Mumsnet Christmas Appeal/Secret Santa - your thoughts please?

It used to be a fantastic thing when it was an appeal, rather than the secret Santa favourite Mner nomination that it's become.

Now, with the competitive giving, and the poor me begging that usually begins around now, and the favourite Mner thing it's basically become, I think HQ' s efforts could be best spent elsewhere.

I have donated and nominated in the past, and would continue happily to nominate, but I wouldn't donate again under its current setup.

And when I have received a parcel from someone who has taken the time, the effort and the ££££s to get me something, then the first thing I do is acknowledge it. The person may not have done it for a thank you, but common courtesy means they deserve one.

I am biased. I admit this. I love secret Santa (apart from the moany hits), especially as someone else is running it.

I thought last years Secret Santa was going to implode, what with the "Wah Wah, why haven't I been nominated" to the "Wah Wah why haven't I been thanked" posts" There was a lot of criticism IFIRC

Can't you do both (providing the Secret Santa moaners don't come out in force again"?

I know that it caused some problems last year as people felt it should only go to people who needed it, but people don't have to sign up for it if they don't want to.

I have both received (stuff for DD) and donated . I have always thanked. I didn't get a thankyou myself last year and then you do wonder if your gift arrived, but what can you do?

I think it is a great idea. Secret Santa. I hope it continues.

Also, I can't necessarily find spare cash for a Giving Week but would happily make something to give as a gift. So the two events cater for different markets IMO

I think it's a wonderful thing to do, and should be encouraged. I didn't receive a gift this year despite being nominated (I only contacted because I wanted my donor thanked for the kind thought!) and was thrilled to receive a parcel of books The postage cockup/whatever didn't at all take away from the fact that somebody somewhere thought I deserved a lovely present.

I don't think I got a thank you, but then I kept forgetting to check - because getting a thank you was absolutely and completely not the point of the exercise.

I think you should go ahead. It's not like anyone is pressured into giving, either for this or for giving week. It's a lovely thing to do and a great way to put some structure into those that can giving something to those that deserve/need.

I think it's a bloody marvellous thing that you do and would be very sad to see it stopped!

It's all very well people commenting/complaining about other opportunities to give, but Christmas is different. It's a shame if there are ocassionally gifts going astray in the post, but surely these are few and far between?

And those who complain about not receiving a thank-you, well, wow, you really need to grow up...