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AIBU?

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Original poster

Have I just bought a kid a really fucking inappropriate gift??

91 replies

twiney · 29/12/2017 19:03

Help!

My DP has 3 nephews aged 7, 14 and 18.

I bought them a Xmas present each and I think I've fucked up the one for the middle boy, but need MN to help!

He's a kind of smart, wacky kid with a great sense of humour, he's basically the family "clown".

I bought him this fairly dense wry book, I've got it in French (they're French) but in English I believe it's called The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook.

Basically loads of detailed advice on how to escape quicksand, fight off an octopus, etc, you get the idea.

Except just flicking through it again as I was about to wrap it...it has some absolutely fucking ridiculous and annoying parts such as "how to fake an orgasm". What the fuck?! First of all, what a dumb and immature sensationalist addition to an otherwise entertaining book.

And second of all, I cant now give this to a 14 year old kid, can I?! I dont know whats appropriate. They are French and pretty relaxed and not pearl clutchy, but I dunno..

I'm so pissed off, DP is leaving really early tomorrow morning so I dont have time to get him something else.

I got the older kid a shot set so can't swap theirs. I could replace the book with the younger kids pressie (brain teaser thing) but then the younger kid will be without.

Thoughts?

OP posts:
Labradoodliedoodoo · 29/12/2017 19:17

I think it’s fine depending on how graphic it is. Less graphic is passable

perfectstorm · 29/12/2017 19:18

It's only inappropriate if the parents will be offended. He's 14, this isn't going to be news. We were watching When Harry Met Sally at a similar age and that actually demonstrated the, um, art.

Original poster
twiney · 29/12/2017 19:18

@Nikephorus
Not sure sticking orgasm-themed pages together is such a great idea tbh....

OP posts:
Original poster
twiney · 29/12/2017 19:19

Fuck it I'm giving it to him

OP posts:
Chickoletta · 29/12/2017 19:25

I'm more concerned that you're giving an 18 yr old a 'shot set'.

IWillSurviveHeyHey · 29/12/2017 19:25

It's fine, specially if they're French

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 29/12/2017 19:26

I love your inappropriate gifts

Get them a pack of condoms each too Grin

LanaKanesLeftNippleTassle · 29/12/2017 19:27

Do it!!

He'll bloody love it.

The age of consent in France is 15....so in less than a year he'll be able to have sex legally anyway.

Really not seeing the big deal at all.

rcit · 29/12/2017 19:27

It’s a fine book for a 14yo

YoniHuman · 29/12/2017 19:27

Yeah, just give it to him and if they say anything just deny any knowledge of those pages and say a colleague with a son the same age recommended it.

Youcanstayundermyumbrella · 29/12/2017 19:27

That book was given to loads of teenagers and pre-teens when it first came out. No more sensational in content than the Secret Diary of a Health Freak, which did the rounds when I was a top junior (as we called them back in the Bronze Age).

OnTheRise · 29/12/2017 19:27

I'd have been happy if my children had received that book at 14. Mind you, they're gobby smartarses, all of them (lovely too, obviously) and have had very little input from their parents.

Greensleeves · 29/12/2017 19:28

I'd give it to him. I wouldn't bat an eyelid if someone gave it to my teenage sons.

Original poster
twiney · 29/12/2017 19:29

Thanks for the reassurance!

OP posts:
LanaKanesLeftNippleTassle · 29/12/2017 19:30

Really Chickoletta?? Hmm

An adult perfectly legal to drink gets given drinking glasses as a present??

Why on earth is that inappropriate?

GrooovyLass · 29/12/2017 19:31

If someone had given that to DD when she was 14 we would have sniggered about it together!

And what's wrong with shot glasses for an 18yo?

MsVestibule · 29/12/2017 19:31

Good grief, when I think what I was reading when I was 14 😱. And I didn't become sexually active in any way at all until I was 17!!!

It'll be fine, glad you've decided to give him the book, I'm sure he'll love it.

Original poster
twiney · 29/12/2017 19:32

Yeah I don't see the problem with the set.

It's 4 shot glasses, a cure cactus salt shaker and a mini tequila cocktail recipe book.

OP posts:
Ohyesiam · 29/12/2017 19:32

Absolutely fine for14 year old boy

CoolCarrie · 29/12/2017 19:34

Use a fine razor blade to slice the pages out!

Nikephorus · 29/12/2017 19:35

Not sure sticking orgasm-themed pages together is such a great idea tbh....
Grin

fluffiphlox · 29/12/2017 19:36

A 14 year old will love it.

LanaKanesLeftNippleTassle · 29/12/2017 19:38

twiney I bet when you started this thread you didn't forsee being pulled up on the shot glasses! Grin

Touchmybum · 29/12/2017 19:39

I have a 14 year old DS and he would find it embarrassing, and no, we are not prudes in any shape or form. He is just at that age where he finds any sex talk embarrassing (and with 2 elder sisters he can't escape!) - though I don't think tbh it's not the sort of book that would appeal to him otherwise anyway.

He would 100% most definitely prefer the tenner!!!

FoggieFishieCarpeDiem · 29/12/2017 19:40

The shot glasses and the book sound perfectly fine imo. He’s 14! He knows what orgasms are. And the 18yo hopefully knows what tequila is 😉

But I’m not from the U.K. and I’m fairly certain that some of the in my family perfectly acceptable gifts wouldn’t get the mumsnet stamp of approval(Get the stamp of disapproval, tbh)...