Why don't men do Christmas cards?

podperson

I don't really bother with Christmas cards now. I buy for my mum and for my grandmas as they 'expect' one but I don't really do anyone else now. I used to go to loads of effort, buying cards specifically for people, checking addresses, buying stamps, putting a personal message in - and 99% of the time I would never get an acknowledgement or one back. I know you don't give to receive before anyone says but I just thought why am I bothering so much if it's just a one-way street. Now I'll drop a text or email or something.
Tbh I find xmas cards a little pointless - I know some people who see them as a 'popularity contest' and how many can they get and if someone hasn't sent them one then it's the end of the world - and at the same time they send dozens out to people that they never have any contact with the rest of the year. I tend to figure that if we're not in touch the rest of the year then are we really that close anyway - and if we are then they're not going to be offended that they don't get a bit of paper once a year

amus

I hate xmas cards and birthday cards alike, total waste of money IMO.

I would much rather people give me the money they would have spent on a card than the actual card itself!!

Personally, I dont see a card as signifying that Im thinking of somebody/somebody is thinking of me because the people I care about I see regularly anyway. In fact, when I am writing xmas cards out, all I am thinking is 'what a pain in the !!!! this is'.

The only cards/notes I dont mind are the ones where you actually do want to send best wishes to somebody e.g. 'Get Well', 'Thank You', 'Sympathy'.

Gloomendoom

skintchick wrote: »

So if you don't do Christmas cards, which includes e-cards and emails specifically saying Merry Christmas or similar sentiment, why not?

Because I am a man.

Kildare

I don't think its all men - my OH buys the Christmas gifts for his side and writes cards for his friends and family, no prompting needed...

Personally I love cards - brightens the house up

nickj_2

i only send one card and that's to mrs j .
of all the cards we receive i don't think i even look at them after they've been opened , most are from people i don't see on a regular basis , some are from people i don't even know
apart from that i just can't be bothered and they are a waste of money
some cheap cards here

Mr_Toad

I do my friends and family the courtesy of wishing them Happy Christmas in person not send them a bit of card and forget all about it.

If they aren't close enough to see in person I call them and do it.

They aren't even traditional, they were invented by Victorian businessmen a couple of years after the introduction of the penny post as a way to make money and as with all good marketing the trick is to convince people it's about anything other than making money.

balletshoes

i have a christmas card list - its not very big, and its mostly my mum's generation who gets a card from me (as they expect it). I don't pay the slightest bit of attention as to whether i get a card from anyone/everyone on my list, it really doesn't matter to me.

thehappybutterfly

skintchick wrote: »

I don;t like them less, I just find it a bit hurtful that they don;t even care enough about me to send me a small card to celebrate Christmas.

For me, cards are a physical demonstration of the fact that I've thought about someone, and loved them enough to send them a message on a card.

Are you my sister?! She's fanatical about cards and gets very upset and takes it personally if she doesn't get one. I honestly don't care. I'd care if I didn't get them from my hubby and kids but from friends, neighbours and family, I'm not bothered. The only reason I buy them and send them is because it's 'expected' but I hate spending money on them as they just go in the bin within days. I also never know what to say in them either - the verse usually says exactly what I wanted to say!

I get bored after writing the second or third one then I start making mistakes or my writing gets more and more atrocious and it looks like I've written them with my feet. Or I get one of the names wrong etc etc. Ugh, it's just too stressful!

Decision made - no Crimbo cards this year. I'll send out good thoughts instead!

Tropez

I think they're overpriced and just generate unwanted and unnecessary clutter. The primary reason I don't buy them is because I don't want people buying them for me. I also think that most, although not all, are not particularly considerate for the environment.

My close friends get presents, even though I myself have no real interest in Christmas (my partner on the other hand,...) and they should know that I care about them due to everything that I am willing to do for them throughout the rest of the year. I don't see a card with a soppy, pre-written message that is going to get trashed in a couple of weeks as any sort of affirmation of friendship.

grumpybear_3

What terrible sexism

I always do cards to family, friends collegues and neibours (even the one's im not mad about) it is Christmas after all!

I suspect if blokes don't its probably for five main reasons:

1) Its considered a women's job, as most of the cards I get from men tend to be written by their other halves

2) Its a multi-stage process, think abut cards, buy cards, write cards, find address; buy stamps, post cards - so a bit over complicated

3) Its a bit pointless - especially for people you see - or hardly remember

4) It rapidly become a bit of a palarva - sending cards to the people that sent you cards, who only sent you cards to avoid feeling guilty etc etc

4) Procrastination - By the time you think about it its too late to send any yourself

5) All the above