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Gratitude is So Old Fashioned
Isn't "old fashioned" a part of what AoM is all about? Etiquette, manners, social skills, possibly even values. There have been some good discussions and posts about gratitude, so I'll bring up one more just in time for Thanksgiving.
I am proud of being "old fashioned" in many ways. This evening, I went to the store to buy a Thank You card. After playing dodge-em with rude "modern" people, I finally found the card section at the store. Then I had to dodge some more rude "modern" people until I could find the paltry selection. And the selection was not in one area, but scattered, so I had to hunt. (You know... if you want a good card, ask Helen Hunt. That's right, if you want a good card, go to Helen Hunt for it.)
Eventually, I found a card that was acceptable in my view to send to a man. It's amazing that there are so few Thank You cards in the first place. Worse, most of them are sappy or female-oriented. (How about AoM starting a greeting card line, so we don't have to deal with tacky or feminine cards? So many greeting cards are along the lines of, "Happy Birthday, now get naked", or insulting. Or both.) Anyway, does the lack of decent Thank You cards mean that men are expected to be ingrates? Not this little gray duck.
Does anyone else buy Thank You cards, or make them on their computer? Or is a verbal, textual or e-mail acknowledgment sufficient for you?
I am proud of being "old fashioned" in many ways. This evening, I went to the store to buy a Thank You card. After playing dodge-em with rude "modern" people, I finally found the card section at the store. Then I had to dodge some more rude "modern" people until I could find the paltry selection. And the selection was not in one area, but scattered, so I had to hunt. (You know... if you want a good card, ask Helen Hunt. That's right, if you want a good card, go to Helen Hunt for it.)
Eventually, I found a card that was acceptable in my view to send to a man. It's amazing that there are so few Thank You cards in the first place. Worse, most of them are sappy or female-oriented. (How about AoM starting a greeting card line, so we don't have to deal with tacky or feminine cards? So many greeting cards are along the lines of, "Happy Birthday, now get naked", or insulting. Or both.) Anyway, does the lack of decent Thank You cards mean that men are expected to be ingrates? Not this little gray duck.
Does anyone else buy Thank You cards, or make them on their computer? Or is a verbal, textual or e-mail acknowledgment sufficient for you?
Tags: Old Fashioned, gratitude
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Deanna McGuire on -
My husband and I are both verbal rather than cards about gratitude.
I'd say the fact you can only find mostly feminine or gushy cards is because it does tend to be something the women generally handle. I'm not implying that's the way it should be in the least.... but fits in nicely with a conversation I'm having with a gentleman under the Great Debate (sigh... I'll leave that one alone).
However, I think it's great that you show your gratitude no matter how you choose to do it. I see nothing innately feminine at all about you buying a card to show your gratitude. Good for you.
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Permalink Reply by Yankee Cowboy Bob on -
I like that idea. The card that I found in the greeting card aisle was blank inside (the others were embarrassing, or too simplistic; I can be simplistic by myself), but it took some effort.
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Permalink Reply by Yankee Cowboy Bob on
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Depends on shipping. Also, are you thankful enough to give gusto, or fine scotch?
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Permalink Reply by Nicholas C. Jostmeyer on -
That or a steak. I'll gladly accept steak as a Thank You.
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Permalink Reply by Yankee Cowboy Bob on
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Permalink Reply by LShieldes on
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I don't do the whole card thing anyway. Wait, let me rephrase, I don't do it on my own, she insists though. Personally, I hate cards and find them to be a huge waste of money and resources.
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Permalink Reply by Yankee Cowboy Bob on
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So, a simple text message or e-mail is sufficient to show your gratitude, if you show it? I like Nathan and Ray's ideas because a physical sign of gratitude is classy, text is tacky.
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When did I say text? I prefer to do anything and everything in person, or at least via voice(phone). I want two way interaction.
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Permalink Reply by Yankee Cowboy Bob on
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Thanks for clarifying. I was hoping people did not accept the idea of routinely using text messages and the like. In the case of gratitude, I like doing it in person whenever possible.
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Permalink Reply by Todd Green on -
I too like to thank others, but I normally do it via email, or in person. I do not choose to do it this way because I'm cheap or lazy (although my wife accuses me of both). I do it because I know that I prefer to not be given a thank you note. Do I throw it away after reading it? Do I do like my wife and save them for years only to have them stacked in drawers? I prefer a personal thank you or email.
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Permalink Reply by Nicholas C. Jostmeyer on
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I'm in the same boat. I get a Thank You card, I read it, and into the circle file it goes.
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Permalink Reply by Benjamin James Farr on -
If i have the time i like to go and buy cards because i feel that it is more personel compared to sending a e-card.
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