Schedule controversy

Linc you are right, this is a controversial approach but can you see the advantage? It is absolutely as mathematically "fair" as possible (no more, I always get so-in-so complaining) Their is no element of chance or luck in who gives you gifts or who you give gifts to, which you say removes the fun. I think the other element of fun you experience is in keeping the secret about who you have until the big day and using stealth/espionage to find out what the person might like to receive.

I suggest random draw often results in giving to the same person year after year after year, which is not as fun. Furthermore, several people work in concert to expose the complete givee/giver list by sharing their secrets with each other. If people want to know who has them, they can always find out. Finally, with the luck of the draw approach, you could very possibly never give to some members of the group. This is especially the case when you add in the requirements for no self-gifts, no spouse gifts. It is tough to get a good random draw with this inherent tampering with the random draw.

Could we maybe combine the preplanned and random? Take these seven preplanned lists and randomly draw one out, keep the names secret, and keep the other six lists for next time? I don't see how it is much different from what we do now, except by doing this you can ensure no repeat gifting.

Regardless of random draw vs preplanned, I think we should do it now so we have 8 months to make a gift. The holidays are busy and stressful enough without having to come up with a handmade gift idea for a specific person, then create the gift from that idea before the gift deadline. What I am saying is: not all of us operate lathes, cross-stitch and solder on a regular basis. So it may take time, for me at least, to research and "learn how" to even make a certain handmade gift for someone because I am pretty sure some people do not want me to give them origami for Christmas.