Would this Christmas "gift" be rude?

[Deleted]

what? this is oil painting guy? that gift was an extension of his narcissism.


i was raised catholic and have left the church. my mom is still religious. i get her funny gifts like "holy toast!" (look it up) because we joke like that, and i think you could perhaps do the same here. but that book is you taking a dig the way they took a dig. don't roll in the mud with pigs.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2013 14:25:12 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

I'd get him Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?. Man, I loved that book.

What is that? I haven't heard of it.
 
I suppose I could google but im lazy.

[thebreakfastclub]

How about something nice from the Hickory Farms kiosk instead?

They were rude for sure, but this is nothing but a losing proposition.

[Wrath0fKuus]

As an aside, weren't those gold best friends necklaces the best mirrors ever for spending church looking at boys?

[sharknado]

Two wrongs don't make a right.

[Jermys]

Hoooo boy. I totally get the impulse, but don't do it. They won't think it's funny.

It would be different if it came from your husband. They have to love him.

[Alyssa]

I think their original gift was in poor taste...what message were they exactly sending to you?  I wouldn't go down to their level and dish it back....seems sort of immature.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2013 14:36:57 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

A book about growing up Catholic on the south side of Chicago. It's awesome.

www.amazon.com/Patent-Leather-Really-Reflect-Classics/dp/0829421432

It does have good reviews......

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2013 14:51:20 GMT -5 Jermys said:

Hoooo boy. I totally get the impulse, but don't do it. They won't think it's funny.

It would be different if it came from your husband. They have to love him.

I will see if DH wants to gift it, but I do think, like others have said, they wouldnt find it funny so i probably will find a less condescending book to give. There have been a few recs in this thread I'm going to consider.

Oh, religion and holidays. Always so much fun

[Deleted]

You know, what i should REALLY gift them is a framed oil painting of myself.

[Jermys]

Ugh, religion and holidays are why I dread spending time with my fundie brother and his fundie wife. My super-Catholic ILs are so accepting and loving, which makes spending time with my brother and SIL just...bleh. If I have to hear nasty gossip about someone ending with the phrase "She just needs JESUS IN HER LIFE!" one more time, my head might explode.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2013 12:53:57 GMT -5 bbdoll said:

I think if they can dish it out, they should be able to take it. I'd do it, especially since your DH is on board.

This is how I feel too.  I would find it funny, that said MIL wouldn't.  It isn't worth a life long grudge to me if you aren't 100% sure that they will get a kick out of the ribbing.

[FastHands]

Dec 11, 2013 14:58:33 GMT -5 @lauriergirl28 said:

Dec 11, 2013 14:51:20 GMT -5 Jermys said:

Hoooo boy. I totally get the impulse, but don't do it. They won't think it's funny.

It would be different if it came from your husband. They have to love him.

I will see if DH wants to gift it, but I do think, like others have said, they wouldnt find it funny so i probably will find a less condescending book to give. There have been a few recs in this thread I'm going to consider.

Oh, religion and holidays. Always so much fun

I don't understand why you can't buy them something that has nothing to do with religion. You've already gotten enough enjoyment by thinking "HAHA how funny would it be if we got them Dawkins's God Delusion?!"  Move on. Stop trading barbs.

[Deleted]

Even if they could laugh it off, they wouldn't read it. Kind of a waste.

[bonquiqui]

Dec 11, 2013 13:21:59 GMT -5 @lauriergirl28 said:

Dec 11, 2013 13:00:37 GMT -5 pedanticwench said:

Do they know you're an atheist?

Yes. 100%. 

We've had conversations about what led me to being an atheist and why my FIL joined the Catholic church (he wasn't raised Catholic).

They knew I was an atheist and bought me the book "Proof of Heaven".

I will probably NOT get them the book based on the responses, I'm just not sure how their gift could be considered acceptable and mine rude. Does that make sense?

This is the same FIL who has a massive framed oil painting of HIMSELF (not the wife and kid) over the fireplace

It is not a matter of theirs not being rude.  Their gift was rude.  I think people are just saying, don't be an asshole back.

[snickers]

I wouldn't, but I can see why you would want to, lol.

[sonrisa]

I haven't read any responses. I say funny if it comes from your husband with a handwritten note tucked inside talking about how much you had enjoyed "Proof of Heaven" and he thought they might like this. But only if you genuinely like "The God Delusion," think they might find it as interesting as you found Proof of Heaven and aren't just giving it to them in a tit for tat kind of way.

ETA: Okay. My in laws are (and were) very much the "let's have a thoughtful argument" types so I could see trading such books with them. It doesn't sound like you have that relationship with yours. I second the nuns having fun calendar.

[BunnyMacDougal]

Here's my take. If your H is on board, I wouldn't think they'd be mad or offended. But I do think they wouldn't be as amused as you expect. I suspect they'd even act gracious (again, based on your H's recommendation that you do it). Maybe they'd laugh and it would be fun. But a book like that is not anything they'll likely read and find enlightening or funny. It would just simply be a quick laugh and then trash. I'm not articulating this very well. At the very least it would be totally money wasted. Like buying them pink, scratchy toilet paper or something. Funny, yes. The impression I'd want to make? No.

[kirra]

Their giving you the book was rude. Your giving them this book would also be rude.

I would be very tempted. If it were the only gift they got you, I would be even more tempted.

But unless you plan on cutting them out of your lives (which is always an option), I wouldn't do it. While people should be able to take what they dish out, it doesn't usually work that way. I try to avoid family feuds whenever possible.

[lemon]

Don't do it.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2013 13:21:59 GMT -5 @lauriergirl28 said:

Dec 11, 2013 13:00:37 GMT -5 pedanticwench said:

Do they know you're an atheist?

Yes. 100%. 

We've had conversations about what led me to being an atheist and why my FIL joined the Catholic church (he wasn't raised Catholic).

They knew I was an atheist and bought me the book "Proof of Heaven".

I will probably NOT get them the book based on the responses, I'm just not sure how their gift could be considered acceptable and mine rude. Does that make sense?

This is the same FIL who has a massive framed oil painting of HIMSELF (not the wife and kid) over the fireplace

Their gift was totally rude. People are telling you to be the bigger person.

Eye for an eye makes the whole world blind and all that.

[dexteroni]

I would stay away from all religion-related gifts, even jokey ones. I just don't see how anything good can come of it. If your DH wants to give them a book on religion, he should give it to them on his own, and not at Christmas.