QOTW: What did you get for Christmas?

[stevie lee]

Can I be the first to say WTF?

parents have been home shopping, tescos, morrisons they were on offer for 50p each. dad thought it would be funny, because in the past whenever hes brought home a bottle, its 'disappeared' very quickly. so he bought a few to makes sure i dont start tasting his fentimans stash.

[QuorTek]

Bough myself Sourround Sound for my living room.... uh

[Output]

... we gave up presents many years ago. ...

So, instead, we all just decided to treat ourselves if there was something we really wanted, and if there isn't, to just not bother with presents.

That's been my stance as an adult too. If I want something, I'm going to buy it myself when I feel it is at a good price and wouldn't even want someone else to do so (especially if they were charged more than I'd be willing to pay).

I'm not against giving someone else a present if I happen to spot something and think it would make a good one for them though, but it's not something that happens often.

Seeing friends and family is good enough for me, something which this year has obviously emphasised is even more important (but only when it's safe to do so of course).

[LSG501]

Money but to be fair I can't even get anything I'm even remotely interested in right now due stock levels being low and bots/scalpers....

[Korrorra]

Socks and some shirts

[matts-uk]

Santa left a C64 Mini under the tree. Returning to the GOTO and GOSUB of Commodore BASIC 40 years later, makes me wonder how I ever managed to write useful programs back then. I'm going to give Conway's Game of Life a try today.

[Gentle Viking]

I have not been able to buy anything, and a big chunk of what is in my piggy bank now i am afraid i will have to give to the dentist.
But on X-mas evening i got the best things a man like me can get, proof that i am loved and respected, and a lot of good food.
Also a few presents, but nothing worth mentioning.

[nar53]

Malt Whisky & Guinness flavoured crisps

[g8ina]

New set of screwdrivers, more tools, and some Tangram Tables T shirts

[loccothan]

2TB Samsung 860 SSD
Happy Holidays for everyone

[jnutt]

Money to go towards a Ryzen 5600x

[Saracen999]

....

I'm not against giving someone else a present if I happen to spot something and think it would make a good one for them though, but it's not something that happens often.

....

I think it's the rebel in me. I decided years ago that I wasn't getting, or wanting, presents at this time of year. I also decided, separately, that I'm not doing birthdays any more, and made it clear that includes not wanting to be reminded of mine, let alone given anything.

I think it's because I resent the way both are exploited, often using sentimental horsesh...manure, by commercial interests. I mean, I get wishing people a happy birthday, and even sending a message to those I won't physically see, but .... cards? From people I share a house with? Usually both hugely over-priced and excessively naff. Both occasions have turned into, or rather, been turned into, opportunities those commercial interests use to milk us. Please, no.

So, I rebelled. My attitude became "Enough, already".

Two things. Kids are excluded from the above. Let them enjoy getting presents, etc. Adulthood will happen soon enough as it is, anyway.

Second, I'm quite happy to give presents. Just not, under any circumstances, because it's expected, due to the calendar, be it birthday, Christmas or any other commercially exploited event.

I guess it all ties in with my detestation for adverts, which is something I've made no secret of round here, over the years. If a company wants to turn me off, advertise at me. If they want to end up embargoed and blacklisted by me, do it again after I've asked them to cease and desist. My local car dealer found that out about me by doing exactly that, at which point I made clear to them that yes, I was buying a new car and, no, not from them. And why.

I guess this could sound a bit Grinch-like. But not really. I actually like Christmas for the family, and yes, friends elements. But the immense, unrelenting, oppressive and apparently ever-expanding commercial exploitation of it really, really offends me.

Oh, Easter, too. I'm a bit of a choc-aholic. Most of the year. I tend to do an annual choc-withdrawal session, annually, for a few months .... right about the time companies start trying to, metaphorically and literally, shove Easter eggs down my throat. Not what it's about, guys, whether you celebrate it or not.

So, Grinch? Not really. Grumpy Old Man? Yup .... and proud of it.

[azrael-]

No presents this year. Not even a christmas tree. All money went towards buying a house, since we're being evicted from our home after 37 years ...through absolutely no fault of our own.

[h4d3z]

A uwqhd monitor

[fend_oblivion]

Happiness, and that's all that matters at the end of the day

[AndyM2012]

So, it wasn't actually for Xmas, just a coincidence... a 1 TB SSD to replace the annoying HDD in a UK cable TV set-top box. I already had a docking station that does disk clones. No more HDDs in the living room! Yay!