This may seem impersonal, but...

[shadowravyn]

with the economy as it is, it's just easier this way.

Please don't light me on fire for offending your holiday cheer.

Poll Holiday Gift Giving*GHD (Feb. 2th) is the traditional (amongst my college friends, anyway) non-Christmas giving holiday. Since the winter holidays have a ton of mandatory gifts (family, etc), GHD was when you'd buy for your friends. You'd have

Comments

[shadowravyn]

I meant to do 02, just got momentarily dyslexic.

And, hush your mouth. I already ordered your gifts. They're awesome

[etherial]

I bet you also meant to do "nd".

[ranecloude]

I have a gift for you...

But I want to offer this up as law: you are never OBLIGATED to get me anything. This economy sucks, and I would much prefer just a day (or couple of hours... however long we can stand each other :D ) set aside for me to spend time with you.

This is actually how I'm trying to handle things, as it is so much easier, and time spent with friends is so much more precious than any amazon wish list item.

[shadowravyn]

Don't worry, darling, I don't feel OBLIGATED to buy you a gift. I want to, because I love you tons. And, while you're right, time together is infinitely more valuable than amazon, I still like wrapping something, handing it over, and dancing in excitement while it's unwrapped.

And amazon wishlists aren't just for Xmas. I like 'em for days when I read someone's LJ, see that they're having a craptastic day, and decide that sending them something might make their week a bit brighter.

[buddhagrrl]

I try not to do obligatory gifts ever.

That way, when I see something that makes me think "so-and-so should have this", I can get it, and not worry about when it's appropriate or not. This auspicious coincidence method is great. There are plenty of nice people that I know such as yourself who I think should have nice things, but who I don't know well enough to intentionally shop for. I like having permission to be randomly inspired to get presents for people I would never be obligated to get presents for, and permission to ignore obligations to people I maybe "should" get presents for. Otherwise presents are not so much fun.

That said, I have nothing for you, but if something ever did end up in my shopping cart that just had to be yours, you can rest assured you'd never be obligated to reciprocate.

It's hard to ignore nieces and nephews though. They're so damn cute and they sure seem to like Christmas, but ... this isn't my holiday and I don't want to have to shop. Grr.

[shadowravyn]

There are plenty of nice people that I know such as yourself who I think should have nice things, but who I don't know well enough to intentionally shop for. I like having permission to be randomly inspired to get presents for people I would never be obligated to get presents for, and permission to ignore obligations to people I maybe "should" get presents for.

I whole-heartedly agree, which is why I LOVE amazon wishlists; even if I know someone well enough to know what he or should would like, I don't always know what he or she already has. "Oh, look, buddhagirl's having a crummy day. Y'know, I think sending her Book X off her wishlist would really cheer her up."

This has nothing to do with obligation, and everything to do with exchanging gifts with people I love.

But I hear you on the whole nieces and nephews thing...

[etherial]

I'm throwing you a birthday party in March. You're not obligated to show up. :)

[gunthersdncemix]

I hadn't thought of mix cd's, I would totally exchange those on Feb 2.

It's a family member's bday too.

Now that I'm past a certain age, most of my friends don't really exchange gifts anymore anyway.