Christmas Gifts' Moral Battle!

Started by Frostweaver December 26th, 2005 8:13 PM
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  • 4 replies

Frostweaver

Ancient + Prehistoric

Age 34
Male
Canada
Seen September 11th, 2016
Posted July 30th, 2016
8,246 posts
19.7 Years
Welcome to the first morality debate that doesn't involve any religious ideas, for once.


Think most of us opened out christmas gifts already? Sometimes we open a present, and we love it dearly, because it's something we want. That's the most ideal case, of course. But what if the present isn't what you want? Or, you unwrap your present, then "it's another box of that same brand of chocolate which I got from auntie ______ and uncle _____ already!" What to do in a situation like this?

Some people will wrap it up again with new wrapping paper, and give it to someone else as a present.

Supporter of this action think that this is not only economical but also environmental. It doesn't put the unwanted present to waste by giving it to someone else who may want it.

Some people argue that this is completely immoral. It is extremely rude as the present represents the love from the one who sent it. It is also disrespectful to the one you are sending the present to, because you're sending stuff you don't want to that person. It feels like you don't care for that person. Worst of all, the same present can be "recycled" back to the original owner, in which case everyone will be embarassed...

So, is it moral or immoral to send a present that you don't want to someone else?

Cherrim

Age 34
she / her
Toronto
Seen 19 Hours Ago
Posted 19 Hours Ago
33,052 posts
20.4 Years
When you give someone a present, you are giving them an item (or otherwise) that, from the moment the gift reaches them, is theirs. Theirs, meaning they can do whatever they want with it. So if that person would like to re-gift it to someone else? Its their item to give, there's nothing wrong with that.

As for something that's been re-gifted...that most certainly does not represent disrespect. On the contrary, it's just like any other gift. The action is not based on the fact that you yourself do not want the gift, but rather on the fact that the person you're sending it to will want the gift. As an example...well, let's use chocolate. If I got chocolate from someone but I didn't want it, I could give it to someone else. Now, if I simply gave someone the chocolate because I had nothing else to give them and completely ignored whether or not they would like it or not, then that's unthoughtful and rude. But if I know the person likes chocolate and I have chocolate to give them, I think that's perfectly fine because, even though it was a gift to you originally, it's yours to decide what to do with and if you want to give it as a thought-out gift, that's fine.

Those are my thoughts on it, anyway. My disorganised thoughts, yes, but thoughts nonetheless. XD;


paired with professor plum.