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Original poster

'Please record a happy birthday message for Jane as a 40th surprise!' Please fuck off.

78 replies

BlueEyedDash · 20/02/2021 18:47

Of all of the things that have become common this year, surely these recorded good wishes videos are one of the worst?

OP posts:
Coffeeandcocopops · 20/02/2021 20:58

My son’s friend was 18 a few months ago and his mum organised a video with his mates. I thought it was lovely.

Fuckingcrustybread · 20/02/2021 20:58

We did it for a friend's 50th. He broke his back at 22, he's quadriplegic and in this pandemic has been very isolated. He's a very well loved and respected member of our community, we were delighted to take part, even though we felt like a pair of twats.

JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 20/02/2021 22:49

I thought it was just me! 3 requests I've had in the last year. Harumph

My 40th is in a few years and if the best thing my family could think of is a recorded message of my loved ones' pixelated double chins as they awkwardly say Happy Birthday James I'll be right pissed off Grin

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Events & celebrations
JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 20/02/2021 22:50

@HunkyPunk

Yes, we've got to do one for someone's 30th, which has been heralded as a 'big' Birthday. Is it?
No. A 30th is not a big birthday and I don't know who said it was but they need a slap. It goes form 21st to 40th and nothing in between . Can you tell it's a bugbear of mine Grin
Five67Eight · 21/02/2021 03:49

No. A 30th is not a big birthday and I don't know who said it was but they need a slap. It goes form 21st to 40th and nothing in between . Can you tell it's a bugbear of mine

Yes I can tell. Why is it?

Five67Eight · 21/02/2021 03:50

I didn’t realise good times were supposed to be strictly rationed... Confused

Coffeeand · 21/02/2021 03:59

I’m with you on that one. Don’t like doing it at all and don’t want it for my ‘big’ birthday in a months time (I’ll be 40).
I have however obliged and done it for those that ask. I seriously dislike it, but it’s relatively harmless I guess.

Redglitter · 21/02/2021 04:04

My friends daughter got one of these for her 30th. It was 40 minutes long. Even she got bored with it. I think basically absolutely anyone who knew her was asked to contribute

I think one from family and close friends would be lovely though

user1471538283 · 21/02/2021 07:55

I can imagine that if it's for lots of people you get fed up. A bit like work collections that seemed to be every week. I've done one video for a 50th and I thought it was lovely.

MaudesMum · 21/02/2021 08:32

I've been asked to do this for a friend's 60th, ideally contributing anecdotes about our fun time together at university. However, I can't remember any such stories, and we drifted apart after university, and only got back in touch a few years ago, but via a third friend who's very good at arranging get-togethers and so on. I honestly don't think we've got a lot in common any more. So, I'm afraid I'm not contributing. There were loads of people at their wedding anniversary party a few years ago, so I don't think she'll be short of friends to contribute...

SillyOldMummy · 21/02/2021 08:37

Hey, why don't you find a cute or funny video filter? That way you wouldn't have to be videod as yourself, but you could say "hi X, it's me, Y, in my alter ego as .... wishing you a very happy 40th birthday"

If you wanted to be hilarious you could use a cat filter like that bloke on the viral video recently.

You would appear both witty and wouldn't have the horror of seeing yourself in another excruciating video

sandgrown · 21/02/2021 08:41

God forbid that any of these miserable people have a job interview in lockdown as that will be online zoom or similar!

WithLoveFromMyselfToYourself · 21/02/2021 08:44

I’m fine with it but was genuinely horrified to learn a friend through DH wanted us to sing a line of a song for his wife’s birthday video.
Sweet idea on his part but they are both enthusiastic newish choir members along with quite a few of the friendship group. We are not, and I have a real fear of singing audibly in public. I’ve honestly walked the streets to dodge karaoke at a private party.
My DH has stopped bringing it up so I’m assuming we’ve not contributed. It sounds mean but I just can’t do it.

Wincher · 21/02/2021 09:34

I’ve not actually come across this at all, and now I’m wondering whether I should try to organise this for my DH’s 40th in a couple of weeks. I can’t decide if he would love it or hate it! He is adamant at the mo that he doesn’t want to celebrate his birthday at all (was trying to persuade him we should try one of those restaurant meal kits). But then again he might be really touched by video messages. But I wouldn’t want people to think I was reminding them of his birthday just to get them to send him a card etc. Oh I don’t know!

ladybee28 · 21/02/2021 09:38

I can't help but read this OP in the voice of Kevin the teenager...

"Uuuuuugh. You want me to say TWO SENTENCES? While looking at a PHONE? UUUUUUGH. SO UNFAIR"

'Please record a happy birthday message for Jane as a 40th surprise!' Please fuck off.
JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 21/02/2021 10:38

@Five67Eight

No. A 30th is not a big birthday and I don't know who said it was but they need a slap. It goes form 21st to 40th and nothing in between . Can you tell it's a bugbear of mine

Yes I can tell. Why is it?

Because it is.

Not every bugbear, feeling, preference or opinion has to have an in-depth analysis of why a person feels that way. It just is.

You're welcome

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 21/02/2021 10:44

Surely it's down to how the recipient will feel about it? A friend has a significant birthday coming up and she's gutted she can't have the party she would have liked, having had several other significant family events cancelled this past year. Her family have done this for her and I know she will love it. It's not an insignificant amount of work for someone to pull it together and that will mean a lot to her too.
If you don't like them, don't contribute, and make it known you wouldn't appreciate anyone doing this for you.

Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 21/02/2021 10:46

dd got that from her friends for her 21st
it is really really lovely

Fifthtimelucky · 21/02/2021 10:49

My daughter did one recently for a school friend's 21st.

I wished I'd thought of it for my daughter's 21st, which was a couple of months earlier.

needadvice54321 · 21/02/2021 10:51

@WithLoveFromMyselfToYourself

I’m fine with it but was genuinely horrified to learn a friend through DH wanted us to sing a line of a song for his wife’s birthday video. Sweet idea on his part but they are both enthusiastic newish choir members along with quite a few of the friendship group. We are not, and I have a real fear of singing audibly in public. I’ve honestly walked the streets to dodge karaoke at a private party. My DH has stopped bringing it up so I’m assuming we’ve not contributed. It sounds mean but I just can’t do it.
Blimey that's an ask!! Shock
KenAdams · 21/02/2021 11:01

It would have taken you the same amount of time to record a message as starting a thread to complain about it. Why are people so fucking miserable at a time when we've got more than enough to be miserable about? And besides, what else have you got on anyway?!

whatisheupto · 21/02/2021 20:07

Agreed OP. This new trend of these bloody videos are on a par with Christmas Eve boxes, or Easter 'trees' or regular Zoom quizzes. Urgh!

CantGetNoSleep73 · 21/02/2021 20:11

Ha - how about a 70th birthday that turned into video messages all day of them opening presents one by one. Various bloody photos/voice recordings of said person getting name in paper on radio.

Then not one but 2 f@@king zoom parties. One with about 15 members of family. The other just them and her children watching her have lunch.

She isn't in a home by the way.

I did 5 mins and that was enough. I don't think even the royals would get that much coverage...

TheNationsFavourite · 21/02/2021 20:14

We did this for my DF's 80th birthday in the summer. It meant the world to him, and he still plays them all back occasionally!

OverTheRubicon · 21/02/2021 20:17

Sounds like you aren't much of a friend, really, if you feel like 20 seconds of video is too much to spare for someone.

Personally I think it's a lovely idea, and one that will be even more meaningful when the recipient replays them in 20 years or more time. Wish I'd taken more videos of my friends growing up.

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