Q.
We’re headlong into gift season. But, some gifts – even when marvellously intentioned – are just not a hit. Dinosaur oven mitts! Fantastic.

How good are you at hiding when you are less than enraptured with a gift you’ve been given? How good are you at noticing when others are less than enraptured with the gifts you’ve given them?

.

A.

Talker Research and Scotch Brand surveyed 2,000 adults about holiday gifting. What did they find?

🎁 It’s all about Resting Gift Face. 57% of respondents think they are crackerjack in hiding their dismay.

🎁 53% believe that they are the super detectives who can tell right away if recipients hate a gift.

What are some key tells that someone is deflated by a gift they’ve been given? Survey says…

Key Giveaways That They Hate The Gift. 2024 Poll
i.   Avoiding eye contact – 24%
ii.  Plastering on a fake smile – 20%
iii. Adjusting vocal tone – 16%
iv. Chattering too much about how great the gift is – 16%

🎁

What do we say when we don’t really like a gift, but want to be polite or spare feelings? Find the survey answers below. Some of these utterances are clearly bad news for the gift-giver (hello, number 8). And just how insistent is that ungrateful so-and-so being with number 10? I’m sorry… which street? What are their hours?

But how to distinguish, for instance, a truthful “I love it” from a lie?

What we say when we don’t love a gift. 2024 Poll
i.      “Thank you for thinking of me” – 27%
ii.     “I love it” – 23%
iii.    “I really appreciate this” – 21%
iv.    “You shouldn’t have!” – 14%
v.     “What a thoughtful present” – 13%
vi.    “What a great present” – 12%
vii.   “You’re too kind” – 11%
viii. “It’s the thought that counts” – 10%
ix.   “It’s so unique!” – 9%
x.    “Where did you get this?” – 8%

.

www.justcurious.ca

Header Art: Monika Lemeshonok