The guy in me both hates and loves this concept of a gift registry. I hate it because it takes away from all the spontaneity. I love it because it takes no thought. Here are the reasons for both:
Hate it: 1) A gift registry is like saying, ‘These are the approved gifts, we weeded out all the crappy ones, so these are the authorized gifts for our special occasion.’ 2) You will never remember who got you what. The item loses some of its sentimental value. 3) What if someone has a great gift idea and it is not on the list, should they risk giving a gift that you didn’t want?
Can giving a gift get any more impersonal? The next thing you know the gift registry will assign who gives what! Why don’t you put $50.00 on the registry and make someone give that to you. What do you say when they open the gift? You can’t say ‘surprise.’
Love it: 1) It takes no effort. In and out in 5 minutes. 2) I know the minimum I can spend, and still look like a good guest. 3) If I buy something on their registry then, when I have the chance to use a gift registry, they feel compelled to buy something on my registry. Here is the pay-off. All my items are at least $50.00. [The great thing is you know where they bought it, so you can return it. They spend fifty dollars, and you can return it and get something cheaper.]
You can even look up the gift registry on the internet, so you don’t have to waste time going to a boring party. You order it on the internet and have it sent to their house with a note that says, ‘Sorry I didn’t make it to the [insert party name], but I hope you enjoy this [insert the cheapest item on their gift registry].’
