Accepting Gifts Etiquette

[tandh]

I've became really good friends with a fellow dog walker over the summer, and in the last couple of weeks i have started to feel that he likes me more than a friend, unfortunately i do not feel the same way about him. Today he gave me a nice box of chocolates and a little Halloween teddy while we were out on a walk. I wasn't expecting it, and i didn't know what to do so i just accepted them and then got into my car. I feel like i don't really want them though as i don't want to give him false hope, and i don't like accepting gifts from people anyway as i feel like i owe them something. I know it's only a small present but i really want to give them back to him tomorrow but i don't want to upset him as i do really like him as a friend. what do you think i should do? men, would you be offended if someone returns your gift? what would you think?

[ummmm]

Don't return them. Friends can buy each other gifts.

[Mamyalynne]

Oh please don't return them, if he continues to show interest just play it down a bit and he may get the message.

[mazie]

Would you be offended if someone returned one of your gifts tandh? I know I would.

[andy-hughes]

How would you feel if you gave a friend a gift, and he or she returned it the day after? Exactly.

You only think he thinks of you as more than a friend, maybe he is just being nice? If he is trying to send a message that he likes you, there are kinder ways of deflecting it than spurning his gift.

Play this by ear, I am sure you are experienced enough to be able to let him down more gently than simply giving him his chocolates and teddy bear back.

[grasscarp]

You cant take something and then give it back next day. It would upset the giver. It is only a small gift and he obviously wanted to please you. Don't read too much into it. Someone once said to me that you should always accept gifts graciously. It is all too easy to hurt other people.

[tandh]

oh really? now that you've all said it, it does sound like quite a *** thing to do, i just don't want to hurt him in the long run by giving him false hope. I googled how to know if she's not into you the other day and it listed not looking her best when she knows she's gonna see you as one of the things. So today i came straight from painting my house wearing old clothes and no lipstick, but he still gave them to me. What else can i do to gently drop the hint?

[ummmm]

Just bring up the fact that you're happy single into the convo.

[grasscarp]

Just be less available. Walk dog in other areas. Drive dog to somewhere else. You have become friends so it wasnt one sided. Eat the chocs and go to bed.

[tandh]

lol @ grasscrap eat the chocolates and go to bed ha ha
it's a little saying that i can't be friends with any male in case they want to date me though.
that;s a good idea mmmm,or maybe i just shouldn't wear any makeup when i walk her, that'll scare him away lol

[tandh]

#silly

[Quizproquo]

I'd wait until you're both laughing at something and then say something like...I'm so glad you're my friend. It's lovely to have that friendship without worrying that you're going to make a move any minute. Thank you"...something like that.

[smurfchops]

Take your dog to another park.

[Patsy33]

Tell him the chocolates were lovely and you and your new partner really enjoyed them!

[tandh]

lol some good advice from patsy and quiz pro. It wasn't that i didn't want to see him again, i just didn't want to make it weird between us if he did ask me out then i had to reject him.
Bit of an update though, he's actually really upset me by something he said, so i don't think i'm really gonna talk to him again.

[Mamyalynne]

Best left then tandh.x

[tandh]

yeah, and thinking about it I think I was just getting stressed out about it all which was ruing my walks