What Were They Thinking Gifts?

[rockinfayrose]

So by now, presuming that the spiked eggnog and rum-drenched fruitcake hangovers are over, you should have had a chance to look over the Christmas presents received and separated the cool ones from those so hideous that you're prepared to camp out in retailer return lines to get the lowest sale price on a gift card.

Basically, I'm curious what were some of the all-time worst Christmas presents the folks on MR ever received? Doesn't have to be this year...which gets me thinking to a really, really bad gift I received from a co-worker last year. Imagine opening a large festive Christmas bag, taking off the cover of a medium-sized box to find 12 pairs of huge cotton granny-style panties The unattractive, 5-sizes-too-large underwear were imported from the Philippines so I couldn't even return them! It was from a really nice lady though who meant well so this was truly a case of "it's the thought that counts."

Okay, who will top this?

[Jana]

years ago a large container of police issued mace.

[rockinfayrose]

LOL...I nearly got attacked right now by popcorn. I bought my mom a popcorn popper for Christmas that looks like a mini version of those old-fashioned popcorn cart - real cute. So anyway I went to try it and the hot-air machine shot the kernels all over the kitchen like some damn machine gun shooting at me - some ambush attack of popcorn - now popcorn is everywhere! No sooner I post this thread, I find out my gift sucks too. Guess who will be in the return line at Target tomorrow

[Ratgirl]

I guess this belongs in the "she meant well" thread.. for the last 2 years my 14 yr old daughter has begged for
a cellphone. For which we have told her to wait until next year when she starts highschool. You have to realize
my daughter loses EVERYTHING and in no time flat, I predicted the future new phone will be lost, stolen or given
to the "cute" guy she has a crush on at school.

Well my mom got her a cellphone for Christmas without asking me my thoughts on it first. Oy ve.. this
should be a nice topic of conversation for the next couple days on whether she should get it now.

[Ehwmatt]

I guess this belongs in the "she meant well" thread.. for the last 2 years my 14 yr old daughter has begged for
a cellphone. For which we have told her to wait until next year when she starts highschool. You have to realize
my daughter loses EVERYTHING and in no time flat, I predicted the future new phone will be lost, stolen or given
to the "cute" guy she has a crush on at school.

Well my mom got her a cellphone for Christmas without asking me my thoughts on it first. Oy ve.. this
should be a nice topic of conversation for the next couple days on whether she should get it now.

As unbelievable as it sounds, I got by without a cell phone until i was 17, and I'm from the cell phone generation. I could have gone another couple years without it too, although I do think it's a good idea to let kids who are driving have a phone. I think it's totally ridiculous that pre-teens and young teens are running around with cell phones these days!

[Michigan Girl]

As unbelievable as it sounds, I got by without a cell phone until i was 17, and I'm from the cell phone generation. I could have gone another couple years without it too, although I do think it's a good idea to let kids who are driving have a phone. I think it's totally ridiculous that pre-teens and young teens are running around with cell phones these days!

I agree!! The ex-husband of a girl I work with gave their 8 yr old an iphone for Christmas, he has been texting
me all morning...he's so cute!! Apparently he has noone his age to talk to...*shock*

[ProgRocker53]

I guess this belongs in the "she meant well" thread.. for the last 2 years my 14 yr old daughter has begged for
a cellphone. For which we have told her to wait until next year when she starts highschool. You have to realize
my daughter loses EVERYTHING and in no time flat, I predicted the future new phone will be lost, stolen or given
to the "cute" guy she has a crush on at school.

Well my mom got her a cellphone for Christmas without asking me my thoughts on it first. Oy ve.. this
should be a nice topic of conversation for the next couple days on whether she should get it now.

As unbelievable as it sounds, I got by without a cell phone until i was 17, and I'm from the cell phone generation. I could have gone another couple years without it too, although I do think it's a good idea to let kids who are driving have a phone. I think it's totally ridiculous that pre-teens and young teens are running around with cell phones these days!

i was 18 when I got my first cell... those were different times, my man (even though they were 4 years ago)

[Ehwmatt]

I guess this belongs in the "she meant well" thread.. for the last 2 years my 14 yr old daughter has begged for
a cellphone. For which we have told her to wait until next year when she starts highschool. You have to realize
my daughter loses EVERYTHING and in no time flat, I predicted the future new phone will be lost, stolen or given
to the "cute" guy she has a crush on at school.

Well my mom got her a cellphone for Christmas without asking me my thoughts on it first. Oy ve.. this
should be a nice topic of conversation for the next couple days on whether she should get it now.

As unbelievable as it sounds, I got by without a cell phone until i was 17, and I'm from the cell phone generation. I could have gone another couple years without it too, although I do think it's a good idea to let kids who are driving have a phone. I think it's totally ridiculous that pre-teens and young teens are running around with cell phones these days!

i was 18 when I got my first cell... those were different times, my man (even though they were 4 years ago)

Yeah, the cell phones for your kids concept was really just starting to explode when I turned 15 or 16 (I'm a couple years older than you if I remember correctly). I had no interest in getting one, as I hated phones and still do. Oh well, now I'm stuck with one.

[bluejeangirl76]

I wouldn't say "worst" gift, but one year, my former-other half (notice I didn't say better half), for some very random reason, got me season 1 of "Mad About You". I was like "Um. How nice. Thanks" and thinking "I don't watch this show enough that I could have given off the idea that I'd want to own it... what the hell?"

Turns out he "just didn't know what to get..." Wow, don't know me AT ALL, I see.
He pretty much bought it just to have something else to buy, instead of using his head.

That's the method of shopping you do for people you don't know that well or aren't close to, like Aunt so & so... not your freakin' wife. That's why it was the worst. It absolutely screamed "I didn't think about this more more than a minute and only bought it because I am obligated to buy you Christmas gifts."

It was about on par with the year I got a birthday gift wrapped in a Best Buy bag.

Idiot. Then again, this is the person who, in 8 years, got me all of ONE truly special gift, that he actually put thought into, and that was in year ONE (when it's kind of mandatory). It's NOT about the gifts, don't get me wrong... it's just kind of a smack when the one person you expect to treat you special runs out on 12/24 at 1 pm and grabs whatever is left on the shelf and shoos you from the room on 12/24 at 11 pm so he can wrap it.

[Ehwmatt]

I wouldn't say "worst" gift, but one year, my former-other half (notice I didn't say better half), for some very random reason, got me season 1 of "Mad About You". I was like "Um. How nice. Thanks" and thinking "I don't watch this show enough that I could have given off the idea that I'd want to own it... what the hell?"

Turns out he "just didn't know what to get..." Wow, don't know me AT ALL, I see.
He pretty much bought it just to have something else to buy, instead of using his head.

That's the method of shopping you do for people you don't know that well or aren't close to, like Aunt so & so... not your freakin' wife. That's why it was the worst. It absolutely screamed "I didn't think about this more more than a minute and only bought it because I am obligated to buy you Christmas gifts."

It was about on par with the year I got a birthday gift wrapped in a Best Buy bag.

Idiot. Then again, this is the person who, in 8 years, got me all of ONE truly special gift, that he actually put thought into, and that was in year ONE (when it's kind of mandatory). It's NOT about the gifts, don't get me wrong... it's just kind of a smack when the one person you expect to treat you special runs out on 12/24 at 1 pm and grabs whatever is left on the shelf and shoos you from the room on 12/24 at 11 pm so he can wrap it.

Hey, what's wrong with a gift wrapped in a Best Buy bag?

[CatEyes]

No cell phones for me.

These could probably go under either the heading of "they meant well" or "what were they thinking".

I have been on oxygen since Jan 2006. I have oxygen concentrators in my office and at home. I use portable liquid oxygen for travel between them.

Oxygen is not just "flammable". It "sweetens" a fire - makes it burn hotter. And liquid oxygen is explosive - that is why it is used to power the frigging space shuttle.

In the last few years for every holiday, some well intentioned people gives me candles. Not just your little candles either.
Big candles. Aromatherapy candles. And fancy matches to light them.

Last year some friends insisted on taking me out to lunch for my birthday. I of course had my oxygen on full in the restaurant. Everything was fine until the birthday cake arrived -- covered with lit candles, and everyone was trying to get it closerd to me so I could blow them out. Think about it. People ran out of the restaurant -

This morning when my Special Transportation Services driver showed up to take me to work he grabber my oxygen with one hand while he flipped his lighter to light his cigarette with the other.

At least I do have some excitement in my life.

Cat

[bluejeangirl76]

I wouldn't say "worst" gift, but one year, my former-other half (notice I didn't say better half), for some very random reason, got me season 1 of "Mad About You". I was like "Um. How nice. Thanks" and thinking "I don't watch this show enough that I could have given off the idea that I'd want to own it... what the hell?"

Turns out he "just didn't know what to get..." Wow, don't know me AT ALL, I see.
He pretty much bought it just to have something else to buy, instead of using his head.

That's the method of shopping you do for people you don't know that well or aren't close to, like Aunt so & so... not your freakin' wife. That's why it was the worst. It absolutely screamed "I didn't think about this more more than a minute and only bought it because I am obligated to buy you Christmas gifts."

It was about on par with the year I got a birthday gift wrapped in a Best Buy bag.

Idiot. Then again, this is the person who, in 8 years, got me all of ONE truly special gift, that he actually put thought into, and that was in year ONE (when it's kind of mandatory). It's NOT about the gifts, don't get me wrong... it's just kind of a smack when the one person you expect to treat you special runs out on 12/24 at 1 pm and grabs whatever is left on the shelf and shoos you from the room on 12/24 at 11 pm so he can wrap it.

Hey, what's wrong with a gift wrapped in a Best Buy bag?

Everything.

On the surface, nothing really... a gift is a gift... it wasn't that, so much as I was tired of putting in so much effort to have really special gifts for him (autographed football of his favorite all time player... a jersey I ran all over town looking for...) - stuff that I planned for well in advance - and getting the last minute brush off from him year after year after year. It's the thought that counts, I know that - but there was never any thought, just a general feeling put out of "well I HAD to buy you things, so here..." This is after I'd also done all the shopping for HIS family. he literally had NO ONE to buy gifts for except for me, and I just didn't really matter all that much. So I guess my answer is the worst gift was 7 years worth of last minute crap.

[Ehwmatt]

Everything.

On the surface, nothing really... a gift is a gift... it wasn't that, so much as I was tired of putting in so much effort to have really special gifts for him (autographed football of his favorite all time player... a jersey I ran all over town looking for...) - stuff that I planned for well in advance - and getting the last minute brush off from him year after year after year. It's the thought that counts, I know that - but there was never any thought, just a general feeling put out of "well I HAD to buy you things, so here..." This is after I'd also done all the shopping for HIS family. he literally had NO ONE to buy gifts for except for me, and I just didn't really matter all that much. So I guess my answer is the worst gift was 7 years worth of last minute crap.

lol, oh well. My parents were/are always incredibly creative and resourceful gift givers, including a lot of things that take a lot of thought or time that lead to very original gifts, so I've learned well from them and kinda taken being creative for granted. I definitely always got some cool, creative stuff for my ex and I'm not talkin novelty shit, stuff that's useful but not many would have thought of.

Looking back, I'd say she tried on about 50% of birthdays/Christmases and mailed it in like your story the other 50. So I guess she did better than your ex. Whatever, for guys, it's the birthday sex that counts anyway

[Jana]

I wouldn't say "worst" gift, but one year, my former-other half (notice I didn't say better half), for some very random reason, got me season 1 of "Mad About You". I was like "Um. How nice. Thanks" and thinking "I don't watch this show enough that I could have given off the idea that I'd want to own it... what the hell?"

Turns out he "just didn't know what to get..." Wow, don't know me AT ALL, I see.
He pretty much bought it just to have something else to buy, instead of using his head.

That's the method of shopping you do for people you don't know that well or aren't close to, like Aunt so & so... not your freakin' wife. That's why it was the worst. It absolutely screamed "I didn't think about this more more than a minute and only bought it because I am obligated to buy you Christmas gifts."

It was about on par with the year I got a birthday gift wrapped in a Best Buy bag.

Idiot. Then again, this is the person who, in 8 years, got me all of ONE truly special gift, that he actually put thought into, and that was in year ONE (when it's kind of mandatory). It's NOT about the gifts, don't get me wrong... it's just kind of a smack when the one person you expect to treat you special runs out on 12/24 at 1 pm and grabs whatever is left on the shelf and shoos you from the room on 12/24 at 11 pm so he can wrap it.

Hey, what's wrong with a gift wrapped in a Best Buy bag?

Everything.

On the surface, nothing really... a gift is a gift... it wasn't that, so much as I was tired of putting in so much effort to have really special gifts for him (autographed football of his favorite all time player... a jersey I ran all over town looking for...) - stuff that I planned for well in advance - and getting the last minute brush off from him year after year after year. It's the thought that counts, I know that - but there was never any thought, just a general feeling put out of "well I HAD to buy you things, so here..." This is after I'd also done all the shopping for HIS family. he literally had NO ONE to buy gifts for except for me, and I just didn't really matter all that much. So I guess my answer is the worst gift was 7 years worth of last minute crap.

My question is why did you stay with someone for eight years who showed such lack of thought or feelings toward you and accept it year after year? You should have got out of there year four.

[Babyblue]

No cell phones for me.

These could probably go under either the heading of "they meant well" or "what were they thinking".

I have been on oxygen since Jan 2006. I have oxygen concentrators in my office and at home. I use portable liquid oxygen for travel between them.

Oxygen is not just "flammable". It "sweetens" a fire - makes it burn hotter. And liquid oxygen is explosive - that is why it is used to power the frigging space shuttle.

In the last few years for every holiday, some well intentioned people gives me candles. Not just your little candles either.
Big candles. Aromatherapy candles. And fancy matches to light them.

Last year some friends insisted on taking me out to lunch for my birthday. I of course had my oxygen on full in the restaurant. Everything was fine until the birthday cake arrived -- covered with lit candles, and everyone was trying to get it closerd to me so I could blow them out. Think about it. People ran out of the restaurant -

This morning when my Special Transportation Services driver showed up to take me to work he grabber my oxygen with one hand while he flipped his lighter to light his cigarette with the other.

At least I do have some excitement in my life.

Cat

People just don't stop and think.They just do it and what the hell.

[Rockindeano]

I guess this belongs in the "she meant well" thread.. for the last 2 years my 14 yr old daughter has begged for
a cellphone. For which we have told her to wait until next year when she starts highschool. You have to realize
my daughter loses EVERYTHING and in no time flat, I predicted the future new phone will be lost, stolen or given
to the "cute" guy she has a crush on at school.

Well my mom got her a cellphone for Christmas without asking me my thoughts on it first. Oy ve.. this
should be a nice topic of conversation for the next couple days on whether she should get it now.

Look at Angela coming out of nowhere to throw one down. Nice.

[bluejeangirl76]

My question is why did you stay with someone for eight years who showed such lack of thought or feelings toward you and accept it year after year? You should have got out of there year four.

I guess because hindsight is 20/20. You wishfully think things will improve or or you make excuses as it's happening (we were so busy this year, there just wasn't time - things aren't great and there isn't much money... etc.), when in reality, how they treat you is how they treat you and no amount of anything is really going to change it.

It was never about material things, to be clear. I don't care about that. It was always the big red flag of "he just flat out does not care. there's no time for me. there's no time to think about me or to do something nice for me. other things are always going to be more important."

[Ratgirl]

I guess this belongs in the "she meant well" thread.. for the last 2 years my 14 yr old daughter has begged for
a cellphone. For which we have told her to wait until next year when she starts highschool. You have to realize
my daughter loses EVERYTHING and in no time flat, I predicted the future new phone will be lost, stolen or given
to the "cute" guy she has a crush on at school.

Well my mom got her a cellphone for Christmas without asking me my thoughts on it first. Oy ve.. this
should be a nice topic of conversation for the next couple days on whether she should get it now.

As unbelievable as it sounds, I got by without a cell phone until i was 17, and I'm from the cell phone generation. I could have gone another couple years without it too, although I do think it's a good idea to let kids who are driving have a phone. I think it's totally ridiculous that pre-teens and young teens are running around with cell phones these days!

I dont remember how old I was when I got a cellphone but it wasn't when I was a teenager, that's for sure.
I carried quarters around for a pay phone if a phone was needed.

[bluejeangirl76]

Well my mom got her a cellphone for Christmas without asking me my thoughts on it first.

I would have hit the freakin' roof. That is not the kind of thing you get for a kid without mom and/or dad's 'ok'. You're probably right about "she meant well" but some things have a boundary line and this, in my opinion, is one of them.

[Ehwmatt]

I'm 49 and don't have a cell phone and I refuse to get one. Everytime I take my wifes phone with me, (she makes me, in case of emergency), she freaking calls me with totally nothing to say. I hate that. If I wanna talk to someone I'll call them.

A wife will find a way to talk about nothing, cell phone or not

[Jana]

I'm 49 and don't have a cell phone and I refuse to get one. Everytime I take my wifes phone with me, (she makes me, in case of emergency), she freaking calls me with totally nothing to say. I hate that. If I wanna talk to someone I'll call them.

Maybe she loves you and just wants to hear your voice and check in. But I guess you kill the mood and sentiment quickly.

[brywool]

2 of my kids got cans of Spam. I kid you not. They live at college and their gramma thought it'd be a good idea... um...

[brywool]

...

Well my mom got her a cellphone for Christmas without asking me my thoughts on it first. Oy ve.. this
should be a nice topic of conversation for the next couple days on whether she should get it now.

Have fun looking at the top of your kid's head for the next several years (the texting pose). I hate my daughter's cell phone. It goes with her everywhere and totally takes her out of family moments.

[ebake02]

I guess this belongs in the "she meant well" thread.. for the last 2 years my 14 yr old daughter has begged for
a cellphone. For which we have told her to wait until next year when she starts highschool. You have to realize
my daughter loses EVERYTHING and in no time flat, I predicted the future new phone will be lost, stolen or given
to the "cute" guy she has a crush on at school.

Well my mom got her a cellphone for Christmas without asking me my thoughts on it first. Oy ve.. this
should be a nice topic of conversation for the next couple days on whether she should get it now.

As unbelievable as it sounds, I got by without a cell phone until i was 17, and I'm from the cell phone generation. I could have gone another couple years without it too, although I do think it's a good idea to let kids who are driving have a phone. I think it's totally ridiculous that pre-teens and young teens are running around with cell phones these days!

Didn't get my first cell phone until I was 18 and it was only a Tracfone too. My first "real" cell phone wasn't until I was 20.

[bluejeangirl76]

My first "real" cell phone wasn't until I was 20.

I was 23!

[Lula]

My first "real" cell phone wasn't until I was 20.

I was 23!

i think i was 31

[steveo777]

My first "real" cell phone wasn't until I was 20.

I was 23!

i think i was 31

I remember a time when our firsts meant something else.

[Everett]

My first "real" cell phone wasn't until I was 20.

I was 23!

i think i was 31

I remember a time when our firsts meant something else.

Funny

[JasonD]

Well, I don't think I can top Spam, but here’s my most memorable “What Were They Thinking?” Christmas gifts. Take your pick:

1. That wall mounted fish that sings.
2. Fast food restaurant gift certificates.
3. Neon orange sweater with really long arms & an oversized hoop neckline.
4. Kermit the frog paperweight.
5. Homemade ice cream maker..... which ended up being pretty cool b/c it did make good ice cream. It's just that I never thought I gave off that vibe, that "When I look at Jason I think 'rock salt'" -- vibe.

[steveo777]

One time my Mom gave me some expensive dress shoes back in the day when all I ever wore was jeans or cutoffs and had hair down to my ass. What was she thinking?