[jrkatz]

This is exactly why I buy presents. If I give my dad $250, he will not buy a smart thermostat. The economic utility to him of a smart thermostat is not that high versus, say, $250 in gasoline or food. He'll fill his tank every time. He does _want_ a smart thermostat - it's just not justifiable to him at the price point. At the same time, though he likes having food and gasoline, having more will not bring him joy per se.

That's where the gift giving comes in. I buy him a smart thermostat, effectively giving him license to have the nice object he cannot otherwise justify†. The economic destruction is the point.

†Based on a true story.

[scyzoryk_xyz]

This is such a good anecdote - the point of gifts is that you sometimes know your people better than they do themselves. You get them something to improve their lives in a way that they might not be aware of.

Referring to the example in the article - That argyle sweater from the aunt. Maybe the aunt doesn't think you need a new iPod. Maybe she wants the girls at your school to think you have an actual healthy family looking out for you.

[throwaway2016a]

> might not be aware of

Maybe they are aware of it but they prioritize things differently and are unwilling to occasionally indulge themselves in a luxury expense. I know people who literally sent their parents on vacation as a gift because they would never do it themselves. Not that they weren't aware they needed/wanted a vacation but that given the choice it is not something they would rather spend their money on.