# Israelie etiquette question--Please help? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 26, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988 "2016-07-26T23:24:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/21 "2016-07-27T13:57:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > “How kind of you! Thanks!” And extra points if you can say that in Hebrew. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/22 "2016-07-27T14:03:21Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > “Israelis have the tendency of over doing with their gifts.” > > I need to meet more Israelis. I think it’s a Middle Eastern thing. I’ve been told by people that when visiting an Arab home in the Middle East, they had to be careful about admiring objects in the home, like a really nice vase or some such thing, because if you were a bit to effusive in your praise of it they’ll wrap it up and try to get you to take it. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/23 "2016-07-27T14:51:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [Cute character](http://israelkids.co.il/images/events/uncle%20chaim%202-1338808585.jpg). I’ll bet the kids are happy. Isn’t that what matters? No. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/24 "2016-07-27T15:14:55Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > This is not the appropriate forum for that. Keep it civil or take it elsewhere. Yet, the OP is appropriate for this forum? These boards get weirder and weirder. Stereotyping an entire group of people as genocidal maniacs is now cool in IMHO and not hate speech. Cool. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/25 "2016-07-27T16:07:20Z")
Yeah, um…the OP characterized this thread as a request Israeli etiquette advice, only to turn around and essentially threaten all Israelis. That strikes me as something that needs to be moderated. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/26 "2016-07-27T16:22:43Z")
They’re not your kids so why is it any of your business to get all bent out of shape? That’s in addition to the fact that getting taught a couple of Hebrew children’s songs is a weird thing to get bent out of shape about in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/27 "2016-07-27T16:22:59Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > …the OP characterized this thread as a request Israeli etiquette advice… Leading me to wonder how is Israeli etiquette different from plain old etiquette? Does the fact that the toys given, and possibly the dear friend who gave them, are from Israel require a different response from if that were not the case? Even without the apparent wish to annihilate said dear friend, that sounds screwy. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/28 "2016-07-27T17:01:53Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I don’t understand the OP. Up until the last sentence it seems like a sincere (if rather dim) question. Then we get the vile comment about nukes and deadly bacteria:confused: Am I misunderstanding something? Why wouldn’t the OP have started this in the Pit? And when is a mod going to move it there so we can all give informed and heartfelt responses? I was wondering if the reference to “nuclear material or flesh-eating bacteria” was just a poor attempt at a joke? ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/29 "2016-07-27T17:26:19Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Why were these gifts or songs inappropriate? The gifts are appropriate in many ways. In my circle of friends, we have a long standing tradition of giving the children in each others’ families presents designed to drive parents or guardians a little crazy. (The other part of the tradition is the adults get high alcohol gifts.) There are now three little kids currently having fun with a what looks like a mutant elephants (and they talk) and singing Hebrew songs in high pitched little kid singing voices. I was hoping some Israeli doper would help out by giving me information of some equally annoying Israeli or American pop culture item that Israeli adults can’t stand that I could bring his kids in a few weeks when we visit. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/30 "2016-07-27T17:34:53Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > They’re not your kids so why is it any of your business to get all bent out of shape? That’s in addition to the fact that getting taught a couple of Hebrew children’s songs is a weird thing to get bent out of shape about in the first place. These kids live in the same house as me. In my culture children are raised in extended families in which other relatives may have more responsibility toward them than the parents. ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/31 "2016-07-27T17:41:28Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > The gifts are appropriate in many ways. In my circle of friends, we have a long standing tradition of giving the children in each others’ families presents designed to drive parents or guardians a little crazy. (The other part of the tradition is the adults get high alcohol gifts.) There are now three little kids currently having fun with a what looks like a mutant elephants (and they talk) and singing Hebrew songs in high pitched little kid singing voices. I was hoping some Israeli doper would help out by giving me information of some equally annoying Israeli or American pop culture item that Israeli adults can’t stand that I could bring his kids in a few weeks when we visit. If you want to escalate immediately to nuclear, then [Barney](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwLLH9EZiqc) is the weapon you seek. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/32 "2016-07-27T17:45:17Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > I was hoping some Israeli doper would help out by giving me information of some equally annoying Israeli or American pop culture item that Israeli adults can’t stand that I could bring his kids in a few weeks when we visit. I’m not Israeli but I’d wonder how long any adult could stand a [Tickle Me Elmo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4x-VW_rCSE). Be sure to give the kids some spare batteries to prolong the agony. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/33 "2016-07-27T18:02:23Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > The gifts are appropriate in many ways. In my circle of friends, we have a long standing tradition of giving the children in each others’ families presents designed to drive parents or guardians a little crazy. (The other part of the tradition is the adults get high alcohol gifts.) There are now three little kids currently having fun with a what looks like a mutant elephants (and they talk) and singing Hebrew songs in high pitched little kid singing voices. I was hoping some Israeli doper would help out by giving me information of some equally annoying Israeli or American pop culture item that Israeli adults can’t stand that I could bring his kids in a few weeks when we visit. I stand corrected. Please accept my apology for having judged your OP unfairly. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/34 "2016-07-27T18:42:21Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I stand corrected. Please accept my apology for having judged your OP unfairly. Yes, me too. I’m glad the conclusion I jumped to was wrong, and I apologize for jumping to it. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/35 "2016-07-27T18:45:38Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Yet, the OP is appropriate for this forum? These boards get weirder and weirder. Stereotyping an entire group of people as genocidal maniacs is now cool in IMHO and not hate speech. Cool. > [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Yeah, um…the OP characterized this thread as a request Israeli etiquette advice, only to turn around and essentially threaten all Israelis. That strikes me as something that needs to be moderated. I imagine you both know the place to comment or complain about moderation isn’t in the thread itself. But to be clear, I didn’t interpret the OP the same way you did, though I understood your reading of it. If you want to discuss the moderation decision, please start an ATMB thread. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/36 "2016-07-27T18:46:27Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > The gifts are appropriate in many ways. In my circle of friends, we have a long standing tradition of giving the children in each others’ families presents designed to drive parents or guardians a little crazy. (The other part of the tradition is the adults get high alcohol gifts.) There are now three little kids currently having fun with a what looks like a mutant elephants (and they talk) and singing Hebrew songs in high pitched little kid singing voices. I was hoping some Israeli doper would help out by giving me information of some equally annoying Israeli or American pop culture item that Israeli adults can’t stand that I could bring his kids in a few weeks when we visit. If you can’t find anything else a drum set is an old stand-by for those circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/37 "2016-07-27T18:53:38Z")
[Peppa Pig Hug & Oink doll](http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=43996946&gclid=Cj0KEQjwt-G8BRDktsvwpPTn1PkBEiQA-MRsBVqX9DxVhMhBA4z2B2mCCmGRZDZijTCbiy8mhiSn_pAaApSO8P8HAQ&camp=PLAPPCG-_-PID19330854%3aTRUS&cagpspn=plat_19330854&eESource=CAPLA_DF%3a43996946%3aTRUS) maybe? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/38 "2016-07-27T19:17:16Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I’m not Israeli but I’d wonder how long any adult could stand a [Tickle Me Elmo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4x-VW_rCSE). Be sure to give the kids some spare batteries to prolong the agony. 😃 I’ll see your Tickle Me Elmo and raise you a [Furby](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Furby&mobileaction=toggle_view_desktop). It even has a mobile app. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/39 "2016-07-27T20:38:50Z")
Get them a lot of arts and crafts sets that involve glitter. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988/40 "2016-07-27T21:43:33Z")
In my family we called this “Parental Harassment Value.” I always found anything with lots of pieces (bonus if they hurt if you step on them barefoot) that are part of a kit that looks really cool when assembled but is just above the kid’s ability scored high. Something like this: > **[KaNEX Thrill Rides aouble Doom Roller Coaster Building Set a891 Pieces a Ages...](https://www.walmart.com/ip/KaNEX-Thrill-Rides-aouble-Doom-Roller-Coaster-Building-Set-a891-Pieces-a-Ages-9-Engineering-Educational-Toy/46605892?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227034248887&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=73611479072&wl4=pla-142863579392&wl5=9016045&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=46605892&wl13=&veh=sem)** > > Buy KaNEX Thrill Rides aouble Doom Roller Coaster Building Set a891 Pieces a Ages 9+ Engineering Educational Toy at Walmart.com [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israelie-etiquette-question-please-help/760988.md?page=3)