I dunno, being gracious is a learned skill.

Definitely this.

Awww, man. Why you gotta rain on my FACE LASER parade like that? Now I feel ripped off.

I beg your pardon. I was totally wrong! THEY ARE LASERS. They are motherfucking face-peeling-off spider-vein-zapping lasers, and you, having been laser-bitten, will soon begin to shoot lasers out of your pores when you are irritated. It will be like Hulking out, only with lasers. Imagine a combo of the Hulk and Cyclops. If you can learn to control your power, you can make a lotta money. I mean, do a lotta good. With great lasers comes great responsibility.

Poor mac. As frustrating as that must be - and I would be tearing my hair out, I am not a patient person - the getting of gifts must be emotionally fraught for him.

Well he is only getting one gift for Birthdays and Christmas for the next few years. ALso I don't engage.

Today is just a pissy mood day so I basically hate everything.

I dunno, being gracious is a learned skill.

Oh, indeed. What's that saying? Act as you would have yourself be? We can sometimes pretend ourselves into being better on the inside.

ION, here's an awesome story and picture: [link]

Ack. Poor Mac. Poor msbelle.

Seriously.

You're a better person than I am if charcoal briquettes aren't on your shopping list this Christmas given that response.

There are certainly more complex issues here than mac learning appreciation.

Sometimes, I think there is so much pressure on how the giver feels and how much appreciation is anticipated and expected. Which, I get is rational and reasonable.

I prefer completely anonymous giving so I don't have to worry about whether or not someone shows me appreciation. Just give and go. It's not up to me to understand whether someone is grateful or disappointed.

Today is just a pissy mood day so I basically hate everything.

Whoo, I'm kinda with you on that, msbelle. Let's run away and join a circus or something.

But with that said, poor mac and poor you. I hope things get easier.

I kind of understand the place Mac's in--suddenly the acquisition of a gift is in his court, he's got this potential, and he doesn't want to screw it up and get something and find out that it isn't as great as he thought it would be. I often got that way when given money as presents. I still suffer from it, when contemplating doing/getting something I think I want, because the actuality is so rarely as cool as the anticipation.

You, having been laser-bitten, will soon begin to shoot lasers out of your pores when you are irritated. It will be like Hulking out, only with lasers.

Uh oh. Everyone in airports had better WATCH OUT. My face might laser you because you are too damn slow, and in my way! Like, always.

I prefer completely anonymous giving so I don't have to worry about whether or not someone shows me appreciation. Just give and go. It's not up to me to understand whether someone is grateful or disappointed.

Yep, this is my feeling exactly. You don't need to deal with the complexities of their feelings about it, and they don't need to deal with any (real or perceived) expectations of thanks or future reciprocation. Better they should get what they need without any emotional baggage attached.