To be offended when SIL said my present would be put in the 'unused items' cupboard?

[Notanoldbat]

SIL and DD buy quite a lot of fizzy drinks in bottles for work and home. Especially in the summer.

So I bought them a soda stream bundle with extra bottles to take to work and a mini selection of about 20 different flavours.

SIL says on opening it to DD, 'we'll you know where that is going'! DD '?'
In the top cupboard.....!!

You need a ladder to get to this cupboard and they put things in it which they rarely use.

He also brought a bottle of lemonade to us for the Boxing Day dinner!

AIBU to be a bit miffed. (Luckily DD said of course they will use it!)

Get in well with SIL most of the time but sensitivity is almost zero.

[northernlurker]

If somebody gave me a present which by implication criticised my behaviour - which this does - then I'd probably not be overwhelmingly polite either. Who buys soda streams anyway? Bit 80s isn't it?

[Coyoacan]

Very rude on his part. Coke is addictive so unfortunately I'm sure that no other soft drink would do.

Another one who wouldn't buy sodastream because of its factory in the occupied territories.

[Notanoldbat]

So if I gave you perfume Northern, I am saying you smell?

Absolutely no logic to attach to giving someone a soda stream to a criticism of someone's behaviour.

Fwiw. He absolutely loved the strawberry flavoured fizzy our neighbour gave him at last summers barbecue. (Fresh strawberries blended and frozen into cubes and popped into a glass of fizzy). That was a soda stream too.

[youarekiddingme]

I drink pepsi max - probably a bit too much. It would never occur to me it was an insult if someone bought me a soda stream. I would continue to drink Pepsi max but would try other drinks.

YANBU.

Tbh I'm surprised gifts are still given full.stop anymore - it seems whatever is given can be twisted into an insult.

[WannaBe]

The comment was rude.

But soda stream is revolting. And who wants to drink watered down fruit juice? (hmm)

[GotToBeInItToWinIt]

I would silently think the same as your SIL (soda stream drinks are vile) but wouldn't say anything as it's very rude. I would smile, say thank you very much that's a fantastic idea, then put it in the top cupboard of u used items!

[BertieBotts]

DH drinks coke like water and he wouldn't touch a soda stream - because he likes coke.

I would have made some comment about "I thought you could make that strawberry drink you liked so much at the barbecue!"

Honestly I wouldn't buy a soda stream because I think they are naff and the drinks likely to taste disgusting - like squash made with lemonade.

Sorry :( I can see the thought that went into it but I wonder if it's a generation thing? I don't know anybody my age (20s) who has or wants one.

[Notanoldbat]

If I wanted myself to be really U I would be moaning that we have paid around £170 on presents for DD, SIL and the GCs while they have spent around £20 on us, but I'm not! They were chosen with care and I love my David sedaris paperbacks and to me they are worth far more than £50 worth of smellies I don't want! If that is twisted to sound like I'm complaining I am honestly not. To me the pleasure really is in giving and it is the thought that counts not the value. There was thought put into the gift I gave which is why SIL was unnecessarily hurtful.

[unclerory]

I think it was a thoughtful present and he was rude. No idea if a sodastream is old fashioned or not, I remember them from the 80s and have seen them reappearing so assume they are a bit retro now. Kitchen gadgets do go in cycles, my parents didn't use slow cookers in the 80s, most of my friends have them now.

[raltheraffe]

You should have gone to Makro and bought them lots of cans of Coke, Pepsi and Sprite.

They would have really appreciated that.

When I go on holiday I always bring back the maximum number of cigarettes for my smoker relatives. Does not mean I condone something that causes lung cancer. They have made the expensive choice to smoke and they appreciate some free cigarettes as a gift far more than they would something healthy eg an apple.

[Notanoldbat]

Not sure myself about soda stream being unfashionable or 70s/80s but they are selling them now as I don't have a time machine. It's a really odd point that others have made about them being retro as if it's important . DD and I both have slow cookers too!

[Notanoldbat]

But aren't reusable bottles more environmentally friendly than acres of coke cans and bottles?

[raltheraffe]

See you are off on one again!

Perhaps your SIL really does not give a rat's arse about the environment.

You really need to stop this. Let him drink his cola cans!

[Notanoldbat]

Goodness me there are some strange people on here! I was just answering someone's comment about my buying £50 worth of cans and bottles instead!

Just messaged DD on Facebook (I am aware that fb is getting a bit retro too) and she is cross with DH too for his comment and can't wait to get started on some fizzy cocktails!

[raltheraffe]

You are clearly too easily offended.

I have given an opinion that is different from you and so you attempt to invalidate it by calling me strange.

Perhaps DD is just trying to be polite with you by saying she is looking forward to fizzy cocktails so not to offend you.

Like treading on eggshells.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Very rude, some people lack any basic manners.

[AryaUnderfoot]

YANBU

He was rude. End of story.

Everyone ends up getting presents that wouldn't be their choice every once in a while. To make it really clear that you don't like the present is just downright rude. No other word for it.

[Notanoldbat]

The majority of respondents has confirmed SIL was rude, which is good enough for me, and they've confirmed I am not easily offended. If I was I would be offended about the disparity in price re the presents, but I'm not in the slightest. I am only mentioning it to demonstrate it's very hard to offend me!

I think you're rather strange to say I am 'going off on one' when I'm just replying (which to me is common politeness) to someone's suggestion.

I appreciate your point of view and you are entitled to express it.

DD does not walk on eggshells round me so please don't project. We have a close, supportive relationship.

[Notanoldbat]

Thanks for confirming SIL was rude! I do let it go with him 99% of the time as I am very laid back and he is a super husband and father (also most of the time!). And not least DD loves every bone in his body and that's more than good enough for me!


also don't read rude connotations into that last sentence

[StackladysMorphicResonator]

YANBU, your son-in-law was being very rude.

For those posters saying that they only like pre-made drinks - if you buy Coca-Cola syrup then Soda Stream-made coke tastes exactly the same as that you'd buy in a pub.

[SukieTuesday]

Yes. It tastes like post mix which is manky.

[minklundy]

Yanbu. He was rude. I think it was a very thoughtful gift but it doesn't matter what the gift, being rude about a gift or about food that is cooked for you is not on (unless you genuinely cannot help it).

I should get a sodastream. Always wanted one as a kid and right enough I get through litres of lemonade. And yes they are back on trend.

[parakeet]

Yes, your son-in-law was rude. But you have made it very clear on here that you bought them the Soda Stream because you disapprove of their current drinking habits and you think they should drink things that are cheaper, healthier and more environmentally friendly. Butt out.

[minklundy]

I think what OP has made clear is that she bought the sodastream because she has thought about what to buy them. She thought they would have a use for it.

That is the art of gift buying. Thinking about the recipient.

She is commenting on mn and not to their face. Unlike SIL who could have kept his gob shut and then posted on mn mil thread later

Honestly. Mn so busy looking for other ppl being subtly PA they fail to notice people who are openly rude.

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

I can see why you would be offended. I think its better to gracefully accept gifts and you did think about it.
But My DH bought a soda stream recently and I have just stashed it in the loft. I don't drink sugary drinks, only ever diet drinks, and there are very few concentrates for soda stream that are sugar free. It takes up space on my beautiful worktop and the gas refills are not very easy to get hold of.
So I can see why you thought it was a good idea, but I can also see why it wouldn't suit them, but it was a bit rude of her to let you know she wouldn't be using it.