I was talking today about something I was thinking about over the holidays... about how always expecting a present in return for a present kind of defeats the purpose of it being a gift. A whole 'tis better to give than to receive thing. And while I do think that should be the theory, at the same time I know I would feel miffed if I spent money and time buying someone exactly what they asked for and got nothing in return (which is how the subject of gifts was brought up in the first place). Because it's not even about getting something, it's just thoughtlessness. At the same time, though, I don't really feel guilty if I get a small, mass-present that some girls like to give out at christmas time and I haven't given them anything back, since they basically bought a lot of the same cheap thing and handed it out. :3; There's always some guilt (I'm a guilty person by nature -_-), but it tends to pass... I usually tell people not to buy me things because I can't give them anything in return, and I'll still feel guilty if they go ahead and do it anyway (guilty, but also grateful and pleased :3;).