Really would like to sign up, but there is just NO time for keeping up with the hint threads... granted, they're not required but everyone has so much fun...
So, if we do sign up it'd take away from part of everyone's fun because we wouldn't have a hint thread...

I can't decide :confused:

You are not the only one who said the hint thread would be a hinderance. My personal opinion is that the hint threads are not that big of a deal. I would never hold it against someone for not doing them. I feel bad that the hint threads might be keeping several out. :(

Please consider participating even if you can't do the hint threads. :) :thumbup: :animal36

I agree....the hints are cute and fun...but I really suck at coming up with original clues...I say join and have fun!!

I will likely be signing up Mylee. It's her turn and she needs the distraction. :)

I agree with what everyone else said. I'd hate for the hint threads to keep someone from signing up. Join on in and have some fun.

Thanks everyone, you are all very reassuring. I love participating in the GE's but want to make sure we wouldn't take away from anyone else's experience.

I agree with Bitsy, Jadabug, and ChaCha! :)

Last GE I struggled with keeping up with the GE clue threads, especially wish starting a new, demanding job. But it was still a blast!

However, the most important thread I missed was my buddy trying to be sneaky and get Gizmo's measurements for adorable overalls! :p

I agree.

This is one of the things that keeps me from doing a GE. Now almost everybody does a smilebox too. And whether or not people are spending hundreds...it looks like it. That's all fine, but some of us are already stretched way past our limits in terms of time/mental energy/finances/etc. The idea used to sound fun (spend forty on a fur kid, exchange gifts, post a thank you with pics). Now it's spend a hundred plus and do this looooong list of things to make sure everybody else enjoys themselves. I know some of this is not required, but i really think people expect it (people ask where all the hints are, etc). Sooooo it's just not for everybody. Very happy that all of you like it though.:)

My impression is that many more members want to participate, but they don't bc of how complicated it's become.

For those who have participated, do you have suggestions for simplifying this process? I know Smileboxes etc aren't required, but it seems people really feel obligated to do one know. It's just not realistic for everyone.

I personally dont think smileboxes are necessary. Nice but not necessary. Just plain ole pictures posted are fine by me. And personally for us its not what we recieve thats important, its putting together a box and trying to please our new buddy. Thats what we get the most pleasure from. I have met such wonderful people thru the ge, and had such silly fun in the process.

I so agree. I may be one of the "participants" that made it complicated:( idk

I think we should just step back a little. I love the hint threads but I get hives thinking of keeping up with all of them. I would be sad if my sb never posted but checking on many threads every day is just too hard. So maybe we could agree to post 5 hints? Not a requirement.. just a guideline?

Also the spending is just nuts. If I do the ge this time I am going to not focus on money. I am lucky I can sew etc .. and I am just going to have fun making stuff and finding stuff my sb wants. I may "spend" $50 or $100 but that is my choice... and it will not be the over the top that has happened in the past. I am also am going to focus on the joy I have of giving... and hope my sb gives gifts that are individual.. just cool stuff that I may not have not focus on the $$ amount. I am totaly talking to myself here... I only want to do this if it is fun and a distraction from the stresses of life.

I think we are acting like kids at Christmas time... or maybe the parents at Christmas time. I use to get into a buying frenzy for my kids and family and it was alway a let down Christmas morning -- did I give too much? did I give enough? disappointment in the gifts I received.. or embarrassed because I did not give as much. Stupid.. all it did was spoil the day!!

Well that is my thoughts on it. I have had such great times with the GE... made such great friends.. (Lisa, Rhonda, Karen, Michelle, Shelly, Sherrie to name a few) that I want to do it again!!!
Shinja

Wow i never knew about the hints threads, sending teasers ahead of time, and getting other members to help you:eek:. If all of that was required I think I would pass when I became eligible. Perhaps $40.00 is not realistic either and with no suggested cap you are sort of hung out in limbo wondering what to spend, I think that's why so many go over the top. Since it seems like people are spending over $100.00 why not just say something like $75.00 and cap it at $100.00, then perhaps people would stay close to that amount. Let's face it if you don't sew, just two custom dresses or outfits would put you over $40.00, so I really don't think that is a realistic figure to use. Also there is the cost of shipping, shipping is really high, I can imagine that many people have spent well over $20.00 to ship their box, (I know that is not part of the suggested spending amount) the more stuff means higher shipping $$. Then if you throw in the cost of shipping teaser gifts and running to the post office (which I hate doing) time and money really adds up. I always thought Gift Exchanges were easy, you get a buddy, buy your buddy stuff, then try to guess afterwards, not before. To me teasers are not necessary, just waiting for a box would be fun enough for me, and even more fun if I had not guessed before hand who was sending me the gift. Ok that's my two cents even though I have not participated here, I have been in others. Oh and BTW today is my three months anniversary so feel free to send me your congratulations for lasting that long:D:p (yes I do love it here;))

I agree that smileboxes are complicated, and I'd prefer to post pictures over a smilebox, but it did make me want to learn how to do it. I think smileboxes are seen as an unwritten rule, I'd be totally ok with making it clear that posting pictures are well within the rules, and Smileboxes are not a requirement. Posting a series of pictures with captions is very personable :thumbup: and I think it's still an appropriate way to say thanks.

I hear smileboxes and money being the biggest reasons people don't join. I do feel maybe as far as money goes it's gotten a little out of hand. I scaled back by last GE box some and may scale back this time too. But I've seen in past GE's very creative inexpensive ways to surprise your buddy and have fun at the same time. It inspires me to be more creative too. I've seen post cards sent from different parts of the US/World for one...very creative and only requires a stamp (and getting the people to help you out). Teasers are also not required, but as mentioned above there are many ways to tease your buddy without spending a lot of money. And I have seen many GE's where a buddy chose not to send a teaser and have had GE's where I did not receive a teaser and I'm fine by that. If you are judging wether or not to join by watching smileboxes.....don't. No two buddies are ever the same and what you would do is different than what others do and is mostly about what your buddy puts on their sign up sheet.

I do like the idea of requesting a minimum of 5 clues posted at anytime throughout the GE. If you don't have time to follow other clue threads, that's fine, but if you at least post 5 it helps others who do like to seek out their buddy.

I feel like I am rambling. I love getting a newbie in the GE. It is fun to captialize on their inexperience........just sayin....it's part of the fun! Experienced GE members make me think harder.

Maybe an ideas thread. To give new GE members some creative ideas on how to surprise their buddy that doesn't cost a lot of money. Sometimes, just the not knowing how it all works is what keeps people from joining.????

I agree with all of the above..I have a hard time coming up with original and fun clues every day..and it is near impossible to keep up with all of them.

I am like Shinja I make a lot of my gifts and will probably make almost 90% of them from now forward.
I love putting my box together it is what I enjoy most about GE..and am capping my spending too. I tend to keep buying and over thinking and end up with way too many things.
I hate that members feel intimidated to participate because of the over the top boxes. Maybe if we all reign it in a tad in this upcoming GE...members who watch from the sidelines can feel more comfortable with participating in future GE's.
Smileboxes are so cute and at least for me..a little stressful to do and get up in a hurry. I am fine with a thank you and pictures that show your baby with their box and gifts.

If it's a matter of not being able to come on to post your clues once a day, I'm tooootally free to do that for you! :) Oh, and if someone can't make a smilebox, we could do that for you too. But that'd be stealing all the fun! I just want as many people to participate as possible, and no one to feel deterred by technology or unrealistic expectations.

Just saying. I can't participate this time (and maybe not next time either) but! We are still sooo excited to follow the hint threads and see everone's pictures!

I also must say there really are so many creative ways to put together a nice, thoughtful box without spending hundreds of bucks. I have WAY too many ideas in this noggin for a GE I can't even participate in!! Lol!