We do this on a forum as the moderation team. I've done it for a few years and have never been disappointed with my gift. We fill in a questionnaire; so we give the other person an idea what to buy. This year, I received some syrups for coffee.
Campaign to phase out Secret Santa
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Originally Posted by Puterkid:
“I remember my mother getting a huge bag of rubber bands as a secret santa present
She was quite upset about it.”
“I remember my mother getting a huge bag of rubber bands as a secret santa present
She was quite upset about it.”
Why? At least they can be useful. Now, if it was a book about slimming...
Originally Posted by Phoenix Lazarus:
“Why? At least they can be useful. Now, if it was a book about slimming...”
“Why? At least they can be useful. Now, if it was a book about slimming...”
Not exactly thoughtful though.
I quite enjoy the one we have in work but I know which person to hope doesn't draw out my name.
It was done when I was on leave this year so I was left with the last name which happened to be my own so a couple of us redid it. A few people said I should have stayed quiet but I know I'd have just spent the money on another race entry otherwise.
It was done when I was on leave this year so I was left with the last name which happened to be my own so a couple of us redid it. A few people said I should have stayed quiet but I know I'd have just spent the money on another race entry otherwise.
Originally Posted by HP.80 Victor:
“What is it about this particular forum that attracts the vast number of socially stunted 'members' who have nothing better to do than whine and moan about other people indulging in a bit of innocent fun?”
“What is it about this particular forum that attracts the vast number of socially stunted 'members' who have nothing better to do than whine and moan about other people indulging in a bit of innocent fun?”
I'm surprised how many people on DS actually make it through the working day considering how much they seem to loathe their work colleagues. You can guarantee that whenever there's a thread about any social interaction in the workplace there'll be a load of posters falling over themselves to proclaim their pride in not participating and telling us how they'd rather not spend any more time with their colleagues than necessary.
As for secret santa, it's a bit of fun. It's not compulsory in our workplace but everyone takes it in the spirit intended and I don't think anyone has opted out so far.
Did secret Santa at my old place and it was quite fun. There was a couple of people who you could buy rude presents for and one year I drew him out which I was delighted at. It was also that year I said quite loudly to most people that I wanted a rude gift having got lip glosses one year and chocolates the next which are nice but I wanted something dirty. The day of the unwrapping came, me and two other ladies had an "unlucky" raffle bag to choose from. The first got a blow job kit, the other got an emergency vibrator and I got a selection box of flavoured lubes. I knew straight away it was the person I'd bought for. I got him a snowman thing from Ann Summers. That year couple of others got rude gifts, probably the funniest time throughout my whole stay at that company.
The following year they made a couple of good friends redundant plus others left. The people who replaced them were incredibly boring. Plus one of them I disliked a lot. It was she who organised the secret Santa that Christmas and said "no rude gifts" and it was to be a generic lucky dip so I decided that I wasn't going to get a nice gift I was going to get a really rubbish one. I found a horrible ornamental fruitbowl in a charity shop, it was quite big and heavy complete with dust still on it. Wrapped it up and warned the two members of staff I still liked not to draw this out. When it was I was pinching myself trying not to laugh, the recipient was a person I wasn't keen on, her face.... 😆 Left the following year
My current work we do have a secret Santa. I'm not doing it this year because we've had quite a few new staff and I wouldn't know what to buy them. Last year I drew out a colleague I got on really well with so I actually got him a nice gift which he was very pleased with
The following year they made a couple of good friends redundant plus others left. The people who replaced them were incredibly boring. Plus one of them I disliked a lot. It was she who organised the secret Santa that Christmas and said "no rude gifts" and it was to be a generic lucky dip so I decided that I wasn't going to get a nice gift I was going to get a really rubbish one. I found a horrible ornamental fruitbowl in a charity shop, it was quite big and heavy complete with dust still on it. Wrapped it up and warned the two members of staff I still liked not to draw this out. When it was I was pinching myself trying not to laugh, the recipient was a person I wasn't keen on, her face.... 😆 Left the following year
My current work we do have a secret Santa. I'm not doing it this year because we've had quite a few new staff and I wouldn't know what to buy them. Last year I drew out a colleague I got on really well with so I actually got him a nice gift which he was very pleased with
We do a more generic version of secret santa - women buy for women, men for men. At the Christmas meal you draw tags out of a hat and attach it to the present you bought. Takes the pressure off having to buy for someone in particular if you don't know them that well.
I was strongly coerced into do this one year. So I got a woman in HR, a English version of the Quran.
Originally Posted by ACU:
“I was strongly coerced into do this one year. So I got a woman in HR, a English version of the Quran.”
“I was strongly coerced into do this one year. So I got a woman in HR, a English version of the Quran.”
What did you get?
Originally Posted by Rich Tea.:
“Multimedia has my full support on loathing for this tacky modern idea. I bet it crossed the Atlantic.
A previous poster said it does no harm, and another person above mentioned the gloves they bought with a lot of thought only to see them left unopened when the intended person was a no show.
Well this happened to my own mum last Christmas. She put a lot of effort in a Secret Santa gift for someone she barely even knew. Come the time he never even showed up to receive his gift and it was tossed aside. My mum was quite hurt by that and insisted on it being given back to her rather than someone else bagging an extra rather nice present. I'd already tried to persuade her last year not to waste her time on it and was proved correct. No more Secret Santa's for her this year or ever again.
I have never done and would never do a Secret Santa myself. If anyone approached me to do so they would be dismissed out of hand. I'm actually a rather generous giver at Christmas and in no way miserly with present giving and thought.
There doesn't need to be a campaign and neither should there be. Let others do as they please. But if people stop doing this then it will die out naturally anyway. Everyone has free choice on it and should not feel intimidated by others and bend to peer pressure to take part.
Secret Santa, just naff....off!”
“Multimedia has my full support on loathing for this tacky modern idea. I bet it crossed the Atlantic.
A previous poster said it does no harm, and another person above mentioned the gloves they bought with a lot of thought only to see them left unopened when the intended person was a no show.
Well this happened to my own mum last Christmas. She put a lot of effort in a Secret Santa gift for someone she barely even knew. Come the time he never even showed up to receive his gift and it was tossed aside. My mum was quite hurt by that and insisted on it being given back to her rather than someone else bagging an extra rather nice present. I'd already tried to persuade her last year not to waste her time on it and was proved correct. No more Secret Santa's for her this year or ever again.
I have never done and would never do a Secret Santa myself. If anyone approached me to do so they would be dismissed out of hand. I'm actually a rather generous giver at Christmas and in no way miserly with present giving and thought.
There doesn't need to be a campaign and neither should there be. Let others do as they please. But if people stop doing this then it will die out naturally anyway. Everyone has free choice on it and should not feel intimidated by others and bend to peer pressure to take part.
Secret Santa, just naff....off!”
Well, no offence to your mum, but she wasn't engaging it in the correct spirit. Secret Santa in the office is supposed to be a bit of fun, not a labour of love, especially for someone you barely know.
I don't mind Secret Santa on two conditions :
I get to choose who I buy for.
I get to know who is buying for me so I can give them a list of things I'd like.
I get to choose who I buy for.
I get to know who is buying for me so I can give them a list of things I'd like.
Originally Posted by malpasc:
“I don't mind Secret Santa on two conditions :
I get to choose who I buy for.
I get to know who is buying for me so I can give them a list of things I'd like.”
“I don't mind Secret Santa on two conditions :
I get to choose who I buy for.
I get to know who is buying for me so I can give them a list of things I'd like.”
Hardly secret santa if you know who is buying for you.
Originally Posted by Tiger Rag:
“Hardly secret santa if you know who is buying for you.”
“Hardly secret santa if you know who is buying for you.
”
Well I'm fussy and hard to buy for so I could give them some guidance
Going back to the OPs original premise, I think you're deluded if you think sticking a simple campaign or petition somewhere on social media is going to affect any change. I'm sure someone will be able to pull some example out somewhere which contradicts this but that'll be the exception and probably because it made the national news. Anything dumped online will just get forgotten about. Usually within a few minutes.
I would never participate but good luck to those that do. If it brings a bit of fun to people then let them do it.
An email just came round our office regarding the Secret Santa.
I said thanks but no thanks.
In all seriousness, it isn't something I really take part in but I wouldn't begrudge others doing it if they want to. Its a bit of fun between colleagues who want to be involved. No harm done.
I said thanks but no thanks.
In all seriousness, it isn't something I really take part in but I wouldn't begrudge others doing it if they want to. Its a bit of fun between colleagues who want to be involved. No harm done.
I have never done Secret Santa. I have always worked for very small companies ... and it has never been brought up. Where I work now I am the only employee - so I'm the one who gets spoilt at Christmas, which is just the way I like it
Originally Posted by Multimedia81:
“Just one disclaimer before I start this. I am happy for anyone who genuinely likes Secret Santa to continue to partake in it.
As you may have gathered from my thread title, I don't like Secret Santa much. It can mean buying a pointless present for someone we hardly know. Alternatively, a thoughtful present goes unacknowledged.
Secret Santa can also dumb down the meaning of Christmas presents coming just from special people. At work I have known people to partake in Secret Santa instead of exchanging Christmas cards.
I am sure plenty of other people do not like Secret Santa, but only partake in it out of a misguided pressure to conform, or even to be a slave to tradition.
I have therefore had a brainwave.
Now that we live in this internet age of Facebook, Twitter, forums etc, why don't those of us who do not agree with Secret Santa say so more often online? Traditions only last as long as people continue them. So, the more momentum there is against Secret Santa, the less it will happen in the medium-term. ”
“Just one disclaimer before I start this. I am happy for anyone who genuinely likes Secret Santa to continue to partake in it.
As you may have gathered from my thread title, I don't like Secret Santa much. It can mean buying a pointless present for someone we hardly know. Alternatively, a thoughtful present goes unacknowledged.
Secret Santa can also dumb down the meaning of Christmas presents coming just from special people. At work I have known people to partake in Secret Santa instead of exchanging Christmas cards.
I am sure plenty of other people do not like Secret Santa, but only partake in it out of a misguided pressure to conform, or even to be a slave to tradition.
I have therefore had a brainwave.
Now that we live in this internet age of Facebook, Twitter, forums etc, why don't those of us who do not agree with Secret Santa say so more often online? Traditions only last as long as people continue them. So, the more momentum there is against Secret Santa, the less it will happen in the medium-term. ”
Like most 'team bonding' exercises, as long as they're entirely voluntarily I see no problem with it. Of course people will say they feel pressure to get involved, but be strong, stand tall and tell them to go to hell.
My old workplace had a Secret Santa scheme that people could take part in if they chose, and not take part in if that was their preference. Neither camp seemed too bothered by what the other was or wasn't doing.
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/...52/332/33d.jpg
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/...52/332/33d.jpg
My, some of you are a bunch of miserable old hum-bugs on here! 
We used to do it at my old work-place and I always found it good fun. Everyone on the team picks out a random name from a hat and then buys a small gift (£5ish) that get handed out at the Xmas lunch.
Most of the gifts tended to be amusing in some way and related to a particular characteristic or hobby of the receiver. Some people were genuinely pleased with their gifts while other gifts provided a good laugh for the whole team.
In some ways I used to look forward to my secret santa gift more than my real presents from family etc as it tended to be a complete surprise and something frivolous and silly rather than the dull samey gifts you normally get as an adult.
We used to do it at my old work-place and I always found it good fun. Everyone on the team picks out a random name from a hat and then buys a small gift (£5ish) that get handed out at the Xmas lunch.
Most of the gifts tended to be amusing in some way and related to a particular characteristic or hobby of the receiver. Some people were genuinely pleased with their gifts while other gifts provided a good laugh for the whole team.
In some ways I used to look forward to my secret santa gift more than my real presents from family etc as it tended to be a complete surprise and something frivolous and silly rather than the dull samey gifts you normally get as an adult.
Used to love doing it, till someone gave me seahorse shaped chocolates. The spend is ten pounds, and you aren't supposed to give sweets. I knew before I opened it, it was shite, and I doubt it cost five pounds, let alone ten.
I love Christmas, but getting those chocolates really put me off doing Secret Santa again. I was told there was "good reason" for getting sweets by the woman who organised it... but I don't recall anyone dying or being admitted to hospital... and see no other good reason to get such shite for my secret gift. It is only ten pounds, but I wish I knew who it was, as the person I got this year got some unwanted perfume (that my mum got last year), and an old DVD. Not very original or exciting, but I refuse to buy anything original for Secret Santa after getting those chocolates.
I love Christmas, but getting those chocolates really put me off doing Secret Santa again. I was told there was "good reason" for getting sweets by the woman who organised it... but I don't recall anyone dying or being admitted to hospital... and see no other good reason to get such shite for my secret gift. It is only ten pounds, but I wish I knew who it was, as the person I got this year got some unwanted perfume (that my mum got last year), and an old DVD. Not very original or exciting, but I refuse to buy anything original for Secret Santa after getting those chocolates.
Originally Posted by The War Doctor:
“Used to love doing it, till someone gave me seahorse shaped chocolates. The spend is ten pounds, and you aren't supposed to give sweets. I knew before I opened it, it was shite, and I doubt it cost five pounds, let alone ten.
I love Christmas, but getting those chocolates really put me off doing Secret Santa again. I was told there was "good reason" for getting sweets by the woman who organised it... but I don't recall anyone dying or being admitted to hospital... and see no other good reason to get such shite for my secret gift. It is only ten pounds, but I wish I knew who it was, as the person I got this year got some unwanted perfume (that my mum got last year), and an old DVD. Not very original or exciting, but I refuse to buy anything original for Secret Santa after getting those chocolates.”
“Used to love doing it, till someone gave me seahorse shaped chocolates. The spend is ten pounds, and you aren't supposed to give sweets. I knew before I opened it, it was shite, and I doubt it cost five pounds, let alone ten.
I love Christmas, but getting those chocolates really put me off doing Secret Santa again. I was told there was "good reason" for getting sweets by the woman who organised it... but I don't recall anyone dying or being admitted to hospital... and see no other good reason to get such shite for my secret gift. It is only ten pounds, but I wish I knew who it was, as the person I got this year got some unwanted perfume (that my mum got last year), and an old DVD. Not very original or exciting, but I refuse to buy anything original for Secret Santa after getting those chocolates.”
So you only give to receive.
Not good, pal - not good.
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