# What Was The Most Tacky Or Tasteless Gift Given To You In Good Faith **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 14, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149 "2010-06-14T16:01:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![drpepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@drpepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drpepper)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/81 "2010-06-15T14:01:26Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > One year I have my brother a cookie jar made of plastic and shaped and painted like a policeman. When you open the lid up, it says: “step away from the cookie jar”. My brother was always fond of “step away from” in real authoritarian voice thingy, and I thought it was funny. Plus, he is super skinny and can eat all the crap he might want to. He doesn’t want to. That, and his compulsive exercising are why he is skinny. Anyway, a few years later the cookie jar had made its way to my Dad’s much older brother, who got tired of it, so Dad brought it to me in a bag on Xmas morning along with gifts and says my Uncle wants me to have it. My brother is sitting right there looking really guilty, so I opened up the top a number of times to get the voice and break the mood. In an incredible coincidence I was watching the ep of the BBC ‘The Office’ last night which featured this very thing (belonging to the Gareth Keenan character). I’m chuckling now, having come across the item again here. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/82 "2010-06-15T14:03:56Z")
My sister the California lesbian sent me a framed photo of the George Washington Bridge. I live 5 miles from the real thing. If I want to see it, a 10 minute bus ride will suffice. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/83 "2010-06-15T14:05:28Z")
Stepmonster Christmas Gift List 1982: (list names per my POV) Stepbrother - wind surfer + accessories Brother - computer + software Me - towel. Now _that’s_ tacky and tasteless… ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/84 "2010-06-15T14:52:15Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Would you ship to the UK? Yes, I’ve shipped to Sweden. It’s a tad pricey, but can be done. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/85 "2010-06-15T15:02:36Z")
> [@MsChilePepper](#): > > There are two different vendors at Pike Place Market in Seattle that do pepper+fruit jams or jellies. One is Woodring Northwest, and the other is Mick’s Peppourri. Both have fab products, although I haven’t seen them do the varieties you mentioned above. Well, I’m glad that’s in Seattle, seeing as how that’s the opposite corner of the country from where I am. I should also say that one of my marketing points is that all the fruit and peppers are grown locally. So the apple-jalepeño mentioned upthread wouldn’t be competition either, really. AFAIK, apples don’t do well down here. But thanks for the tip. That helps the market research considerably. Sorry for the hijack, everybody. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/86 "2010-06-15T15:05:24Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Are you in Michigan? I believe there has been talk among state reps of a “cottage foods” classification for home made goods that will not require a commercial kitchen and inspections for stuff like jerky jams jellies etc etc. A great idea imo. Nope. Florida. No talk in the Legislation of easing up on the commercial kitchen rule down here, but that is a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/87 "2010-06-15T15:16:46Z")
An former girlfriend once got a dickie from her stepmother. I trust I don’t need to explain that one. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/88 "2010-06-15T15:26:39Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > An former girlfriend once got a dickie from her stepmother. > > I trust I don’t need to explain that one. Like the shirt thing? That’s not too weird. I haven’t seen one since I was a kid, but I met someone in my fiancee’s office who said she has a couple of the the faux turtle-neck kind. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/89 "2010-06-15T15:44:39Z")
My… half aunt? (my mom’s half-sister) is of the “dotty old aunt” variety, and I can’t even begin to recount all the awesomeness we’ve gotten from her. But hands down the best was about 5 years ago, she gave my brother a single travel sized, off brand package of Kleenex. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/90 "2010-06-15T15:46:45Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Like the shirt thing? That’s not too weird. I haven’t seen one since I was a kid, but I met someone in my fiancee’s office who said she has a couple of the the faux turtle-neck kind. Please tell me she’s over 60. It just seems like a style that few can relate to. My ex couldn’t like, at all. She had kind of a hippie style. Dickie != hippie. And at the time, I had no idea that such a garment existed. I thought it was ridiculous. And the name! ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/91 "2010-06-15T16:14:05Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Please tell me she’s over 60. > > It just seems like a style that few can relate to. My ex couldn’t like, at all. She had kind of a hippie style. Dickie != hippie. > > And at the time, I had no idea that such a garment existed. I thought it was ridiculous. And the name! I’d guess she’s in her forties. I think she likes the look of turtle necks but gets too hot to layer the long sleeves or something. I remember dickies them from when I was a kid, but I don’t remember _how_ I remember them. I just have vivid memories of hangers with dickies. You’re right though, a dickie for a hippie is not the best pairing. They’re more for the generation of guys who still use sleeve garters. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/92 "2010-06-15T16:45:44Z")
One of my husband’s friends gave us an [eagle clock very much like this (our eagle is facing front on top)](http://clocknook.com/images/29163.jpg) for our wedding present. He’s a very nice guy, and I have no doubt it was intended as a lovely gift; I have since seen his house, and it is very much his taste. It has the place of honour on a bookshelf in our basement. 🙂 My mother and father-in-law are wonderful people, but their taste is also 180º away from ours. Their gifts are also well-intentioned, but I don’t do cutesy and kitschy - she has her whole house decorated like that. I collect nice butterfly ornaments; I don’t, however, tell people this - my idea of a beautiful butterfly ornament and theirs are usually two different things. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/93 "2010-06-15T17:30:27Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > Stepmonster Christmas Gift List 1982: > (list names per my POV) > Stepbrother - wind surfer + accessories > Brother - computer + software > Me - towel. > Now _that’s_ tacky and tasteless… Please. I’d love to have that as a gift. I’d take it up and down the street with me and passerbys would say “now there goes a really hoopy frood. He really knows where his towel is.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/94 "2010-06-15T17:50:09Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Please. I’d love to have that as a gift. I’d take it up and down the street with me and passerbys would say “now there goes a really hoopy frood. He really knows where his towel is.” Plus you can’t really play Superman with a windsurfer. ---
**Author:** ![Fiona\_Greenlee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@Fiona\_Greenlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiona_Greenlee)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/95 "2010-06-15T18:39:47Z")
My mother in law gave us a candy dish and vase that she had stolen from the house during the divorce proceedings, while on my side of the family (separate incident) my godmother gave me a _sizable_ dildo for Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/96 "2010-06-15T18:44:48Z")
> [@](#): > > my godmother gave me a sizable dildo for Christmas This is the bestest thread ever. ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/97 "2010-06-15T18:55:07Z")
> [@Fiona\_Greenlee](#): > > My mother in law gave us a candy dish and vase that she had stolen from the house during the divorce proceedings, while on my side of the family (separate incident) my godmother gave me a _sizable_ dildo for Christmas. On this note, my Grandmother-in-law gave us a sexual positions card game as part of our wedding gift. I was really glad she wasn’t there when we opened it. I am not sure how I would have hid that look. I believe [this](http://www.ripnroll.com/sex-cards.htm)(NSFW) is the one. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/98 "2010-06-16T01:46:01Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > The item wasn’t tacky to begin with but whether or not my SIL gave it to me in good faith or not was never determined. For a long time she felt the need to give everyone a Christmas present, whether they needed it or not. Thoughtful gifts aren’t necessary, just gifts. > > I received a breadmaker. I’m sure it was nice. I never used it though, I’m a celiac. WTF was she thinking? When I asked for the receipt to return it, she claimed she had lost it. I’m actually pretty sure that it was a Black Friday early-bird special that she bought because she could. Then she determined that I could use it because I like to cook. > > But I’m a fricken celiac! No wheat, no rye, no yeast for me. What was she thinking? She obviously wasn’t. > > When we sold the house, I left it, still in the original box, on the kitchen counter with a bow on it. I hope the new homeowners got some use out of it. I is entirely possible that your breadmaker didn’t have the same capabilities as mine. Myine has a setting to make jam, cakes and had about 30 different gluten free recipes in the accompanying recipe book. I pretty much only use my breadmaker to make jam (yay no stirring for me) ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/99 "2010-06-16T04:15:26Z")
I just remembered the strangest gift. My aunt gave me a pair of scissors for christmas. Cheap, regular scissors, not for any particular hobby I might have been into or something special. Just office type scissors. I was 12 years old. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149/100 "2010-06-16T10:23:05Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Please. I’d love to have that as a gift. I’d take it up and down the street with me and passerbys would say “now there goes a really hoopy frood. He really knows where his towel is.” > [@tdn](#): > > Plus you can’t really play Superman with a windsurfer. I _LOVE_ you guys…😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-tacky-or-tasteless-gift-given-to-you-in-good-faith/543149.md?page=6)