Poll: Christmas Guilt

[Xathos]

Oh God yes.

When I was about 9 or 10 years old, my grandmother gave me a present. I don't even know exactly what it was, but I knew it wasn't something I really cared for. Wasn't a toy or video game or whatever I was really into that year, so to me it felt like a bad gift.

The worst part was, as soon as I looked at it, I immediately said(with my grandmother in the room), that I didn't want it.

Obviously everyone was all 'WTF is wrong with you' and whatnot. I think I can still remember my grandmother's disappointed face when I said that.

Still regret it to this day. Man, I was stupid. =(

Another example was me and my younger sister waking up real early because we were too excited. Naturally the first thing I say we should do is check our stockings. My parents had bought here a prepaid phone that was really only good to make and accept calls. My dad had planned to surprise her by calling the phone and watching her go crazy, since it was her first real phone.

Felt bad about that as well, but not too much. The stockings were basically a 'free look at a gift before everyone wakes up' to us.

But the worst is still the whole grandmother thing.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

See, I don't complain when things don't go perfectly my way.

I also have never experienced remorse and I likely never will.

Isn't that because you said in a previous thread that most of your gifts come from a string of burglaries and unsolved murders?
Just sayin', if you can handle that, I doubt you'd ever feel remorse.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Let me share a story with you. When I was around nine or ten, I really wanted a playstation 2. All my friends had gotten Xboxes or Gamecubes or PS2s for Christmas, and I really wanted one.

I got a Clarinet instead.

I grimaced and made a pretty vile sound after I read this part. I would have been pissed as all hell to.

I've never experienced Christmas gilt myself though.

And yet that Clarinet is still with me. They're built to last. I'm still upset with myself over the argument I had with my mom about it though.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

And yet that Clarinet is still with me. They're built to last. I'm still upset with myself over the argument I had with my mom about it though.

Oh I'm not trying to disparage the clarinet, only that I completely understand why as a kid you would have blown a gasket at the time.

 

[ultrachicken]

I remember one Christmas that I put iTunes gift cards on my list at the very end, thinking that it would be convenient for last minute shoppers or people who just don't want to go through the trouble of finding the nearest electronics store to find me something. Well, every single person got me iTunes gift cards. I was really annoyed at the time, but it was my fault, and I felt like an ass immediately after I calmed down.

 

[SturmDolch]

Nope. I was always a good kid. The only such moment I can think of was for my birthday, when I was going to get an MP3 player from my parents. This was way back when it was considered a big MP3 player for having 128 MB of storage and OMG A RADIO PLAYER!!! It was small and cool. But then my friend got me a gigantic, expensive CD player (discman) that plays MP3 files.

I think my mom ended up talking to his mom and they returned it. But I still felt bad.

 

[pope_of_larry]

not really after i stop believing in Santa my dad more or less just gave me $50 and im happy to get that.

 

[Ebulliant-Hater]

Last Christmas, my mother was acting terribly depressed and was emotionally going down fast. I thought I'd cheer her up by getting her something super special for Christmas, but wanted to keep it a surprise. When the subject came up of if I had gotten her anything for Christmas, I stuck to my guns and said "No" so as not to ruin the surprise. On Christmas eve she killed herself because she thought no one loved her anymore.

Did that make you sad? If so, your clearly an emotional person, as that was a lie. However I did tell that story to my school mates the day before we left on Christmas break and left them all thinking their Christmas' will never be as happy again. So I guess I should feel guilty about that.

 

[WOPR]

*cut because "snip" is over-used*

I kinda do, I feel bad asking for things because I'm so dang poor... and so dang atheist...

But then again, who in the world (the modern world not a third world) considers a white guy asking for a simple $20-$30 in video games and the same in pratical items too much?

You want my wishlist so bad? well here it is

Armored Core 4 ($7 - 360)
Monster Lab ($10 - Wii)
An Umbrella ($20)
A REAL pen for signatures ($10)

Total Price - $47
99% of you out there are getting more then that much in 1 gift alone! or you already have- I believe it's called Blops Reach

But yes I do feel bad about asking for that much (minus the umbrella; I really NEED an umbrella) because they're material possessions I don't need when what I do need is food, and water... and preferably indoor heating!

On the Note of you and your console thing- believe me I've been there when everyone had PS2's and 360's I had a PS1 and a Dreamcast... and today I still have a PS1 and a Dreamcast... But a summer of non-stop work earned me a Wii, and turning 18 and never once being horribly selfish gained me an Xbox

...and getting certificates of completion in 7 different college classes I did in my free time from school earned me the funds to build a beasty (yet single-core) computer for game development

EDIT: Despite all I asked for- I know that all I'm getting is the umbrella and 1 of the 2 games

so next time you feel you got cheated for not getting much; imaging getting $30 and NOTHING ELSE AT ALL

EDIT 2: I also want family for christmas; when it's just you and your mom that you have nothing in common with and she avoids you all year and you have no real friends because you don't "fit in" because A) you don't like to conform and B) your finacial situation reflects in how you dress

well yeah I'm really alone all the time

Also I want my dads head on a platter-
call me evil but he hasn't done anything for me for the past 18 christmases and he's freaking loaded! I'm stuck having top ramen once a day while he's eating lobster twice a week!

...I believe that's enough rambling from me- don't want to depress/annoy everyone that finds my really long edit after edit post

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

I've gotten gifts I wasn't too thrilled about, but I never complained about it. As long as I can remember, I've always regarded gifts as a generous gesture instead of something I'm entitled to. To this day, I still don't expect or ask for gifts on holidays like Christmas, I get them and enjoy them for what they are.

I've had situations I regret, but nothing presents-based or anything beyond sentimental reasons.

So my answer is no, I've not had Christmas Guilt. And considering how easily I let guilt get to me, that's probably a good thing.

EDIT: My problem is I have trouble emoting when I get a present. I'm greatful no matter what it is, but my reaction is almost always acted. I don't know why, I just don't react outwardly how I do internally.
For that reason, I much rather gifts in private, or just giving gifts, but that's just not how things work out on Christmas, is it?

 

[JezebelinHell]

One Christmas my Grandma gave me a sewing box but gave my 2 cousins Barbie dolls. Oh boy, I was not happy. I think she knew me even then because although I do not use it, I still have that sewing box and I am seriously addicted to creating things by sewing, paper piecing, building stuff, fixing things... I always have to be doing/making/fixing something. I still have my Barbies too but the old plastic sewing box means more to me now. I miss my Grandma.

 

[Ebulliant-Hater]

Last Christmas, my mother was acting terribly depressed and was emotionally going down fast. I thought I'd cheer her up by getting her something super special for Christmas, but wanted to keep it a surprise. When the subject came up of if I had gotten her anything for Christmas, I stuck to my guns and said "No" so as not to ruin the surprise. On Christmas eve she killed herself because she thought no one loved her anymore.

Did that make you sad? If so, your clearly an emotional person, as that was a lie. However I did tell that story to my school mates the day before we left on Christmas break and left them all thinking their Christmas' will never be as happy again. So I guess I should feel guilty about that.

What possessed you to do that?

Err... Here's my stats:

Str: 2
Dex: 4
Math: N/A
Judgement: -8
Compassion: 0
Dry Humor: 11

I'd think it was the combination of the dry humor and lack of judgement. Or it could be the math. Yeah, it was probably the math.

 

[Ebulliant-Hater]

Last Christmas, my mother was acting terribly depressed and was emotionally going down fast. I thought I'd cheer her up by getting her something super special for Christmas, but wanted to keep it a surprise. When the subject came up of if I had gotten her anything for Christmas, I stuck to my guns and said "No" so as not to ruin the surprise. On Christmas eve she killed herself because she thought no one loved her anymore.

Did that make you sad? If so, your clearly an emotional person, as that was a lie. However I did tell that story to my school mates the day before we left on Christmas break and left them all thinking their Christmas' will never be as happy again. So I guess I should feel guilty about that.

Jesus, dude!

I'm glad that story's not true, but still, damn.

Your clearly an emotional person. I would have much preferred you'd laugh at that, as laughing at horrible things is much more fun than feeling bad for them.

In the words of the heavy, "Cry, baby! WAAAhahaaa! Charge me docto-AAAAAGH"

Those spies always seem to get me when I'm having the most fun.

To remain on topic and not get a yellow card or whatever the penalty is, yes. It was fake. And I'm afraid I'm not Jesus, although I understand how you could make that assumption.