Gifting as tool for social interraction...backfiring

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poopylungstuffing
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20 Jan 2009, 9:36 am

Part of the way I interact with people is by giving them things. I might not be privy to their secret language or able to hold a decent conversation with most people, but if they come around frequently enough, they will end up getting things from me. I am a great collector of stuff, and I match stuff to people who i think might like it.
It is the main way that I am able to interact with girls, for example. I give them clothes. It does not make them like me any more..but it is my way of participating and attempting to be "girly"...I guess...

It can be kinda compulsive at times, and I guess might even be regarded as a negative trait.

Anywhoo..When i "gift", it is always with the disclaimer that they don't have to take it if they don't like it. I won't be offended, and it's true. I would prefer that they not take the thing so that I can give it to somebody else.

What I don't understand is when they accept something and say that they like it, and then later on I find it wadded up on the ground somewhere.

I gave an NT acquaintance a colorful paisley vintage cotton top that I thought was really interesting and unique..but too small for me, and just right for her.
She accepted it, and then pretty much immediately discarded it and I found it wadded up on the ground the next day.

I guess I won't be offering her any more clothes, though I know that she generally likes getting clothes from me, and has made off with armfulls in the past.

Then i get to wondering what these girls must think of me in the first place. The only way I really interact with them is thru this dumb gifting habit. How do NTs interprate this kind of thing?



Sola
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20 Jan 2009, 9:52 am

I can relate to this concept of 'giving'......as a way of making a (what I perceive) as a quality connection. I am an artist....and I admit this, too.....that I have worked for days and days on something for someone and when they didn't like it 'that much' I was devasted and decided I would not do any more artwork for them. People don't realize how much time and heart gets put into it....it's not their fault that they didn't happen to like it....but it becomes a case of it 'isn't worth all my time'..........that's all. I used to put *MY ALL* into Christmas gift giving, and I do mean my all....then I realized that basically my hyperfocusing enthusiasm was a waste of time.....so, I take it more casually now. I've given my artwork to 'fundraisers' and really.....it's ok, but it is also a disappointment, because it's a forgotten flash in the pan, for the most part. I have to be philosophical and say......I did the 'right thing' and that's what REALLY matters. If no one appreciates the time I put into it.....that situation just CAN'T be solved. You have to be philosophical about these things. And work on putting them into PERSPECTIVE..........See?



kahlua
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21 Jan 2009, 2:48 am

I would suggest that the recipient didn't like the gift, but was too kind/polite to mention it.

I am wary of people that give gifts/stuff etc. as I feel like they are trying to buy my friendship. Not saying that you are doing that, but just be careful.