# Presents that totally failed **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 9, 2023, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871 "2023-11-09T16:08:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/121 "2023-11-12T08:16:09Z")
I have a friend who literally every single time I went to his house on his coffee table in front of the living room couch was a Blu-ray copy of Ghostbusters 1&2, and it was constantly moving around the coffee table so it looked like it was being well watched. So I got my friend for Christmas a Ghostbusters T-shirt and the 4K blu-ray version of the original film. He looked at the two things and flat out told me “I actually don’t like Ghostbusters that much” and I asked “Why is your Ghostbusters Blu-ray set constantly out then?” And he replied “My girlfriend gave it to me last Christmas and I’ve just been too lazy to put it on my shelf” ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/122 "2023-11-12T10:03:21Z")
I gave my daughter a hope chest when she was a young teen. She hated it! She must have thought I was trying to encourage her to move out or something! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/123 "2023-11-12T13:03:33Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > She must have thought I was trying to encourage her to move out or something! Reminds me of the year my mom gave me luggage. I thought at first I was getting a portable record player (this was late 60s/early 70s) and I admit, I was a bit of a brat about it. But it turned out that once I joined the Navy, that luggage came in handy - I used it till it fell apart! Sorry, Mom. I should have known better… ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/124 "2023-11-12T15:27:45Z")
Serious question: do you remember what kind of chin strap it was? I’m having an awful time finding one that will stay in place through the night when using my CPAP. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/125 "2023-11-12T16:11:53Z")
First Christmas after we got married, my MIL gave flannel nightgowns to me and her two daughters. My youngest SIL was 18, approximately 5’2" and on the thin side. All three of the nightgowns were too small for her. I’ve never worn a nightgown, nor did did either of my SILs. More recently, my MIL got a frozen cherry cheesecake for her son, because that’s what he likes. Nope, that’s not the same as cherry cheese pie, you know, the one that his grandmother made for every holiday and birthday while he was growning up. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/126 "2023-11-12T16:19:16Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > that’s not the same as cherry cheese pie, you know, the one that his grandmother made for every holiday and birthday while he was growning up Have you got a recipe? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/127 "2023-11-12T16:33:43Z")
I bought my brother a bottle of scotch for his 50th birthday. He drank Wild Turkey and I was trying to switch him. He looked at me and smiled and said " You just won’t give up will you". He still has the bottle of scotch, and it is worth about 10 grand right now. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/128 "2023-11-12T16:55:42Z")
That sounds like an excellent present, not a failure at all. Just not excellent in the way you expected. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/129 "2023-11-12T17:32:25Z")
My husband’s grandmother’s super secret recipe came off the back of a can of Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk. [Imperial recipe](https://www.eaglebrand.com/recipe/cherry-dream-pie/) (different name, and I’ve never used lemon zest or whipped topping) [Metric recipe](https://www.eaglebrand.ca/En/Recipes/No-Bake-Cherry-Cheese-Pie) (with the correct name and ingredients, but Canadian 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/130 "2023-11-12T17:48:35Z")
Thanks! – the second recipe actually gave me both metric and USA-type measurements. But either of them would need considerable modification to get something that wouldn’t be too sweet for me. Might play around with it sometime, though. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/131 "2023-11-12T20:10:41Z")
Respironics chin strap on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008MJW18K?psc=1&ref=ppx\_pop\_mob\_b\_asin\_title](https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008MJW18K?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title) ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/132 "2023-11-12T20:31:00Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > Respironics chin strap on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008MJW18K?psc=1&ref=ppx\_pop\_mob\_b\_asin\_title](https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008MJW18K?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title) Awesome, thanks! I just ordered one. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/133 "2023-11-13T04:18:47Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Thanks! > > – the second recipe actually gave me both metric and USA-type measurements. But either of them would need considerable modification to get something that wouldn’t be too sweet for me. Might play around with it sometime, though. The secret to making desserts that aren’t too sweet is to not use sweetened condensed milk in them. Otherwise, you have a steep climb. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/134 "2023-11-13T04:25:46Z")
Yeah, that would have to be part of the “considerable modification”. As would not using the canned cherry pie filling. I can certainly get cherries without the sweetened sauce; but I don’t know if the recipe would even work with unsweetened canned milk. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/135 "2023-11-13T23:40:03Z")
Despite growing up in rural Pennsylvania never had any interest in sports, cars, camping, hunting, or fishing. As a kid I got _alot_ of presents I didn’t want. But I was too polite/shy to say anything so I 'd pretend to be happy and then stuff it on my closet and never use it. My mother eventually figure full of stuff that I never took out of the box and didn’t care if she gave away. Cue several more years of discreetly asking for receipts after every birthday and Christmas so I could return my presents. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/136 "2023-11-14T00:43:54Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > But…added was a stick figure woman on her knees in front of the chair with her head down. I want that! Hell, I’d wear the shirt, too! > [@Aspenglow](#): > > I remember we also had the bears and penguins. Okay, Bunnies and Bears are one thing, but I draw the line at Penguins! That’s Pornithology ---
**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:** [November 14, 2023, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/137 "2023-11-14T00:48:16Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Despite growing up in rural Pennsylvania never had any interest in sports, cars, camping, hunting, or fishing. As a kid I got _alot_ of presents I didn’t want. Growing up near Pittsburgh, one year I was shocked when Santa brought me a pretty powerful Crossman BB gun. My first thought was “no way I’m old enough to have a gun that shatters bottles”, but hey. I was very careful with it. My dad would take me to a dump where we shot bottles. One time he brought a couple bottles of cheap beer. We shook them, then shot them. Very cool! ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/138 "2023-11-14T04:04:04Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > That’s Pornithology They were pretty cute, though. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/139 "2023-11-14T05:25:47Z")
My mom knew I liked old cartoons. She didn’t know I didn’t like _all_ old cartoons. So she gave me a dvd of (I don’t remember for sure) 100 cartoons, all from third rate studios. The worst thing was, after I actually watched some of it, I got the theme song for Little Lulu cartoons as a tenacious ear worm. I would wake up with the song playing. It was horrible. Thanks, Mom. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871/140 "2023-11-14T10:02:19Z")
oh, a gift that keeps on giving ! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presents-that-totally-failed/992871.md?page=8)