Christmas in the time of COVID-19... (Poll)

[minacia]

I'm going to regret making this poll, but who cares!

Here's a scenario:

It's the holiday season, and due to a certain pandemic going around, everyone is sending their Christmas presents in the mail... (I mean, maybe not, but let's pretend for the sake of this poll). All of the presents are wrapped and are sent anonymously.​

​

On the 1st day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail. ​

You unwrap it and discover that it is a generic holiday card wishing you a Merry Christmas.​

​

On the 2nd day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it is a small box of chocolates.​

​

On the 3rd day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it is a small bouquet of flowers / ornamental gift.​

​

On the 4th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover a generic Christmas present.​

​

On the 5th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover an awesome Christmas present that was on your personal wishlist.​

​

On the 6th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a 100 dollar bill.​

​

On the 7th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a high quality sex toy (i.e. vibrator or fleshlight).​

​

On the 8th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a VIP reservation to the most expensive restaurant in the city.​

​

On the 9th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a tickets for a 3-day cruise to some tropical location.​

​

On the 10th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains an airplane ticket to Japan (round trip ~30 days) and $50,000 cash.​

​

On the 11th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a marriage license to be signed and $1,000,000 cash.​

​

On the 12th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a yandere inside of a box with a knife!​

​

Please pretend that you are single for this poll and you literally have no clue who might have sent these gifts to you. You know all of the gifts were sent by the same person because they all have the same wrapping paper. Your best guess is that it must be a stalker of some kind.

Some questions:

1. At which point would you be creeped out? When would you go to the police?

2. What if a friend told you that the police would confiscate the "gift" as crime evidence, meaning that you wouldn't be able to keep the gift (money) that the stalker sent you? Would you still go to the police or would you silently pocket the gift and keep receiving more?

3. If you received a package in the mail by mistake, would you return it? Or would you keep it and use it?

4. Would you use a sex toy that a stranger sent to you in the mail? What if it was unopened in the original package?

Spoiler

For those of you wondering why this poll exists...

A few weeks ago, I received a package in the mail with my name on it. The packing slip had my information as the billing address and the shipping address.

I opened it and it was a bunch of random cosmetic stuff that I didn't order...

Obviously, I freaked out a little and was worried that I somehow experienced identify theft. I checked my online accounts and various other things, and there were no suspicious charges of any kind.

The I googled this a little and discovered that there's actually something called a "Brushing Scam" which is when people buy products and send them to random people in order to leave a fake review on the item. It doesn't affect the package recipient in any way (other than receiving nuisance packages), although it is concerning that your shipping information is just randomly on the Internet...

While I was worrying over this, a few days later a friend called and told me that they sent their package to my place because they were away from home, and they forgot to tell me... They put my name on the package because previously they had this issue where the package would get rejected if it didn't match the information of the person who lived somewhere..........

 

[UYScuti]

Yandere in a box isn’t a bad gift idea. But only if you can customize it. Pick the yandere skills, weapons, clothes, etc etc.

 

[Nahrenne]

I'm going to regret making this poll, but who cares!

Here's a scenario:

It's the holiday season, and due to a certain pandemic going around, everyone is sending their Christmas presents in the mail... (I mean, maybe not, but let's pretend for the sake of this poll). All of the presents are wrapped and are sent anonymously.​

​

On the 1st day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail. ​

You unwrap it and discover that it is a generic holiday card wishing you a Merry Christmas.​

​

On the 2nd day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it is a small box of chocolates.​

​

On the 3rd day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it is a small bouquet of flowers / ornamental gift.​

​

On the 4th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover a generic Christmas present.​

​

On the 5th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover an awesome Christmas present that was on your personal wishlist.​

​

On the 6th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a 100 dollar bill.​

​

On the 7th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a high quality sex toy (i.e. vibrator or fleshlight).​

​

On the 8th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a VIP reservation to the most expensive restaurant in the city.​

​

On the 9th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a tickets for a 3-day cruise to some tropical location.​

​

On the 10th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains an airplane ticket to Japan (round trip ~30 days) and $50,000 cash.​

​

On the 11th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a marriage license to be signed and $1,000,000 cash.​

​

On the 12th day of Christmas, you receive a wrapped present (no return address; anonymous) in the mail.​

You unwrap it and discover that it contains a yandere inside of a box with a knife!​

​

Please pretend that you are single for this poll and you literally have no clue who might have sent these gifts to you. You know all of the gifts were sent by the same person because they all have the same wrapping paper. Your best guess is that it must be a stalker of some kind.

Some questions:

1. At which point would you be creeped out? When would you go to the police?

2. What if a friend told you that the police would confiscate the "gift" as crime evidence, meaning that you wouldn't be able to keep the gift (money) that the stalker sent you? Would you still go to the police or would you silently pocket the gift and keep receiving more?

3. If you received a package in the mail by mistake, would you return it? Or would you keep it and use it?

4. Would you use a sex toy that a stranger sent to you in the mail? What if it was unopened in the original package?

Spoiler

For those of you wondering why this poll exists...

A few weeks ago, I received a package in the mail with my name on it. The packing slip had my information as the billing address and the shipping address.

I opened it and it was a bunch of random cosmetic stuff that I didn't order...

Obviously, I freaked out a little and was worried that I somehow experienced identify theft. I checked my online accounts and various other things, and there were no suspicious charges of any kind.

The I googled this a little and discovered that there's actually something called a "Brushing Scam" which is when people buy products and send them to random people in order to leave a fake review on the item. It doesn't affect the package recipient in any way (other than receiving nuisance packages), although it is concerning that your shipping information is just randomly on the Internet...

While I was worrying over this, a few days later a friend called and told me that they sent their package to my place because they were away from home, and they forgot to tell me... They put my name on the package because previously they had this issue where the package would get rejected if it didn't match the information of the person who lived somewhere..........

I can't really imagine myself in this situation due to not living alone and not answering the door so...
>w>
<w<

X

 

[HURGMCGURG]

Listen, the box of chocolates could be poisoned or laced with narcotics! It's a much bigger red flag than money or even the generic Christmas present.

 

[Discount_Blade]

I wouldn't call the police ever. They rarely come through where I live even if called. Ambulances too for that matter.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Pretend I'm single . . . that's a tough one. The last time I could truly call myself single was in late 2014 to early 2015, and back then, my husband was my friend with benefits. So yeah, before I got to that part of the instructions, I was thinking I'd make my husband open the mail when things started getting creepy.

Actually, we don't open packages immediately after they arrive. We put them in a corner, wash our hands, let them sit for at least a week, and then open them when we're pretty sure all the viruses on them have died. Then, if there's a metal object inside, we wash our hands again and let that sit even longer before dealing with it. Either that or we toss the metal object in the sink and wash it with our next load of dishes. Metal can hang onto viruses longer than other surfaces.

Seriously, we sanitize our groceries and avoid other people like the plague. I have gestational diabetes, so I walk circles in the living room after every meal to control my blood sugar. Going to ultrasound appointments is the closest I get to people other than my husband, and it scares me, but I feel like it's necessary. I've read stories of other pregnant women getting Covid, going into a coma, and having an emergency c-section while in a coma. There are several reasons I want to avoid a c-section at all costs, this being one of the big ones:

Therefore, that yandere would probably die from lack of water . . . but since it has a knife, it would probably cut its way out of the package before we opened it and come murder us in our sleep.

Maybe we'd open the first few packages before the yandere arrived. I would probably call my lovers on the phone to ask which one sent the packages. If it was neither of them, I'd call my favorite former lover, and if it wasn't him, I'd probably call my ex. Oh, and those chocolates better be sugar free.

Now if we dialed this back to 2014-2015 when I was still talking to my ex, I'd probably tell him about it first, and then I'd be asking my parents for advice.

If we dialed this back to 2008 when I lived in a two-bedroom apartment with three other university students, I'd be asking my roommates for advice. Same thing if it was 2007 and I was in one of the freshman dorms. I would also have the resident advisor to talk to in that case.

I can't imagine a scenario on what I would do if I lived completely alone. I see living alone as a waste of money, so I've never done it.

 

[Deleted member 1244]

1. At which point would you be creeped out? When would you go to the police?

Day 1 a generic holiday card wishing you a Merry Christmas.
Shrug then bin it

Day 2 a small box of chocolates
never eat mystery food, bin it

Day 3 a small bouquet of flowers / ornamental gift
consider, wrong address, ask neighbour is items is for them, leave at the street corner if perishable/public mailroom if its worth something,
if not bin it

Day 4 a generic Christmas present.
Start to think its a publicity stunt, BIN IT! Add a metal plate on mailbox that states [NO JUNK MAIL]

Day 5 an awesome Christmas present
Start to feel unnerved, consult coworkers and friends, under the guise of an amusing anecdote, take a photo as evidence, then set aside. Trace paper trail back to who has access to wish list, what company, Amazon, Goodreads? or Ebay?,

Day 6 a 100 dollar bill
Start to feel uncomfortable, seek serious advice, from people I know, add to previous "gift" still set aside.

Day 7 a high-quality sex toy (i.e. vibrator or fleshlight).
Call the police. contact apartment manager to check CCTV and post office to trace back origin,

All subsequent days, police. Hold items as evidence

2. What if a friend told you that the police would confiscate the "gift" as crime evidence, meaning that you wouldn't be able to keep the gift (money) that the stalker sent you? Would you still go to the police or would you silently pocket the gift and keep receiving more?

A justified and logical outcome of reporting to the police. If was given no choice and have to touch a new "gift" I will do so with gloves but will endeavour not to touch them at all! This is to preserve any forensic evidence, to better track down who sent the items. Since the items really must be returned to the right full owner,

What's more, I am fully willing to pay back the costs of the item I threw into the rubbish,

3. If you received a package in the mail by mistake, would you return it? Or would you keep it and use it?

Always return it, Will exhaust all possible line of inquiry to find out where it was supposed to go, If none could be found, Police, donate to the hospice shop, if it is not of value, bin it.

4. Would you use a sex toy that a stranger sent to you in the mail? What if it was unopened in the original package?

No. It needs to be kept in the package to be submitted for police evidence!

If it is a stranger unrelated to the gifter narrative, then...

Wait!!! Hold the phone
WAIT!!! Stop that Train of thought!
WAIT!!!!

Hold on. Aren't ALL sex toy people order and get sent thru the mail sent by strangers?!?!


No no no no, you mean, Would I use it if a person I don't know, but know who I am, sent it to me as a gift, with the intent that I use it....
No, I suppose. I feel it is... a bit too invasive for me.

Any other scenario, I would naturally think it was a mailing error and not use it, since it is on its way to someone.... that someone would be upset if other people have been using their stuff...
be it sex toys or a potato ricer...
and GOD DAMN I want a potato ricer!!!
But I still won't use it not even for just one shepherd's pie!

Hmmm.... mash potatoes...

a "Brushing Scam"

Yeah... there was a seed thing a few months back (Still going?) when everyone was getting packets of mystery seeds that no one could identify. people were freaking out (exaggeration) since the gov was worried about it introducing new flora that would mess with the biodiversity. So the gov strongly advised everyone not to plant the mystery seeds. In the end, we found out the seeds were pretending to be gemstones, I think.

 

[yansusustories]

I'm pretty sure I would already refuse to accept the packages (so wouldn't even know what's in there) starting on day 4 because the bouquet would have freaked me out. If it doesn't stop, I might wait a week or so to tentatively go and ask at the police station what I'm supposed to do/able to do and then follow directions.

3. If you received a package in the mail by mistake, would you return it? Or would you keep it and use it?

4. Would you use a sex toy that a stranger sent to you in the mail? What if it was unopened in the original package?

Packages that I get by mistake will definitely be returned if there's an address that I know and am able to get to or there's a post office willing to take it back (there isn't one for everything in my town so bad luck for whoever was supposed to get it).
As for 4, no, I wouldn't but then I'm not into sex toys in general so there's that.

While I was worrying over this, a few days later a friend called and told me that they sent their package to my place because they were away from home, and they forgot to tell me... They put my name on the package because previously they had this issue where the package would get rejected if it didn't match the information of the person who lived somewhere..........

This reminds me so much of a similar story that happened to me a few years ago. An acquaintance actually sent a present intended for me to my address without telling me, having put my name and everything on there. Unfortunately for them, my family had just very recently dealt with some identity theft issues so I was extra alarmed. I did ask around, might have slightly insulted the present (I think I mentioned 'this design looks like what my grandmother might like' which ... wasn't well-received by the gift-giver), and everything was resolved in the end but, gosh. Why do people do this? Just shoot us a message first

 

[Nahrenne]

This reminds me so much of a similar story that happened to me a few years ago. An acquaintance actually sent a present intended for me to my address without telling me, having put my name and everything on there. Unfortunately for them, my family had just very recently dealt with some identity theft issues so I was extra alarmed. I did ask around, might have slightly insulted the present (I think I mentioned 'this design looks like what my grandmother might like' which ... wasn't well-received by the gift-giver), and everything was resolved in the end but, gosh. Why do people do this? Just shoot us a message first

Some people might be too shy to tell the person they wanted to give them a gift. Some people do it as a thanks. Some do it to be kind and don't want any glory from it. Some people do it as a kind of confession but are too scared to admit it's them in case the recipient hated the gift.
There's a number of possible reasons why people do it.

X

 

[Angry_Clown]

A stalker, meaning a person not likely to have any connections or close acquaintances that know where they'll be on that day? It's the perfect opportunity to re-read some long pork recipes, I suppose.

 

[yansusustories]

Some people might be too shy to tell the person they wanted to give them a gift. Some people do it as a thanks. Some do it to be kind and don't want any glory from it. Some people do it as a kind of confession but are too scared to admit it's them in case the recipient hated the gift.
There's a number of possible reasons why people do it.

X

Now that you mention it, that's true. I guess if the world was a little nicer in general, we wouldn't even need to be freaked out by stuff like this

 

[lnv]

I don't know what I'd do, probably call the police to report the dead body?

Cause you know I often times let packages stay at the door for a whole day cause I'm too lazy, and it getting quite below 0 degrees here and all...

 

[LordAstrea]

Take things into my own hands. Why? Because I am clearly the anime protagonist. I have plot armor.

 

[TLCsDestiny]

I'd assume none of it is for me until the marriage cert with my name on it...
Then I'd be like...WTF
Denial for the win until 11th day of Christmas...12th day of Christmas looks like it might be a long day...

 

[Toomanysorrows]

I'd call the police if the cruise ticket came. Maybe I'm overtly optimistic but everything up till then is either pretty regular secret admirer stuff (which is kind of romantic) or kind of weird stuff that you could still talk out with the person if you sat down with them (like the sex toy). Especially since the sender isn't being creepy beyond sending the package. But at the point of multi day cruise it just gets too much and I'd really start worrying about what they're planning.

 

[Deleted member 29081]

I’d be pissed off at them for waiting until the 12th day to give me the best present.

 

[Sabruness]

i'd probably wait till the yandere in a box.... unless the yandere happened to be asleep when i opened the box, in which case i'd hide the knife and get creative to secure them til they wake up and talk.... or do other things while i question them.

 

[Fromage]

Call an ambulance on the 13th day, but not for me.