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#Post#: 29581--------------------------------------------------
Ask Natalie: His Gag Gifts Aren't Funny
By: Venus193 Date: April 20, 2019, 5:32 am
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HTML https://www.uexpress.com/ask-natalie/2019/4/19/his-gag-gifts-arent-funny
What should the LW do about her BIL?
#Post#: 29582--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ask Natalie: His Gag Gifts Aren't Funny
By: Aleko Date: April 20, 2019, 5:54 am
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Can you cut and paste this? Uxpress isn't available overseas.
#Post#: 29583--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ask Natalie: His Gag Gifts Aren't Funny
By: Dazi Date: April 20, 2019, 6:00 am
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Honestly, I don't think adults should exchange gifts period.
Birthdays and holiday gifts are for children IMO. The only
person who does still give me gifts as an adult is my mother and
I'm okay with that.
If her family insists gift exchanges are a must, then she should
consider giving him equal gifts to what she's been receiving if
they irk her so badly. So hit the Dollar Store and load up on
fake vomit, poo, cockroaches, etc. Either he'll love it or pitch
a fit.
#Post#: 29584--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ask Natalie: His Gag Gifts Aren't Funny
By: Venus193 Date: April 20, 2019, 6:12 am
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We aren't supposed to do that, but I will copy and paste the
question only:
DEAR NATALIE: My brother-in-law loves to give "gag" gifts for
birthdays. He thinks it's funny to buy us whoopee cushions and
inappropriately shaped pasta noodles. My sister just ignores her
husband, but I told her that I'm not buying him gifts anymore
because I'm sick of spending time and money to put into
thoughtful birthday and holiday gifts for him while I get a $5
joke for a present. This offended her, and she said that he is
just trying to be funny. Well, it's annoying and rude. Plus I
have all these gifts (this has been going on for YEARS) that are
just collecting dust in a corner of my closet that I will never
use and am too embarrassed to give away.
His birthday is coming up next month, and I am tempted to not
give him anything. What do you think I should do? He's a nice
enough guy, but I'm really annoyed with him and my sister's
attitude. -- GAG ME
#Post#: 29585--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ask Natalie: His Gag Gifts Aren't Funny
By: Rose Red Date: April 20, 2019, 6:36 am
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Give him $5 gag gifts back since he finds those things funny and
appropriate as gifts. Or just buy him candy or bake him cookies.
She doesn't have to spend a lot of money, time, or thought.
And for goodness sake, just get rid of the junk. It's not like
the vase Aunt Jane got you that you have to drag out when she
visit.
The thrift shop, Goodwill, or the garbage man are too busy and
are not going to waste time judging you. Stop worrying what
others think.
#Post#: 29586--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ask Natalie: His Gag Gifts Aren't Funny
By: Venus193 Date: April 20, 2019, 6:46 am
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I'm sure that the sanitation department just wants to get its
job done and head for the shower.
#Post#: 29589--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ask Natalie: His Gag Gifts Aren't Funny
By: Aleko Date: April 20, 2019, 8:02 am
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LW should get her head out of her backside. Someone who
consistently sends cheap joke presents is sending the message
that in their opinion that is all the relationship calls for,
and it is downright PA to persist in responding with expensive
'thoughtful' presents. Refusing to get the message is the
opposite of thoughtful.
As others have said, nobody expects presents of that kind to be
kept, and the charity shop and the binmen really aren't in the
business of judging your taste, so she should just offload them
and stop getting so steamed up about it.
Sure, it's a pity, and annoying, that his humour is so badly
misdirected. My mother and a very old friend of hers had a very
long-running gag of sending each other hideous and unsuitable
Christmas presents with a straight face ("I saw this and
instantly thought of you") and then writing fulsome thank-you
letters. I remember for example that one time Friend, knowing my
mother had a particular dislike of a) stray hair and (b)
Victoriana, sent her a Victorian hair-tidy (a little pot for the
dressing-table, to hold hair-combings) of china painted with
cabbage roses. The kicker was that Friend put some combings in
it before she wrapped it, just to gross Mum out. (She
succeeded.) Our whole family all looked forward every year to
seeing Friend's present to Mum, and hearing the spoof
expressions of gratitude read out.
Btw, what was the gist of the reply?
#Post#: 29591--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ask Natalie: His Gag Gifts Aren't Funny
By: Venus193 Date: April 20, 2019, 9:16 am
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The columnist's reply suggested giving him all those things back
in a big bag or all wrapped to let him know what that felt like.
She also suggested having a small gift card as a peace offering
if that upset him. The problem with that suggestion -- in my
opinion -- is that it ruins the message she intends to send
back. However, this carries the risk of him thinking it's
hilarious and could escalate the situation.
Hence my suggestion. Not exactly what we would normally
recommend here, but if this humiliates him in front of the rest
of the family it's what he deserves.
As to her sister's reaction, I think her sister is an equal
jerkwad. While marriage is a change of alliance to putting
one's partner first that doesn't mean that said partner is
allowed to deliberately insult the in-laws.
#Post#: 29592--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ask Natalie: His Gag Gifts Aren't Funny
By: vintagegal Date: April 20, 2019, 9:33 am
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She has a closet full of gag gifts? Just pull out one each year
and wrap and re-gift.
#Post#: 29593--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ask Natalie: His Gag Gifts Aren't Funny
By: AvidReader Date: April 20, 2019, 10:14 am
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I'm with the previous poster who suggested to just get him a
gift bag of candy...same gift....every occasion....(whether he
can/should eat it or not), be done with it, and toss the
pile-o'-jokey-junk in the trash. Don't even bring the latest
gift into the house. If he wants to waste his money on that
stuff, that's on him. Save the well-thought out gift selections
for those who appreciate it.
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