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[Maxwell House]

I know some people who actually create lists of what they want for Christmas and hand them out to friends, family members, etc.

I also see people creating lists on Amazon, etc and posting that their birthdays are coming up in their blogs with links to the list, etc.

It almost seems a bit arrogant to me to create lists like that. It is almost like saying people owe you a gift..as if it is someone's duty to buy you something. I like buying people I like presents, don't get me wrong. It just seems tacky to me.

Am I weird for feeling this way?

BTW, the people I know who do this are definitely greedy about this crap. I mean, one person in particular always talks about her birthday and rubs her hands and crap, thinking about all the shit people will give her. It is pretty sickening actually.

 

[Mason]

I don't like to create a Christmas list for the reasons you mentioned. I think when people give gifts, it should be something they put time into thinking about and deciding on what they think you would like and want to give you. But my family always bugs me and TELLS me to, so I eventually end up scribbling down a few things while they bitch at me about how I should have done it earlier.

 

[hXc_thugg]

I don't like to create lists either, for the reasons you listed. However, members of my family would probably go bat-shit insane if I didn't do it. So I take one for the team.

 

[Fresh Prince]

No you are not alone

 

[kumanoki]

I know some people who actually create lists of what they want for Christmas and hand them out to friends, family members, etc.

I also see people creating lists on Amazon, etc and posting that their birthdays are coming up in their blogs with links to the list, etc.

It almost seems a bit arrogant to me to create lists like that. It is almost like saying people owe you a gift..as if it is someone's duty to buy you something. I like buying people I like presents, don't get me wrong. It just seems tacky to me.

Am I weird for feeling this way?

BTW, the people I know who do this are definitely greedy about this crap. I mean, one person in particular always talks about her birthday and rubs her hands and crap, thinking about all the shit people will give her. It is pretty sickening actually.

To me, asking for a gift is tacky. Suggesting a gift is not, especially if the person in question asks you what you want. It makes the process of gift-giving easier for the giver if you are straight-forward. Like this:

"So, Maxwell, what do you want for Christmas?"
"Well, I have a wish list on Amazon. You know, just a few things I like. Anything there would be fine."

Instead of this:

"So, Maxwell, what do you want for Christmas?"
"I dunno. Anything's okay."
"Aaaarrrgh."

 

[Dan]

To me, asking for a gift is tacky. Suggesting a gift is not, especially if the person in question asks you what you want. It makes the process of gift-giving easier for the giver if you are straight-forward. Like this:

"So, Maxwell, what do you want for Christmas?"
"Well, I have a wish list on Amazon. You know, just a few things I like. Anything there would be fine."

Instead of this:

"So, Maxwell, what do you want for Christmas?"
"I dunno. Anything's okay."
"Aaaarrrgh."

Yeah, I see it like that.

Would it be great if people could think of ideas on their own for me? Sure, but if they want some ideas, I'm not going to be a dick and not give them a couple. I would never suggest something if I wasn't asked though, that'd just be rude.

 

[Jim Bowie]

I do it so that family and friends know what I want. But I basically include LOTS AND LOTS of stuff, to give them a broad view of stuff I'd like. That way, if they were thinking of something else, then they can just see if it matches the current trend.

I usually compile one within a few minutes after some coaxing.

 

[FortNinety]

I used to think it was pretty arrogant, but I've heard way too many people complain that I'm hard to shop for, which I am. I have an Amazon wishlist, but I give friends the passwords so when they buy me something they can take it off the list themselves. Therefore, they are not forced to go through Amazon, plus it's more personable that way.

 

[kumanoki]

At my age, (28) the thrill of waking up on my birthday or Christmas and having my wife or mom or whoever get me exactly what I wanted can only be replicated by giving them a good idea of what I want far in advance. That helps. Our shopping lists look like this sometimes:

Detergent
Chicken
Cheese
Milk
LEGO Star Destroyer
Fabric softener
Peas

 

[Dyne]

If I didn't clue in to my parents which games I wanted exactly, they'd probably end up getting me Shaq Fu again.

(Yes, it happened.)

 

[xsarien]

I create lists only when asked to do so.

 

[MetatronM]

I make a list. For two reasons:

1) People ask me for a list.

2) Because nobody else in the family is knowledgable enough about the types of things I would want to be able to make an informed purchase of something I would actually want/need/use.

It's not like a "YOU MUST BUY ME THIS" list. More like a "here's some stuff I would like and feel free to come up with other ideas that might fit in with this stuff." So usually Christmas ends up being about half stuff from my list and half stuff that people come up with on their own

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

I only create a list if someone requests one specifically. eg. parents don't like to spend money on things I don't particularly want

 

[karasu]

You know people are gonna give you gifts on Christmas, it's the one time of year that it's bound to happen. I don't see anything wrong with making a reasonable list so that they get you something you actually enjoy, instead of pretending that it's only the thought that counts when you hang the red sweater with pineapple imprint in the closet never to view it again. Shit, if people are gonna spend money it's better that they spend it on something that will actually be of some use.

 

[TheQueen'sOwn]

If I didn't clue in to my parents which games I wanted exactly, they'd probably end up getting me Shaq Fu again.

(Yes, it happened.)

That happened to me :lol :lol .. You can just imagine the look on my face when I opened it.... I then proceeded to open Primal Rage.

 

[Drozmight]

I'm not really a big fan of christmas.

 

[RevenantKioku]

I love giving and receiving gifts, because its an awesome process. Lets face it, there are things everyone needs or wants, and being able to do that for someone is awesome. And receiving shit you need or want for free isn't exactly a terrible thing either. Since lists ease the process around holiday time, I've got not much against them in particular.

But the cases about the chicks with the blogs, lets fucking face it. Its all about her knowing that 10 or so guys will try to impress her with shit from her wish-list.

 

[slayn]

I create lists for family for christmas simply because they otherwise won't have a fucking clue as to what to get me and will miss by a mile. But then my family has never been big on surprises. We now just literally go on amazon and point out, "I want that, you can just order it now"

edit:
we still try and come up with surprises but we always get the stuff as like... backup presents so they don't have an utterly shitty set of gifsts on christmas that they don't want.

So for example, my dad said he wanted a dilbert calendar, and some political book I forget the name of. So he's getting both of those along with "America (The Book)"

so for instance, even if you don't buy somethign on their list or you want to b uy somethign in addition to whats on their list, lists help to point you in the direction they are thinking for that christmas.

Thats all only for family though, The only other person I get gifts for is 1 friend where we just built up a tradition of giving each other 1 gift. There are no lists involved in this but thats merely because we know each other and can at least manage a reasonable guess. Generally I try to find ps1/ps2 games that I think will be good but didn't get enough advertising such that my friend has probably never heard of them since he doesn't read about games online. Last game I got him was Ico I think.

 

[Memles]

I have members of my family who rely on having a list; they like to spend a certain amount each year, so that's what they do.

To appease these people, I make a full color list with pricing details, pictures and release information. Makes it easier for them to know what they're getting, what it looks like, and where to get it.

I'm not a fan of getting crappy random stuff for Christmas, and I don't see these relatives enough for them to guess on what to get me. Creates less hassle for them, less disappointment for me. Win win? I think so.

 

[tedtropy]

 

[Dilbert]

I get asked for a list every year...doesn't really bother me since it's purely a pragmatic thing. My parents don't see my apartment more than once or twice a year, so they have no idea what kinds of things I have or don't have...and although they probably know the right categories of things that I like, they often don't know my specific tastes.

 

[yoshifumi]

i think it's tacky if you make one without being asked for one.

 

[sefskillz]

i think it's tacky if you make one without being asked for one.

yea, i agree with this except in the case of the amazon wish list. i think the amazon thing is great, people can search for you by name and find what you want. i dont tell anyone about it, i typically just use it to keep track of dvds / cds i want to pick up in the future.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

I think it's a fine idea to make a list.

People are so wound up about not wanting to appear needy or greedy, but everybody wants stuff. Why not say so, and save others the prospect of having to guess?

I mean, if you make a list, expect everything on it, and don't appreciate anyting you get that's not on it, that's a different story. But I wish more people would let their desires be known. I have a whole family of people to shop for (see other thread) and I hate guessing, and even when asked point-blank, most of them say "I dunno."

BS. People are too shy.

 

[Cool]

I don't know. I used to make them when I was younger. I see people who are like in their late teens/early twenties making them and it seems selfish and childish. Grow up, knock someone up, get your own kids to buy gifts for, your time is done.

I'm seventeen, and already old and bitter.

 

[Memles]

I don't know. I used to make them when I was younger. I see people who are like in their late teens/early twenties making them and it seems selfish and childish.

If relatives want to buy me gifts, I want them to at least know what to buy. I don't think that is selfish or childish.

My relatives want specifics, so they can go out shopping, pick up a gift on Joe's list, and then be done with it. And if they want a list, they get a list.

Sure, if people start distributing it to friends and stuff, that's a little far, but if relatives ask for it? Nothing wrong with that, ya whippersnapper.

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

Anyone above 16-19 yrs old and treats christmas as a "get cool shit I normally can't afford or wouldn't otherwise buy" is a materialistic and greedy bitch.

 

[Cool]

If relatives want to buy me gifts, I want them to at least know what to buy. I don't think that is selfish or childish.

My relatives want specifics, so they can go out shopping, pick up a gift on Joe's list, and then be done with it. And if they want a list, they get a list.

Sure, if people start distributing it to friends and stuff, that's a little far, but if relatives ask for it? Nothing wrong with that, ya whippersnapper.

I WAN A DIGITAL CAMERA, A NEW CAR, AN IPOD, A NEW SKI COAT, A VELVET REVOLVER CD, A BICYCLE, A COMPUTER, A NEW CELL PHONE, AND A YAUCHT.

 

[Agent Dormer]

My mom asks for a list, so I just give her a couple of suggestions and let her go from there. If not she would probably cry... no joke.

 

[MrAngryFace]

I forgot what age I stopped caring. I dont get many gifts anyway, probably 1 to 3 a year, nothing big. When my mom asks I just say whatever, ditto to anyone else who cares.

If there's something I REALLY want ill buy it myself somehow.

 

[Brian Fellows]

I create a list but I dont go handing it out. If I did not create a list when either of my brothers wives or my parents ask what I want I would NOT be able to think of a damn thing. So when they ask I just whip out the list and give that person a few things off it.

 

[Manics]

We've stopped exchanging gifts between siblings now that we're all married off. We'll get something for our parents (when they already have everything they need so it's really pointless) and then we'll get something for our respective spouses. It's SO much easier not having to buy a bunch of gifts for people especially when you're just getting them stuff for the sake of "exchanging presents" on Christmas. I think it means alot just to be able to spend more time with everyone over the holidays, have a few laughs and drinks and generally enjoy.

 

[Mega Man's Electric Sheep]

My mom gives me money for Christmas and I buy my own gifts. It was getting to the point that she was waiting for me to tell her exactly what to buy anyway, so she figures this is easier.

I found it was a fun passtime when I was a kid to hint rather than list. You know, throw in a comment about something you like while at the dinner table: "pass the butter. Gee, it's yellow, kinda like the bananas you collect in Donkey Kong Country for Super Nintendo".