# Gifts for a 16-year-old boy **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 7, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071 "2002-12-07T02:25:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/21 "2002-12-08T01:58:59Z")
Umm…I’m not sure if I’m missing something here…the kid is underpriviledged, right, which is why his name is part of this Angel Tree thing? And all he asked for was clothes? Shouldn’t we maybe assume that he doesn’t own a CD player? I know they aren’t THAT expensive anymore, but under the circumstances…it just seems unlikely that he’ll have one, or at least have one of his own where he can enjoy a CD without family badgering him. A book sounds like a better idea, even if he doesn’t read much (stereotypical, but possible). Something like Hitchhikers would be a good choice - its funny, and a relatively easy read. Depending on the clothes he asked for, can you get a sense of what kind of kid this is? Into sports, or more skater like, or more gothic, or geeky, etc? If hes sporty, maybe a team hat, or T-shirt, or a basketball or something. If he’s more of a skater, then there might be passes to a not-too-expensive skater show/event he’d like, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/22 "2002-12-08T02:17:01Z")
Since all he wants is clothes, and if you really want to surprise him, buy him a skirt. It is trendy in some places now. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/23 "2002-12-08T02:33:03Z")
I am thoroughly ashamed…Hitchikers…Eminimemminmmimm…Porn… The only reasonably choices are available [here](https://securesite.chireader.com/cgi-bin/dopestore/buystuff.bat) ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/24 "2002-12-08T03:14:21Z")
He asked for a coat, hat, gloves and t-shirts, no specifics given except for his sizes. I did pay a little extra and got a Chicago Bulls hat…hope he’s at least a casual fan. Hitchhikers is a possible idea. I think it’s genetically programmed into a high percentage to teenage boys to like Douglas Adams. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/25 "2002-12-08T05:12:16Z")
Er, even though age 16 may have the vocabulary to handle Hitchhiker’s, still it may be too sophisticated for him, may go right over his head. I’ve got an almost-16-year-old boy here, and even though he tests really high on reading level on those Iowa and CAT tests every year, still he _hates_ to read, hates sitting there having to focus on a book. The only thing he ever sits down and reads all the way through are those Japanese graphic novels with Usagi Yojimbo, the superhero rabbit. [http://www.animecornerstore.com/usyojnov.html](http://www.animecornerstore.com/usyojnov.html) ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/26 "2002-12-08T05:51:20Z")
My 9 year old loves hitchikers…But still, something from the straightdope store would still be a much better choice. ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/27 "2002-12-08T06:35:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > \*\*Er, even though age 16 may have the vocabulary to handle Hitchhiker’s, still it may be too sophisticated for him, may go right over his head. I’ve got an almost-16-year-old boy here, and even though he tests really high on reading level on those Iowa and CAT tests every year, still he _hates_ to read, hates sitting there having to focus on a book. > > The only thing he ever sits down and reads all the way through are those Japanese graphic novels with Usagi Yojimbo, the superhero rabbit. > > [http://www.animecornerstore.com/usyojnov.html](http://www.animecornerstore.com/usyojnov.html) \*\* I fear that this isn’t so much a matter of age as it is a matter of changing times. Books are not appreciated as much as they once were, mostly due to the prominence and popularity of other media, including the internet. If someone could convince me otherwise I would appreciate it, because as a bibliophile I would hope that more young ones enjoy reading books than I think they do. ---
**Author:** ![Daoloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/28 "2002-12-08T06:50:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Banger \* > \*\* > If someone could convince me otherwise I would appreciate it, because as a bibliophile I would hope that more young ones enjoy reading books than I think they do. \*\* I read a fair amount. I recently completed _Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege_ by Beevor, am working on numerous other books (such as Boots’ _Savage Wars of Peace_, and the _Great War Trilogy_ by Harry Turtledove). Two of my close friends are big Adams fans. We’re all sixteen, btw. However, we hardly constitute a norm. Getting the kid what he asks for is obviously the most sensible, and I definitely back the gift certificate idea as a gift as well. My personal preference would be either to Best Buy, or perhaps Borders Books and Music, but to each their own. Allowing that this kid needs/wants clothing, how about somewhere like Target? They also sell music, games, and sporting equipment, so it may be a more favorable option. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/29 "2002-12-08T07:03:25Z")
I would recommend anal beads and a Hello Kitty™ vibrator. ---
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/30 "2002-12-08T15:37:13Z")
Hey man, that is a **Back Massager.** Not a vibrator. Get him one of those new Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 brooms. You stick it between your legs, and it vibrates. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/31 "2002-12-08T15:53:52Z")
16 years old? I think he’d love a [dolly](http://www.realdoll.com/intro.html)! ---
**Author:** ![raisinbread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@raisinbread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raisinbread)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/32 "2002-12-08T17:46:20Z")
Usagi Yojimbo isn’t a Japanese comic in the way that it was brought over from Japan and translated into Engrish but it’s a comic by a man of Japanese heritage that takes place in Japan where Usagi Yojimbo is a wandering samurai. Far from being a superhero. ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/33 "2002-12-09T00:44:18Z")
I am a bit taken aback that people here think HHGTG would go over the head of a 16 year old. I read it when I was ~10 and enjoyed it quite a bit. Have read it many times since then. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/34 "2002-12-09T02:13:45Z")
Another vote for porn. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/35 "2002-12-09T04:05:25Z")
Actually, I am, too, **Rhum Runner** , but I find it difficult to trust my own age-appropriate-reading-material decisions ever since one of my college professors expressed shock that one of my classmates was required to read _Oliver Twist_ in 8th grade, because “that book is ‘too dark’ for someone that young”–I read it when I was 7 or 8. ---
**Author:** ![Killuminati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/50afbb/32.png) [@Killuminati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Killuminati)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/36 "2002-12-09T04:15:43Z")
I think a 16 year old boy would probably like a pocket knife or a laser pointer he could have fun with it. ---
**Author:** ![Killuminati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/50afbb/32.png) [@Killuminati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Killuminati)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/37 "2002-12-09T04:21:21Z")
I think a 16 year old boy would probably like a pocket knife or a laser pointer he could have fun with it. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071/38 "2002-12-09T04:39:26Z")
He wants a coat? I was 16 a couple of years ago, so go with a black trenchcoat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gifts-for-a-16-year-old-boy/141071.md?page=1)