Are gift cards good or evil?

[Tonio]

The problem comes when he feels the need to hide his interest in such magazines, because he feels it's wrong or knows she feels that way. Or if he skips the step where he asks for her assistance. If he just goes on to taking care of his own business, is it because she's cold and he knows she won't help? Is it because he's bored with her and doesn't want her "assistance?" These are the problems, not the mere presence of a magazine.

I agree.

solo...unfaithful....

De facto unfaithfulness? Maybe the woman could eliminate her "rival" but cutting off the man's hand.

 

[Hello6]

Good for you. But that really wasn't my question. If you caught your man going solo (if you know what I mean), would you think he was being unfaithful to you, or would it make no difference to you?

I wouldn't think he was being unfaithful unless he was in physical contact with the other woman and had feelings (pity, lust, love) for her.
Sorry to hijack the tread but...........
I will divulge one instance that disturbed me about going solo. My ex husband found porn mags at work (re hab a ship in the shipyard) and would go and masturbate in the bathroom, while he was at work. I was peeved about that. Also, once he used my shave gel to do the deed with himself and I was ticked off because that stuff was expensive.

 

[MJ]

I think gift cards are a PITA. When the kids get them, it means that I have to take them shopping for a gift from the person who's supposed to be giving the gift. It just doesn't seem right to me.

My family always gives my kids giftcards and then they bug the hell out of me wanting to know what the kids bought.

 

[Tonio]

I will divulge one instance that disturbed me about going solo. My ex husband found porn mags at work (re hab a ship in the shipyard) and would go and masturbate in the bathroom, while he was at work.

And he didn't get fired?

Also, once he used my shave gel to do the deed with himself and I was ticked off because that stuff was expensive.

You could have secretly filled the shave gel container with Easy-Off.

 

[Dymphna]

My family always gives my kids giftcards and then they bug the hell out of me wanting to know what the kids bought.

My MIL used to ask me all the time what I'd bought with her gift cards. She never liked the answer, so she stopped asking.

 

[Tonio]

Back to gift cards... We know some people who don't really need or want anything for Christmas. They're simply not materialistic, or they simply buy what they want during the year. Every year, we get stuck trying to be imaginative or thoughtful with gifts for these people. I think a speciality store gift card (like Borders or Michaels) at least shows that you know the person and his or her interests. But it's still not as good as an actual gift item.

 

[Bruzilla]

I don't see why women object to mags like Maxim and Stuff because they have swimsuit models in them. When was the last time you saw a guy on the front of Cosmopolitan? If women can have pictures of bikini-clad women on their magazines, why can't men? You would think that Cosmo would have guys on it, unless all those rumours about growth in the Lesbian population are true.

My problem with gift cards is many stores collect state sales tax on them when you buy them, then collect state sales tax on the same money when you redeem them. So, you're paying tax as the giver and the recipient loses value as the buyer.

 

[Hello6]

And he didn't get fired?

Nope. Told me that "everybody does it". Asked the guys at work and their reaction to that question revealed that I was married to a perverted retard.

 

[Sharon]

I hate giftcards for the obvious reasons...

gift cards are cash that can only be spent in one place. Not only that, but the person with the card obviously wants to use it all up. In order to do that, they either have to spend even more than the value of the card, or they have to be really good at figuring out which items, plus tax, will use up the card.

I received a giftcard before Christmas from an out of town relative. The thought was nice, but I'd have rather just gotten a card with nothing it in. I went to use it up before I stashed it somewhere and forgot about it. At checkout time the cashier didn't know how to run it thru the machine to get it to work. After two tries and holding up a huge line of people, she had to call someone else to get it thru the register. What a PITA.

 

[huntr1]

Ain't nothin' wrong with appreciatin' God's beautiful creations.

Don't leave out DuPont!

 

[vraiblonde]

We know some people who don't really need or want anything for Christmas. They're simply not materialistic, or they simply buy what they want during the year.

That's me! But Larry's mother has an unerring eye for gifts - picks a winner every time and NEVER asks what I want. She gets things that it never occurred to me to want and I love them.

 

[virgovictoria]

I love gift cards! I wish I had a wallet full! They, to me, are like money in the bank. Some are for instant gratification, others are for rainy day use.

One year, I was in overhaul-house mode and one brother had sent a Home Depot or Lowes (you get the point) Gift Card. How convenient! It lasted so many trips. Little things, here and there.

Or random cards - like Target stocking stuffers. Perfect for panty hose here or there. Or, bubble bath, when I need it.

Restaurants - a nice treat! Bookstores! Craft stores! Music/DVD stores! Computer supplies!

Even grocery stores! What if you want to have a little shin dig? Save the gift card, use it then... Like I said, money in the bank.


So, if any of you really hate em, send em my way! I will make good use of them!

 

[huntr1]

There was not really anything that I specifically needed or wanted this year for Christmas, so I told my parents to get me gift cert. from Lowes or Home Depot. Told my inlaws the same thing ( I think ). Want the gift cert. because I am doing home improvement stuff, and can use the G.C. to get the supplies I need, when I need them. My inlaws got me a gas powered leaf blower (the one I had died, and my FIL knew that, but checked with the wife first to make sure I had not bought a replacement) and a G.C. for Home Depot to put towards the basement finishing. My parents bought me a table saw from Home Depot (wife bought me one for my birthday/Christmas 3 years ago) and called to ask the wife if I had one AFTER buying it, so they gave me the saw and reciept for Christmas and I went out the next day and exchanged it for a sawzall and some new toilet seats to replace the cheap ones the builder installed. My parents asked what I wanted for my birthday (on the day AFTER my birthday) and I told them G.C. from H.D. or Lowes, and they said they'd get me Amex. Gift Checks. If you're not going to get me what I want, why bother asking what I want in the first place?

 

[huntr1]

That's me! But Larry's mother has an unerring eye for gifts - picks a winner every time and NEVER asks what I want. She gets things that it never occurred to me to want and I love them.

If there is something I need, I buy it then, I don't wait 6 months for Christmas to come around so someone can get it for me for a gift.

 

[kom526]

Wouldn't a woman be upset that her man is looking at all? Why would the fact that the Maxim models wear bikinis or thongs (versus being completely nude) make a difference?

My wife paid for my first years subscription to Maxim. So I would say that she is not upset at the fact that I look. She would actually become worried if I stopped looking.

 

[SamSpade]

I don't see the concern about them. After all, I'd probably be inclined to give nothing after my gift was so poorly received - I mean, they ARE gifts, right? You're not *owed* anything. Try having a birthday or Christmas or two where everyone *forgot* you - you then realize a *phone call* is gift enough. It's nice to receive a gift that was well thought out, but from some people, it's just nice to know they were thinking of me - most people in the whole world did NOT.

And the truth is, I have most of what I want. No one's gonna buy me the Jag convertible or the Jet skis, and most of the small stuff, I have or buy for myself. With the exception of my wife, who always manages to get me exactly what I want or need, most people get me stuff I won't use much, or have no use for. I can always look over my Christmas "haul" and tell that, out of everything, most of it is stuff that in a month will be in a closet somewhere. Most people DON'T get me that perfect gift. So I learn to appreciate that, even if it is a duplicate of a movie or book I already own, I appreciate it.

 

[Hello6]

I love getting the gift cards too, but I really don't like to give them as a gift. Makes me feel like I didn't put enough effort into the whole gift process.
I want the person to feel like I really know what they need or want. Getting them for me shows that the person knows I really like shopping. Giving me a gift card to Barnes and Nobel ensures that rather than spending any cash they gave me on my vet bills, I actually am able to get something for myself.

 

[huntr1]

My wife paid for my first years subscription to Maxim. So I would say that she is not upset at the fact that I look. She would actually become worried if I stopped looking.

Heck, the wife of a guy I work with pays for his subscription to Playboy.

 

[huntr1]

people get me stuff I won't use much, or have no use for. I can always look over my Christmas "haul" and tell that, out of everything, most of it is stuff that in a month will be in a closet somewhere. Most people DON'T get me that perfect gift.

The L.L. Bean vest my parents gave me for Christmas last year is on the shelf in the closet, still in the box. A couple years ago they bought me one of those L.L. Bean or Eddie Bauer polarfleece 1/2 zip jackets for christmas. In the closet, never been worn.

 

[sleuth]

My wife paid for my first years subscription to Maxim. So I would say that she is not upset at the fact that I look. She would actually become worried if I stopped looking.

The way I look at it...

If you're the wife... and you aren't available either because for some reason the hubby is on travel, or because you're sick, or because you just don't want to that night (men don't understand that)... would you rather have your man tear one off on his own or go out and pick up a hooker on Great Mills?

Bottom line is... if the SO ain't available... for whatever reason... then going solo is what ya gotta do.