This the season.

[cactuswatcher]

Rhetorical question: What's the worst possible gift? One that says 'I felt like I had to buy a gift, but really didn't give a damn,' right?

Non-rhetorical question: To whom would you give a gift box of off-brand hot sauce? I live in the Southwest and you can get this kind of thing in specialty stores all year round. But who is buying so many gift boxes of hot sauce that regular stores need to stock them this time of year?

Please share: What's your idea of a really thoughtless gift?

Comments

[dherblay.livejournal.com]

My father gave me a set of five hot sauces, with off-color names such as "Brazos Butt-Burner," one year. I think I've actually opened one by now.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Snuggies. Nothing says, "I ran into Walgreens and bought the first thing I laid eyes on on my way to the Christmas party," than Snuggies.

[ann1962]

True story. A broken clock of that footsteps in the sand poem and extremely stale chocolates.

Treasure it always!

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

I got a large, hideous, non-working clock as a house warming gift from the real estate company. It didn't have that poem, though!

;o)

Re: Treasure it always!

[ann1962]

I gave it a year in the closet and then tossed it. I truly couldn't find any sentimental reason for keeping it. I think I tossed the chocolates too.

Ah, an old tradition.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Before you were born, it was dime-store packs of handkerchiefs.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

I'm sure they improve with age.

;o)

[dherblay.livejournal.com]

Fathers? We'll see.

Re: Ah, an old tradition.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Hey, don't mock. I gave those to my Dad for Christmas when I was a kid.

Re: Ah, an old tradition.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

When you're a kid just about anything you give is thoughtful.

It was when adults went into Woolworth's for a gift (the equivalent of hitting the drugstore not many years later) and saw handkerchiefs as a f***-it gift for whoever, that I meant.

Re: Ah, an old tradition.

[ann1962]

So did I and he used them.

Re: Ah, an old tradition.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

And we borrowed them!

(clean ones, of course)

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I have to say that gift cards are the worst, except when given by adults to young people. Then they rock, and almost anything else is easily the worst gift (especially clothes or music where adult taste is bound to be off base). But from one adult to another, any gift that looks like you put a moment's though into it is OK with me, even obviously used regifts (my step daughters have both given me jewelery and books that they'd had for a while and I was happy to get them).

But unless you're very old and sick, cards really look like you just couldn't be bothered to think.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

I don't mind gift cards if they are for a place I like to shop. Not too many years ago I was given a big book of coupons for dozens of stores, I'd have no reason to set foot in. ;o) It probably was a regift.

[ladystarlightsj.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I have had too many of these to count -- but I think my top one so far was the gift set of bath-y things that smelled like a dead goat and still had the $5.00 price tag on it. And that from a 'family' member too!

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

It would be nice if people would take a whiff before they buy, wouldn't it. Even for $5.00!

One year, for one gift, I got about a five year supply of after-shave in one bottle from a friend. It smelled like a corral full of musk oxen. My mother thought the bottle was pretty so we dumped the stink'em and my mother had a new knick-knack. Present saved. ;o)