my sister bought me a Runner's World subscription for Christmas

Why is it considered polite to say that you like a gift when you don't? It's just a lie. When you get someone a gift, the goal is for them to enjoy what you're getting them, not to receive a mandatory "thank you! I love it soooo much". She'd probably just keep renewing the subscription for him if he never told her that he didn't like it. It's better for everyone involved if OP is honest and says something like, "Thanks a ton! This was a great idea, but I actually prefer Running Times to Runner's World, so we should switch subscriptions", instead of the phony "OMG Best Gift Everrrr. I definitely won't just throw this in the bathroom to glace at while I poop..."

Giant Johnson wrote:

Why is it considered polite to say that you like a gift when you don\\\'t? It\\\'s just a lie. When you get someone a gift, the goal is for them to enjoy what you\\\'re getting them, not to receive a mandatory \\\"thank you! I love it soooo much\\\". She\\\'d probably just keep renewing the subscription for him if he never told her that he didn\\\'t like it. It\\\'s better for everyone involved if OP is honest and says something like, \\\"Thanks a ton! This was a great idea, but I actually prefer Running Times to Runner\\\'s World, so we should switch subscriptions\\\", instead of the phony \\\"OMG Best Gift Everrrr. I definitely won\\\'t just throw this in the bathroom to glace at while I poop...\\\"

Actually, I was thinking that putting it in the bathroom to read the good bits while pooping would be the perfect thing to do.

But Running Times can't give you the best 101 foods to give you perfect abs for life

http://tinyurl.com/p3ahdsk

Giant Johnson wrote:

Why is it considered polite to say that you like a gift when you don't? It's just a lie. When you get someone a gift, the goal is for them to enjoy what you're getting them, not to receive a mandatory "thank you! I love it soooo much". She'd probably just keep renewing the subscription for him if he never told her that he didn't like it. It's better for everyone involved if OP is honest and says something like, "Thanks a ton! This was a great idea, but I actually prefer Running Times to Runner's World, so we should switch subscriptions", instead of the phony "OMG Best Gift Everrrr. I definitely won't just throw this in the bathroom to glace at while I poop..."

Renewal time would be the ideal time to drop a hint about switching to rt. "hey, I really enjoyed reading rw during the past year, and was thinking if you'd like to get me a similar gift this year, that I'd like to try rt to see how it compares. Thanks again, sis."

Ugh, Running Times is worse than Runner's World because it actually pretends to be about the sport while it is still just as lame!

Track & Field News is an example of an actual good publication (it is considerably more expensive, but sometimes quality does cost more than crap).

I may be being too hard on RW/RT, but their core audience is not your average LRC reader.

Giant Johnson wrote:

Why is it considered polite to say that you like a gift when you don't? It's just a lie.

Because it is perfectly reasonable gift for a runner. The only reason the spoiled little brat doesn't want it is that he is afraid to admit he reads RW and be labeled a hobbyjogger. Who cares what the content is when it is a gift from someone else. He didn't pay for it.

My bigger gripe with any of those magazines is not so much the content or the intended audience, but that they are the same each 12 month cycle. Once you have it for a year, no need for any additional years.

The poster that said renewal time is the best time to drop the hint that next year he'd like to give RT a try is correct.

RW usually contains at least one compelling article an issue about runners. Don't panic at the veggie recommendations. Just turn to the good stuff. There usually is some.

Everyone needs toilet paper.

Running Twice Per Year wrote:

Track & Field News is an example of an actual good publication (it is considerably more expensive, but sometimes quality does cost more than crap).

I forgot about Track and Field. I find T&F much more interesting than distance running.

Depends of your family history of Christmas returns. What you did would not be a big deal in my family. In fact, the giver would welcome you exchanging a gift for one that you really would prefer.

Your exchange doesn't mean you didn't appreciate your sister for giving you the gift. I'm guessing your sister would approve and its a win/win. Would you be upset if your sister exchanged a gift that you gave her for a subscription that she liked better? I didn't think you would.

So all the posts about you being a cad are wrong. Its cool.

You don't say you don't like it when you receive it. The next day you could bring up the idea of the exchange.

Just obvious folks.

My reply got deleted. That's weird.

this is the OP, some smart guy/gal registered my handle for some reason...yeah she was totally cool with it. and she's done the same with me before. i remember one year i picked up some kitchenware that i thought went with what she had, but it the wrong shade/design or something & didn't match her stuff. she brought it up later & i took it back to exchange for the right set, no biggie. i liked it & have no prob, i'd prefer to have peace of mind knowing i bought the right thing than for someone to not say something. similar situations occur every year among family members.she knows i love & care about her regardless of her ability to pickout a silly gift, so in my family bringing stuff up like this is NBD...seems like everyone envisioned me sitting next to the Xmas tree with a grumpy face, arms crossed, pouting & b*tching to my sister about her horrible gift giving ability & lack of worth as a person LOL!

Conundrum wrote:

Depends of your family history of Christmas returns. What you did would not be a big deal in my family. In fact, the giver would welcome you exchanging a gift for one that you really would prefer.

Your exchange doesn't mean you didn't appreciate your sister for giving you the gift. I'm guessing your sister would approve and its a win/win. Would you be upset if your sister exchanged a gift that you gave her for a subscription that she liked better? I didn't think you would.

So all the posts about you being a cad are wrong. Its cool.

Just throw the magazine in her face and say "I ain't no hobbyjogger, biatch!"

This message board sure spends a lot of time worrying about who is or isn't a "hobbyjogger" and whether or not such a person should be shunned or forced into exile. Funny, I've never heard a single person in the "real world" worry about this.

NO MORE FREE RANDY. wrote:

finally got up the nerve later in the day to ask how many days ago she bought it. they have a 30 day cancellation policy, so suggested to see if she can switch it to Running Times as it's more up my alley...

You are a piece of Cr@p ahole slime bag