# I need an excuse not to receive a birthday present **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 22, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508 "2017-02-22T20:48:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/1 "2017-02-22T20:48:17Z")
From a cow-orker. It would be a gift certificate. \* Need answer fast!\* ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/2 "2017-02-22T21:11:45Z")
Vow of poverty? Allergic to gift certificates? Like you, just not that way? Maybe the truth? If that’s not going to poison your relationship with your cow-orker. Nothing? Is there some reason you want to take a stand that’s worth being ungracious and ill-mannered? ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/3 "2017-02-22T21:13:42Z")
Convert to Jehovah’s Witness. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/4 "2017-02-22T21:22:19Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Maybe the truth? If that’s not going to poison your relationship with your cow-orker. That’s my last resort. Lying is so much better. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/5 "2017-02-22T21:28:32Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > From a cow-orker. > It would be a gift certificate. > \* > Need answer fast!\* You made a new years resolution to stop getting older. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/6 "2017-02-22T21:28:35Z")
I think if we understand why you don’t want it may be helpful. Is it to a particular store you don’t like? Is it too much money? Does it imply a relationship more intimate than what you’re comfortable with? You can always say, “Thank you” and regift. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/7 "2017-02-22T21:33:07Z")
What is the reason you don’t want it? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/8 "2017-02-22T21:35:53Z")
“Sorry, I’m not comfortable accepting gifts from co-workers.” Make sure you spell it that way rather than cow-orker; that’d be embarrassing. “Oh, I didn’t tell you; the paperwork just came through. To honor a family member who passed recently, I’ve had my date of birth changed to August 17th.” That gives you six months to come up with another answer. If you know what company the gift card is for, get a bunch of BOYCOTT COMPANY stickers and hang them all over your cube. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/9 "2017-02-22T21:45:14Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > What is the reason you don’t want it? I’m with Sunny Daze; I’d like more information. What’s wrong with just accepting it and not using it? If it’s a ‘homemade’ gift certificate then I understand. i.e. “free massage at my house” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/10 "2017-02-22T21:48:40Z")
You have to wash your hair. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/11 "2017-02-22T22:15:57Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I think if we understand why you don’t want it may be helpful. I don’t want to reciprocate and begin a big happy family when most of them are dummies. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/12 "2017-02-22T22:17:40Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > “Sorry, I’m not comfortable accepting gifts from co-workers.” Make sure you spell it that way rather than cow-orker; that’d be embarrassing. > > “Oh, I didn’t tell you; the paperwork just came through. To honor a family member who passed recently, I’ve had my date of birth changed to August 17th.” That gives you six months to come up with another answer. > > If you know what company the gift card is for, get a bunch of BOYCOTT COMPANY stickers and hang them all over your cube. August 17th actually happens to be the best birthday there is. Talk about random! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/13 "2017-02-22T22:42:31Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I don’t want to reciprocate and begin a big happy family when most of them are dummies. So, don’t reciprocate. That’ll end that. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/14 "2017-02-22T23:00:09Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > That’s my last resort. Lying is so much better. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I don’t want to reciprocate and begin a big happy family when most of them are dummies. Ah, I see. Yes, lying would be better. I guess. Although the lie that most closely approximates the truth would be my proposed “I like you, just not in that way.” Where “in that way” means “respect you as a human being, because to me you’re really not.” ETA: Honestly. Just own your disdain. If they’re dummies, why does their opinion of your opinion matter? ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/15 "2017-02-22T23:24:12Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > So, don’t reciprocate. That’ll end that. This is actually the answer, to be honest. But if it’s a situation where everyone pitches in for whosever birthday it is, you might be stuck participating whether you like it or not. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/16 "2017-02-22T23:26:36Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > So, don’t reciprocate. That’ll end that. I should have mentioned at the beginning, some moron put the thermostat for all the offices in hers. I don’t want to annoy her. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/17 "2017-02-22T23:32:18Z")
Accept it and send it to me. PM for address. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/18 "2017-02-23T01:01:48Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I should have mentioned at the beginning, some moron put the thermostat for all the offices in hers. I don’t want to annoy her. Well, if it’s a thermostat thing, you’re stuck. Really. It’s worth the cost to be comfortable. Accept graciously and reciprocate. You just have to worry about how you’ll keep it from spreading to the rest of the gang. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/19 "2017-02-23T01:23:49Z")
Save the gift certificate and give it back to her on her birthday. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508/20 "2017-02-23T01:29:55Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > Save the gift certificate and give it back to her on her birthday. LOL! Great answer !! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508.md?page=2)