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Ask HN: Can we just agree to stop giving Christmas presents?

12 pointsbrntsllvn3y ago11 comments

Giving and receiving Christmas presents is a privilege, but it's also a tremendous waste of time, money and planet.

Can we just stop?

Why?

- My kids expect presents

- Useless tchotchkes end up in the ocean or landfill after all the waste of producing and transporting them

- These things cost money

- Many gifts induce strong cringe

My family has a no Christmas gifts policy, but especially for my kiddos, the (terrible) gifts keep rolling in.

Is this how we show we care about one another?

Aren't we getting duped by every clever marketing person at every e-commerce company everywhere into taking action at this time of year?

Can we just stop?

11 comments

11 comments · 10 top-level

Raed6673y ago· 1 in thread

Every christmas i find myself sharing this: https://www.amherst.edu/media/view/104699/original/christmas...

iknownothow3y ago

That's a very interesting way to look at gift giving! I just bought gifts for my own partner and kid. I'm confident that for every $10 I have spent, they'll only see/perceive/gain $6 of value from it unless they've explicitly asked for a specific gift.

AussieWog933y ago

Come on, mate. I thought this would be a complaint about adults with jobs and lives giving each other middle-class tat out of obligation.

Leave the kiddos out of it. They have an income of, what, $2 per week pocket money? Zero for the littlies. Christmas is one of the two days per year where they get the chance to be spoiled materially, and the rellos get the chance to spoil them.

My little 2 year-old's face lit up like a Christmas tree every time she gets a gift, as does the person giving it to her when they see how happy it makes her.

Oras3y ago

You're looking at the negative sides only. The excitements of my daughter waiting for xmas day to see the presents eliminate the negative points you have mentioned.

I'm sure there are lots of ways to cut your spending on your personal materials throughout the year.

I think the only solution is to write each person an email or letter telling them that you don't want material items from them for christmas, what you want is their commitment to spend time with you, or if not that then a donation to a specific charity. You can ask the person to reciprocate, and if they don't confirm then you'll assume they want material gifts.

I think something like this would be better on a decentralized keybase where you can set personal public policies like gift acceptance.

WheelsAtLarge3y ago

It's wishful thinking. Even if all people decide to stop, companies would revive it in some manner. It is the most profitable yearly period for most retails. They would make sure we get inundated with ads that would revive it and make us feel bad about not giving presents. It here to stay.

yuppie_scum3y ago

Bah humbug.

remram3y ago

You could just not have kids? Think how much more you'd save the planet.

Why put the bar between "have kids" and "make them happy", seems arbitrary.

mensetmanusman3y ago

Print out cards for promise of service.

theCrowing3y ago

Can I inconvenience you because I feel inconvenienced by something that I can just stop myself?

No.

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