I can't remember who - but last week, I think, a guy commented on here that they feel obligated to do the Valentine's thing lest they get in trouble, no matter what a female S.O. might say. That's probably a big part of it, the obligation. Also, as a woman, I have never had a dude get upset w/ me because I did not get them anything for V-Day. (nor have I had one protest when I told them I didn't want anything, fwiw)

Well, I should've answered this about what to get someone with whom you've recently become involved. I've been seeing a great guy for a couple of weeks (just shy of a month come VD), and don't want to seem pushy/clingy, etc., you know, too much, too soon. So I scoured the racks for an appropriate card (you wouldn't believe how difficult this is as the cards are either too mushy or crude, particularly as I never thought of flatuence as a way of saying, "I really like you!") Anyway, after finding the "right" card, it was time to obsess about the gift. Couldn't be candy as he really isn't into it and is diabetic, he eats out all the time, so gift cards really would seem like part of work, etc. Finally, after listening to him laugh constantly at Family Guy, I hit upon the perfect gift!! Chris, my cute hunk of hotel management, will be gifted with "Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story," DVD! It caters to his sick little sense of humor and shows him that I pay attention to what he likes! BTW, I saw a great VD shirt that I wish I'd had in past years - "Valentine's Day, aka Singles' Awareness Day!"

You know, Tia, I had to pause and reread your first two sentences because I was convinced by "VD" you were referencing venereal diseases. It made me laugh. Kudos!

That said, of course we take it seriously! Or we get in trouble! If a girl makes me a mixed CD, sure that's nice. If she gets me something I could get some mileage out of, like a dirt bike or something equally aweseome, all the better. If she gets me nothing, no skin off my teeth. But turn that around and, holy moses, the game is over. Pack it up and go home. No snoo snoo for some time to come.

aeb...yes, you have spoken the truth of it.

As a dude yes (I think this is the third time mentioning it here) I've only gotten crappy gifts.

Everyone is trying to sell things to us for the ladies, but how many commercials do you see about stuff ladies can get for guys?

Well, I think the implied gift is sex.

now that i think about it (and amadeo's comment really caused it to dawn on me) there seems to be an over-abundance of pink and red underpants (lingerie, someone more refined might say) around this time of year. Does that mean I am supposed to get all tarted up and present myself as a gift?!

snoo snoo? JTK, you sent me to urbandictionary.com for that one, although the context clues did help.

Dancing Monkey, we've mentioned snoo-snoo before -- my comment here has a link to a better explanation.

But why redirect you all over the place? Here's the link again.

aeb - Yes.

Isn't this a great country?

Guys take all gift-giving holidays (V-day, Christmas, Anniversary, and Birthday) more serious. Because you are not only buying a gift to impress the woman, your gift must also impress her female friends and associates.

Women ask other women what they received for V-day. They compare gifts almost as a competition. A female friend of mine told me it’s always better to have flowers delivered to a woman’s job so her female co-workers can see them.

I’ve never had a male friend of mine ask me what I received for any gift-giving day. Therefore, we don’t transfer pressure into our SO’s to give great gifts.

I know it's not cool to like the comic strip 'Cathy' but it's always true! Yesterday's strip...

The women ask the men: "What do you guys want for Valentine's Day?"

Men reply: "We want it to be over!"

I knew a guy in college who had the same issue of inequality with regard to gift giving on Valentine’s Day. The solution the couple came up with was to split the holiday up. V-Day was all about her. One month later (03/14) they celebrated the lesser-known holiday Steak-and-BJ Day. I think it’s pretty obvious whom that holiday emphasizes.

I’m not sure if Hallmark makes Steak-and-BJ day cards though.

Truth be told, y'all, the smart man learns soon enough that he must at least match -- preferably outdo -- his gf/wife/SO *every* gift-giving day, be it -- Mother's Day, Christmas, birthday (Lord knows, I'm probably leaving something out).

Many years ago, I made the mistake (only once) of making sure the kids gave my wife nice Mother's Day gifts.
My darling quickly upbraided me for not personally giving her something more than a nice card.
My stammering protestations that she wasn't *my* mother fell on deaf ears.