I had a discussion recently with someone about this. Since we don’t really celebrated our birthdays we weren’t sure what’s “normal “.
If I wish happy birthday to friends every year but never get anything from them I will be suspicious if they even care for me, yes.
I guess it also depends on culture. In Latinamerica many people consider birthdays a big deal so forgetting it would be considered a faux pas.
For me personally I care if my partner and close friends remember, coworkers, my dentist, etc. I don’t give a damn but if they so happen to congratulate me or send a gift or whatever, I thank them graciously and try to correspond in the same manner when it is theirs.
For example, my yoga teacher found out about my birthday because SO sent me flowers to the studio so I could enjoy myself starting the day, so said teacher gifted me a box of my favorite incense. It was a nice touch but definitely due to circumnstances. I enjoyed it nevertheless. So now I will be getting her a nice beautiful plant for her balcony.
I expect my mother and identical twin to remember my birthday. I hope my husband remembers, but would not be upset if he didn’t. (He’s never forgotten)
Neither. Its just another nail in the coffin/ thread on the urn lid
I couldnt care less. I never understood how people would be angry at others for forgetting their birthdays. Its just a damn anniversary…
Let them know for those that I want to know get together with. Otherwise if they remember … great, if not no big deal.
All my friends remember when by about +/-3 days. Every year I invite everyone to meet for food and drinks one night.
It’s January 1st, 1970 no matter who (or what) asks
Unix time?
You’re exactly 5 years older than me. What a coincidence!
Heh, you old af. My condolences.
But at least that’s a nice round number.
I go out of my way to not have people know my birthday.
Those that know, know. I don’t like the extra attention on an arbitrary day. I also don’t message people happy birthday. Only if I see you in person or you’re my wife and I’m away.
I don’t particularly like celebrating birthdays or holidays so I definitely do not expect anyone to remember. I also avoid telling my birthday whenever I can evading as I can. That being said I throw peoples birthday into my cal as I discover them so I can be congnizant of them since most people do celebrate that stuff. If you want to impress me though get me a really relevant gift out of the blue that you got for free, made, or was just a steal of a deal. or a handmedown. don’t be like seinfeld though and lie to me on how cheap you got the thing as the experience should be authentic.
I hate birthdays so I am OK with everyone forgetting
I don’t celebrate my birthday and I don’t tell people my birthday unless it’s required for something.
If they’re close friends and family I definitely expect them to remember. It’s a good indicator of who I can trust in my life as well, those who usually remember just also happen to be on the trustworthy list.
We’ve been debating whether someone remembering a birthday is a reflection of how much they care or not.
Everyone has smart phones and already adds people’s phone numbers in their contacts. Just add their birthdays as well and you will be reminded. If you don’t, you don’t care.
For me it correlates so yes. I’m not saying one is necessarily caused by the other.
Conversely, I set up birthday reminders for the people I care about.
Remembering birthdays is a reflection of how much someone cares about birthdays. There’s no need to read anything more into that.
Many people (this thread is an example) are either completely indifferent to birthdays or even dislike them. To us (I’m indifferent) birthdays are totally pointless and basically a fact related to identification, like a student number or social insurance number. I remember my student and social insurance number because I have to, in order to function at school and in society. I don’t ask anyone else’s student numbers because it’s entirely pointless and useless information to me.
In Germany it’s customary for those having the birthday to bring cake to work. That way coworkers know.
And friends should find out when you invite them to a birthday party. Doesn’t have to be a big party when you’re an adult. You just invite them, eat something together, have some fun. Depends on the friend group.
Another win for home offices!
TIL Hobbit Culture was based, in part, on Germans.
