Clever Cartoon on Robo-Consumerism
Love this cartoon!
My wife’s birthday is today, and, as soon as I finish this post, I’m going to make her a card. “Make?” you ask. Don’t you mean “buy?”
No, I don’t buy cards, ever.
Buying a card is an admission that some sappy fool at Hallmark is better at expressing my feelings than I am. That’s not happening.
Driving out to buy a card is a waste of time, gasoline, and money.
Craig,
Each to his own philosophy. Your wife may prefer a hand made card, or not, I don’t know.
IMHO a gift shouldn’t reflect your values but those of the recipient. After all, the idea is to give pleasure to the person receiving the gift, not an instrument to impose or propagate your own ideology.
I remember when my oldest son was five years old there was a craze for large motorized toy fire engines. These were very detailed and realistic models, that actually lit up and worked with miniature pumps etc.
I bought my son one of these, marveling at how relatively cheap the Japanese factory was able to produce an item which in my childhood would have been prohibitively expensive.
At the same school, my son had a friend who parents were both academics, well paid lecturers at University.
The parents lived in an expensive suburban home but shared somewhat leftist political philosophic interests.
Their small son asked for a fire engine for his birthday just as he had seen several of his schoolmates possessing.
With much excitement, on his birthday he unwrapped his present only to discover his parents had given him a wooden, hand made, abstract depiction of a fire engine. The toy reflected the parents ideology perfectly, but broke the small child’s heart.
At about the same age, I can recall an aged female relative giving me a box of Fortum’s & Masons candy. (a huge luxury in post war Britain)The relative then instructed me to share the gift with others.
My mother was mortified when I solemnly handed back the gift requesting she should have the pleasure of handing them out.
My father defended my action, explaining that once a gift is freely given, it’s hypocritical to dictate how the gift should be used.
But, I guess everyone has different values, I’m sure your wife shares your values and I hope she has a great birthday:)