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Friday, December 05, 2003
Yes, and No.
I've never cheated at Christmas before, but I did last week, with my god-parent's gifts. I have my reasons! Most of them pertaining to past gift-receiving experiences. Long story short, I'm glad I did: I got what I expected, a distant second choice to a good book or CD. I got clothes. See below for explanation of said attitude. Otherwise, happy examberween everybody!
My extended family tend to be crappy gift-givers. They give me what they think I need, rather than what I want. This is a very bad thing. When people say "it's the thought that counts", this is what they're referring to. When you give a gift, no matter the occasion, you should try to express something about the person and yourself. Like, I would give Eddie a kick-ass collection of comics. I would give John some cool guitar acessories or hot sexacessories, depending on context. And so on. This has nothing to do with cost. You can buy cool gifts for under $10, most of the time, it just needs more work. Just so's you don't think I'm being materialistic or anything.
Enter the family. Until very recently I've always hated clothes. I hate the gender politics of clothing, I hate the cost, I hate fashion. Ugh. So when I have money to spend, I do it on books, electronics and music, in that order. Which means I'm generally 2 years behind the times, clothes-wise. Do I give a shit? Well, I don't plan on relying on my looks, so no.
Now, what do I always get for Christmas or birthdays? Clothes. GRAUGH! I can see the logic: my godmother sees me as terribly dressed, and she wants to fix me up. But I don't want it! Besides, I see this a gurilla gift-giving. Using the holidays to impose your values on me. I never get good books! I never get electronics! Christ!
It's not like they don't know, either. Man, I'm getting steamed just thinking about it. They gave me clothes. But at least I won't be shaking the box, fantasizing about Civ3 for Mac, or a great read. Now my face won't fall on Christmas day: I'll be fully prepared. I look forward to Mom, Dad, Emilie and Dave to satisfy my desire for a gift that's given in the spirit of pleasing the other, rather than pleasing the self. I, in turn, will try to refrain from getting Dave a good winter jacket he needs for Christmas instead of the gaming system I know he really wants.
My extended family tend to be crappy gift-givers. They give me what they think I need, rather than what I want. This is a very bad thing. When people say "it's the thought that counts", this is what they're referring to. When you give a gift, no matter the occasion, you should try to express something about the person and yourself. Like, I would give Eddie a kick-ass collection of comics. I would give John some cool guitar acessories or hot sexacessories, depending on context. And so on. This has nothing to do with cost. You can buy cool gifts for under $10, most of the time, it just needs more work. Just so's you don't think I'm being materialistic or anything.
Enter the family. Until very recently I've always hated clothes. I hate the gender politics of clothing, I hate the cost, I hate fashion. Ugh. So when I have money to spend, I do it on books, electronics and music, in that order. Which means I'm generally 2 years behind the times, clothes-wise. Do I give a shit? Well, I don't plan on relying on my looks, so no.
Now, what do I always get for Christmas or birthdays? Clothes. GRAUGH! I can see the logic: my godmother sees me as terribly dressed, and she wants to fix me up. But I don't want it! Besides, I see this a gurilla gift-giving. Using the holidays to impose your values on me. I never get good books! I never get electronics! Christ!
It's not like they don't know, either. Man, I'm getting steamed just thinking about it. They gave me clothes. But at least I won't be shaking the box, fantasizing about Civ3 for Mac, or a great read. Now my face won't fall on Christmas day: I'll be fully prepared. I look forward to Mom, Dad, Emilie and Dave to satisfy my desire for a gift that's given in the spirit of pleasing the other, rather than pleasing the self. I, in turn, will try to refrain from getting Dave a good winter jacket he needs for Christmas instead of the gaming system I know he really wants.
# posted by Spot @ 4:44 p.m.
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