# Another grab bag, another piece o' .... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 18, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650 "2013-12-18T15:06:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beatlejuice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@beatlejuice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beatlejuice)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/1 "2013-12-18T15:06:15Z")
Please don’t include me in your holiday grab bag. This year I brought a lovely bottle of Italian Liquor. Guess what I got. GO AHEAD, GUESS! How about a freakin’ card shuffler… for two decks! Imagine my shock and awe upon unwrapping in front of 15 snickering onlookers. This would be a fine gift if I owned a casino. but I don’t. Last year, I brought a sterling bracelet and got a canister full of peanuts in return. I’m done with this idiocy. The grab bag gods don’t look upon me favorably. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/2 "2013-12-18T15:14:45Z")
I participated in an office Christmas Party for four consecutive years during which a gift given in year one was re-gifted for the next three years. GAH! ---
**Author:** ![beatlejuice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@beatlejuice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beatlejuice)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/3 "2013-12-18T15:43:16Z")
Sounds like a great new tradition. Where’s my wrapping paper. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/4 "2013-12-18T15:48:13Z")
There was a suggestion at our office last year that instead of a gift exchange (we do the Secret Santa one where you bring a wrapped gift, draw numbers and either take from the tree or “steal” someone else’s gift), that we all donate to charity instead. The people I work with didn’t go for it and would rather have a gift exchange. Really? Really?? We make decent money. Nobody needs more crap. Instead of participating in the potluck/gift exchange today I’m going to buy the striking PSW’s across the street who are outside freezing their asses off some Timbits. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/5 "2013-12-18T15:48:37Z")
My workplace intentionally does a crappy gift exchange for comedy value, optional participation. Wrap something you want to get rid of up nicely and draw out of a hat to be assigned a package. Are you sure it’s not intended to be something like that? ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/6 "2013-12-18T15:50:52Z")
So after the crappy gift the first year you still got something nice for the second year? You know what they say, fool me once… ---
**Author:** ![beatlejuice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@beatlejuice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beatlejuice)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/7 "2013-12-18T15:52:06Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > My workplace intentionally does a crappy gift exchange for comedy value, optional participation. Wrap something you want to get rid of up nicely and draw out of a hat to be assigned a package. Are you sure it’s not intended to be something like that? No, it wasn’t like that at all. Someone got a bottle of vodka and there was a lot of fine chocolates and the like. Oh, and a card shuffler, did I mention that?:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/8 "2013-12-18T15:57:59Z")
> [@beatlejuice](#): > > No, it wasn’t like that at all. Someone got a bottle of vodka and there was a lot of fine chocolates and the like. Oh, and a card shuffler, did I mention that?:rolleyes: At least you’re well equipped to deal with it next year. _flees_ ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/9 "2013-12-18T16:11:01Z")
“Are you even vaguely familiar with the concept of giving?. . .” _\_ Wow, that is some unabashed greed coming from one who I assume is an adult. I know the OP is just blowing of steam and I can kind of get behind grousing about office Christmas traditions in general, but to whine because you didn’t get as good as you gave? Never mind that you have the \*means \*to purchase a nice bottle of liquor or jewelry. Also, is it possible that there was a $ limit and everyone got the memo but you? ---
**Author:** ![beatlejuice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@beatlejuice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beatlejuice)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/10 "2013-12-18T16:15:56Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > “Are you even vaguely familiar with the concept of giving?. . .” _\_ > > Wow, that is some unabashed greed coming from one who I assume is an adult. I know the OP is just blowing of steam and I can kind of get behind grousing about office Christmas traditions in general, but to whine because you didn’t get as good as you gave? Never mind that you have the \*means \*to purchase a nice bottle of liquor or jewelry. > > Also, is it possible that there was a $ limit and everyone got the memo but you? Tongue in cheek dude. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/11 "2013-12-18T16:28:20Z")
> [@beatlejuice](#): > > Tongue in cheek dude. I did not get that :smack: Alrighty then, want to swap your card shuffler for a foot operated toilet flusher? ---
**Author:** ![beatlejuice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@beatlejuice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beatlejuice)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/12 "2013-12-18T16:37:34Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I did not get that :smack: Alrighty then, want to swap your card shuffler for a foot operated toilet flusher? Deal! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/13 "2013-12-18T16:40:42Z")
We did a White Elephant (Useless Gift Exchange) at work (no one calls it a “grab bag” except for our resident 1%'er). For years, we’ve all regifted the most awkward thing we can find in our basements. Lots of tacky “man cave” stuff, lots of laughs, but of course SOMEbody wrapped up a pretentious liter of “Ramazzotti”. Joey from Marketing sniffed it and went “Eeew!” and the preppie guy just had to sneer: “It’s a lovely bottle of Italian Liquor”. Everyone turned and rolled their eyes at him, and you could see everyone realizing who it was that gave the fancy bracelet last year. Well, trust fund boy gets mad and storms out muttering something about “…going in the Pit.” But then Joey got a Hula Girl poker set, Marcy unwrapped a Hello Kitty lava lamp, and the festivities continued. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/14 "2013-12-18T17:16:43Z")
> [@digs](#): > > But then Joey got a Hula Girl poker set, Marcy unwrapped a Hello Kitty lava lamp, and the festivities continued. A (new) Hello Kitty toaster was fiercely stolen back and forth one year, including by one guy who knew he would be Best Dad Evar to his little girl if she got Kitty-imprinted toast every morning. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/15 "2013-12-18T17:30:04Z")
Now I’m shopping for a toaster… (Imagine my daughter’s eyes were when we stepped off the elevator in a Mitsukoshi store onto an entire floor of Hello Kitty.) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/16 "2013-12-18T19:24:02Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > My workplace intentionally does a crappy gift exchange for comedy value, optional participation. Wrap something you want to get rid of up nicely and draw out of a hat to be assigned a package. Are you sure it’s not intended to be something like that? I like those gift exchanges. > [@digs](#): > > We did a White Elephant (Useless Gift Exchange) at work (no one calls it a “grab bag” except for our resident 1%'er). For years, we’ve all regifted the most awkward thing we can find in our basements. > > Lots of tacky “man cave” stuff, lots of laughs, but of course SOMEbody wrapped up a pretentious liter of “Ramazzotti”. Joey from Marketing sniffed it and went “Eeew!” and the preppie guy just had to sneer: “It’s a lovely bottle of Italian Liquor”. > > Everyone turned and rolled their eyes at him, and you could see everyone realizing who it was that gave the fancy bracelet last year. Well, trust fund boy gets mad and storms out muttering something about “…going in the Pit.” But then Joey got a Hula Girl poker set, Marcy unwrapped a Hello Kitty lava lamp, and the festivities continued. I don’t care what everyone else says, you’re one funny guy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/17 "2013-12-18T19:26:11Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Now I’m shopping for a toaster… > > (Imagine my daughter’s eyes were when we stepped off the elevator in a Mitsukoshi store onto an entire floor of Hello Kitty.) [Here ya go.](http://www.target.com/p/hello-kitty-toaster-kt5211/-/A-730762#prodSlot=medium_1_1) ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/18 "2013-12-18T19:28:19Z")
> [@digs](#): > > We did a White Elephant (Useless Gift Exchange) at work (no one calls it a “grab bag” except for our resident 1%'er). For years, we’ve all regifted the most awkward thing we can find in our basements. > > Lots of tacky “man cave” stuff, lots of laughs, but of course SOMEbody wrapped up a pretentious liter of “Ramazzotti”. Joey from Marketing sniffed it and went “Eeew!” and the preppie guy just had to sneer: “It’s a lovely bottle of Italian Liquor”. > > Everyone turned and rolled their eyes at him, and you could see everyone realizing who it was that gave the fancy bracelet last year. Well, trust fund boy gets mad and storms out muttering something about “…going in the Pit.” But then Joey got a Hula Girl poker set, Marcy unwrapped a Hello Kitty lava lamp, and the festivities continued. \ I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there.\ ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/19 "2013-12-18T19:51:43Z")
I’m curious… is a card shuffler something that obviously no one in your peer group would want? Or are there lots of card players among them, and you happen to not be one of them? I had a somewhat awkward experience a few years back when I worked with a group of coworkers MOST of whom were nerdy, but a few weren’t, and I put a neat puzzle of some sort into a gift exchange, something most of my coworkers would have enjoyed, and the guy who ended up with it was clearly NOT one of them. I felt bad about it even though I thought my idea was generally reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/20 "2013-12-18T21:19:11Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I don’t care what everyone else says, you’re one funny guy. 😃 I do appreciate this comment. I’ve decided one of my skills in life is to lighten up the Pit… but I sometimes suspect that most people wouldn’t appreciate levity in the midst of outrage. But it’s what keeps me from getiing up in a clocktower with a supersoaker full of oobleck, so if it’s helping anyone else cope, I’ll keep it up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650.md?page=2)