Random Thoughts Thread

[Five_X]

That being said, the whole affair does kind of redeem itself with the reveal that it was probably only given to me because she wanted to read it

I've lost count of the number of presents like this I've received over the years. You can tell a lot about a person through the way they give gifts.

[tsugumi]

Listed the book on ebay and now I feel at ease. This must be the mindfulness sinking in. The book works!

[Five_X]

It did not spark joy...

[Deathhappens]

I've lost count of the number of presents like this I've received over the years. You can tell a lot about a person through the way they give gifts.

I can't fathom the kind of mindset you'd have to be in to gift something in the expectation that you'll eventually get it back (unless it's a situation like, you're extremely poor and everyone knows it). I'm guessing it's a cultural divide thing again, because as far as I'm concerned gifts are a 'for life' kind of thing. Like, even if you hate it, you still put it on display when the gifter comes to visit, and re-gifting something you got as a gift is the height of uncouth behavior (with a side helping of bad luck, most probably).

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As to the book itself, I'm now quite curious what a 'picture book for adults' even looks like. All I can think of is a collection of non-serialised newspaper comics.

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Packing. Found this and started thinking about how this isn't the worst present I've ever received, but it's sort of up there. Really reflects the person who gifted it. I heard later that she was mad I didn't gift it back to her to read. I need to list it on eBay.

Spoiler:

https://i.ibb.co/xskYF4G/20240417-191754.jpg

Aside from the introduction, the pages weren't chosen because they were the "worst of", more that they neatly represent the whole product. Hollow. Blandly inoffensive unless you're an unusually conservative individual. A criminal waste of trees. Twee. Your mind conjures up images of who, exactly, this book is for, and you find that individual severely wanting.

It's not that serious, but it is sort of repulsive, if you allow yourself to be repulsed. Or maybe it's just a decade's worth of disdain for the gifter finding its release by shitting on a picture book for adults that promises to contain hidden truths such as - get this - have you ever noticed that trees are green? Ah, you haven't, have you? That's why you need to buy this book! No need to pay attention in the moment, Miranda Keeling can do that for you to the tune of 36AUD. Come on, buy some mindfulness.

Oh, I must be going senile again. I didn't notice the spoiler with the example pictures.
Eh, I guess?

[Five_X]

I can't fathom the kind of mindset you'd have to be in to gift something in the expectation that you'll eventually get it back (unless it's a situation like, you're extremely poor and everyone knows it). I'm guessing it's a cultural divide thing again, because as far as I'm concerned gifts are a 'for life' kind of thing. Like, even if you hate it, you still put it on display when the gifter comes to visit, and re-gifting something you got as a gift is the height of uncouth behavior (with a side helping of bad luck, most probably).

It's more that for some people, gift-giving is meant not as a show of selfless affection, but as a transaction--the impetus of the gift is being liked for it, or making the other person feel like they owe you.

[Mattias]

I've borrowed things I've gifted before. Like "hey can I read that book I gave you for Christmas last year?" kind of stuff. Then again that was before the internet became what it is and I could find it myself so much easier.

[tsugumi]

I can't fathom the kind of mindset you'd have to be in to gift something in the expectation that you'll eventually get it back (unless it's a situation like, you're extremely poor and everyone knows it). I'm guessing it's a cultural divide thing again, because as far as I'm concerned gifts are a 'for life' kind of thing. Like, even if you hate it, you still put it on display when the gifter comes to visit, and re-gifting something you got as a gift is the height of uncouth behavior (with a side helping of bad luck, most probably).

No, it's highly unusual behaviour, to be sure. At the time she mentioned something like "if you don't want it, give it to me, teehee!" At the time I was like "oh, this looks nice : )" because it's a cute-looking book and I didn't have time to thoroughly assess it.

The next thing I hear about her, a couple of weeks later, is that she's complaining behind my back that I didn't give her the book that, for all she knows, I liked. If my mother ran her mouth at some point and said "hmm, I'm not sure [tsugumi] liked that book" that's honestly not my problem; it's childish to feel entitled over a rumor.

Contrast: for Christmas, my mother gave me a skirt that was both a little too big for me, kind of uncomfortable, was styled in a way I didn't like, etc. My mother is blunt, so from the moment I unwrapped it she was saying "if you're not going to wear it, give it back to me and I'll gift it to [X]". In the back of my head I was thinking 'hang on, I could probably sell this' but politeness prevailed and I did give it back to her to gift to [X].

[Ideofago]

Your mother seems cool