tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19346366.post3070385839968925471..comments2024-03-28T21:56:51.675-04:00Comments on Face to Face: The Christmas "Buy me this" list, and the disappearance of spontaneityagnostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967177967469961883noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19346366.post-88463889977327703652013-12-08T13:56:44.177-05:002013-12-08T13:56:44.177-05:00You've got the causal mechanism wrong. People ...You've got the causal mechanism wrong. People weren't any better mind readers in rising crime times, people back then learned how to drop hints, and how to calibrate them for the audience. Hinting that you need an Xbox at people who are going to buy you a $20 gift, or even a $50 gift, doesn't do you any good. Letting those friends know you got an Xbox, or are getting one, is useful, because the game are in that price range. But nobody drops hints about $20 items, you just go out and buy it.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12389602137217799305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19346366.post-3024529257424657892013-12-07T04:23:02.116-05:002013-12-07T04:23:02.116-05:00Yeah, what I find with gift giving is I often feel...Yeah, what I find with gift giving is I often feel perfectionist or anxious about it, so it ends up with a fuck-it random, inoffensive gift that gets me out of the anxious zone or I ask them what to get, to avoid the possibility of failure.<br /><br />Perhaps this anxiety relates to how social relationships and more disconnected and tenuous these days, and so gift giving feels more fraught, as its an opportunity to confirm and strengthen the relationship.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19346366.post-58630552488630561152013-12-06T10:27:38.175-05:002013-12-06T10:27:38.175-05:00I've noticed this happening in my life as well...I've noticed this happening in my life as well. Although I think I'm partly to blame. I want to get nice gifts for everyone, and I often feel I give lame gifts because my budget is so small. So I want to make sure I get things people will enjoy. I agree with your take though.<br /><br />Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. Drove through your old haunt on the way to my Thanksgiving destination!FWGnoreply@blogger.com