As promised! Answer Guy could not have returned at a better time. He is back, with a truly splendiferous and … far-ranging set of ideas for buying that person you are currently dating. Without further ado:
AnswerGuy’s “Gift Ideas For Boys That Don’t Suck”. Er, “Gift Ideas That Don’t Suck For Boys”:
Okay, I admit that it’s hard to shop for modern boys. We can be particular or disinterested or ascetic or not seem to need or want anything or some combination thereof. iTunes gift certificates [BS note: this is so our default present] and Black-and-Decker power tools and scarves and ties (and whatever else we men have to pretend to like so we can have sex sometime after Christmas morning and before New Years Eve), well, these are not the best gifts ever. I’m intimately familiar with the disappointment of crappy holiday gifts of all sorts, so instead of complaining.…
For the emo/metrosexual BF:
Concert Tickets, or a Ticket Master Gift Card. You know what bands they like, and even if you’re not into Rogue Wave or whatever crap he listens to while thinking about his ex-girlfriend, here’s something that you can do together while acting like you care about his interests.
Gourmet Cooking Classes? I’m not sure about this: it sounds like a gift that you benefit from more than the BF, but if he’s up for spending some time in the kitchen, why not make the results more palatable?
Body Grooming Things, like our favorite, the Philips Norelco Bodygroom. Sometimes getting shaving kits, etc., say: “you’re a little gross right now”, [our prudery means we must censor, but everyone can use their imagination], this can be thought of as a romantic gift. Then there’s the Art of Shaving, which has some locations that offer a Barber’s Shave, which, I’m told, is an amazing experience. I’m sort of against nose and ear hair trimmers (that’s a little mean), but whatever. Still, this is sort of a stocking stuffer present.
For the Geek:
Rock Band Special Edition, available for the PS2, PS3 and XBox 360. If you can’t tear your BF away from the video games, why not join him? You play guitar, he plays drums, someone sings, a good time is had by all.
Ear Muff Headphones. End the age old question of “Cold Ears or No Music?”. I normally eschew anything from the Sharper Image (other than the Ionic Breeze, of course), but these are amazing.
For the Manly Dude:
Sporting Event Tickets. Get him off the couch but still within his comfort zone. I think it’s best to wrap them in an envelope that reads “Opera Tickets” or something equally unimaginably cruel.
Motorcycle Lessons. Well, hopefully your manly dude already has his motorcycle license, but even experienced moto riders can have fun at advanced lessons.
Firearms Training. Okay, I realize that some folks are against firearms, but if your guy likes to shoot stuff, why not make sure he’s adequately trained? I’m a fan of Frontsight, which offers courses in Las Vegas and California. [And here we add that we do not believe in the citizenry's right to firearms.]
For All (Most) Boys:
Tattoo Time. Find a great artist, send your boyfriend, hopefully he doesn’t come home with “Mom” tattooed on his ass.
Porn. I can almost guarantee that he watches it, even if you don’t know about it. Why not join in? Just make sure not to confuse this with the Lost Season 2 DVDs if you’re opening gifts at your parent’s house. Along the same lines, but hand-made, we think [again]. If you’re not that adventurous, [again] coupons with [and again] are perfectly acceptable. [And again, but not for why we might have thought.]
Liquor. Lots ofit. This is especially useful if he has to spend the holidays with your family.
As always, I think travel (somewhere HE wants to go, not spa weekend in Palm Springs), and hobby-oriented lessons are not bad too. If you insist on buying clothing and/or accessories for him, if he hasn’t specifically asked for it, tread carefully. Look at his wardrobe. If this is a guy who never wears French cuff shirts, why get cuff-links? If he never wears a suit, why get a tie-pin? And if you must do gloves, think John Varvatos.
Er, we’re back. We are believers in the idea that an unvarnished (though, in this case, lightly censored) truth is always more valid tha liars lying and suggesting crap nobody wants. So this is a guy’s perspective, and not necessarily the views of the management. Disclaimed. Etc. Still, we’re thinking, also quite useful.
