He gave me them with speical ingredients to make coca-gingerbread cookies. I could use them for myself, but do you think my neighbor intended for me to keep it or what. OH GOD! this is SO confuzing!!!
2007-07-27 18:25:55 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Give em back!
2007-07-27 18:55:04 · answer #1 · answered by Demolition 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Usually if someone gives you something food related (even if it's a cup that you use to measure sugar with) the proper etiquette is to return whatever it was, with some sort of food gift in return.
"Never return an empty plate." A nice gesture would be to put some of the cocoa-gingerbread cookies that you made into the Ball Jars. That way, even if your friend doesn't want the jar back, he/she will say so, but you will have saved face by making the offer--and sweetening it with some yummies.
2007-07-28 02:27:36 · answer #2 · answered by Allestra P 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This goes back to "country etiquette". Neighbours in the country and on farms often made gifts of pickles, jam, etc to other members of the community.
It was considered extremely rude not to return the jars. Quite often with a gift of some other food inside them. But the important point was that they be returned - and it would be considered highly annoying if they were not.
Since I often give impromptu gifts of food, people have soon found out that if they don't return the jars, they don't get any more samples.
2007-07-28 07:24:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Put something in the jars, and give them back as a gift. If the person says, "Oh, those were part of the gift, say" I know, I'm giving them back in hopes of getting more gifts!"
Put your own cookie mix in, or candies, or jam. Get an exchange going, you give hom a recipe and a mix, he gives you something back.
And the other folks are right. Country ettiquette wiuld have you return the jars. New ettiquette would have you keep them.
Hint: are the jars new, or recycled? If they are new, the puzzle continues. If obviously used before, give them back!
2007-07-28 08:15:48 · answer #4 · answered by riversconfluence 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your neighbor gave you a skillet casserole, covered with a tea towel, when you were sick, would you keep the skillet and tea towel?
It'd be no big deal if he put the ingredients in an old Miracle Whip jar. Those are intended to be disposable. Tupperware and Mason jars, though, are made to be reused, over and over again, for decades. Return them.
2007-07-28 01:37:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
If it was a *Gift*, it was meant for you to keep. If it was a neighborly, "Why don't you try this?" you should take it to him and ask if he would like the jar back. This kind of item is almost always a "GIFT." He will probably be offended if you try to return the jar.
Gads, why people are making such a big deal out of this. It ISN'T a skillet or a kitchen towel. It's a jar worth maybe 25 cents.
2007-07-28 03:53:46 · answer #6 · answered by starrrrgazer 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My mom used to can a lot of fruits and vegetables and often gave them away to friends. She always appreciated getting the jars back.
My wife gives out kids school teachers cookie mixes in Ball jars and never expects them back.
I would simply ask him if he would like the jars back or not. Either way, I believe he will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Great question!!
2007-07-28 02:33:48 · answer #7 · answered by hunter621 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did he give it to you as a gift like a birthday or christmas? If yes keep them...If he gave it to you as a here, try this recipe then return them.
2007-07-28 01:50:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could return them with something you made in them - like some of those cookies! Otherwise, I'm sure he meant you to keep them.
2007-07-28 01:28:21 · answer #9 · answered by Cheese Fairy - Mummified 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
O forget the old dirtpile. Keep the Jars. It's not you are trying to steal anything. They are now rightfully yours. Have a little victory dance.
2007-07-28 10:38:23 · answer #10 · answered by Argent 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋