The problem with Xmas...

[maxlords]

The real problem with Xmas isn't the commercialism or disgusting holiday cheer, it's what the hell to buy people. My family does gift giving, and while most of them are easy to buy for, apparently I'm the devil incarnate when it comes to people buying for me. It seems that no one can shop for me without a list, and usually, they can't find 3/4 of what's on my list at all (my family doesn't shop online except for me). The things I want are all obscure, expensive, and VERY hard to find. And I get downright unpleasant when I get stupid gifts that people know I woudln't want after I've made it abundantly clear that I only want VERY specific things. Nevermind that my clothes are falling apart into rags, I want games!

Has anyone else had a problem with their hobby making people's gift-buying difficult? Most of my family either doesn't send me gifts (which is fine with me) or just sends me money now because it's too hard to shop for me. Sry if this should be in the O-T forum, it's kind of a straddler topic!

[maxlords]

The real problem with Xmas isn't the commercialism or disgusting holiday cheer, it's what the hell to buy people. My family does gift giving, and while most of them are easy to buy for, apparently I'm the devil incarnate when it comes to people buying for me. It seems that no one can shop for me without a list, and usually, they can't find 3/4 of what's on my list at all (my family doesn't shop online except for me). The things I want are all obscure, expensive, and VERY hard to find. And I get downright unpleasant when I get stupid gifts that people know I woudln't want after I've made it abundantly clear that I only want VERY specific things. Nevermind that my clothes are falling apart into rags, I want games!

Has anyone else had a problem with their hobby making people's gift-buying difficult? Most of my family either doesn't send me gifts (which is fine with me) or just sends me money now because it's too hard to shop for me. Sry if this should be in the O-T forum, it's kind of a straddler topic!

[Flack]

For me, it's Star Wars. People come over and see my Star Wars collection and then when Christmas rolls around, I always get loads of that Star Wars crap that they can't give away at the dollar store -- stickers, pogs, paper plates ... what the hell does a 30 year old guy do with paper plates?

The worst is my wife's sister. She always gives me a bag of little "goodies" and I know she spends $20-$30, which just means it's a LOT of crap instead of just a little crap. Like, every year she gets me one of those mini tape measures and mini levels. So last year around November I told my wife to tell her instead of buying me 100 little things, pool the money and buy me one thing. She ended up buying me a pair of boots that I wore all year and really like.

As far as the video game stuff goes, I don't think I'd put stuff like "rare boxed game" on my Christmas list. If people are asking you for a list it's because they can't come up with anything on their own, and asking for "obscure, expensive, and VERY hard to find" things I'm sure doesn't help their stress level any.

If I were you I'd ask for gift certificates for specific gaming or computer places. Either that or just take the clothes and smile.

[Flack]

For me, it's Star Wars. People come over and see my Star Wars collection and then when Christmas rolls around, I always get loads of that Star Wars crap that they can't give away at the dollar store -- stickers, pogs, paper plates ... what the hell does a 30 year old guy do with paper plates?

The worst is my wife's sister. She always gives me a bag of little "goodies" and I know she spends $20-$30, which just means it's a LOT of crap instead of just a little crap. Like, every year she gets me one of those mini tape measures and mini levels. So last year around November I told my wife to tell her instead of buying me 100 little things, pool the money and buy me one thing. She ended up buying me a pair of boots that I wore all year and really like.

As far as the video game stuff goes, I don't think I'd put stuff like "rare boxed game" on my Christmas list. If people are asking you for a list it's because they can't come up with anything on their own, and asking for "obscure, expensive, and VERY hard to find" things I'm sure doesn't help their stress level any.

If I were you I'd ask for gift certificates for specific gaming or computer places. Either that or just take the clothes and smile.

[Chunky]

get them all Castlevania: Lament of Innoncence!

[Chunky]

get them all Castlevania: Lament of Innoncence!

[Achika]

Two years ago, I wanted all sorts of stuff but my parents aren't really internet able (in terms of understanding eBay that is) so I can't ask for a "Zircon Channel F model 2 with detachable controllers", so I made the mistake of not asking for anything. I ended up getting Christmas Ornaments. A LOT of Christmas ornaments. After about a week of moping and hitting myself upside the head saying "you should have asked for SOMETHING" they took me out to get an MD Player.

Anyhow, that stopped last year. I asked for a whole slew of games and went so far as to send links to online stores that had what I wanted (it wasn't anything you could go into a store and get). This year, since there's nothing obscure that I wanted and to make sure I escape the fate of Christmas ornaments, I got an N Gage.

[Achika]

Two years ago, I wanted all sorts of stuff but my parents aren't really internet able (in terms of understanding eBay that is) so I can't ask for a "Zircon Channel F model 2 with detachable controllers", so I made the mistake of not asking for anything. I ended up getting Christmas Ornaments. A LOT of Christmas ornaments. After about a week of moping and hitting myself upside the head saying "you should have asked for SOMETHING" they took me out to get an MD Player.

Anyhow, that stopped last year. I asked for a whole slew of games and went so far as to send links to online stores that had what I wanted (it wasn't anything you could go into a store and get). This year, since there's nothing obscure that I wanted and to make sure I escape the fate of Christmas ornaments, I got an N Gage.

[Balloon Fight]

This year, since there's nothing obscure that I wanted and to make sure I escape the fate of Christmas ornaments, I got an N Gage.

I would have stuck to the Channel F!

Off Topic: Chunky, im digging your new look!

[Balloon Fight]

This year, since there's nothing obscure that I wanted and to make sure I escape the fate of Christmas ornaments, I got an N Gage.

I would have stuck to the Channel F!

Off Topic: Chunky, im digging your new look!

[maxlords]

Flack, my problem is that I can't ask for money. My family on my wife's side (everyone local) thinks it's "rude" to give money or gift certificates, they insist on gifts. It leaves me stuck grasping for the few things i think they can afford that are available in my area, and that's NOT much

[maxlords]

Flack, my problem is that I can't ask for money. My family on my wife's side (everyone local) thinks it's "rude" to give money or gift certificates, they insist on gifts. It leaves me stuck grasping for the few things i think they can afford that are available in my area, and that's NOT much

[BrAInDeD]

JESUS CHRIST! you guys had worst presents ever not to mention flack's magnificent collection of paper plates, man each time i say paper plate i feel like pissing myself.

Wow Achika that really sucks having Christmas ornaments for christmas especially when

1.you only use it once a year
2.Its probably not you putting those ornaments up anyways
3.there probably not video game christmas ornaments
3.CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS HAHAHAHA!
4.there probably not pointy enuf to stab your parents
5.Hey i didnt even have to list these im sure you knew

The only thing you could do with them is give them to someone else for christmas.

[BrAInDeD]

JESUS CHRIST! you guys had worst presents ever not to mention flack's magnificent collection of paper plates, man each time i say paper plate i feel like pissing myself.

Wow Achika that really sucks having Christmas ornaments for christmas especially when

1.you only use it once a year
2.Its probably not you putting those ornaments up anyways
3.there probably not video game christmas ornaments
3.CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS HAHAHAHA!
4.there probably not pointy enuf to stab your parents
5.Hey i didnt even have to list these im sure you knew

The only thing you could do with them is give them to someone else for christmas.

[Half Japanese]

I hate some of the presents I get sometimes:

a knife with Robert E. Lee on it. Sure I realize I'm in the South and all, but goddamnit it's pretty cheesy and I'll never use it.

Stray Cats cd. I have no idea where the hell this came from. Wait, actually I do, the half-torn Big Lots sticker on it gave me a pretty good idea. Anyway, they're not terrible I just wasn't expecting a cd by them. Alright, they're fairly terrible.

Clothes. I'm a picky motherfucker when it comes to clothes, so unless it's pretty comfortable or reasonably kickass I don't want it.


Gift certificates are the present for a joyride. Those who don't like to give them are probably just afraid you'll find out how ridiculously cheap your gifts have been for the past few years .

It always seems like there's at least one person in every family who's extremely cheap and/or last minute.

[Half Japanese]

I hate some of the presents I get sometimes:

a knife with Robert E. Lee on it. Sure I realize I'm in the South and all, but goddamnit it's pretty cheesy and I'll never use it.

Stray Cats cd. I have no idea where the hell this came from. Wait, actually I do, the half-torn Big Lots sticker on it gave me a pretty good idea. Anyway, they're not terrible I just wasn't expecting a cd by them. Alright, they're fairly terrible.

Clothes. I'm a picky motherfucker when it comes to clothes, so unless it's pretty comfortable or reasonably kickass I don't want it.


Gift certificates are the present for a joyride. Those who don't like to give them are probably just afraid you'll find out how ridiculously cheap your gifts have been for the past few years .

It always seems like there's at least one person in every family who's extremely cheap and/or last minute.

[Rev. Link]

Maxlords, I understand your problem. My family knows very little about the things I'm into. I've learned to not bother asking for, well, anything anymore. 'Cuz if I ask for a movie I may get a VHS instead of a DVD, or a full screen instead of a wide screen, etc. If I ask for a game, I may get it for the wrong system. And so on and so forth.

Plus, my family usually doesn't spend much money on gifts, so even if I did ask for a few games, I might get one. I don't mind this, really, though. I'm pretty particular about the things I want, and buying them myself gives me control over what I get. Plus, Christmas is about being with your family, not getting gifts.

The one thing that does bug the crap out of me, though, is that my family insists on giving gifts. I usually do get $50 cash to go buy myself a game, but then I'll also get another $50-100 worth of generally worthless stuff that I don't need, just because my family wants to give gifts. I try to tell them that there's a lot of particular things I'd like to get and they could just give me a bunch of money and I'd be happy, but they won't hear it.

[Rev. Link]

Maxlords, I understand your problem. My family knows very little about the things I'm into. I've learned to not bother asking for, well, anything anymore. 'Cuz if I ask for a movie I may get a VHS instead of a DVD, or a full screen instead of a wide screen, etc. If I ask for a game, I may get it for the wrong system. And so on and so forth.

Plus, my family usually doesn't spend much money on gifts, so even if I did ask for a few games, I might get one. I don't mind this, really, though. I'm pretty particular about the things I want, and buying them myself gives me control over what I get. Plus, Christmas is about being with your family, not getting gifts.

The one thing that does bug the crap out of me, though, is that my family insists on giving gifts. I usually do get $50 cash to go buy myself a game, but then I'll also get another $50-100 worth of generally worthless stuff that I don't need, just because my family wants to give gifts. I try to tell them that there's a lot of particular things I'd like to get and they could just give me a bunch of money and I'd be happy, but they won't hear it.

[Sotenga]

Excerpt from depressing Christmas song:

My table's been set for but seven
Just last year I dined with eleven
God Damn Ye, Merry Gentlemen

Type O Negative rocks your socks. \^_^/

Okay, about yer dilemma, Max, it doesn't apply to me. I don't have to get anyone gifts. As the youngest child, I only take. I don't have the money to give. I'd like to give, though. But no one expects me to. Does anyone think I'm taking advantage of this situation? Maybe I should spend at least ten dollars... but I've only got $55 right now, and I'm going to spend that today! *sigh* Yeah, maybe I can be a bit selfish sometimes.

Oh, well. As long as my family has a Merry Christmas with whatever gifts they get, I guess that's good enough.

[Sotenga]

Excerpt from depressing Christmas song:

My table's been set for but seven
Just last year I dined with eleven
God Damn Ye, Merry Gentlemen

Type O Negative rocks your socks. \^_^/

Okay, about yer dilemma, Max, it doesn't apply to me. I don't have to get anyone gifts. As the youngest child, I only take. I don't have the money to give. I'd like to give, though. But no one expects me to. Does anyone think I'm taking advantage of this situation? Maybe I should spend at least ten dollars... but I've only got $55 right now, and I'm going to spend that today! *sigh* Yeah, maybe I can be a bit selfish sometimes.

Oh, well. As long as my family has a Merry Christmas with whatever gifts they get, I guess that's good enough.