Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,502
I think that it was handsoap is still lost on you.
No, that would still have tremendous subtext in Europe if given by a coworker. Even more so if it was just handsoap and not a gift bag. It would be the equivalent of someone saying your hands are dirty, really. The US might be different, I don't know. But that's how it would be perceived here.

:agree:

Ppl here would definitely make fun of you if you were given hand soap. Means that you don't wash your hands after peeing.
Exactly.
 

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X Æ A-12

Senior Member
Contributor
Sep 4, 2006
88,276
No, that would still have tremendous subtext in Europe if given by a coworker. Even more so if it was just handsoap and not a gift bag. It would be the equivalent of someone saying your hands are dirty, really. The US might be different, I don't know. But that's how it would be perceived here.



Exactly.
Nonsense. If someone gave you deoderant or a bar of bath soap then yes that is hygiene related and insulting.

A fancy artisanal handsoap is not a comment on your hygiene. It isnt practical, it isnt the soap i would buy for my bathroom or kitchen. its simply a bad gift probably someone else gave to her she didnt want and lazily regifted.

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:agree:

Ppl here would definitely make fun of you if you were given hand soap. Means that you don't wash your hands after peeing.
Would you like my artisanal soap? Its frosted cranberry scented so it could help get the smell of that transgenders boypucci off your fingers.
 

Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,502
Nonsense. If someone gave you deoderant or a bar of bath soap then yes that is hygiene related and insulting.

A fancy artisanal handsoap is not a comment on your hygiene. It isnt practical, it isnt the soap i would buy for my bathroom or kitchen. its simply a bad gift probably someone else gave to her she didnt want and lazily regifted.
In the US that might be the case, yes, you would know better than me, because you are an American.

If you're given handsoap by a coworker in Europe though, that is them saying you need to wash your hands.
 

X Æ A-12

Senior Member
Contributor
Sep 4, 2006
88,276
In the US that might be the case, yes, you would know better than me, because you are an American.

If you're given handsoap by a coworker in Europe though, that is them saying you need to wash your hands.
Thats stupid. If youre going to go that far into it is it possibly to give anything as a gift in belgium without potential sinister undertones?

If someone gives you a football for christmas does that imply they think you are fat and need to excercise more?
 

Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,502
Thats stupid. If youre going to go that far into it is it possibly to give anything as a gift in belgium without potential sinister undertones?

If someone gives you a football for christmas does that imply they think you are fat and need to excercise more?

Shopping for gifts can be bothersome, yes, but context really matters. For example a gift bag with soap, deodorant and shower gel from some fancy brand would be considered a decent gift. Everyone needs that stuff. You could even give that to a coworker. But just handsoap? No, that would be considered a hint.

A football no, a gym membership, yes.
 

X Æ A-12

Senior Member
Contributor
Sep 4, 2006
88,276
Whatever. I am imagining an episode of Seinfeld where a coworker regifts George a bottle of handsoap and he freaks out because he thinks it has all these undertones about his hygiene when really that coworker was just being cheap.
 

Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,502
Whatever. I am imagining an episode of Seinfeld where a coworker regifts George a bottle of handsoap and he freaks out because he thinks it has all these undertones about his hygiene when really that coworker was just being cheap.
I think it depends on the country you're in. I'm sure that in the US it means nothing. In Belgium it would be very very weird to receive handsoap from a coworker. Come to think of it though, pretty much every gift I've ever received or given to a coworker was a bottle of wine, beer or liquor. That's pretty much the go to gift you get here.
 

X Æ A-12

Senior Member
Contributor
Sep 4, 2006
88,276
I have a new theory about the origins of the original bottle of soap from last year. It is the same brand but i got it from a different person, someone i did not know this time of last year. There was also a gift card to Target attached this time.

My theory is that the original bottle of soap went to the coworker of mine (soapgifter A) and she then took the gift card and regifted to me the soap she didnt want. This second bottle came direct from the source (soapgifter B).

Either way its a shitty thing to do to give someone such a useless gift because then i have to say thank you for what i dont want or im the asshole, i then have to get them a gift and i dont buy such shitty gifts so they will get something better. you should get someone a gift that is at least halfway decent or dont get them anything at all.
 

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