Please Help Me! I need a Christmas present for my 16 year old.

[LaxScrutiny]

So thing is, he enjoys the Sci Fi and Fantasy shows we watch together on Netflix and Prime. Other than that he doesn't really have any other interests that I can ascertain. He smokes pot, and does his schoolwork, it could be worse.
Last year I got him a couple of Daredevil graphic novels (we'd been watching the shows) and a pretty cool black hoodie cloak that I'd be happy to wear to Comicon. He hasn't touched them.
So, I don't know any more. We get along fine, we go for drives and we make dinner, but other than that I just don't know. I know, (because I was once a teenage boy) that he'll get over it, but I'd still like to give him something for Christmas that he'd like. And, oh yeah, I've asked him and got no answer..

Any suggestions?

 

[Malicia]

Is he musical? How about a harmonica?

 

[auntiehill]

Does he have a tablet? Does he need a new laptop? Speakers? Headphones?

 

[LaxScrutiny]

He's not really into playing music, or even listening to it. He's fine with the classic rock station I play in the car but couldn't care less about who the band is.
His laptop IS pretty old and the fan is getting noisy. I showed him how to keep it cooled, but that may be an idea.

 

[XCV330]

a bike or a skateboard. freedom machine

 

[LaxScrutiny]

a bike or a skateboard. freedom machine

Got him a nice bike two years ago that he's barely ridden.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Is he into space sci-fi?
How about a telescope if you have a decent budget?

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Is he into space sci-fi?
How about a telescope if you have a decent budget?

Trouble is we're in the middle of downtown condoland. Might be good to look for windows with regularly naked people....

 

[Non Sync]

Trouble is we're in the middle of downtown condoland. Might be good to look for windows with regular naked people....

Then it would be age appropriate.

 

[XCV330]

Then it would be age appropriate.

I used my folks' binoculars for that once as teen. Only saw a naked guy watching Alf. never again.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

My friend Brian took me out with his BB gun one night when we were about 16, in the middle of Trawnna suburbs. He liked to shoot at apartment windows. (We were both asshats, we're better now.) Guy in the apartment figured out where we were and Brian's dad covered for me with the cops.
Then there was the time Dave's parents were away and Dave found the car keys. Me, him, Brian, and I think Colin, were out joy riding and got into words with some punks at Scarborough Town Centre. So we get back to our street and we're walking to my place and guess who shows up? We run up to Danny's door and ring the bell, and he's like "What? Should I get the baseball bats?" The punks got bored and left eventually.
Then there's the time me, Darren, Pete and Yousry were playing some soccer. Brian comes with this guy Sefus (I'm sure I'm spelling it wrong.) As a joke Darren pulls out a knife, not really meaning anything. Sefus pulls out a switchblade and Darren grabs my hand and puts the knife in it. Nothing much happened, he grabbed my knife hand and I threw a kick. He let go and Brian grabbed him and calmed him down.
This was 45 years ago before guns became common with punks around here. Lucky for us.
Anyway, my son is pretty chill compared to the crap we got into at 16.
ETA: Apparently it's Cephus.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

Trouble is we're in the middle of downtown condoland.

How about booking a tour at the closest observatory? Over here, they often offer interested laypersons the opportunity to use their equipment.

I think the material value of a present doesn't matter. Imo it's more important to do things together. You could give him - say 12 hours time which he can decide how to use. That could be driving him somewhere or helping with homework or building something together. Whatever he'd like to spend the time on.
(at his age he shouldn't smoke pot - actually he shouldn't at any age. Tell him it often leads to impotence. It really does.)

 

[Sgt_G]

My sister gave her 18-year-old grandson a large box of condoms. She told him she isn't ready to become a great-grandmother!

 

[dupersuper]

I used my folks' binoculars for that once as teen. Only saw a naked guy watching Alf. never again.

That's a man living his best life.

 

[XCV330]

That's a man living his best life.

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[JirinPanthosa]

I'm getting my brother a year subscription to Disney+. He's 35 but I think if he doesn't have the big streaming services already a 16 year old would appreciate that too.

The person I have no idea how to shop for is a 66 year old woman.

 

[maneth]

Sounds like getting him a new laptop is the way to go. I'm in a somewhat similar situation, it's just that my son's only 11... Given the choice, all he'd do would be to watch youtube and play games. *sigh*

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Sounds like getting him a new laptop is the way to go. I'm in a somewhat similar situation, it's just that my son's only 11... Given the choice, all he'd do would be to watch youtube and play games. *sigh*

He's doing about the same, except with the covid lock down here, he does all of his classwork on it too.
He eventually told me all he wants is another pair of his favourite jeans, which was easy enough to order from Amazon.

 

[Stephen!]

Any suggestions?

Is he into colognes, fragrances, aftershaves - stuff like that?

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Is he into colognes, fragrances, aftershaves - stuff like that?

He likes Old Spice. I should throw that into his stocking at least. And he sure as heck needs deodorant.