.

Terri, you are a wonderful person and I hope you never change! There is a lot of history behind what I say, and as a longtime lurker and a very active member, I can assure you there is much truth in what I say. Its my take on it and I've seen very ugly things happen, people have left, horrible things said....

I do know there are also very many good people here, I'm friends with many, many, many, that I now have to turn my text alert off cuz it never stops and I too am grateful...but oh no way will I get in to the GE!

But thanks anyway!!!

Well, that's all just very sad to me. Perhaps the GE should be done away with if it causes that much turmoil. I guess I just think differently than some...maybe I'm naive. I dunno.

Seems like the spirit of the GE is lost. Maybe we need to be visited by the 3 Ghosts of GE Past, Present, and Future ;) :D

Sorry, for some reason that came to my mind..felt like Christmas had lost it's meaning or something.

What will be will be. I had a gift given to me today that must have taken a lot of time and effort and money. I didn't give anything in return and I think the person that gave it to me was as happy to give it as I was to receive it.

Now I am just rambling back and forth because it actually does hurt my heart a little after everything MANY of us did in the last gift exchange to show how giving is the best part...and that message was lost or missed by whomever is upset. Breaks my heart. Yup.

Georgie is in the next one!:) Terri you are so sweet and I love your optimism:)

I loved the GE. I personally had WONDERFUL buddies every time. Never had one bad experience. However, I know others have. My problem is that I'm not controlled enough to stay on a budget. I just want to keep going! Lol. But I did want to share that I love and miss the GEs!

I can't stop either lol!!! Georgie was thrilled to get his box and teasers and I was equally thrilled to spoil Izzy, Jack, Lori and the kitty's:) I truly made lifelong friends from the last GE:)

It is so much fun shopping for the buddy! I really enjoyed it!

I feel that this, just like everything else, is being looked into way too deeply. I personally don't feel that in the ones I have participated in, there was ever a competition nor do I feel it was an unwanted burden. If spending XX amount is too much on your wallet, then don't spend it. Stick to the minimum. Why is there any pressure on a FUN, non-mandatory event? I don't do this for the dollar count. I see this similar as a birthday party for kids. Some kids give $10 gifts, some give $50. But does the kid know? No. They just like the toy. Do the yorkies know or care how much was spent? No. They just like the toys.

So if people truly feel that the GE has gotten out of hand, then I hope they know there is NO reason to feel that way. They are only obligated to spend the minimum but welcome to spend more. At the end of the day, we really have no idea what the final cost was. And if even there was a maximum, I doubt it would last for long.

As far as I know, people join for fun, not to show off. And if they do, that's a totally separate issue.

But in my opinion, why do we have to spoil the fun for everyone when there isn't a significant amount of these voicing concerns?

:thumbup: we are there like swimwear:)

I agree, Heather! :thumbup:

I've never been in one but I couldn't have said my thoughts about this better. I like to give and would never expect a return gift. Because if I truly wanted something for myself... I would just buy it and skip the exchange. Simple as that.

:thumbup: And I hope she never changes! Love ya Terri!

I think I am significant...no one is spoiling the fun, not my intention at all, I am voicing my reasons for not joining at why others have told me they don't join. Join all you want, all the power to you, I think its great and I look at the smile boxes. I am simply saying why I and many others have not joined. Obviously it is clear that the GE is flailing by the amount of people not joining. I don't think they should be done away with, although at other times I have. The hateful demeaning things that were said and plastered here forever during the "missing boxes" for a few of the GE's were awful, even if they were true. We are adults, GE's are great when its for all the right reasons.

I personally would hate to see them go, for the record.

I am the same way, and many of us exchange gifts regularly...and flowers, which I loveeeeeeeeeee!

I know that's what's nice about YT. The friends I have made and how sweet and special they are to me:)

I personally love the GE. But... I was in too many too close together and I did get "caught" up in some of the negative.

It is in my personality to love to give, and I enjoy giving. I think we have a negative part of our personalities and love drama...so it was created in the ge. Some people are loving, kind and generious to a fault and some are in the ge for what they perceive they are getting. It cause resentment when someone felt they gave "so much" and did not "receive" that back. I will say two things

1st... in viewing the smileboxes...remember some of us are close and of course when sending a box to a "friend" you will go overboard. If you look at one of the last ge I was in Lisa and I were sb. We went crazy!!

Also, when I did not get a box, when my dh was in for a bmt over the christmas holidays I received so many gifts it was crazy. I cried for days. It wasn't that I got things it was the effort, the love, the caring that was shown. That is what I hold dear to my heart. I know a small gift form a person who is struggling is as or more dear then a person who has it all.

2nd... I had a blast on the ge I had the little Jack (rescue with one eye) the fun I had planning that box was beyond great. The smilebox that my sb made of the box made me sooo happy!!! I will always smile when I remember.

This last ge I entered saying I don't care what I receive!!! I will have fun planning and creating my box. I had a great time making the box, I loved everything I put in the box!!! I also had a great sb...Marta .. and was so pleased to make a new friend and had a great box from her!!

So... I do agree it would be great to set a LIMIT !! I think the people who go into the ge exspecting more will have to deal with themselves.

Lynzy... I would love to have you for a sb...I am lucky I can sew and would spoil Vennie:) And sometimes a few things that are right on.. are better then going overboard.

I will only go into another ge if my mindset is on how much fun I will have spoiling my sb..