Swag Brag: CHUD Holiday Gift Exchange 2012 - Page 4

Exactly why I'll never participate in this. Don't want to seem like a Grinch but while you all seem very generous, it does seem to be a lot about one upping and having people post here what you gave them so you feel good about yourself, and if they don't come here to brag about it they're an asshole for not telling everyone how generous you want to appear to be (there have been a few passive aggressive posts about gift receivers not posting here). Someone is bound to feel inadequate.

The winter season can be rough on everyone. That's why we have the holidays when we do.

 

(edited for sense)

Edited by Hammerhead - 1/3/13 at 7:52pm

...although I thought the gift I got was amazing.  I love my copy.  I will see if he posts it though.  Don't wanna steal anyone's excitement (or lack thereof LOL).

 

This is a misreading. I know I can't compete with some Chewers, and I'm sure there are some that don't want to spend what I do. It's not a sport.

 

As for the "passive-aggressive" posts,  wanting to know if the recipient at least liked their gifts doesn't make the giving selfish. That's part of gift-giving. Motivation is not some binary generous/self-serving coin.

Theres every chance this was directed at me and it's fair because I worried if that's how my post was going to come across. But in the end I posted it because there's a concerted effort here to make sure no one gets screwed (not to mention the fact that a couple of years my gofts were ridiculously late going out) so I wanted to make sure everyone was accounted for. Plus there's just the fellowship aspect - when you get together with your family you don't open your gifts in private. People like to see what you get. Hell a lot of times it gives us ideas for future exchanges.

As far as one-upmanship, I don't think anybody who actually participates has that mentality at all. It certainly doesn't come across as some of the smallest gifts are given with so much thought and creativity behind them.

 

Yeah, even though I am concerned about the vast differences between my gift and what my recipient/others sent, I do not think anyone is one-upping at all.  Just tons of generosity.  I wish I could afford to buy some of the gifts (or quantity?) some people did because I love gifting and rocking people's socks off.

I know my way of thinking is very negative, and not what's likely going through the minds of people involved. I dislike receiving gifts just as much if not more (definitely more) than giving them. Some people, like you all, love it.

 

Note to self: whenever we get around to making love to MikeShaynePI, decrease all expectations by 35%.

Wow. I don't think people are trying to one-up each other; though there's definitely friendly ribbing as Chewers are want to do. I've given and received gifts large and small, based largely on my financial situation at the time. Over the past few years, my goal has been to find something personal that will be meaningful to the person I'm paired with. I always ask my giftee to give me hints of their likes and dislikes (in this case, Hammerhead was very explicit about his love for 3D, including Viewmaster Reels). I also ask that my gifter send something that tells me something about them so I can get to learn who they are. One year this resulted in a wonderfully personal package that included a DVD of the first movie my partner had seen with his wife, a CD of a local artist, etc. Another time, I received several t-shirts and swag from my partner's job - the 943 RQG Combat Rescue squad (Air Force). That was pretty cool. I'm also mighty impressed with Anya in this year's pairing, who managed to find gifts that speak to me so well. Nooj drawing that picture for Singer is probably THE coolest gift in all of the exchanges. I've had my issues with some Chewers and the CHUD boards, but I have never missed participating in this exchange because it highlights the best of the CHUD community. Also, quite honestly, these are the only gifts I receive over the holidays. I'm pretty estranged from my family, and seeing the love and generosity of Chewers to virtual strangers always makes the holidays that much brighter. Honestly, no one will judge you over a gift. Your taste in films, definitely. But not over this.
 

 

As you wish...

I received four wonderful gifts from MichaelM.

 

Two Blu-rays...

 

 

and

 

two books...

 

 

I swear my other hand is on my cellphone!

 

 

And because Michael is a class act, there were two more gifts in the box:  A shirt for my son and a onesie for my daughter...

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are a wonderful man, Michael!  Sorry for the delay in the photos!

Oh my goodness!  This is what I get for not coming to the boards as much as I used to!  I do not feel jipped at all!  I asked wd40 to send me something that tells me a little about wd40, and that anything geeky or nerdy would do, (I got this idea originally from Diva), and this is what they sent me:

 

 

I LOVE IT!!!  I have already started on it, and I am just tickled pink by all the things I am learning about the origianl series.  Thank you wd40!  I truly mean that.  I'm happy that you like your gifts, but I'm mostly interested in what you think about the book.  If you like it, there are 4 or 5 more in the series......hehehehe.

Ah, ignore me then! :) I am just being sensitive.  I am jazzed you dig it man!

 

I have started the book.  Haven't had time to get too far into it, but I like what I have read thus far.  I'll keep you posted.

 

I got this in the mail today from DJ Dylan. Thanks!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Asheville-Beer-Intoxicating-History-Mountain/dp/1609496310/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357745664&sr=8-1&keywords=asheville+beer

S.D. Snake Plissken: That 'I Void Warranties' shirt is a scream, and the expression on your son's face is priceless.

Glad it made it there and that you enjoy it! I've met the author a couple times. Last time I saw her I had her autograph the book for you :) She's quite famous in the Asheville beer scene. Thought you would like a little part of my world.

I have mentioned what Odo19 sent me a couple of times in other places, but I was waiting till I had received all of his bounties before posting.

 

 

The first package was a twofer of Sam Rockwell's illustrious Moon and Galaxy Quest on Bluray, neither of which I owned, and both of which I love and now rewatched..

 

My second package was another twofer, the Green Mile on Blu and the novel. I haven't seen Green Mile since the theaters, and haven't really read the novel. This was one of King's attempts to do something different, so he released the book as a series of small novellas and I only ever caught the first.  My hearty thanks, Odo19!