times in their life and have NO IDEA what they like.

This is was made me dissilusioned with the whole idea of gift giving.

Every xmas Mother dearest used to have us make a list of things we wanted, then she would go out and buy them, decide which one of us was giving which gift, and then wrapped them up for us. It just all seemed to fake. And forced. Gifts should be given because you want to give them, not as a matter of convention.

I always considered it to be the very height of assholery to actually tell someone what they should buy for you. For kids, it's fine; but for an adult human to compile a list makes my bile rise in my throat. I'd be perfectly happy if for every holiday I got nothing more than one of my daughter's hand-drawn cards. As to the gift-card matter, I'm all for them - with teenage nieces and nephews, it makes life much easier for both of us. I still deem the "generic" (Visa/Amex) gift cards or cash to be rather impersonal and frankly, they always seem like the giver just mailed it in - but if I can give a card for a game store, for example, I can give a gift that speaks to the recipients interests without worrying about whether he got the same game I bought four hours earlier.

And what if the people are asking for a detailed list of what you want?

Your both arseholes?

My parents ask use every year what we want. *shrug*

Tyyr wrote:And what if the people are asking for a detailed list of what you want?

First time I'm asked, I tell them I don't need them to spend their money on me.

If they insist, I tell them socks and underwear.

Which to me would make you the asshole in my book as someone obviously wanted to get you a present and you were a dick about it. Not the demurring on the gift part, the socks and underwear.

Tyyr wrote:Which to me would make you the asshole in my book as someone obviously wanted to get you a present and you were a dick about it. Not the demurring on the gift part, the socks and underwear.

In actuality, those are the items I can honestly say are always useful to receive. How many coffee makers, universal remotes, or Giants sweatshirts can one man use?

At my age, I am still very much rooted in the adolescent "me me me!" attitude of christmas. however, this year is the first year that I went out and bought presents for people, even if the money was supplied. My family always operates on a "what do you want?" basis, but we all endeavour to get something that we know they would love but didn't think of. For dad, I got Michael Palin's Autobiography, for mum some music i knew she liked but didnt have on the list. I'd rather feel secure in my charitable will by giving them something they want and are going to use, than feel comforted by my own pious giving when it's going to be wasted.

Mikey wrote:How many universal remotes can one man use?

Just one, if its any good. I should really get one of those - right now I have remotes for my TV, Hi Fi, PVR, Xbox, Fan Heater, and laptop.

I got a few great stocking fillers from the old DLW. Star Trek TOS cufflinks, a TOS mug with the handle shaped like a Vulcan ear and a three pair socks pack with the Starfleet insignia, coloured in solid red, blue and gold. I'm never going to wear the red ones...you know, just incase...

thelordharry wrote:...I'm never going to wear the red ones...you know, just incase...

Very pragmatic of you.

You know, Scotty wore a red shirt and survived. Granted Nomad DID kill him, but brought him back a few minutes later

Read a story about Gareth Thomas being voted Welsh Person of the Decade in a survey by whisky firm Penderyn, only to realise they meant the Rugby player, and not the guy out of Blake's 7.

It's the Welsh, what do you expect?