# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/41 "2013-12-19T15:08:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Did this person know that you didn’t drink and what your mother died of? > **[Joke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joke)** > > A joke is a display of humour in which words are used within a specific and well-defined narrative structure to make people laugh and is usually not meant to be interpreted literally. It usually takes the form of a story, often with dialogue, and ends in a punch line, whereby the humorous element of the story is revealed; this can be done using a pun or other type of word play, irony or sarcasm, logical incompatibility, hyperbole, or other means. Linguist Robert Hetzron offers the definitio A ... ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/42 "2013-12-19T18:54:28Z")
I was a little annoyed with the White Elephant gift I got this year as well. I woulda rather had a card shuffler. Mine was a handful of kid’s toys that was probably purchased at the dollar store including a disguise. I put it on, and dutifully (and cheerfully) posed for pics. I was a good sport, but inside was kind of bummed. I don’t mind goofy gifts, but one that’s not even useful in any way shape or form to an adult? I learned my lesson though, next year I will not be spending up to the limit, and will probably regift like a lot of others did. (frankly, I would have been happy with some of the regifts). I don’t think it’s “greedy” to complain that some people who participate in these things don’t exactly keep it on the same level as other participants. ---
**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 19, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/43 "2013-12-19T19:05:56Z")
You’ve reminded me of some of the White Elephant gift exchanges that we’ve done - we bought cute or funny or actually useful gifts, and always ended up with the stupidest, crappiest thing you can imagine (like a 50 cent tree ornament kind of thing). If I never do another one of those, I won’t mind. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/44 "2013-12-19T19:10:58Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > [Joke - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joke) Sorry-no way to tell when you use a :mad: instead of a 😉 or a 😃 . ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/45 "2013-12-19T19:36:20Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Sorry-no way to tell when you use a :mad: instead of a 😉 or a 😃 . There’s no way to tell at all. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/46 "2013-12-19T19:39:08Z")
I’m all 😕 and :mad: and maybe a little ☹ over the use of 🙂 's in these last two posts. :dubious: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/47 "2013-12-19T19:56:46Z")
I just left our office gift steal and this year the only dud gift was a chia pet. The recipient was happy with it though so all is good. I scored wine AND chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/48 "2013-12-19T20:02:14Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > [Joke - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joke) [Punch line - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_line) ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/49 "2013-12-19T20:05:59Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > [Joke - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joke) I clicked on that just to make sure I had it right. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/50 "2013-12-19T20:10:44Z")
We had an office gift exchange thingy. The limit was $10 like others here. Some of these assholes who make more money than most of us usually use this game to remind us that they are better than us by bringing in $50 bottles of liqour or some nice jewelry. I as usual brought in $10 worth of post-it notes. Everybody loves post-it notes and they were generally well received in the past so I figured I’d do it again. So gift are going around and getting stolen and stuff and everybodies getting these nice things and I ended up getting stuck with nothing but a smilie. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/51 "2013-12-19T20:10:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Punch line - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_line) It was clearly obvious that she was taking the piss out of the post she quoted. ---
**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 19, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/52 "2013-12-19T20:30:51Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > We had an office gift exchange thingy. The limit was $10 like others here. Some of these assholes who make more money than most of us usually use this game to remind us that they are better than us by bringing in $50 bottles of liqour… I ended up getting stuck with nothing but a smilie. A smilie? Is that like a lap dance from a clown? Or did you really miss out on the booze and receive only an emoticon? I keep remembering Michael Scott\* (The Office, American flavor)\* bringing an iPod to one of these events, where the limit was something like $5. ---
**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 19, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/53 "2013-12-19T20:34:08Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I’m all 😕 and :mad: and maybe a little ☹ over the use of 🙂 's in these last two posts. > > :dubious: 😃 That’s very festive. :mad: :rolleyes: 🆒 😛 :dubious: 😛 :mad: :rolleyes: :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/54 "2013-12-19T21:15:00Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Punch line - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_line) From your link: > [@](#): > > Not all jokes have a punchline in a classic sense. Some comedic sketches simply end abruptly, or fade to black without a conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/55 "2013-12-19T23:12:02Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Not all jokes have a punchline in a classic sense. Some comedic sketches simply end abruptly, or fade to black without a conclusion. Pretty much like life itself, then. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/56 "2013-12-19T23:46:09Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > It was clearly obvious that she was taking the piss out of the post she quoted. Thanks! I didn’t think my delivery was all that deadpan. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/57 "2013-12-20T00:25:02Z")
One memorable year at my office I was second-to-last and swapped for [this](http://www.conranshop.co.uk/conrancatalog/product/xlarge/global/images/main/130363.png) glorious, badass, old-timey-looking stainless steel toaster, which was great b/c Old Smokey had recently passed on. I was worried b/c there was one person after me and it was clearly the best gift, so I figured he was going to swap for it. Then he opened the last gift…and it was a [USB charged RC Helicopter](http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/426833564/jxd-340-4ch-rc-helicopter-metal-gyro-light-control-USB-charge-side-fly-gift-Parts-22cm.jpg), which amongst my fellow software developer coworkers may as well have been a bar of gold. And lo it came to pass, Toasty was mine. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/58 "2013-12-20T15:51:09Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > One memorable year at my office I was second-to-last and swapped for [this](http://www.conranshop.co.uk/conrancatalog/product/xlarge/global/images/main/130363.png) glorious, badass, old-timey-looking stainless steel toaster, which was great b/c Old Smokey had recently passed on. > > I was worried b/c there was one person after me and it was clearly the best gift, so I figured he was going to swap for it. Then he opened the last gift…and it was a [USB charged RC Helicopter](http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/426833564/jxd-340-4ch-rc-helicopter-metal-gyro-light-control-USB-charge-side-fly-gift-Parts-22cm.jpg), which amongst my fellow software developer coworkers may as well have been a bar of gold. And lo it came to pass, Toasty was mine. 🙂 I would like to work where you work! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/59 "2013-12-21T01:56:17Z")
I read the recipient of my largess (see post 34) correctly because her reaction was, “I didn’t know I could get this drunk for ten dollars!” (She’s a flirty redhead and hangs out with men who are considerably older. I’m surprised she’s ever bought a drink in her life.) She even bought my sad story of why I didn’t get her Moscato. (Back when I was an altar boy we used Muscatel as altar wine and Fr O’Hara would insist I drain the cruet into the chalice as an eye-opener and a nose full of that raisiny bouquet at 5:30AM Mass made me nauseous.) Some people will drink anything. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650/60 "2013-12-21T04:29:36Z")
Gee, does no one else simply give whatever number of scratch tickets matches the assigned total? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-grab-bag-another-piece-o/676650.md?page=4)