Quote:
Originally Posted by Gracie2006  I guess I am a bit of a hypocrite, as I have often thought the same thing but end up listing the things my Yorkie "can't" have or "can't use". I think this is more of a question for admin, as to the purpose behind the following question in the sign up thread:
"Anything extra I want my Gift Exchange Pal to know about my Yorkie (please mention anything your Yorkie doesn't like or doesn't want or can't eat) -"
If it is not considered politically correct to list the "doesn't like or doesn't want or can't eat" then why include the question?
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The YorkieTalk Gift Exchange was created for the sole purpose of having FUN with our Yorkies. There are gifts and products that a YT member in California may be able to get, that a member in Wisconsin could not get. Members thought it would be fun to get new gifts and different gifts from other Yorkies.
The YorkieTalk Gift Exchange is completely
optional. No one is required to participate in it. If you don't like the GE, or don't agree with the rules, feel free to not participate. The YorkieTalk staff spends many hours coordinating and running the GE, it does take a lot of time and effort for us to do. We are happy to do it for our members and will continue to do so as long as there are willing participants.
The main rules of the YT Gift Exchange are: signing up for it, putting together a gift box (with a minimum of $20 spent), mailing the box to your Secret Buddy (with confirmation), and then posting a thank you thread after you have received the gift. Anything above and beyond that is completely OPTIONAL. Buying gifts for the member (not their Yorkie) is also completely optional as are threads regarding gifts for members. If a member posts something their Yorkie "would like" that is completely up to the gift giver to decide whether or not to purchase it for their buddy, it is not a requirement of any sort.
While some members may spend a lot on their buddy, no one should feel required or obligated or expect to receive a gift worth $100 or more. We have seen plenty of thank you threads with gifts totalling less than that, which should be normal and acceptable.
Posting pictures (while we are sure the gift giver would appreciate them) are currently not required. But posting a thank you thread in the GE forum is required, a Private Message only is not sufficient.
We will not force people to participate in hint threads or in anything else related to the Gift Exchange. There are many different kinds of members of YorkieTalk, some may visit daily, some may just visit once a week. However, if members want to create hint threads or participate in them, that is completely fine. Other members are free to read them or not read them. No one should be made to feel bad if they are not participating in a hint thread.
We are always welcome to suggestions regarding YorkieTalk Gift Exchanges. Some ideas we have been thinking about are a maximum amount of money allowed to be spent for the Gift Exchange gift, not allowing lists of items that a member or their Yorkie wants, or requiring pictures in thank you threads. We have seen some "want" items listed, some which may be over $100 alone, which is a bit extreme.
The "(please mention anything your Yorkie doesn't like or doesn't want or can't eat)" line in the signup thread was included by us because of health concerns, as we have heard there were Yorkies that got treats they were either allergic to. We also thought it would give a better understanding to their Secret Buddy what things to avoid or toys the Yorkie has too much of.
We have now done 15 YorkieTalk Gift Exchanges, and our proudest fact about them is that each and every participant in our GE's has gotten a gift. Our goal is to let a member and their Yorkie have some "unexpected" fun from a "stranger" by participating.
If you do not wish to read about the YT Gift Exchanges or any threads in the GE forum, we can block the YT GE forum from your account and any threads in that forum will not show up for you. Just let us know and we will set up your account that way.
We want to keep the YorkieTalk Gift Exchanges a FUN part of YorkieTalk and we welcome your participation!