I just spent $40 on a Transformer for an 11 year old kid off of the tree. Those damn things have gotten pricey. And they sure don't appear to be as high quality as the ones way back when were.
And another tag I grabbed asked for gum, a wool hat, and gloves for a 16 year old. Very practical needs.
Atheist, mormon, jew, whatever, I don't mind dropping a few bucks for this stuff. Go buy a poor kid a toy before someone else gives them a Bible and really screws them up.
If you mean expensive, yes, but I care not for that shit, and yes, it is worth more than pilfered shit you might get from your Dads store , if you would feel inclined to give something away , without asking for sexual favours for it
is this some kind of america-specific ritual in which the vast inequalities of wealth and privilege are acknowledged and guilt expiated through the buying of gifts for poor, random strangers?
tnf wrote:I just spent $40 on a Transformer for an 11 year old kid off of the tree. Those damn things have gotten pricey. And they sure don't appear to be as high quality as the ones way back when were.
And another tag I grabbed asked for gum, a wool hat, and gloves for a 16 year old. Very practical needs.
Atheist, mormon, jew, whatever, I don't mind dropping a few bucks for this stuff. Go buy a poor kid a toy before someone else gives them a Bible and really screws them up.
i always do the trees for kids and have told my friends/family for years now to buy a kid a gift instead of buying anything for me. ffs, we're adults and can buy what we want throughout the year.
seremtan wrote:is this some kind of america-specific ritual in which the vast inequalities of wealth and privilege are acknowledged and guilt expiated through the buying of gifts for poor, random strangers?
Yes, because this stuff doesn't exist in other nations, right?
It's a chance once a year for kids who otherwise wouldn't have jack shit to have an organization find strangers to get them things they might want.
The fact that there is a bigger underlying issue that this will not solve and that a great inequality exists throughout the rest of the year doesn't render the simple act of giving worthless. But it makes a convenient excuse for someone who would rather sit on their ass and belittle the actions of those who do.
+JuggerNaut+ wrote:
i always do the trees for kids and have told my friends/family for years now to buy a kid a gift instead of buying anything for me. ffs, we're adults and can buy what we want throughout the year.
Exactly. My in-laws drive me nuts because they are always asking me for my *list* for their own shopping. I don't make lists. If I need something, I usually just go get it. I won't wait until someone can get it for me as a gift.
seremtan wrote:is this some kind of america-specific ritual in which the vast inequalities of wealth and privilege are acknowledged and guilt expiated through the buying of gifts for poor, random strangers?
although America bashing can be a fun sport at times, surely giving presents to kids is a nice thing?
I didn't realise TNF was one of the wealthy and privileged few.
I buy presents for some of the kids that I teach, now and then - something that represents 0.5% of my monthly income, is enough to make some kid happy.
+JuggerNaut+ wrote:
i always do the trees for kids and have told my friends/family for years now to buy a kid a gift instead of buying anything for me. ffs, we're adults and can buy what we want throughout the year.
Exactly. My in-laws drive me nuts because they are always asking me for my *list* for their own shopping. I don't make lists. If I need something, I usually just go get it. I won't wait until someone can get it for me as a gift.
I still like getting presents, I normally get given something I hadn't thought of buying myself. With a little thought, presents for adults can kick as much ass as presents for kids.
ek wrote:i took two tabs as well, one kid wanted an ipod shuffle, and the other a couple of tickets to the australian basketball leauge and a jersey.
iPod shuffle is a hell of a gift for the tree. is this something guilty Aussies do to make themselves feel better about the social inequities that exist like us Americans do as well?
seremtan wrote:is this some kind of america-specific ritual in which the vast inequalities of wealth and privilege are acknowledged and guilt expiated through the buying of gifts for poor, random strangers?
Yes, because this stuff doesn't exist in other nations, right?
It's a chance once a year for kids who otherwise wouldn't have jack shit to have an organization find strangers to get them things they might want.
The fact that there is a bigger underlying issue that this will not solve and that a great inequality exists throughout the rest of the year doesn't render the simple act of giving worthless. But it makes a convenient excuse for someone who would rather sit on their ass and belittle the actions of those who do.
ek wrote:i took two tabs as well, one kid wanted an ipod shuffle, and the other a couple of tickets to the australian basketball leauge and a jersey.
iPod shuffle is a hell of a gift for the tree. is this something guilty Aussies do to make themselves feel better about the social inequities that exist like us Americans do as well?
pretty much so, $80 is a small price to pay to get into heaven.
