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Do you feel the holiday spirit? It’s time to finally take out your comfy sweaters, blast the Christmas music, and write a personalized letter to Santa. You don’t want to end up getting something weird and useless this year, right? Unfortunately, often people find it tricky to get the perfect holiday gift for their loved ones. Even if you know them well enough, it’s hard to be creative and original every single year.

So when Jimmy Fallon announced his #WorstGiftEver challenge, the most ridiculous stories started pouring in. From shower coffee makers and mop buckets to half-completed coloring books, each one is better than the last. Just by looking at them, you can’t help but scratch your head trying to figure out what was the idea behind them.

Get ready to see some of the most entertaining tweets Bored Panda has collected from this Twitter thread. Scroll down, upvote your favorites, and make sure to share the worst present you’ve ever gotten in the comments below!

#1

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Lovin' Life
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dads birthday is Christmas eve and my son on the 20th. I always made sure to wrap gifts for their birthday in b'day paper and Christmas on Christmas gifts. They still deserve a special day.

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This week’s challenge on The Tonight Show is all about the #WorstGiftEver. Jimmy Fallon kicked off the thread himself by tweeting: “My friend thought her boyfriend of five years was going to propose on her birthday. Instead, he wrote her an original song called “You Make Me Oh So Love Crazy.” But it seems that the people of Twitter have had it way worse. Imagine a wooden toilet seat with a golden eagle on it. Pretty weird, right?

Well, in real life, such things are being gifted quite often. Although when you think about it, it’s really not a big surprise. During the holiday season, many people feel heightened levels of stress because they tend to spend more time and money preparing for it. Also, gift shopping can be really nerve-racking, even without thinking about the possibility of buying a terrible present.  

In a study called Why Certain Gifts Are Great to Give but Not to Get, the researchers state that givers mainly think about the moment of exchange, whereas recipients primarily focus on how valuable a gift will be in the future. It seems that the perception of the present is at the center of the problem here. Givers want to charm others and make them feel surprised and touched but do not think about the long-term enjoyment of the gift.

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Bored Panda reached out to Jeff Galak, an associate professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business and co-author of the mentioned study, to get some insight on what are the main reasons people end up choosing bad gifts for others. 

It can get pretty challenging and exhausting to constantly think about what the other person would enjoy most. Trying to remember successful gifts you have bought or made in the past, scrolling through online shops or wandering around at the mall, yet still not feeling assured. "Most people make mistakes because they simply don't ask the recipient what they want," Galak said.

#3

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Tristan Davis
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just showed this to my Mexican ex, her response was "They wouldn't have found your body."

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"There's an odd cultural taboo that exists which makes people uncomfortable asking someone what kind of gift they want. But that taboo is entirely inappropriate," he continued. "Gift recipients know what they want and they are eager to tell gift givers. There is nothing wrong with sharing that information and there's nothing wrong with asking for it."

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Another thing is, a bad gift can signal a lack of care: "If a giver gives a gift that isn't well received, there is a chance that the relationship will be strained. Gifts act as a social lubricant that signals care for another person... but that is undermined when the gift is bad."

#7

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Al Cook
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's actually a great gift if you got a laugh out of it!

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We all know that receiving a terrible gift is uncomfortable, to say the least. However, there are ways on how to avoid these kinds of situations. One very important piece of advice from Jeff Galak to you, dear Pandas—just ask! "The easiest way to give a good gift is to ask someone what they want. People appreciate the fact that they are being asked as that signals that the giver really wants to give something that is well liked," he explained.

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#10

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Kay blue
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sister betrayed me in a way I found unforgivable so the next Christmas one of her sons got a toy drum kit and the other a recorder.

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Giving bad gifts is not only impractical but can also hurt your relationships. Elizabeth Dunn, a psychology professor and co-author of Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending, told the BBC that it can be risky because it shows that you and the recipient might not share the same interests. 

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She suggests starting by thinking of anything you two have in common. Sometimes we think of stuff that we would enjoy getting ourselves and then try to adjust it for the receiver. “People are better at choosing something for themselves,” Dunn said. “So if you have something in common with somebody, get something that shares the same affinity, because something you would like will more likely be something they like.”

#17

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Gia SDP
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a very elderly neighbor when I was growing up and she would knit us hats for Halloween. No candy. No Christmas gifts, which of course is fine. But when we trick or treated, we always received knit hats.

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#18

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Deborah B
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unless it came with a booklet of tokens "On presentation of token, husband will immediately and uncomplaningly mop floor."

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No matter how much thought we put into the perfect present, the psychology professor said, that “the better gift will be whatever it is they say they want.” And this research only confirms it. Several studies show that gift recipients are more appreciative if they get the things they explicitly request than those they do not. 

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#21

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ZAPanda
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Old people gifting calendars need to be told that even old people like me use our cellphone calendar apps.

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If you already have an idea of what your loved ones would enjoy, good for you! But if you don’t, try not to stress about it. During this time of the year, we should not obsess about things like presents. Instead, make sure that your holidays are all about feeling calm, cheerful, and loved.

#22

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#23

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Elica
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair those big yellow hospital socks are hilariously fun and comfortable. Just, maybe not Christmas lol

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#25

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Dan Buczynski
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If someone gave me a shovel as a metaphor for anything, I'd immediately hit them with it.

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#26

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Kay blue
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have been a goth since I was 12, one year my aunt (who I can't stand) bought me pink satin pyjamas. They went straight to the charity shop.

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#27

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Me Oh My
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dunno, I'd like that without the food on it. Maybe that's just me.

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#28

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Al Cook
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She knew you existed in those 10 years though right? Why buy toddler clothes for a kid that's at least 10???

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#33

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Ryan Deschanel
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tomorrow does not exist, today is always today, and yesterday is always yesterday.

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#39

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Tara Moov
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to look this up and am posting the explanation in between bouts of actively vomiting at OP's casual mention that they were USED. "Ben Wa balls are small, weighted balls designed to be inserted in the vagina. They usually come in pairs and are sometimes linked together by a string. They may also have a string that dangles and can make their removal easier. They come in a variety of weights and sizes and can be made from many different materials, including metal, glass, silicone, and plastic. Ben Wa balls are also known as kegel balls. People buy them for use either as a sex toy and masturbatory aid or as a training device used to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles."

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#41

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MiniMaus
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

$99 is lot of money. Too bad he didn't remember it from the year before, but I'd think a $99 gift was lovely

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#45

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MaireC
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother got that for our father after decades of getting "nothing' as a response. From the way he reacted, I think it was possibly the best gift he'd ever gotten in his life!

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#47

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Dave P
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When inflation goes amok. To be fair there are restrooms in Zimbabwe that have signs not to flush zimdollars down the toilet.

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#51

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M.Kate Kelly
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother in law and I exchanged 1 that looked similar every Christmas for almost 10 years, along with the same card with our names crossed out and the others written in. I really miss him

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#52

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Ryan Deschanel
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Too many parents and grandparents are like "This person enjoyed a thing at some point. I will keep giving them the same shitty thing every time because I am lazy and uncaring."

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#53

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Lovin' Life
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That child probably thought genuinely about this before gifting you. Not the ideal gift but a sweet thought.

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#55

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ZAPanda
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

obviously a hint that they think you need one, right? so just say thanks but do they come in girl shapes, and they'll STFU instantly.

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#65

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Ellie Rosser
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But that’s sweet. (And proposing on big dates sucks, way to use manipulation to get someone to say yes.)

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