Amusing office conversation

[giza]

Co-worker J: I gotta buy Christmas presents this year.
Me: I don't buy Christmas presents anymore. I have issues with the corporate establishment telling me that I have to show my love for friends and family by spending hundreds of dollars on gifts.
Co-worker J: *stunned silence*
Me: Besides, a friend of mine once told me that, "Giving a gift at any other time of the year means just as much".
Co-worker B: *pipes up* Well then, can I have my gift now?

Comments

[wesha.livejournal.com]

"And just what exactly makes you think you're entitled to one?" =^.^=

[silverscalenaga.livejournal.com]

*snicker*

[normanrafferty.livejournal.com]

I don't celebrate Christmas. I celebrate Saturnalia, usually a day or so late. ^.-

[freakylynx.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, well I celebrate Festivus. But as a gift to you, I made a donation in your name to the Human Fund :P

[rebelsheart]

Honest greed... that's rare.

[nius.livejournal.com]

And should be rewarded!

Where's mine??? :)

[tosdragon.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I still buy gifts for my family, but mainly because they won't release on the habit themselves. Otherwise, that comment sounds like what I tell people on birthdays and holidays. Be a good friend all year and there is no reason to give a damn about a single day.

[amelitatwinstar.livejournal.com]

This argument doesn't work for me. Yeah, yeah, we are good to each other all year, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, right. Sounds like an excuse or a misunderstanding of the purpose of celebrating birthdays.

Listen up. Birthdays are for being extra extra good to one particular person. To make them feel really really special. Even more so than the rest of the year. Don't tell me you've ever thrown a surprise party for someone on some other day... just because you are a good friend! No, birthdays are for voluntary extraordinary appreciation of your friends and loves.

As for Christmas, I don't think we all need to observe or practice anything. Personally, I use it as an opportunity to do 3 things: 1) subvert the commercial paradigm by by giving gift donations, 2) cheering up my friends who have seasonal affective disorder, and 3) proving what a cool aunt I am to my niece and nephew by giving unusual things. Sometimes I give nothing without apologies. Again, there's no obligation here, just consideration and best judgement in practice.

Yes, I have strong feelings on the issue. Mainly because I have seen it used as an excuse for selfishness and forgetfulness -- not that I accuse anyone here.

[giza.livejournal.com]

Sounds pretty reasonable to me.

Just to clarify my original post, I don't have any major issues with the tradition of giving birthday presents. But that is probably because I don't hear corporations telling me how I should spend all my disposable income on them.

Whoa, I'm famous!

[tgeller.livejournal.com]

I tend to agree more about birthdays than XMas -- we're all on the same page here. OTOH, I don't expect anyone else to observe my own birthday.

BTW, my feeling is that presents at any other time of the year have more meaning, because it's clear that obligation's not involved. But you put it fine, too. :)

Re: Whoa, I'm famous!

[furahi.livejournal.com]

BTW, my feeling is that presents at any other time of the year have more meaning
I concur

[furahi.livejournal.com]

I think I like Coworker B