he's never lived in the same city as me, I don't really know that much about him, and he's a retarded irrational bible thumper.


So my mom always gets mad at me for not getting him a present. I'm not a present person. I don't really buy people presents and wrap them up in target wrapping paper. I'll give a friend a wise Confucius quote, but actual material goods? For christmas? I mean, it's not even the motherfucker's birthday! Let's stay focused.


So Mom puts me in a moral delima this year- and makes me evaluate why i'm 24 and don't acknowledge the existance of my uncle and aunt that live in the mountains and have like 34 million cats. Am I required to have a relationship with everyone in my family? Is there a line where just being polite shifts to just obligatory? Furthermore, is there a line where not acknowledging with christmas presents becomes straight up rude and hateful?


I'd hate to be rude or hateful.....but I really just would rather buy a bunch of other things than something for somebody I don't even know.

12/27/2007 11:12:03 AM

tell her to buy him something

12/27/2007 11:13:00 AM

Does he ever get you anything?

12/27/2007 11:14:33 AM

yeah, he always like wraps up 50 $1s in a roll of toilet paper.





bummer, i know. guilt.

12/27/2007 11:15:40 AM

yeah if he doesnt give you shit i wouldnt buy anything for him...just buy him a bible from the dollar tree

12/27/2007 11:16:20 AM

Yeah sorry you should get him something. Just go to big lots and get a cat condo or something next year.

12/27/2007 11:16:34 AM

I don't even buy gifts for my grandparents. Our family cuts down on the material worth of Christmas every year. So most the time instead of buying a gift for them we donate money to a charity in their names. This year my whole family chipped together and got them one gift, and the grandkids all took a picture and put it on a calender for them.

I think it's awful to expect someone to get you a gift and it's awful to expect someone to give gifts period.

12/27/2007 11:17:28 AM

you just sound like a cheap bitch

12/27/2007 11:18:19 AM

I celebrate the pagan version where servants must be treated as kings or it is bad luck.

I don't have any servants though and i think my company xmas party is close enough... i mean they did have steak and lobster.

12/27/2007 11:18:19 AM

Tell your mother to buy something meaningless for him and put your name on it.

12/27/2007 11:18:40 AM

i know right?


If i want something I'll get it my motherfuckin' self.


[/lyin']

12/27/2007 11:19:16 AM

i assume when someone sends you money they do not want anything in return.

Otherwise whats the point... i send you 50 you send me 50 the only one that wins is usps stealing their 82cents off the deal.

12/27/2007 11:21:22 AM

get him a gift card

12/27/2007 11:21:42 AM

I had an uncle that I only spoke to a couple of times in my life and did not know that well send me $200 back from my high school graduation announcement. My mother said he did not even have that much money. I called and thanked him of course. Then did not talk to him at all after that, he passed away last year.

At his funeral I finally learned more about him and how wonderful of a person he was evidenced by the dozens of people who talked about the nice things he had done for them and how great of a person he was.

12/27/2007 11:25:07 AM

Quote :

"I'll give a friend a wise Confucius quote"

Price tag on being patronizing?

12/27/2007 11:26:40 AM

I'm not big on gift giving/receiving either. It's cool with my immediate family, but I don't want to feel like I have to get something for/from my friends to show how much I care about them.

One of my girlfriend's sisters gave me a really nice gift, so now I feel bad because I didn't get them anything. I can't predict who is going to get me a gift though. I'd rather just see people and be cool with them than to have to worry about reciprocating gifts.

Since they always get you something you really should do something in return. You could always send them some thread and cloth scraps since mountain people are really into quilt making.

[Edited on December 27, 2007 at 11:46 AM. Reason : o]

12/27/2007 11:37:55 AM

if they visit and/or give you a gift yes do it, otherwise don't

12/27/2007 11:39:54 AM

It's kind of annoying if somebody kind of randomly gives you a gift and (in the rare case) tells you they expect something in return and where to get it.

It's not very classy, nor a good way to keep friends.

But whatever, we'll just mark this down as a strike or something...

You could just tell your mom you think they're too weird and that they scare you. Or did you do that already? That's a good enough answer.

Also: Don't debate religion with people with strong convictions, they'll just try to throw you into a wood chipper.

12/27/2007 11:57:18 AM

this year my gf and I made big batches of limoncello and chocolate truffles

we have extras so now we can just give those in return for any surprise gifts

12/27/2007 12:18:53 PM

I think gift giving goes down the family line... grandparents give everyone gifts, aunts/uncles/moms/dads give everyone gifts, youngest receive gifts and give in direct lines upwards.... so to parents and grandparents, but not aunt/uncles.
Until you get older and have some money, and then its optional....but really, do aunts/uncles really need gifts?

Best thing is to give them a small thing from that entire branch of the family. Just slap everyone's name on it.

I bet your mom forgot to put your name on the present for them and so is just passing off the guilt to you.

12/27/2007 12:32:33 PM

I think that the appropriate thing to do with extended family, especially family that lives some distance away, is to just send them a Christmas card. It is so easy to just sign your name and it acknowledges the person's existence and tie to you as a family member.

Apparently, Christmas cards are where it is at once you 'become an adult.'

[Edited on December 27, 2007 at 12:38 PM. Reason : :-P]

12/27/2007 12:36:57 PM