# MEAN Christmas presents **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 19, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779 "2011-12-19T23:03:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/41 "2011-12-20T19:01:08Z")
For the past few years, my mother, who is devoutly Catholic, has been giving my brother-in-law (an atheist) books on religion. Usually the “here’s a story of someone who was atheist and then saw the error of his ways!” sort of thing. The first time, he shrugged it off as her being quirky, but after the third or fourth such gift, he got fairly well pissed off about it. We were all going to separately buy Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens books to give to her at this year’s family Christmas party, but for unrelated reasons, the family Christmas party isn’t happening this year. Probably just as well, considering. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/42 "2011-12-20T19:06:04Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If you want to throw rocks, do it openly. That’s kind of my dream for my own office: we have a Christmas party, and I just start throwing rocks at people. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/43 "2011-12-20T19:14:31Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > The meanest Christmas present - remember [this video from a while ago?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK4zCSXA9co) It’s the kid who thought he was getting an XBox, and his asshole family is yukking it up while he is just about in tears, he’s so disappointed. Nice. ☹ My sister once sent me a box full of birthday presents. It was a box that was originally for a boom box. She at least had the sense to write “That’s not what’s in here” on the box. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/44 "2011-12-20T19:21:50Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > That’s kind of my dream for my own office: we have a Christmas party, and I just start throwing rocks at people. And when your action is questioned, just say, “Why not?I don’t live in a glass house!”😛 ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/45 "2011-12-20T19:22:18Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > The meanest Christmas present - remember [this video from a while ago?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK4zCSXA9co) It’s the kid who thought he was getting an XBox, and his asshole family is yukking it up while he is just about in tears, he’s so disappointed. Good god, that’s a heinous thing to do for a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/46 "2011-12-20T19:26:16Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > And isn’t that what the holiday season and families are all about? ☹ Absolutely. It just ain’t Christmas without some family strife… one year my one sister actually flounced out in a huff because the onions in a casserole were cut too big. ---
**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 20, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/47 "2011-12-20T19:32:35Z")
When I was young, 7 or 8 I think, my dad put “snowman poop” in the top of my stocking (little styrofoam pellets in a plastic baggie). It came with a note that had a little rhyme on it… something like, “You’ve been bad this year, so here’s the scoop: all you’re getting is snowman poop!” It was the first thing I opened, and I cried really hard. I still had a lot of other non-poopy presents, but it definitely soured my day. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/48 "2011-12-20T19:33:50Z")
> [@ugly ripe tomato](#): > > Good god, that’s a heinous thing to do for a kid. Yep. But I randomly read some of the comments with that video. Someone recalled that the poster of that video commented that the kid actually DID get his Xbox. But I think the kid was too young and they let it go on for way too long for a “you didn’t get it…wait, you DID get it!” kinda joke. A bit older and a few seconds? Not so bad. That age and for a few minutes? Way past funny. Then again, maybe they really were pricks and didn’t get him the Xbox (though all the other gifts visible in the video and the presence of the Xbox box itself make me think he got it). ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/49 "2011-12-20T19:55:57Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > If she wants to take TP because she doesn’t have time to stop, do it openly. She can tell the boss what she’s doing and ask him to take the cost out of her paycheck or bonus. > [@kayaker](#): > > Yep. I have a zero tolerance for theft policy. Steal from me and you are fired. I have given employees cash in their time of need; theft is something I would never tolerate. Stealing office supplies and/or co-workers’ personal property is one of the biggest causes of workplace stress, it seems. It’s incredibly bad for morale. I don’t know how many threads we’ve had about food thieves, for instance. And I imagine that taking a roll of TP is OK if the taker lets the boss know that s/he’ll be bringing in another roll later on in the week. But apparently this thief has a habit of taking the TP, and it’s not a one time occurrence. I have to wonder what else she’s stealing, and whether or not she steals from her co-workers, or only from the workplace. I enjoy a good Shredder Guy story as much as the next person, but I think that **flatlined** is unusually good natured, as she hasn’t fed him into the shredder. Feet first. The guy steals food and money from EVERYONE he can, and he should have been fired long ago. He’s clearly causing more hassle than he’s worth. And I think that TP lady is probably also a detriment to morale, it’s very aggravating to have to work with a thief, and it can cause other workers to wonder why they are putting forth their best efforts when thieves are allowed to retain their jobs. I think that it’s far better that the woman in the OP gets a wakeup slap in the face, rather than getting fired in a few weeks or months. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/50 "2011-12-20T20:41:37Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > For the past few years, my mother, who is devoutly Catholic, has been giving my brother-in-law (an atheist) books on religion. Usually the “here’s a story of someone who was atheist and then saw the error of his ways!” sort of thing. The first time, he shrugged it off as her being quirky, but after the third or fourth such gift, he got fairly well pissed off about it. I’d try to make sure to open Christmas presents next to a roaring fire. Then with as much sincerity as I could muster I’d say “Oh, Sally, thank you so much for the combustible paper! You really shouldn’t have, but I bet it’s going to burn really nicely.” Toss into the flames and bask in the glow. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/51 "2011-12-20T20:56:30Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > When I was young, 7 or 8 I think, my dad put “snowman poop” in the top of my stocking (little styrofoam pellets in a plastic baggie). It came with a note that had a little rhyme on it… something like, “You’ve been bad this year, so here’s the scoop: all you’re getting is snowman poop!” It was the first thing I opened, and I cried really hard. I still had a lot of other non-poopy presents, but it definitely soured my day. My mother did that once for her coworkers and sisters and brother, only it was mini marshmallows. It was funny for adults, but she’d never be mean enough to do that to a kid. One year my brother got coal candy and he’s still bitter about it. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/52 "2011-12-20T21:58:44Z")
Obligatory Present Face video - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMWTs0YT928](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMWTs0YT928) Thank you for…that. ---
**Author:** ![Laalune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Laalune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laalune)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/53 "2011-12-20T22:01:32Z")
I ran into my old high school chemistry teacher. We talked about the holidays among other things, and she told me what she got for her daughter-in-law: a maternity blouse. Because she had promised to have a kid this year, and it still hasn’t happened. ---
**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 20, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/54 "2011-12-20T22:11:07Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Obligatory Present Face video - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMWTs0YT928](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMWTs0YT928) > > Thank you for…that. Garfunkel and Oates! Love those girls. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/55 "2011-12-20T22:29:58Z")
> [@Laalune](#): > > I ran into my old high school chemistry teacher. We talked about the holidays among other things, and she told me what she got for her daughter-in-law: a maternity blouse. Because she had promised to have a kid this year, and it still hasn’t happened. If I got that there’d be a headline and no need for a trial. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/56 "2011-12-20T22:44:45Z")
> [@Laalune](#): > > I ran into my old high school chemistry teacher. We talked about the holidays among other things, and she told me what she got for her daughter-in-law: a maternity blouse. Because she had promised to have a kid this year, and it still hasn’t happened. OK, THAT is a mean present. Especially if the couple is infertile, and trying so hard that sex is no longer enjoyable, but a chore. ---
**Author:** ![smaje1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@smaje1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaje1)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/57 "2011-12-20T22:50:51Z")
I don’t know if my dad was ever being deliberately mean, but… One year he got my mom a case of some fancy red wine for Christmas. She opened the crate, saw what was inside, and walked out of the room in a huff. Dad was all confused, until my sister and I reminded him that red wine gives Mom migraines, and always has. This is the same dad who in 1989 bought me and sis a VHS rewinder (seriously, a separate machine to rewind a VHS tape) instead of an answering machine, which the family so desperately needed. He thought he was doing good. My husband once received 2 2-liter bottles of soda from his aunt and uncle. They bought all of their Christmas gifts at a gas station. No money problems, they just forgot to buy gifts. So people got oil, cigarettes, soda, and the like. We do a Yankee gift exchange at work, and I was the last one up, and instead of stealing someone else’s gift, I chose to open the last unwrapped gift on the table. My co-workers booed and jeered me because I refused to steal someone’s goft (I think the Yankee gift exchanges are mean and sucky). But I ended up getting a beautiful hand-knit hat and scarf, so I completely lucked out! ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/58 "2011-12-20T23:16:30Z")
Condoms to a person who just broke up with their SO. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/59 "2011-12-20T23:26:18Z")
My cousin was quite overweight and finding clothes was next to impossible (it’s different w/internet these days). My grandmother found three or four nice blouses for Christmas presents and my cousin went to try them on. The first one was fine, the second just didn’t seem quite right, but we couldn’t put our fingers on it. By the third we knew-- they were maternity tops! My cousin burst into tears, everybody wanted to just crawl away and hide. My grandmother had to be restrained from harming herself-- she hadn’t known! My own hatred of gag gifts comes from the Secret Santa gifts my mom got at work one year. Each day she’d get some sex-themed thing in her mail box. My mother wasn’t a prude but she was not the type to appreciate receiving penis candies in a dildo shaped bottle-- at work especially! The rest of the staff figured out who it was and prevented the reveal day finale. I shudder to think what the guy had in mind. Strippers, ‘a massage’? ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779/60 "2011-12-20T23:37:12Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > OK, THAT is a mean present. Especially if the couple is infertile, and trying so hard that sex is no longer enjoyable, but a chore. Or there may have been a pregnancy (that didn’t result in a baby) the MIL never knew about. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mean-christmas-presents/606779.md?page=4)