Anonymous wrote:Be offended if you like but I would have no issues if my SISTER asked me this. She is your closest family.

Anonymous wrote:So I’ll be a contrarian here. Generationally, each younger generation moves further away from the social norms of the older ones. What is or isn’t tacky is basically a fear of being excluded from a higher class. Being of high class or perceived as high class for the silent generation had more consequences. Those consequences being shunned, not being able to marry well, no business opportunities, no income, starvation etc are no longer in play.

Boomers and GenX who want to be perceived as high class still cling to the norms and fear being called tacky. Millennials less so and Gen Z DAGF about it. So yes the norms are changing.

My guess is that the graduating kid and parent really don’t want a ton of junk or memorable gifts. They don’t want something that they have to donate or return or pretend to treasure. As a GenX , I remember paring things down a few years ago when we moved. So many keepsake gifts from relatives that I felt obligated to keep but neither needed or wanted. Being a good GenX, I put them all in a box and lugged them around for 30 years. So while you may imagine, the recipient using that $300 pen as they sign big deals, carrying the Mark Cross briefcase into court, or wearing the cutesy Tiffany necklace when they get engaged..it’s really just going into a box in the attic.

I admire GenZ for prioritizing experiences over material items, diversity and inclusion over classism, and being willing to stop doing things just because the older generations did them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I’ll be a contrarian here. Generationally, each younger generation moves further away from the social norms of the older ones. What is or isn’t tacky is basically a fear of being excluded from a higher class. Being of high class or perceived as high class for the silent generation had more consequences. Those consequences being shunned, not being able to marry well, no business opportunities, no income, starvation etc are no longer in play.

Boomers and GenX who want to be perceived as high class still cling to the norms and fear being called tacky. Millennials less so and Gen Z DAGF about it. So yes the norms are changing.

My guess is that the graduating kid and parent really don’t want a ton of junk or memorable gifts. They don’t want something that they have to donate or return or pretend to treasure. As a GenX , I remember paring things down a few years ago when we moved. So many keepsake gifts from relatives that I felt obligated to keep but neither needed or wanted. Being a good GenX, I put them all in a box and lugged them around for 30 years. So while you may imagine, the recipient using that $300 pen as they sign big deals, carrying the Mark Cross briefcase into court, or wearing the cutesy Tiffany necklace when they get engaged..it’s really just going into a box in the attic.

I admire GenZ for prioritizing experiences over material items, diversity and inclusion over classism, and being willing to stop doing things just because the older generations did them.

Valuing experiences is all fine and dandy. Which is why if they are going to ask for money they should offer the experience of a graduation party.

Anonymous wrote:So I’ll be a contrarian here. Generationally, each younger generation moves further away from the social norms of the older ones. What is or isn’t tacky is basically a fear of being excluded from a higher class. Being of high class or perceived as high class for the silent generation had more consequences. Those consequences being shunned, not being able to marry well, no business opportunities, no income, starvation etc are no longer in play.

Boomers and GenX who want to be perceived as high class still cling to the norms and fear being called tacky. Millennials less so and Gen Z DAGF about it. So yes the norms are changing.

My guess is that the graduating kid and parent really don’t want a ton of junk or memorable gifts. They don’t want something that they have to donate or return or pretend to treasure. As a GenX , I remember paring things down a few years ago when we moved. So many keepsake gifts from relatives that I felt obligated to keep but neither needed or wanted. Being a good GenX, I put them all in a box and lugged them around for 30 years. So while you may imagine, the recipient using that $300 pen as they sign big deals, carrying the Mark Cross briefcase into court, or wearing the cutesy Tiffany necklace when they get engaged..it’s really just going into a box in the attic.

I admire GenZ for prioritizing experiences over material items, diversity and inclusion over classism, and being willing to stop doing things just because the older generations did them.

Anonymous wrote:It’s so tacky and yet so convenient for me as the gift giver.😂