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Reading the local paper today, I ran across Storage rentals become 'Santa closets' (the link is to a different paper, but the article is the same).
This is the first two paragraphs:
Missy Phillips knew she had a big problem on her hands when her boyfriend's 18-year-old son ransacked their house looking for the stash of unwrapped Christmas presents.
To keep the nosy teenager from finding the stereo, video games and hunting bow she and her boyfriend bought him, Phillips had to go out of the house _ and into a self-storage unit _ to hide the gifts until Christmas Eve.
Lets get this straight. This 18-year-old young man ransacked the house to see his gifts early, and this woman's response is to hide the gifts? Huh? I must have missed the memo that says that such behavior is acceptable and that is the responsibility of the gift-giver to make sure the surprise isn't spoiled.
I can understand this if the kid was 4 or 8 or 10 (maybe), but 18? I so don't think so. The fact that he went through my private areas in the house -- my bedroom, my closets -- looking for things I'm giving him because I love him would be intolerable. Hell, he'd be lucky if he got coal for Christmas, because I'd certainly be returning everything else.
If an 18-year-old can't be trusted on such a simple and elementary level of respecting privacy and controlling curiosity, what chance does he have out in the real world? Will he look through his co-worker's desks to find out what they get paid or what they are working on? Will he read break in and read the bosses emails because he wants to get a jump on the others in the office? Will he read his girlfriend's mail just to be sure she's behaving in the way he wants her to?
A friend sent us a box of gifts for Christmas. I was told that some are unwrapped, so the box is sitting, just as it is under the tree right now. I know that Myria won't open it. We went shopping and Myr bought me a gift. It was put in a brown paper bag and just folded over -- not taped or stapled in any way. I helped carry that bag from the store to the car to the house, and I know it's now just setting in her room waiting to be wrapped. Why would I disrespect her so much as to look at that before she is willing to give it to me? More importantly, why would she accept -- or worse, expect -- such disrespect from me?
I really hope that the family in this article is an aberration, because if such behavior is seen as the norm, we're really in trouble.
This is the first two paragraphs:
Missy Phillips knew she had a big problem on her hands when her boyfriend's 18-year-old son ransacked their house looking for the stash of unwrapped Christmas presents.
To keep the nosy teenager from finding the stereo, video games and hunting bow she and her boyfriend bought him, Phillips had to go out of the house _ and into a self-storage unit _ to hide the gifts until Christmas Eve.
Lets get this straight. This 18-year-old young man ransacked the house to see his gifts early, and this woman's response is to hide the gifts? Huh? I must have missed the memo that says that such behavior is acceptable and that is the responsibility of the gift-giver to make sure the surprise isn't spoiled.
I can understand this if the kid was 4 or 8 or 10 (maybe), but 18? I so don't think so. The fact that he went through my private areas in the house -- my bedroom, my closets -- looking for things I'm giving him because I love him would be intolerable. Hell, he'd be lucky if he got coal for Christmas, because I'd certainly be returning everything else.
If an 18-year-old can't be trusted on such a simple and elementary level of respecting privacy and controlling curiosity, what chance does he have out in the real world? Will he look through his co-worker's desks to find out what they get paid or what they are working on? Will he read break in and read the bosses emails because he wants to get a jump on the others in the office? Will he read his girlfriend's mail just to be sure she's behaving in the way he wants her to?
A friend sent us a box of gifts for Christmas. I was told that some are unwrapped, so the box is sitting, just as it is under the tree right now. I know that Myria won't open it. We went shopping and Myr bought me a gift. It was put in a brown paper bag and just folded over -- not taped or stapled in any way. I helped carry that bag from the store to the car to the house, and I know it's now just setting in her room waiting to be wrapped. Why would I disrespect her so much as to look at that before she is willing to give it to me? More importantly, why would she accept -- or worse, expect -- such disrespect from me?
I really hope that the family in this article is an aberration, because if such behavior is seen as the norm, we're really in trouble.
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no subject
Date: 2006-12-20 05:03 pm (UTC)From:Our radio station reported last week that a 13 year old boy was arrested by police after his mother filed charges of petty larcony against him when he opened and hooked up his new Playstation.
Gotta love south Jersey.
:-)
no subject
Date: 2006-12-21 03:15 am (UTC)From:The world is weird.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-21 03:19 am (UTC)From:But if the kid was getting that out of control, I bet it scared the crap out of him enough where he wouldn't try anything like it again.
And once he's 18 his record will be wiped.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-20 05:15 pm (UTC)From:As for the kid you reference, OMG!! What does an 18-year-old need with *that* many gifts anyway? Do people not budget anymore? Sheesh! In what world is it acceptable to rent storage space to store gifts? I'm particularly bothered by the word "ransacked", which carries very strong overtones of destruction and disorder. A little harmless snooping and peeking is one thing, destruction means extra chores, coal in the stocking, and the gifts get returned to the store or given away to someone else who would truly appreciate the *gift*.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-21 03:20 am (UTC)From:Since I know the price of hunting bows, it amazes me he got anything else. And I doubt the kids ability to be responsible enough to own a hunting bow.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-21 02:10 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-12-21 03:22 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-12-21 08:43 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-12-21 08:49 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-12-22 12:16 am (UTC)From:Well, at least it shows that we haven't opened the box...
*hugs*