Maggie posted about the crassness of the concept of “a greenbacks party” on her blog. I’d never heard of such a thing, and I agree with her reaction and with the comments my friends have made thus far.
A greenbacks party is a good way to tell me “please don’t come to my child’s party.”
A gift is supposed to please two people: the giver and the recipient. Telling someone to give you money takes away the enjoyment of the giver. That’s why it’s tacky, because taking away someone’s fun is rude.
Unless someone has asked for a suggestion, it’s never appropriate for an adult to tell people what you or your child wants for a gift. If you’re a kid and you’re asking your parents, you’re in the clear. If you’re making a list so that interested parties can figure out your interests, that’s fine.
With a gift, there is a risk the recipient won’t like it. Oh well! For a child, this means being exposed to something that, perhaps, wasn’t a desire that was placed into his head by some marketing drone who scripts commercials. Just because a child doesn’t want something doesn’t make it a bad gift, except perhaps if you live in the world of Willy Wonka children.
If a child has never (or has rarely) known what it is like to get something he asked for or wants for his birthday, I can certainly see a parent asking another adult for assistance in making a birthday wish come true. But if you’re asking for a greenbacks party because you’re going to Florida, that probably isn’t your child.
Posted by James at May 24, 2007 9:53 PM