Green day stuff.

I used to love Green Day, and my friends still buy me the band's stuff for birthdays. But I've moved on. How do I stop them?

Al, Quincy, MA

Jimmy The Bartender® answers

Hey, I still like Green Day. But this kind of thing happens a lot, Al. One year, someone bought my little niece a toy monkey, she cooed, and now every birthday is plagued with the stupid things. But people are just trying to be nice. Don't tell them you hated their last 5 years' worth of gifts. Instead, casually play some new favorite tunes for your buddies. Or mention how one band does something better than Green Day. The guys will catch on.