06/23/2005 Archived Entry: "Gifts"
Gift shops are all the same. That is the realization that came to me as I was looking around in the maritimes for souvenirs for people. They all feature, more or less, the same merchandise but with different words/pictures on them. And besides, does anyone really know what to do with these useless knick knacks? All that they're good for is being displayed for a few weeks and then thrown into some box to be stored in our unfinished basements until some day when we'll need the box and the knick knack gets thrown out. Just what in the hell are you going to do with a set of spoons that say "New Brunswick", "Quebec", "Nova Scotia", and "Prince Edward Island" on them anyways?
I sorta felt pressure that I should be buying souvenirs for people. I really disliked the feeling of "hmm..what could I get personX". The feeling I DO like is stumbling onto something and thinking "wow, personX would really like this". Much like the 1 liter Keith's Thundermug I ran into at the brewery. I KNEW Phong would like that since he's such a big Keith's fan. It was a unique item that appealed to his interests instead of random knick knack that he might display on his desk for a while. I wish all gifts were like that. Why do I feel like I should get someone something when I dont see anything that I think they'll like and use anyways?
I wish everyone had something obvious that I could buy them. Like Doug, who has a shot glass collection (you'll get your surprise-souvenir on friday, mein freund). Or me! Buying me comics is a huge no-brainer - although I probably already own the comic you're thinking of getting me. I also gotta wonder, is buying the "obvious" thing a cop-out? Is buying Anne another picture frame for her collection just another way of saying "well, I couldn't find anything better"?
I suppose that the gifts you receive are a sign of how well someone knows you. Movies and books are fairly standard things for me to receive, but I think it's been rather rare that I've received a movie or book that I've been dying to watch/read. I suppose it's hard to extrapolate what someone would like to read/watch based on what you know of them.
The most thoughtful gift I think I've ever received was a sketchbook. It wasn't one of those "obvious" things. It was something someone bought me because we had discussed art and I was often seen doodling on scrap paper (ie: course notes) in class. A sketchbook wasn't really something I would buy myself because I'm not really that serious about art but as a gift, it was pretty awesome. 3 years later, I'm still using the thing.
Replies: 6 comments
..and that first paragraph is because you noticed those things you bought me sitting in that box, right? :P
Dunno, I generally don't get the point of buying souvenirs in places. Aside from T-shirts, the rest of the stuff I could buy (little stuffed furry beaver, assembly of shells) is just tacky..
A good entry to accompany this one would be what to make of those silly useless gifts people buy you that you still have to thank them for and smile at even though you KNOW it's the most useless thing on the planet that you're just dying to throw out.
All this is why wish lists exist, right ;)
I think often people just don't pay enough attention to each other to know what the other person would like. People often unknowingly drop hints ("Man, I wish I had one of those!") that other people just don't catch. It's a matter of listening and taking notes, and making sure the person didn't buy that thing they really wanted yet.
Posted by Arshwana @ 06/23/2005 07:14 AM EST
What is the point of souveniers anyways? If they are so you can remember a trip, why buy gift souveniers for all your friends? Otherwise, they are thing you get because of social pressure to do so, just like tipping.
Anyways, I got work to do...
Posted by sbdep @ 06/23/2005 09:30 AM EST
Who got you the sketchbook?
Posted by dAN @ 06/23/2005 10:48 AM EST
buying souvenirs for other ppl i think is kinda silly. although, i guess it's one of those "i was thinking about you even though i was on this amazing trip" type things. when i went backpacking around europe, i was very happy when my parents explicitly told me not to buy them anything and then stressed that the vacation was for me and not anyone else. i wasn't nearly as stressed as my travelling partner was - she was expected to get souvenirs for everyone and GOOD souvenirs at that. it's just too much.
Posted by melpie @ 06/23/2005 12:30 PM EST
Arsh: I didn't notice a box..but at least I bought you practical things!!
dAN: one of my exes.
Yeah, I wouldn't want to be EXPECTED to get good souvenirs for people. The whole trips then just becomes about shopping around for others which would really be stinky.
Posted by Rayne @ 06/25/2005 04:20 PM EST
Yes, sweet pragmatist that you are.
Posted by Arsh @ 06/25/2005 07:24 PM EST