How to Survive the Holiday Season When Your Friends and Family are Geeks
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The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and peace, but for some of us, it can also be a source of stress and frustration. Especially if you have friends and family who are into gaming, retro movies and anime. You know, the kind of people who would rather spend their time playing Cyberpunk 2077, watching Star Wars or Naruto, and collecting Funko Pops than doing anything else.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my geeky friends and family. They are fun, creative and passionate about their hobbies. But when it comes to buying them Christmas presents, they can be a nightmare. Here are some of the problems I face every year:
- They already have everything they want. Seriously, they buy every new game, movie or anime that comes out as soon as it is released. They have shelves full of DVDs, Blu-rays, manga, comics and books. They have closets full of t-shirts, hoodies, hats and accessories. They have drawers full of gadgets, controllers, keyboards and mice. They have no room for anything else.
- They are very picky about what they like. They have their own preferences and opinions about everything. They know every detail and trivia about their favorite franchises. They can spot a fake or a knock-off from a mile away. They can tell the difference between a good and a bad adaptation. They can argue for hours about which version or edition is better. They will not accept anything less than the best.
- They are hard to surprise. They follow every news and rumor about their favorite topics. They watch every trailer and teaser that comes out. They read every review and comment that is posted online. They join every forum and group that is related to their interests. They know everything that is happening in their fandoms. They have no sense of wonder or curiosity left.
So how do you deal with these problems? How do you find the perfect gift for your geeky friends and family? Here are some tips that might help:
- Do your research. Don’t just buy something random or generic that you think they might like. Find out what they are really into right now. What are they playing, watching or reading? What are they excited about? What are they looking forward to? What are their favorite characters, genres or themes? Try to get as much information as possible without being too obvious or intrusive.
- Be creative. Don’t just buy something that they already have or that they can easily get themselves. Try to find something unique or original that they don’t have or that they don’t know about. Something that shows that you put some thought and effort into it. Something that reflects their personality or style. Something that makes them smile or laugh.
- Be personal. Don’t just buy something that is mass-produced or generic. Try to find something that is customized or personalized for them. Something that has their name, initials or nickname on it. Something that has a picture, quote or message from their favorite game, movie or anime on it. Something that has a meaning or a story behind it.
Here are some examples of gifts that I think would work well for my geeky friends and family:
- For my brother who loves Skyrim: a 'mug with coffee' in the style of a Skyrim item card
- For my sister who loves retro movies: a mug with song lyrics from her favourite 80s film
- For my bestie who loves desktop gaming: an light up gaming desk mat with a pattern of sprites from her favourite cosy game
Of course, these are just suggestions based on my own experience and knowledge. You might have different ideas depending on your budget, availability and creativity. The most important thing is to show your geeky friends and family that you care about them and that you appreciate their hobbies.
I hope this blog post was helpful and entertaining for you. If you liked it, please share it with your friends and family who might also be struggling with buying Christmas presents for you! And if you have any other tips or suggestions, please leave them in the comments below.
Happy holidays! 🎄🎁🎅