re: present guilt by halfasianpotato

December 12, 2006 11:41 AM

voting has closed for this question

dear internet,

Taking my cue from the other gift question, I was wondering whether any of you manage to avoid the "present guilt" surrounding the holiday season.

present guilt = when someone gets you something and you're not prepared for it, for a variety of reasons.

I'm not judging anyone on selfishness or materialism... :)

If anyone wants to explain what caused it...you would make me happy.

results 40 votes

I get present guilt when someone I'm not really close to gets me anything. (5 votes)
 13%
I get present guilt when someone I'm not really close to gets me something more expensive than I would get for them. (2 votes)
 5%
I get present guilt when someone I'm not really close to gets me something when I wasn't going to get them anything. (15 votes)
 38%
I get present guilt when someone close to me gets me a present and I haven't had a chance to go shopping. (2 votes)
 5%
I get present guilt when someone close to me gets me a present and I feel indebted to them for other reasons (parents, etc.). (1 vote)
 3%
I get present guilt when someone asks me what I want. (3 votes)
 8%
I have a clear conscience. No present guilt here! (4 votes)
 10%
I don't get, buy, or believe in presents. (1 vote)
 3%
I have present guilt, but it isn't that important to consider. (5 votes)
 13%
anything else? (2 votes)
 5%
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comments

  • appleblossombeck says:

    I get present guilt because I'm emotionally convinced that I should spend on present money on charity and that any "presents" I get should be donations as well. It's not a thing I think but that I feel.

    Dec 12, 2006 11:51 AM
  • taragl says:

    Last year, one of my interns got me a pair or really lovely earrings. We don't generally exchange at work, so I wasn't prepared with something for her. I guess it was less "present guilt" than awkwardness.

    I ended up getting her something later that week, but I still felt a little weird about it.

    Dec 12, 2006 01:23 PM
  • solitaryascidian says:

    i usually don't exchange presents. when i see something that makes me think of any of my friends, i buy that thing and give them during the year, and just don't care much about the day. i hate holidays season and sometimes i wish december didn't exist.

    Dec 13, 2006 06:51 AM
  • Yuri says:

    solitaryascidian, you took the words right out of my mouth mumble mumble

    Basically my family agreed to drop the whole thing some time ago and we are all fine with it. But the world around us does induce some kind of guilt at times. Ah well. Bah Humbug ¦¬]

    Dec 13, 2006 05:43 PM
  • littlewolf says:

    I get present guilt quite often. An aunt of mine, whom I am not crazy about, often gives me presents, on top of which they tend to be presents I hate, and if you politely say, 'No, thank you', she gets this martyred look, so you end up looking bad and then taking it and saying thank you, but not giving her back anything; and then she goes on about how much she does for me and I do nothing for her... euuchhh!! Nightmare! shudders

    Dec 13, 2006 05:55 PM
  • inafish says:

    I get pre-emptive present guilt and stock up on generic presents (like mugs and teas and candles) all year round, so I'll be prepared if I get unexpected presents. I guess that's kind of crazy and defeats the purpose of a real present, but I can't help it.

    Dec 15, 2006 03:48 AM
  • fiercenailbunny says:

    I always feel guilty getting things, but I love giving presents. I don't just do it on the holiday either, but if something strikes me, I'll get it for someone. I really like seeing that joy on someone elses' face when I've gotten them something they like. Yet, I always feel bad when someone gets me anything because I always feel that i don't deserve it.

    Jan 03, 2007 04:43 PM
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