5 ms·

I really wish more people would accept that giving me something isn't the way to celebrate my birthday or any other event.

johnrob 17y ago
I used to wonder why it's so hard to buy gifts for people. Then I realized the answer is that most people already have way more crap than they need.
MarkPilgrim 17y ago
Left to my own devices, I would never leave the house. So I ask for experiences. From my wife, I ask for her to find a local event that I wouldn't think of going to by myself, and to arrange tickets/reservations/etc. From my parents (who live nearby), I ask for them to watch our kids while my wife and I go to said event. It works well.
- trafficlight 17y ago
  I really like this idea. I, too, hate getting gifts. I already buy the things I need and gifts just end up getting stacked in the corner.
- TheSOB88 17y ago
  What about those other people? I forget what they are called. Frems? Fronds?
- euccastro 17y ago
  I ask for nothing and I get experiences. She loves to plan, book, etc., while I usually find those events worthwhile only after the fact. Win-win, in the end.
houseabsolute 17y ago
They are probably wishing that you would lighten up. Edit: I know this seems trollish, but it's probably also true. Although I could have worded it better, my point is that your expectation that people _not_ give physical gifts is no different or more noble than other peoples' expectation that you accept physical gifts. Recognizing that, there's the tried and truism that it's easier to change things about yourself than things about others.
- imd 17y ago
  If he doesn't want more stuff, he's not being noble to say so, he's just telling people what not to get him. If someone gave you a pillow every year, why should it be rude to say, "please don't get me a pillow this year. I have enough pillows!"? I know some people are too timid to say things like this, but it is possible to say without offending.
  - houseabsolute 17y ago
    If >90% of his society embraced the tradition of giving new pillows every year, then he would indeed be a little out of line in expecting others to accede uniformly to his pillow-less demands. It's not rude to ask, but it is pointless to get upset when some people decline to do what you want. Edit: actually, by convention it is a little rude to ask most people to give you particular types of things for your birthday, unless they are very close to you socially (spouse or significant other, basically).
henrikschroder 17y ago
I went to a birthday party this weekend, and checked the email the same day for her wishlist, if any: "I absolutely do not want more stuff. Actually, we're gonna have a box of crap that we want you to take stuff from so we get rid of it." It's so nice to get older and have friends like that. :-)
derwiki 17y ago
Ask that people make a donation to charity in your name, if they feel they must spend money on you.
robryan 17y ago
It really depends on your financial situation, if your successful then yes, if your a student just getting by it's more like well if you must get me something I have really been wanting.....

johnrob 17y ago

I used to wonder why it's so hard to buy gifts for people. Then I realized the answer is that most people already have way more crap than they need.

MarkPilgrim 17y ago

Left to my own devices, I would never leave the house. So I ask for experiences. From my wife, I ask for her to find a local event that I wouldn't think of going to by myself, and to arrange tickets/reservations/etc. From my parents (who live nearby), I ask for them to watch our kids while my wife and I go to said event. It works well.

trafficlight 17y ago
I really like this idea. I, too, hate getting gifts. I already buy the things I need and gifts just end up getting stacked in the corner.
TheSOB88 17y ago
What about those other people? I forget what they are called. Frems? Fronds?
euccastro 17y ago
I ask for nothing and I get experiences. She loves to plan, book, etc., while I usually find those events worthwhile only after the fact. Win-win, in the end.

houseabsolute 17y ago

They are probably wishing that you would lighten up. Edit: I know this seems trollish, but it's probably also true. Although I could have worded it better, my point is that your expectation that people _not_ give physical gifts is no different or more noble than other peoples' expectation that you accept physical gifts. Recognizing that, there's the tried and truism that it's easier to change things about yourself than things about others.

imd 17y ago
If he doesn't want more stuff, he's not being noble to say so, he's just telling people what not to get him. If someone gave you a pillow every year, why should it be rude to say, "please don't get me a pillow this year. I have enough pillows!"? I know some people are too timid to say things like this, but it is possible to say without offending.
- houseabsolute 17y ago
  If >90% of his society embraced the tradition of giving new pillows every year, then he would indeed be a little out of line in expecting others to accede uniformly to his pillow-less demands. It's not rude to ask, but it is pointless to get upset when some people decline to do what you want. Edit: actually, by convention it is a little rude to ask most people to give you particular types of things for your birthday, unless they are very close to you socially (spouse or significant other, basically).

henrikschroder 17y ago

I went to a birthday party this weekend, and checked the email the same day for her wishlist, if any: "I absolutely do not want more stuff. Actually, we're gonna have a box of crap that we want you to take stuff from so we get rid of it." It's so nice to get older and have friends like that. :-)

derwiki 17y ago

Ask that people make a donation to charity in your name, if they feel they must spend money on you.

robryan 17y ago

It really depends on your financial situation, if your successful then yes, if your a student just getting by it's more like well if you must get me something I have really been wanting.....