rh@mit-eddie.UUCP (Randy Haskins) (01/04/84)
Ugh!!! One of my least favorite concepts. Doesn't everyone realize that the custom of giving people things was begun by a devious mercantile (yes, I realize it's redundant) plot? I really don't appreciate having society twist my arm and say that I have to give everyone I care about a gift at a certain time. I do things for my friends continuously. Yes, they are mostly little things, but then, when I think about it, I know that I would prefer the little things to someone buying me a Cabbage Patch doll or some equally expensive gift. The point is, if I need, or even marginally want something, I will buy it myself. Don't give me any of this, "Well, you'd like to have it but you would never buy it for yourself" crap. If I would like to have it and don't buy it myself, it's because it's too damn expensive, so my friends shouldn't be buying it for me (unless the friends are much richer than I. This is a special case and causes lots of problems.) Since I hit about 16, I stopped getting disappointed if I didn't get exactly what I wanted for a birthday or Xmas or some other pagan ritual. People say it's the thought that counts. Bull-cakes. If the thought counts, why can't you just spend a quiet evening at home together in front of the fireplace with a glass of sherry? Last year, I took my then female-friend (almost slipped there...) out for a very nice dinner on her birthday. I had a good time, she seemed to really enjoy herself, and it just seemed like a really nice evening. Then, a few months later, I had to hear about how I didn't give her anything for her birthday!!!! Oh, I hate materialism. Well, enough for now. Happy '84. -- Randwulf (Randy Haskins); Path= genrad!mit-eddie!rh