My freeper in-laws gave us O'Liely's book for a present

[flygal]

First I thought - well next year they're getting a whole MM collection.

Then, I got mad and instead of recycling it I just threw it in the garbage - I don't want that crap making a reappearance

And now, I'm really upset. They know how much I hate faux. I won't let them watch it around me - in fact I don't watch any tv news b/c of all the sensational stuff, not b/c of political leanings. My hubby says water off a ducks back. But I'm pissed. They really ruined my Christmas and I'm thinking of writing them and letting them know. I think I'll write an email and hold off sending it for a few hours - maybe I'll cool off.

[SKKY]

1. If someone gave me that book, I think I'd start thumbing...

...through the pages and say to them, "Oh Dude thanks. This will make great rolling paper!"

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Can you ask where they got it cause you want to return it for something

else?????

[RevCheesehead]

3. Do you have a fireplace?

Snuggling with your hubby to a burning O'Leilly might be kind of fun!

Another thought: do you know where they bought it?

Someone gave me a hardcover book I had no use for, so I went to the local Borders and asked if I could exchange it - it had never been opened. They were great about it, and I got in-store credit.

[alphafemale]

4. Re-Gift it Back to 'em next year. Same paper and everything.

That'll make a statement.

[katinmn]

21. perfect solution for a mean-spirited gift

[ooglymoogly]

35. get it autographed by al franken before you give it back to them

at least you will be giving them something worth something instead of complete worthless crap

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. Bad enough if they had no idea of your politics.

But this is basically a "Fuck you, Merry Christmas!" gift.

[shraby]

6. Send them this link:

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=194892&mesg_id=194892>

Kerry just might be president after all.

[Ladyhawk]

7. How often do you see these in-laws?

This year I decided not to see my real family because of irreconcilable differences. It wasn't just the political thing, although that's part of it. People that would give you such a disgusting gift...ungh. I shudder.

I read a post earlier about sending loofahs, falafels and dreidels in a Kwanzaa bad to O'Reilly. Maybe you could prepare such a bag, put the book in it and give it back to the freepers? If they ask questions, be prepared to give them specific, erotic answers. :)

All hail the great uniter! Sieg, Heil!

[flygal]

13. Ohhhhh

I like it! I like it a lot - LMAO!!

[JohnnyRingo]

8. Let it go...Nothing to gain by letting them know how much it bothered you

Tell them you read it cover to cover...and it sucked.
Tell them they wasted their money.

[Hekate]

9. Just exchange it for something better, then ...

...be sure to tell them how much you're enjoying the book by Hillary, the Big Dog, or any book of the several shelves of books written by people trying to expose the Bushes for what they are.

Ooo, ooo, I know. Tell 'em you exchanged it for Kitty Kelly's book and ask if they'd like to read it after you! ;-)

If you can actually get cash back for it -- give it to a progressive cause, and again, be sure to thank them sincerely for having given you the opportunity to do so. (Planned Parenthood does such good work, and they are so reviled and persecuted by the ultra-right.)

Anyhow, if you can dig them back for having needled you this way, you'll cheat them of the satisfaction of seeing you blow all to pieces.

Good luck with this project -- they sound like real bozos.

Hekate

[flygal]

11. Oh ding ding ding - Kitty Kelly's book for Valentines day!!

LOL thank you! Even better than M.M.

[Skittles]

10. start reading it

when the feeling of nausea completely overtakes you, probably by page two, write your email to them explaining to them exactly why you can read no more. Also, ask them why you thought a book written by a f***ing pervert would interest you.

[Oddly Stevenson]

12. Give them another gift.......

Go to the Smoking Gun and print off all 22 pages of Andrea Mackris' sexual harrassment complaint, along with an article detailing his initial, outraged "extortion" claims, along with another explaining his eventual settlement of the suit. Put it in a nice binder and give it to them, with a title page reading something like "Who's Looking Out For Your Falafel?" on the front.

If this is the only gift they gave you, that really sucks. On the one hand, if they absolutely knew you had no use for it and would hate it, and gave it to you anyway, that's really offensive. If they are sincere, and thought you would benefit from it, they're smug and condescending. I guess the latter's better than the former, though not a lot better.

Actually, I think the best way might be to respond very simply, sonething along the lines of "In the future, if you choose to buy me gifts you know I will find offensive in order to amuse yourselves, perhaps you should just save your money."

[flygal]

23. I also got the most hidious pair of pajamas

Yeah, we pretty much hate each other.

[Kurovski]

14. You could have read parts of it and pointed out

the inaccuracies and lapses in logic.

Any part of the book might have served the purpose.

[artificial flavor]

15. Odds are they wanted to piss you off.

Ignore them and that will really fuck with them. Trolls hate to be ignored.

[sportndandy]

16. Rise above the pettiness

Trade the book in at Borders or BN. Don't make a big deal over it. Your lovely in laws will have to deal with a lot of disappointment in the coming months, and you will have your revenge then.

[derbstyron]

17. Tell them it gave you an overwhelming desire to call them on the phone.

:evilgrin:

[sbj405]

18. Maybe a talk about keeping politics and holidays separate is in order.

Don't throw the book out. Return it. Don't let O'Liely count it as a sale.

[Tsiyu]

19. The best thing you can do is ignore them

They want you to feel their pain.

I would have burned the book.

[Tony_Illinois]

20. I was in Barnes and Noble yesterday and . . .

while browsing the political section saw the Ann Coulter book staring up at me. For some reason I can't explain, I took all four copies of it and placed them behind other books on the shelf--waaaaay in the back behind the "real" books.

I know I should not have done it, and I'm not proud of it, I just went a little goofy and must admit I got a little holiday joy from it. }(

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

24. I hear you.

My local Chapters (the Canuckistani equivalent of B&N) has several copies of "Treason" and "How to Talk to a Liberal" on a shelf-end display right next to the humour section. Whenever I go to check if they have the new Fox Trot book in stock, I have to see Anthrax Annie sneering down at me.

To be fair, the store also has all of Michael Moore's books on display, too; just not standing between me and my personal favorites.

[Carson]

22. Let it go.

Nothing good can come out of you expressing your anger to your in-laws. If you have any interest in keeping peace, let it go. And don't let this single gift ruin your holidays. Think of it as a joke--you received a practical joke gift.

I seem to recall a thread on here a few days ago where a person was wondering what kind of gifts to give his right-wing friends and family...some of the suggestons were left-wing and/or left-leaning books. ( http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2861050 ) Were these bad gift suggestions?

My personal opinion is that politics should be left out of Christmas. Perhaps your in-laws will one day realize this. Forget about the tacky gift. Have a happy Christmas!

[Orsino]

25. Correct it with a red pen, and give it back!

And smile and say, "You're welcome."

[Kahuna]

26. That's pretty bad. I think it deserves a reply of some sort. That..

was an obvious slap in the face. Maybe you should just send it back to them with a note that say, now I know what you really think of me.

[gollygee]

27. I wouldn't wait for next year

I'd get them a Michael Moore book, an Al Franken book, or the Kitty Kelley book right away and give it to them. And say something passive-aggressive like, "I'm so glad you think it's a good idea to share our political views with each other. I think it's a great idea. Here's a really good book you might like."

[NNadir]

28. I complain about my in-laws, but they've never been this bad.

It's like that kid in "My Life As A Dog" says, "You have to compare."

[warrior1]

29. Let them see you

toss it in the fireplace.

[SheilaT]

30. I have a friend

who every so often gives me a Bible or some fundamentalist screed, and I'm always at a loss about what to do with it. I generally wind up tossing them, because I'm not even remotely interested in reading the stuff.

I think perhaps returning it and getting something you'd rather read -- I think the Kitty Kelley book is a wonderful idea -- really is the best way to go.

My friend probably gets the stuff she gives me at a "Christan" bookstore, and I'm not about to go into those.

[Clark2008]

31. You should have burned it

Right in front of them.

Then, you could at least say it was good for roasting marshmellows or keeping warm or something.

:)

[DemGa]

32. Just my two cents

They must be so brainwashed it is very sad. Maybe they can't see your point of view and in their own way are trying to "help" you. They might watch O'Liely and really agree with him. Could be they need compassion.

[Mike Niendorff]

33. reminds me of my brother.

Years ago, he decided that my aunt's twin daughters weren't well-behaved enough for his tastes, so for Christmas he sent their parents a copy of "Barney's Book of Manners".

Some people are just raving assholes, what can you do. Still, if it'd been me, I'd like to think I would've made a point of shoving that book right up his ass, edgewise.

I don't know. It just continually amazes me how the same people who will lecture you ad infinitum about "god", "family" and the "sacredness of Christmas" are also the first to use the season as an opportunity to insult and pick fights with family members.


MDN

[name not needed]

34. Do you have a fireplace?

Use it in there.

[Mike Niendorff]

36. Doh! An obvious thought here :

Is it returnable?

For even more fun: "Gee, how thoughtful of you! Sadly, we've both already read it! If you've got a receipt, though, there are half a dozen books I've been dying to read, but I just haven't been able to get to them yet. I'm sure I could exchange it for one of those, if that's all right with you. I just love to dig into new reading material!"

Let them say no to that :)


MDN