How Amazon wishlists have altered the meaning of ChristmasIt's December, meaning I like to discuss and analyze the concept of sharing and maintaining wish lists, as we approach the Christmas holiday. In the past, I've shared some wishlist tips, and discussed Amazon's "universal wishlist" feature. Today I'm eager to discuss arbitrary wish lists, and how we should revert back to sharing these types of lists, instead of predictable Amazon wish lists. (Forgive me for inconsistently referring to such lists as "wish list" sometimes, and "wishlist" other times. For the life of me, I can't decide which one I like better, or which one is more semantically correct.) An "arbitrary wish list" is a term I just made up to describe wish lists that reference items that do not yet have a brand or model. For example, here are some arbitrary wish list items:
All of these items are actual things, but if I were to try and add these things (in their vague form) to my Amazon wishlist, I would not be able to because I'd be forced to choose a brand and model. What if I don't know what brands and models are available? What if I don't care to know? I want my gift giver to figure all that out. As the gift recipient, I've given you enough of a hint by specifying the arbitrary item - it's now the gift givers' job to get creative and find something I may like. Gift giving has become too predictable. The whole point of giving someone a gift for Christmas is to surprise them, by showing that you cared enough to spend time thinking about a gift for them. The old saying, "it's the thought that counts," is not even applicable anymore because we always buy people exactly what they want, after viewing their Amazon wish lists. There's no thought involved with that. These days we just load up our Amazon wish lists with material possessions we believe will make us happy. When we receive the items from our list, it doesn't feel as exciting as getting something unexpected. I mean, you knew it was coming, right? Not only that, but it has become a chore to maintain a wish list, when we should be spending that time finding gifts for others, instead of carefully perfecting exactly what we want on our own lists. Does this not seem backwards to you? I appreciate the technology and efforts made by Amazon to provide shoppers with an easy-to-use interface for maintaining wishlist items, but something's still missing... and that is - the special feeling of what Christmas means. It's not about our own infatuation with the gifts we receive - it's about those who are near us, and have extended themselves in a selfless manner to provide a smile, or little hint of joy, to someone else in the form of a gift - an unexpected gesture of gratitude, admiration, appreciation, or love. In it's simplest form, a "gift" (the true meaning of the word) could never be added to any wish list. Comments/Mentions
# Matt Brundage at 12/25/2009 8:33 am cst
http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2009-12-25/ Looks like Scott Adams has the same idea today. Merry Christmas, Matt. |
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Yeah, things are going downhill. And it's not hyperbole to suggest that in the near future, gift-giving will consist solely of people setting up and scheduling ACH transfers. I can see it now: you enter your friend's birthday and checking account info, and set up an annual transfer. And there will be an option to automatically adjust for inflation.
This already happens, to some extent, in our family. I give my sister a check for her birthday, and for my birthday, she gives me a check for the same amount.