Christmas Gift Philosophies

[Sulkdodds]

So upon this grim and fateful day of torn wrapping strewn like rubble across the floor, what do you think the point of giving should be?

Some people say the best thing to do is to buy people something you know they wanted. Historically, my brother and I buy each other something very safe: media. We spend a tenner on some comic, or DVDs, or books, knowing each other's tastes well enough that we can be sure it will be appreciated and reaping the additional advantage of enjoying the thing ourselves once the other one has done with it. Other years I've bought him a book I know he's been meaning to read or a film I know he's been meaning to watch.

But another school of thought is that you should buy people extravagances. Things that will make them happy, but some secret part of them wants, but that they could never justify buying for themselves, that they would be too frugal or embarassed to grab. Perhaps it's even best to buy something they had no idea they wanted. Because can we really be surprised by something we want?

Of course this latter option can make things pretty difficult. You have to know someone very well to understand where the gaps are in their lives, where there is room for change for the better.

What y'all say?

 

[morgs]

I like to think in my family that gift giving sort of refreshes the bond that we have as a family and helps us to remember how important family is to us.

As mega cheesy as that sounds.

 

[Solaris]

I think extravagant things are a nice idea.

This winter my brother bought me a lovely 20cl bottle of whiskey. It's a small bottle and expensive yet utterly delicious. My brother knows I love whisky but sadly can never afford it so it's nice to be able to drink to enjoy the alcohol, really enjoy it when if I had the cash I would be spending it on value cans of lager.

 

[morgs]

I buy extravagant, It's as much fun to give gifts as to receive.

 

[Unfocused]

But another school of thought is that you should buy people extravagances. Things that will make them happy, but some secret part of them wants, but that they could never justify buying for themselves, that they would be too frugal or embarassed to grab. Perhaps it's even best to buy something they had no idea they wanted. Because can we really be surprised by something we want?

A dildo?

NOT THAT I WOULD WANT ONE! (goddammit...)

 

[Laivasse]

As far as it's possible, I try to push the boat out when I buy gifts. It does require a lot of thought and commitment on the part of the buyer. It only really works as a strategy when you have a very limited number of people to buy for, or when you reserve the 'extravagant' gift for a single, special person, otherwise the amount of time you have to dedicate to gift buying becomes absurd.

I've been known to spend the entire day traipsing back and forth across the whole of London to select a promising gift for one friend among half a dozen, because I couldn't bring myself to compromise with some random DVD blockbuster. Unsustainable. Sometimes it also puts unfair pressure/guilt on the receiver, if, say, they've got you some chocolate liqueurs and you've got them a bronzed casting of their dead partner's breasts, with diamonds in the nips. But still, it's most satisfying as a giver to give something memorable.

 

[ríomhaire]

I buy the first thing I see that I'm sure that the person will like. I'm usually very indecisive with my purchases so as soon as I see something I'm certain they'll like I just buy the damn thing because if I hesitate I'll never be able to decide. It's worked out well for me so far.

 

[Krynn72]

For me its about acknowledging that you pay attention to them. My mom clearly likes John Stewart a lot, so even though she didn't ask for it, I got her John Stewart's book, and she was beaming when she opened it. My brother likes to read and I know he likes the A Song of Ice and Fire series, so I got him a book by the same author that is supposed to be great as well.

Just lets them know they're not strangers to you.

 

[Acepilotf14]

well as my grandmother says we give because Jesus gave us the gift of forgiveness of our sins

but really I think it's just bullshit consumerism