This is topic Things no one would buy for themselves . . . in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
. . . but apparently buy lots of them as gifts. Judging by the ads, and the fact that they take over store shelves this time of year.

You know what they are. Some of them have been annual returnees for 20 years or so.

The Clapper.
Chia Pets.
Latest Kitchen Gizmo That is Actually Useless at Anything but Gathering Dust.

Who BUYS these things?
 
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
 
A shotglass with 'Tallahassee' on it
 
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
 
Oh! I've always wanted a The Clapper!
 
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
 
quote:
A shotglass with 'Tallahassee' on it
Oh crap, throwin down the gauntlet.
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Dr Strangelove:
Oh! I've always wanted a The Clapper!

Well, did you put it on your What I Want For My Hatrack Holiday Gift post? I don't think you did. [No No]
 
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
 
No, you're right, I didn't. See, it's one of those things you never think about until you see the commercial for it ... and then you never think about it again until someone mentions it.
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
And yet . . .

*cues spooky music*

. . . someone buys them. LOTS of them! [Angst]
 
Posted by libertygirl (Member # 8761) on :
 
What the heck is a clapper?
 
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by libertygirl:
What the heck is a clapper?

::resists urge::
 
Posted by libertygirl (Member # 8761) on :
 
quote:
::resists urge::
[Roll Eyes]

I'm not gonna ask.
 
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
 
Clap On!
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
The Clapper
 
Posted by libertygirl (Member # 8761) on :
 
Ohhh.... like a light turner on thing? Hmm thats cool but yeah I wouldn't buy it. I would totally buy a Chia Pet though : )
 
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
 
When I get my architect's license I'm going to build myself a home with voice activated fittings!
 
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Dr Strangelove:
quote:
A shotglass with 'Tallahassee' on it
Oh crap, throwin down the gauntlet.
[Smile]
 
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
 
quote:
The Clapper.
Niki and I bought one, and it was almost a good purchase.

That is, if it worked as intended. We'd sometimes have to clap 15 times to get the stupid fan to turn on (three clasps) and the light would turn on and off during normal conversation, especially when Niki was talking. If I was moving something around the room, you could count on it turning on and off at least a few times.

And once it turned on during... well, an inappropriate time.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
[ROFL]

*resists urge to talk about lights on/lights off at so-called "inappropriate times"*
 
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
 
I think I'd like the chia herb garden.
 
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by rivka:
. . . but apparently buy lots of them as gifts. Judging by the ads, and the fact that they take over store shelves this time of year.

You know what they are. Some of them have been annual returnees for 20 years or so.

The Clapper.
Chia Pets.
Latest Kitchen Gizmo That is Actually Useless at Anything but Gathering Dust.

Who BUYS these things?

My wife almost had her sister buy me some kind of chia pet-esque thing for my cubicle (grass instead of weird lichen). Fortunately, I was able to talk her out of it (I have a black thumb) and into a CD. CDs are easy gifts as I like many different types of music.

Just don't get me the same CD twice, as my MIL did once. She was gracious enough to return the original and get another, though.

This year has sort of been the year of "Glynn nixing bad gift ideas long before they arrive."
 
Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
 
I rarely buy new clothes for myself. I still have a lot of the clothes I wore in high school, which I graduated from in '01. It makes shopping for me easy for my family at Christmas and for my birthday.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
quote:
I still have a lot of the clothes I wore in high school, which I graduated from in '01.
Me, too! Both the clothes, and when I graduated. [Big Grin] Actually, I have a couple of things from junior high. [Embarrassed]
 
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
I suddenly feel very old.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
*hands TomDavidson a walking cane and a package of Depends* [Taunt]
 
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
 
My mother had a Clapper once and accidentally wired her TV through it. She didn't realize it until a commercial for "The Clapper" came on, and promptly turned her TV off by itself.
 
Posted by Boothby171 (Member # 807) on :
 
Nordic Traks and Tony Robbins tapes...
 
Posted by dab (Member # 7847) on :
 
I have TOTALLY regifted a chia-pet! lol
 
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
A pedicure kit. I can't imagine buying one of those in the pretty basket with the matching popourri for myself, but it works as a gift.
 
Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
 
quote:
Actually, I have a couple of things from junior high.
Yowza. That wouldn't really work so well for me since I put on about 10 inches in HS.

It would be silly-looking indeed.
 
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
 
My father buys this stuff, and gives it out at Christmas. I have more clappers, remote control toys, singing fish, and other junk than I can fit in my room.
 
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
Chia pets annoy me.
Stupid green hair
What the heck has green hair coming out of it? Especially Homer who is BALD.
 
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Dan_raven:
... clappers, ..., singing fish ...

Hey, these two together would make a great gift!

"Here's a little song I-" SLAP OFF!
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Boothby171:
Tony Robbins tapes...

sadly, I know someone who buys these for himself.
 
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by katharina:
A pedicure kit. I can't imagine buying one of those in the pretty basket with the matching popourri for myself, but it works as a gift.

Add to that list scented bath salts, aroma therapy, scented candles, popourri, handmade soaps, wild huckleberry jam (made in Montana), lifesaver books and the cheese and sausage sampler.

Seriously, has anyone ever bought those for themselves.

[ November 27, 2006, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: The Rabbit ]
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
I have bought myself scented candles and potpourri (simply because there are so few of either that don't trigger my allergies), ditto on the bath salts.

As for fancy jams, I buy those (on occasion) because I like them. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
My wife buys scented candles for the apt all the time. She is just a bit happier with them around. We have an electric candle warmer just for that purpose.
 
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
 
I buy myself hand made soaps.

My great aunt in law used to get out gifts from Mr. Popeil. I don't if hubby finally said something but she started sending cash the year after the Ronco Pasta and Sausage maker.
 
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Juxtapose:
I still have a lot of the clothes I wore in high school, which I graduated from in '01.

So do I, except I graduated in '96. (I do buy new clothes, but not all that often.)

--Enigmatic
 
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
quote:
Add to that list scented bath salts, aroma therapy, scented candles, popourri, handmade soaps, wild huckleberry jam (made in Montana), lifesaver books and the cheese and sausage sampler.

Seriously, has anyone ever bought those for themselves.


Yes, actually I've made scented bath salts for myself and bought scented candles. But I'm with you on the sausage and cheese sampler *shudder* and the lifesaver books.
 
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Juxtapose:
I still have a lot of the clothes I wore in high school, which I graduated from in '01.

I still wear a skirt that I wore in high school and I graduated before you were born.
 
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by The Rabbit:
quote:
Originally posted by Juxtapose:
I still have a lot of the clothes I wore in high school, which I graduated from in '01.

I still wear a skirt that I wore in high school and I graduated before you were born.
Don't be so assuming, Juxtapose might have graduated in 01 but was well into the 30's before doing so. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
 
Worst clapper story.

A friend of mine, who was a bachelor at the time (go figure) had a clapper hooked up to his bedroom light.

In the middle of the night he had a bout of indegestion, a tiny bit of gas, but since he was a guy and alone, he let the gas out.

It was so loud it turned the light on.

My friend thought this was so cool, he decided to try to turn the light off the same way.

After several audible attempts he tried very, very, very hard.

He ended up having to wash his sheets instead.
 
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
 
I finally had to get new winter boots a couple years ago because mine from about grade six (let's see... that's 1992) no longer fit. They were perfectly waterproof and warm still, but the lining had worn so thin they were three sizes too big for my adult feet.

I'm still wearing a lot of shirts from around then as pajamas too. That was my enormous t-shirt stage, and they're still all too big.
 
Posted by BaoQingTian (Member # 8775) on :
 
These things make great White Elephant party gifts, especially the chia pets. Maybe that's who buys them all up? Last year at a company Christmas party the Shrek donkey chia pet was the first thing to be snatched up. [Dont Know]
 
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
 
Me to on the high school clothes, although not so many anymore, (mostly due to style) and '92.

Added: Although this is not because I don't buy new clothes. It's because I don't get rid of anything unless it actually rips/wears out.
 
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Belle:
quote:
Add to that list scented bath salts, aroma therapy, scented candles, popourri, handmade soaps, wild huckleberry jam (made in Montana), lifesaver books and the cheese and sausage sampler.

Seriously, has anyone ever bought those for themselves.


Yes, actually I've made scented bath salts for myself and bought scented candles.
I stand corrected. I suppose I'm unduly biased by my own aversion to artificial sents. I tend to find any perfume or cologne that can be smelled at greater than hugging distance to be offensive.
 
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ElJay:
Me to on the high school clothes, although not so many anymore, (mostly due to style) and '92.

Added: Although this is not because I don't buy new clothes. It's because I don't get rid of anything unless it actually rips/wears out.

Yeah, I buy plenty of new clothes too but I really hate throwing things away that aren't warn out. The stuff I still wear are timeless classics like T-shirts and black skirts. I have some wool suits which are quite out of style but I'm saving them because I'm sure they will come back in style before long.

I can't wait until the current fashion of hip hugger pants and tops that show my midriff go out of fashion. Do they actually look good on anyone who hasn't been photo shopped? I have a nice waste but even though I'm very thin, I have a rounded belly. I far prefer clothes that show off my waste over those that emphasis my belly.
 
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
quote:
I stand corrected. I suppose I'm unduly biased by my own aversion to artificial sents. I tend to find any perfume or cologne that can be smelled at greater than hugging distance to be offensive.
You've obviously never used any of MY homemade bath salts. For one thing, I use essential oils, not imitation scents, and usually the only person who smells them is me, or my husband, or anyone else who gets close enough to hug me.
 
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Belle:
quote:
I stand corrected. I suppose I'm unduly biased by my own aversion to artificial sents. I tend to find any perfume or cologne that can be smelled at greater than hugging distance to be offensive.
You've obviously never used any of MY homemade bath salts. For one thing, I use essential oils, not imitation scents, and usually the only person who smells them is me, or my husband, or anyone else who gets close enough to hug me.
Strangely enough, I understand perfectly why people would make homemade bath salts and soaps or even popouri. It sounds fun. I just find it harder to believe that people buy them for themselves.

I do enjoy natural smells like the smell of a fresh cut pine, the scent of an orange peel, the smell of cinnamon or the fragance of a rose. I love the smell of lilacs in the spring. I just haven't ever found a soap or a candle that is anything that's quite like the real thing.

For me, when the air smells of cinnamon and spices, its disappointing to find that its only potpourri and not something tasty to eat or drink.

[ November 27, 2006, 07:08 PM: Message edited by: The Rabbit ]
 
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Dan_raven:
Worst clapper story.

A friend of mine, who was a bachelor at the time (go figure) had a clapper hooked up to his bedroom light.

In the middle of the night he had a bout of indegestion, a tiny bit of gas, but since he was a guy and alone, he let the gas out.

It was so loud it turned the light on.

My friend thought this was so cool, he decided to try to turn the light off the same way.

After several audible attempts he tried very, very, very hard.

He ended up having to wash his sheets instead.

[ROFL]
 
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
 
I've bought scented candles for myself. And once I was visiting a friend and a skunk had done the skunk thing outside the dorm so the whole building smelled bad. He bought a scented candle just to help make the smell go away.
 
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
 
And I bet what he ended up with was a putrid smell of skunk mixed with scented candle. Nothing can cover the smell of skunk.
 
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
 
It wasn't that bad. The skunk smell faded over time while the nice vanilla candle replaced it.
 
Posted by Soundstream (Member # 9869) on :
 
Yet another reason not to buy The Clapper:

Dogs. The Clapper thinks a dog barking is someone clapping really fast, and will turn your TV and lights on/off, on/off, on/off until you disconnect it. This actually happened to my dad when I was a kid, and I thought it was really funny (since it wasn't my TV). I've never seen him move so fast to unplug something. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
 
How about books from the discount table. My darling daughter-in-law got me an F. Scott Fitzgerald "Collected Short Stories" two years ago. Of course I told her it was just what I wanted. So, last year I got a "Complete Short Stories" of Evelyn Waugh. Actually they were kind of good, just dated. They were kind of like Fitzgerald with an English accent. I can hardly wait for Christmas this year!
 
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
I have no clothes from high school. My family moved while I was on my mission and my dad gave away everything that was in my closet. I wore jumpers and skirts for the first two weeks after I came home. If I was lucky, I remembered to take off the badge.

I don't keep clothes at all. There are a few classics I've had for years and one or two memory dresses, but that's all. I have a constantly-moving box to give to goodwill in my closet that gets full about once every three months.

I think it's because I am still moving around a lot. I haven't settled anywhere, so there's every incentive in the world to constantly edit.

I also feel like if you own anything, it costs not only the initial price but the price of maintenance and you lose the space it is taking up. In most cases, I'd rather have the empty space it would be taking up rather than the article of clothing or the thing.

The exceptions are books and jewelry. [Smile]
 


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