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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Why are men such twats about presents?

104 replies

Caroligula · 14/12/2006 22:49

Direct lift from a post on another thread (am I unreasonable?)

But why?

My worst one was a Delia Smith Christmas book. Someone else I know got a Dyson.

WTF? Post your bad presents here (I know this has probably been done before, but it is christmas)

OP posts:
MrsMaloryTowers · 14/12/2006 22:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

marymillington · 14/12/2006 22:56

DH once got me the complete Oxford English Dictionary.

jasper · 14/12/2006 23:09

They are not all the same.
I never want anything but dh always gets me something lovely that I really like.

Original poster
Caroligula · 14/12/2006 23:10

So far, Mary Millington wins

Even worse than Delia and Dyson

Next!

OP posts:
maryhadaharpsichordyeahlord · 14/12/2006 23:11

god I think Malory is pissed too
have you all been out together
a boy who wanted to get into my pants once bought me a mug saying "be yourself, there's no-one nicer!"
he did not get into my pants

UnquietDad · 14/12/2006 23:25

OK, so I can see a Dyson says "get hoovering, woman" and so is Not Very Good. But Delia's all right surely? Unless you really, really HATE cooking.

oranges · 14/12/2006 23:27

my dh is great with presents.

Original poster
Caroligula · 14/12/2006 23:28

ROFL at "Delia's all right, surely?"

OP posts:
UnquietDad · 14/12/2006 23:29

It's just a book. It doesn't mean "get in the kitchen, woman."

oranges · 14/12/2006 23:30

yes it does.

CouldEquallyHaveBeenAnAardvark · 14/12/2006 23:31

There is nothing romantic about a present with "Delia" in the title. This goes for books, lingerie or toiletries. She's only got as far as books, but only because the toiletry and lingerie ranges flopped at the market research stages.

UnquietDad · 14/12/2006 23:32

What if it's Nigella? Same applies? Or not? if not why not?

Original poster
Caroligula · 14/12/2006 23:32

It's probably because I'm pissed, but cannot stop laughing at "it's just a book"

Precisely you .... male present giver!

OP posts:
Gingerbear · 14/12/2006 23:33

a foot spa
a coffee maker (I was PG at the time, and couldn't stand even the smell of coffee)

Original poster
Caroligula · 14/12/2006 23:33

LOL at the spectacle of UnquietDad scrabbling around for a respectable celeb chef as present material.

Now UD, is there anything you'd like to confess in the way of presents you've given? You're
among friends...

OP posts:
ShinyHappyStarOfBethlehem · 14/12/2006 23:33

More to the point, why are men such twats?!

UnquietDad · 14/12/2006 23:34

If I got a book on DIY would this mean "get in the garage and use spanners, stereotypical man-thing, you"?

And should I therefore run to the loo and scream with grief?

oranges · 14/12/2006 23:34

Nigella is worse, I think, because it implies you want your partner to look like her as well as cook like her (no-one would imagine their dh wants them to LOOK like Delia)

UnquietDad · 14/12/2006 23:36

What if you have a DW who actually enjoys a bit of cooking? Just, y'know, hypothetically...

Not that I ever HAVE bought cookbooks of any variety. I'm good with presents.

brimfull · 14/12/2006 23:37

I got the book "windows for dummies" one yr,then a webcam the next yr.
webcam is still in the box

whatwouldjesusdo · 14/12/2006 23:38

I wouldnt mind Delia, although its not top of my cookery book wishlist.
If a man gave me Nigella, I would assume that he only bought it because he fancies her. Which would not go down well.

oranges · 14/12/2006 23:38

I do like cooking,and love buying kitchen stuff but there is just too much symbolism involved in receiving it as a present. Presents should be decadent, not functional.

But I asked for travel vouchers for a wedding present, so may have a higher than usual phobia of receiving toasters and cook books.

brimfull · 14/12/2006 23:39

I buy my dh cook books all the time,have one for his b'day tomorrow ,he did ask for it though.

helsyslittlehelper · 14/12/2006 23:39

DH is great with presents. I, on the other hand, am crap and have bought DH some of his most boring gifts. Once, I adopted a book for him. He wasn't impressed

Original poster
Caroligula · 14/12/2006 23:39

I love cooking, but still looked askance at the Delia present. (He pretended it was post-ironic, tongue in cheek, but I knew better )

My judgement is, cookery book presents are OK - acceptable - welcome even - as spontaneous "because I love you" presents, but completely unacceptable as christmas, birthday or valentine prezzies.

OP posts: