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Christmas

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Original poster

Okay then, these charity goats. Let's have a heated debate

59 replies

CappuScreamO · 16/10/2007 11:29

I don't agree with buying them for people

I think if you want to give money to charity that should be your own responsibility and you should buy yourself a charity goat

but giving charity goats to people as presents seems a bit 'ooh aren't I good and beyond reproach and you can't complain that you have no gift because that will make you look grasping and mean'

I give money to charity at Christmas myself

but I buy my friends and family presents out of love hoping that they will bring them joy

OP posts:
primigravida · 16/10/2007 11:36

I don't know, I think I'd prefer to be given a goat than something I didn't need or like. I haven't bought one for anyone but am thinking about giving DH one for Christmas along with something I've made as he always tells me he doesn't need anything. It depends on who you give one to I think. A small child is not going to understand and would probably prefer a toy but an adult who can go out and buy whatever they want/need, perhaps it is a good idea.

hunkermunker · 16/10/2007 11:38

Haha, was that my post on the wrapping paper thread?

I've been given goats in the past. And bees. I don't mind - I don't want someone spending a tenner on some bubble bath for me. Obviously if they took the place of a really thoughtful, extravagant gift, I'd be a bit miffed though

Original poster
CappuScreamO · 16/10/2007 11:40

hunker yes it was

I was so bored

and I wanted to pick a fight

however so far everyone seems so damn nice about it

I will try putting 'ffs' in my next post that usually gets their goat

OP posts:
artichokes · 16/10/2007 11:41

It depends on who you are giving them to. I know that DH is an ardent supporter of Oxfam. I also know he hates the "tatt" that most Xmas presents comprise. There is nothing he really wants. Therefore when I present him with a charity goat I know he will genuinely be pleased and he will know I have thought about what he likes and dislikes. Therefore, like any good present, it would be a thoughtful and personal gift.

We also give them to DH's adult family members at Xmas. We shower the kids with material goods but the adults have everything they want. Shopping for them is painful and pointless. By donating to a charity in their name we show are not tight but we also spare them having to cope with more pointless clutter.

Sazisi · 16/10/2007 11:41

Well I think they're a good idea We all buy so much crap we don't need, and at Christmas we buy loads of crap of little use to anyone. A bit less crap is Good especially if it's replaced by someone else getting something they do desperately need..

You're being very grasping and mean

hunkermunker · 16/10/2007 11:41

Come and talk to the huns on the swap threads then. They've worked out that nobody looks at sales...

JARM · 16/10/2007 11:43

i actually agree with you Cap.

I think i would be rather pissed off to recieve a goat for xmas, but i will admit to being tempted to buy one for the inlaws - but that says a lot about our relationship with them.

themildmanneredaxemurderer · 16/10/2007 11:43

This reply has been deleted

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Lauriefairycake · 16/10/2007 11:43

I do give money to charity and I'm happy to give/receive goats/school dinners as presents.

We don't have very much in the way of material stuff as relatively poor but I can't bear being given yet another dodgy vase or photo frame that I'm not going to use - would much rather be given 200 oxfam school dinners.

I only buy people toiletries/book vouchers/food items that they can use up or I make presents (everyone last year got a home knitted scarf) - married into a family of good christians so they are very happy to give/receive goats.

Children in the family gets books or reasonable toys - and they ALWAYS get a charity gift and put a shoe box together for church to send abroad with toys and sweets in it.

hoxtonchick · 16/10/2007 11:43

we gave sil 3 piles of fertiliser last year (cow poo). she gives really rubbish cheap presents but couldn't complain about this at all as we'd spent a reasonably amount. i was very pleased, in a slightly evil way....

CovenOVeneer · 16/10/2007 11:43

I have to say they annoy me. If I want to give to charity I do, I don't need someone doing it on my behalf. I would rather recieve nothing rather than a smug, "look what we did for you" card .

themildmanneredaxemurderer · 16/10/2007 11:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Blu · 16/10/2007 11:46

I completely agree with you Cappucino - the only addition is that it's OK to buy them 'for' people if a person has said 'oh, please don't buy me a present I have more than I need of everything, but if you would like to, make a donation to a charity instead - that would please me a lot'.

CovenOVeneer · 16/10/2007 11:46

Face it, ON THE WHOLE people just buy them because they can't think of anything else to get or can't be arsed to find something more suitable. If they are so caring why don't they just give to charity anyway?

Original poster
CappuScreamO · 16/10/2007 11:46

oh I agree wholeheartedly with the janitor

"By donating to a charity in their name we show are not tight" - artichokes this is what concerns me

if you are going to give someone charity cash shouldn't you ask them what their favourite charity is rather than foisting yours on them?

I give to my church, to the Bobath Centre, Cancer Research and the Lifeboats. I have no interest in goats and would be quite offended to be given one if I wasn't asked first. It would be my present so surely I should be allowed to choose it.

OP posts:
themildmanneredaxemurderer · 16/10/2007 11:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Blu · 16/10/2007 11:48

TheMildmanneredaxe has it exactly!

oliveoil · 16/10/2007 11:49

no fecker better get me a goat

gimme chocs or some smelly stuff from Jo Malone

goats ffs

melontum · 16/10/2007 11:50

Apparently the goats are responsible for a lot of environmental degradation in some places, some of the environmental groups are dead against them as Christmas gifts; can't find a link, but it was in the news a lot last year.

Money to fund clean drinking water projects is much better spent. I don't have a problem with the idea of charity item as a gift, don't we all have too much STUFF???

mummymagic · 16/10/2007 11:50

Yes, I can see how it is annoying if you haven't asked for it - I'd be well pissed off to receive an animal charity thing for example as I would rather help Oxfam or Shelter or something.

We had a charity wedding list but people didn't really want to contribute. They wanted to buy us stuff (although that was actually the evil plan, so people who wanted to get a gift would be able to buy something personal, but we could have a 'gift list' to make the rellys happy).

It was the genius gift for mil last Xmas though, she really really does not like gifts so we thought we were brilliant getting her the charity things. She loved it too (can't think of anyone else I would do this for). Only problem is it feels unoriginal to do it again this year...

Blandmum · 16/10/2007 11:52

It depends on the person you are buying for , and the relationship you have with them IMHO.

My SIL bought me a load of school dinners. I was chuffed to bits and very glad she'd bought it for me. If I'd done the same for my aunty, she'd have been confused, miffed and probably a bit hurt/ disapointed.

Like all presents you need to know your audience

peskipixie · 16/10/2007 11:52

agree its a bit rude to give one to someone when it isnt asked for. but i think they do have a place - my wedding list was the catalogue as i didnt want anything but i knew people wanted to buy something. am also thinking about getting the kids to buy something along those lines at xmas, but not for anyone in particular.

kids go to catholic school, very much into charity, was wondering about buying school meals for teachers at xmas, opinions welcome

moljam · 16/10/2007 11:53

i think it depends what christmas means to you and to the person youre giving too.id buy one for adult but if for child id do it and give small gift also(book or something).id love to recieve a present like that!

CovenOVeneer · 16/10/2007 11:53

"I don't have a problem with the idea of charity item as a gift, don't we all have too much STUFF???"

We do have to much stuff. As I said, I would rather have nothing as a present rather than a goat. The giver does it for their benefit, easy present and they get to feel smug.

themildmanneredaxemurderer · 16/10/2007 11:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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