Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Always surprising to see X-box, leather jacket, that kind of thing, on these trees. I know: "So don't pick that tag and don't buy that thing." However, the chutpah involved, especially in this economic environment, always gives me pause.

What do you think would be a more appropriate Christmas gift? Gloves? A scarf and hat? A can of Comet? Please enlighten us.

If you are poor and need charity, it is not appropriate to ask for big ticket items. Matter of a fact, it is not appropriate to ask for expensive gift to anyone besides your SO or your parents when you are a kid/teen.

So, if I were a poor person in need of charity and needed a winter coat, I would not ask for a "leather jacket," I would ask for a "x winter jacket" (x being the color of my preference). If I needed shoes, I would ask for a pair of boots, or sneakers or whatever - but I wouldn't ask for "fryer boots." I would never have the balls to ask for a tv or xbox or whatever, unless I specify a "used tv or xbox."

Don't be obtuse pp.

These are kids pp -- how dare kids who have no stream of income, no jobs, and no idea of economics(BECAUSE THEY ARE KIDS!!) have the nerve to ask for stuff they see on TV or in the hands of other kids.
If you do not want to give it, don't. GIVE A 6 YR OLD A GIANT GIFT CARD !

We are not talking about kids here. Which kid would even ask for a "leather jacket?" Or a TV?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We adopt an angel child every year. This year I went a little over board because the little girl only asked for a winter coat and a doll. Something about just wanting a doll hit me, I realized she really has so little if her only wish is a doll.

I do think it's out of hand for kids to ask or expect 600$ xboxes, my kids know better than to ask for gift with that kind of price tag and were well off.

Because you are teaching your kids about economics and the cost of things. IF THE PARENTS ARE PISS POOR WITH MONEY HOW DO YOU EXPECT A 3RD GRADER TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS EXPENSIVE?!!!

I don't expect a 3rd grader to know better but I think the parents who are filling out the forms to receive gifts and holiday assistance should tell them you can not ask for that.

You have no clue what poverty is like. Do you think their parents have time for this. D you understand how many kids are caregivers to their parents.

I grew up with a single mother who did everything she could to keep us off welfare so please don't lecture me about poverty. She worked 3 jobs and a lot of times if wasn't enough - I was an angel tree child which one of the reasons why I now give back. She didn't let me ask for a bike because that wasn't something Santa could bring me. I think a lot of the parents hope to sell the gifts and that's why they let their kids ask for xboxes, iPads and TVs.

Again -- what does that have to do with the kids -- are your now financially well-off but sorta dim in the brain?
Again -- read the emboldened statement! Some poor kids have parents who do not have any financial sense or even common sense (just like NON-POOR KIDS) and they don't teach their kids not to ask for expensive things. So if you don't want to buy it - don't! If it is offensive to you to even see the request -- DON'T DO THE ANGEL TREE!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We adopt an angel child every year. This year I went a little over board because the little girl only asked for a winter coat and a doll. Something about just wanting a doll hit me, I realized she really has so little if her only wish is a doll.

I do think it's out of hand for kids to ask or expect 600$ xboxes, my kids know better than to ask for gift with that kind of price tag and were well off.

Because you are teaching your kids about economics and the cost of things. IF THE PARENTS ARE PISS POOR WITH MONEY HOW DO YOU EXPECT A 3RD GRADER TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS EXPENSIVE?!!!

I don't expect a 3rd grader to know better but I think the parents who are filling out the forms to receive gifts and holiday assistance should tell them you can not ask for that.

You have no clue what poverty is like. Do you think their parents have time for this. D you understand how many kids are caregivers to their parents.

I grew up with a single mother who did everything she could to keep us off welfare so please don't lecture me about poverty. She worked 3 jobs and a lot of times if wasn't enough - I was an angel tree child which one of the reasons why I now give back. She didn't let me ask for a bike because that wasn't something Santa could bring me. I think a lot of the parents hope to sell the gifts and that's why they let their kids ask for xboxes, iPads and TVs.

I adopted a family and one of the kids asked for a bike, which I'm happily providing. Doesnt seem like an unreasonable childhood request at all.

They sell used/refurbished xBoxes, Wii, and Playstations. No reason to get this worked up over some kid's request.

Bah Humbug!! Merry F*cking Christmas to The Poors. Right?! Why not just say it, people. Your attitudes are terrible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We adopt an angel child every year. This year I went a little over board because the little girl only asked for a winter coat and a doll. Something about just wanting a doll hit me, I realized she really has so little if her only wish is a doll.

I do think it's out of hand for kids to ask or expect 600$ xboxes, my kids know better than to ask for gift with that kind of price tag and were well off.

Because you are teaching your kids about economics and the cost of things. IF THE PARENTS ARE PISS POOR WITH MONEY HOW DO YOU EXPECT A 3RD GRADER TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS EXPENSIVE?!!!

I don't expect a 3rd grader to know better but I think the parents who are filling out the forms to receive gifts and holiday assistance should tell them you can not ask for that.

You have no clue what poverty is like. Do you think their parents have time for this. D you understand how many kids are caregivers to their parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We adopt an angel child every year. This year I went a little over board because the little girl only asked for a winter coat and a doll. Something about just wanting a doll hit me, I realized she really has so little if her only wish is a doll.

I do think it's out of hand for kids to ask or expect 600$ xboxes, my kids know better than to ask for gift with that kind of price tag and were well off.

Because you are teaching your kids about economics and the cost of things. IF THE PARENTS ARE PISS POOR WITH MONEY HOW DO YOU EXPECT A 3RD GRADER TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS EXPENSIVE?!!!

I don't expect a 3rd grader to know better but I think the parents who are filling out the forms to receive gifts and holiday assistance should tell them you can not ask for that.

Please refer to the emboldened statement above -- geeeez

Anonymous wrote:We adopt an angel child every year. This year I went a little over board because the little girl only asked for a winter coat and a doll. Something about just wanting a doll hit me, I realized she really has so little if her only wish is a doll.

I do think it's out of hand for kids to ask or expect 600$ xboxes, my kids know better than to ask for gift with that kind of price tag and were well off.

I know someone who worked with children who ended up on these types of trees, helping them make up their wish list, and she had had some interesting stories to tell. There were plenty of kids who just had no idea what they wanted or what to ask for because their families had never been in a position to ask them and indulge their wish. A lot of kids would say "Xbox" (or whatever) because that's what they heard other kids talk about or saw on TV (yes, I know, the horror of poor people having televisions). My friend also said some of the less experienced volunteers would suggest those items to kids who didn't know what to ask for, saying things like "If you could have ANYTHING, what would it be?" Sure, a six-year-old would LOVE to get an Xbox and games, but he would probably also be really, really happy with some Legos and a skateboard.

And, as PP so eloquently put, most children have no earthly idea how much these "big ticket" items cost, nor do they understand that some might not consider it appropriate to ask for such things.

I grew up in a low/working class neighborhood and some of my friends had their "Santa" gifts sold for cash by their parents, or returned to the store for store credit. These were Salvation Army tree gifts (that's what we had in our town). This is why the charities usually advise against expensive electronic gifts or other expensive gifts for children. Even gift cards, like pp's American Girl gift card, can be sold for less than face value for cash.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We adopt an angel child every year. This year I went a little over board because the little girl only asked for a winter coat and a doll. Something about just wanting a doll hit me, I realized she really has so little if her only wish is a doll.

I do think it's out of hand for kids to ask or expect 600$ xboxes, my kids know better than to ask for gift with that kind of price tag and were well off.

Because you are teaching your kids about economics and the cost of things. IF THE PARENTS ARE PISS POOR WITH MONEY HOW DO YOU EXPECT A 3RD GRADER TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS EXPENSIVE?!!!

I don't expect a 3rd grader to know better but I think the parents who are filling out the forms to receive gifts and holiday assistance should tell them you can not ask for that.

Anonymous wrote:We adopt an angel child every year. This year I went a little over board because the little girl only asked for a winter coat and a doll. Something about just wanting a doll hit me, I realized she really has so little if her only wish is a doll.

I do think it's out of hand for kids to ask or expect 600$ xboxes, my kids know better than to ask for gift with that kind of price tag and were well off.

Because you are teaching your kids about economics and the cost of things. IF THE PARENTS ARE PISS POOR WITH MONEY HOW DO YOU EXPECT A 3RD GRADER TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS EXPENSIVE?!!!

Anonymous wrote:"Poor" in the US doesn't mean the same thing as poor in other less developed countries. Poor here get food stamps, free housing and transportation subsidies which all means a lot more money goes to their satellite dishes, purses, cars and clothes. I'm shocked every time I drive past section 8 housing here, they ALL have satellite dishes. I don't even have cable!

I feel the same way every time I drive past Trump Towers and think about how many times the Donald declared bankruptcy and is still rolling in the dough!! Must be nice to write off millions in debt but still have millions to show for it!!

We adopt an angel child every year. This year I went a little over board because the little girl only asked for a winter coat and a doll. Something about just wanting a doll hit me, I realized she really has so little if her only wish is a doll.

I do think it's out of hand for kids to ask or expect 600$ xboxes, my kids know better than to ask for gift with that kind of price tag and were well off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Always surprising to see X-box, leather jacket, that kind of thing, on these trees. I know: "So don't pick that tag and don't buy that thing." However, the chutpah involved, especially in this economic environment, always gives me pause.

What do you think would be a more appropriate Christmas gift? Gloves? A scarf and hat? A can of Comet? Please enlighten us.

If you are poor and need charity, it is not appropriate to ask for big ticket items. Matter of a fact, it is not appropriate to ask for expensive gift to anyone besides your SO or your parents when you are a kid/teen.

So, if I were a poor person in need of charity and needed a winter coat, I would not ask for a "leather jacket," I would ask for a "x winter jacket" (x being the color of my preference). If I needed shoes, I would ask for a pair of boots, or sneakers or whatever - but I wouldn't ask for "fryer boots." I would never have the balls to ask for a tv or xbox or whatever, unless I specify a "used tv or xbox."

Don't be obtuse pp.

These are kids pp -- how dare kids who have no stream of income, no jobs, and no idea of economics(BECAUSE THEY ARE KIDS!!) have the nerve to ask for stuff they see on TV or in the hands of other kids.
If you do not want to give it, don't. GIVE A 6 YR OLD A GIANT GIFT CARD !