What is with this phenom, the world's largest Secret Santa network, now numbering around 20,000 people, each of them getting, wrapping and sending a gift to a total stranger. Does that strike you as odd?
Is it another signal that despite all our technology through which to communicate with others, some people are lonelier than ever? Is it so tough to find someone at work, next door, at your church, at Starbucks, with whom to strike up a friendship? Or is this global Secret Santa mob an example of nothing more than "because we can do it, we do it." Obviously, without the Internet, the global Secret Santa wouldn't work.
Dunno. What I do know, though, is that I prefer giving gifts to and getting gifts from people I know. There is something creepy to me about this total stranger gifting biz. Maybe it's the "stranger Danger" gene in me. But it strikes me as, well, weird.
Of course, I remind myself that Santa himself (it's a "he," right?) is a stranger and look at the effort goes to in order to get gifts to every kid in the world. Oh but wait, he's not a stranger. By saying that he knows who's been naughty or nice, and that he has a list of gifts and kids who wants them...and checks that list at least twice, we remove the stranger creepiness.
So I guess I'll stick with friends and Santa.
Author of I is for Intercourse: The ABC's of Conversation, Susan Bird is the visionary behind Wf360, and a sought-after speaker around the world for her views on leadership, the strategic importance of conversation, entrepreneurship, and the role of women business leaders.
It is true that today with the help of technology you meet so many stranger. The people also give them secret gifts. So it is a signal of red light also.
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