Deduction #8--The Ultimate Guide to Deducing Holiday Presents

I know I've mentioned deducing what your presents are a few times, in a couple of lists, but I never really wrote much about it.  Here's the process.  I myself celebrate Christmas, which generally utilizes much wrapping paper, tissue paper, bags, boxes, and other sorts of coverings, partially due to the whole commercialization of the holiday.  To my understanding, this is not the norm in all holiday celebrations, cultures, or families, and there are many variations in wrapping methods, so I will try to include as many variations as I know of.

What to Look For

• It should be fairly easy to discern whether the object is a box or not.  If it is a box, hold tight and stay tuned.
• If it is not a box, squeeze it gently.  If it is hard, you should probably stop squeezing.  If it is soft, it is probably clothing or some other fabric product.
• If it is hard, it may be metal or glass.  Try to bend it gently.  It may be cardboard or plastic packaging.  If there seems to be friction, it may be rubber.  If it resists, you should probably stop bending.
• If there is a part of the paper that is not directly on top of the object, it is an irregularly-shaped present, probably with some sort of packaging.  An example could be a USB drive in plastic clamshell packaging.  
• If you find out that it is clamshell packaging, I feel sorry for you and encourage you get a good pair of scissors or another cutting implement so you can cut through the cardboard and zipties while hopefully not slicing your skin open.
• Thin tissue paper
• Most of the same stuff as shiny paper, only easier to accidentally stick your finger through during the squeezing process.
• Box
• Shake the box.  Do you hear metallic noises?  Probably metal.  If you don't hear anything moving around, it's probably one object. 
• If you hear objects hitting against each other, there is more than one physical object.
• If you hear general "clunking" noises, there is one object, but it does not fill up the whole box and there is little or no extra wrapping, such as tissue, surrounding it.
• If you hear things rolling around, there is a sphere or cylinder of some sort. 
• If something seems to be bouncing (not something I've experienced, but it's possible), it is probably a rubber ball. 
• Fabric
• Look at what the fabric is after you use the shiny wrapping paper techniques.  It could be a napkin, dish towel, or article of clothing that is also intended to be a gift to you.

That's all I can think of right now.
Signing off,
SM