by Alan Forray

Created on: April 15, 2009   Last Updated: April 19, 2009

UNIQUE AND UNUSUAL GIFTS:

There is a frequently misused word in the American lexicon which like a great many wrongly applied terms in the English language finds its roots in advertising and promotion.

When a product is referred to as, "very unique," the language is perverted in much the same way as when people use the superlatives, "absolute best," "virtually incomparable," or "almost perfect." The facts are, there are no degrees of perfection, incomparability, or what constitutes "the best." These things are unqualified, conclusive, and pure. Just as there is no such thing as "a little bit pregnant," something is either "unique," or it's not.

In a world where the "keyword search" is as powerful a force as gravity, the term "unique gifts" is very much the Holy Grail for online retailers and catalog merchants. Most often buried in a landslide of search terms that include:

Gifts, Unique gifts, Best gifts, Best gift ideas, Unique gifts for men and women, Gift catalogs, Best catalogs, Special Gifts, Unique Birthday Gifts, Best Christmas Gifts, Truly Unique Gifts, Unusual Gifts, Great Gifts, Holiday Gifts, Gift Ideas, Gifts for Men, Gifts for Women, Unique Gift Ideas, Last minute Gift Ideas, Top Gift Ideas, Top Unique Gifts, Top Christmas Gifts, Top Holiday Gifts, Great Holiday Gifts, Top Gifts for men, Best gifts for men, Gifts for him, Gifts for her, Toys and Gifts, Unique gifts for him, Unique Christmas gifts for him, Unusual gifts, Top 10 Gifts, Top 10 Unique gifts, Top 10 Best gifts, Top 10 Best gift ideas, Top 10 Unique gifts for men and women, Top 10 Gift catalogs, Top 10 Best catalogs, Top 10 Unique Gifts, Top 10 Special Gifts, Top Unique Birthday Gifts, Top 10 Best Christmas Gifts, Top 10 Truly Unique Gifts, Top 10 Unusual Gifts, Top 10 Great Gifts, Top 10 Holiday Gifts, Top 10 Best Gifts, Top 10 Gift Ideas, Top 10 Best Gift Ideas, Top 10 Gifts for Men, Top 10 Gifts for Women, Top 10 Catalogs, Top 10 Unique Gift Ideas, Top Last minute Gift Ideas, Top 10 Great Holiday Gifts, and UNIQUE STUFF THAT IS UNIQUE

It is no wonder that 95% of all online gift merchants get as much lasting attention as last year's American Idol rejects.

But, really, folks, exactly, what is unique about a porcelain hula dancer doorstop that doubles as a planter, if it is one of thousands of identical items pouring out of a factory in Thailand? And just because that silk tie with the little C3POs on it is unusual, does that really make it unique? How bout the Babe Ruth Rookie card, worth a

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