by L. Merlino

Created on: December 16, 2009

Of course it is insulting! To be made fun of on any occasion is insulting. On the other hand, "poking fun" at someone is not the same as "making fun" which is always at someone else's expense.

Any birthday gift that makes fun of its recipient is contraband for obvious reasons - but to poke fun can be good-natured comradery. Just be sure that the guest of honor can relate to your sense of humor.

As long as you are "laughing along with", not "at" the person or their chronological status, whether its being "over the hump" or too young to vote, drink or drive, it is safe to take a chance on elbowing them. Tread cautiously though. Is the birthday boy greying at the temples? A box of Grecian Formula may be just the thing! Nose hair clippers - maybe. But prune juice? Ok, maybe Fleet Enema tied with a festive bow.

If the matriarch is sporting too many "laugh lines" don't gift her with a poster print of Granny Clampett - unless she totes a shotgun loaded with blanks. It could get you on her hit list.

Is the fledgling party animal too young to drink? Skip the gift-wrapped non-alchoholic bottle of bubbly. No need to rub it in ... you'd get more of a laugh presenting a case of the real thing - padlocked.

Imagine being too young to date - well never mind. There's no way to rub THAT in. Too old to date (if there's any such thing) is another story - gift the old geezer with a set boxer shorts emblazoned with the Playboy Bunny logo. He may even thank you.

Never gift a retired fashionista with a broken mirror - unless a portrait of Angelina Jolie is affixed to its surface. If you are lucky, the lady will laugh first and castrate you later.

Is the old rival too far over the hill? Don't bother to gift-wrap the VIAGRA - save a tree. Your ex-flame will thank you for it.

Retired skydivers don't need parachutes ... aged rock stars don't need a pyrotechnics kit - a catalog will do. Their groupies will thank you for it.

Don't gift a hyperactive two-year-old with a missile launching system - toy or otherwise. I assure you, while the tot may be tickled his mother will simply not get the joke.

All said, what's a few laughs amongst friends? Just be certain that the birthday in question does not end up being your doomsday. Gift appropriately.

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