Recycling Gifts: The Rules
Posted by WonderWoman in : My life , trackbackWonder boy recently received a birthday gift of a book, among a package of gifts from one person. The interesting thing is, it was a book that he had given the giver for their birthday earlier in the year!
Should we be offended? I feel taking offence would be morally wrong as I have engaged in gift recycling myself. But, I hope, have never “returned” a gift to the original giver. With just six degrees of separation, are a proportion of all my gifts bound to come back to me I wonder?
Just what should be the rules on recycling gifts?
Should we be more honest and tell the givers at the time that we don’t like their choices? Would that be the way to live a more authentic life?
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Comments»
Yes, you should be offended. We all do things of a questionable (but hopefully not illegal) nature and most times you’ll get away with them. Get caught though and the unwritten law of unscrupulous acts says you must do the time. At the very least this person needs to be taken to task for being so stupid as to forget from where the good gift came…or maybe they didn’t and wanted to make a point?
I guess it comes down to whether Wonderboy liked the book. People often buy gifts for other people they would like themselves; maybe your Indian giver friend just thought he might enjoy it more.
Last Christmas, my brother bought me the same Bowie DVD that I bought my partner at the time. Weird.
Solomongrundy: Now you’ve got me thinking. Perhaps the giver did want to make a point. Good point.
Cacophony: You must have a really sweet - or esp-gifted - bro.
that is too funny to be offended. revenge is a dish best served cold. and sardonicly. prepare a birthday party dinner party for this person next year and give the book after you say grace at the dinner table ! too funny.. well worth the story value.. giving back the book you gave… but pres tell what was the book ?
Benbarren, I would love to reveal the title of the book but alas, i cannot, as the person who gave me the book (back) might read this and work out that I am writing about them! Suffice to say it was a picture book. I liked it.
Your answer to whether or not you should be offended depends on the reason the person gave you (back) the book. Was it because:
a)It was a terrible book/gift and the person was basically taking revenge
b) they forgot it was YOU who gave it to them and didn’t really like it, thought you might
c) remembered you gave it to them, loved it so much, also knows you sometimes recycle gifts, wanted you to enjoy it as well
Your answers are then as follows:
a) that’s just funny, laugh don’t loathe, be thankful you enjoyed the gift…better than an ugly dangling windchime
b) yes
c) no, that’s sweet
christmas gift etiquette is so subjective…