Some hate it and others love all the cards, candy, romantic comedies, stuffed animals, balloons and flowers that creep in every year around mid-January.

Some people have eyed the classic and clichéd tales of the single girl finding her happily ever after through red and pink colored glasses every year.

But do people wonder about the guys’ perspectives? Not just the handsome Prince Charming character that only shows up at the climax, but the average guy. How do average men view the candy-coated holiday? And how do they get through it.

It would not surprise some people if men didn’t even have the 14th of February on their radar.

Shelby Mrazek, a freshman business management major, said Valentine’s Day is not as important to guys as it is to girls.

“(Men) probably don’t even care,” Mrazek said.

The possibility of receiving gifts doesn’t seem to be a hot topic either.

Tafadzwa Ndlovu, a sophomore nursing major, said guys do not particularly care about Valentine’s Day presents.

“A guy’s not going to sit around and think about it. Like ‘What am I going to

get?’,” Ndlovu said.

Gift giving is a known tradition of Valentine’s Day; and the absence of a gift, or a quality gift, might lead to disaster. People in relationships can stress out under Valentine’s Day gift pressure.

Mackenzie Klein, a sophomore biological sciences major, said she thinks guys have trouble finding gifts for girls.

“I think (guys in relationships) think (gift giving is) something they’re supposed to do,” Klein said.

Steve Arthurs, a sophomore kinesiology major, said giving gifts is expected.

“If you’re dating you have to give gifts,” Arthurs said. “Seriously, it’s an unwritten rule.”

Klein said giving gifts has been a Valentine’s Day tradition.

“It’s known that you get someone a gift (on Valentine’s Day),” Klein said.

Stephanie Henna, a communication studies senior, said some girls react badly when they do not receive a gift for Valentine’s Day.

“If they have a girlfriend they have to get a gift and spend money,” Henna said. “If a guy in a relationship doesn’t get his girl a gift he’ll get slapped.”

Ndlovu said he thinks girls like getting gifts.

“I think most girls appreciate [gifts],” Ndlovu said.

Although some girls bemoan Valentine’s Day and try to take cover whenever heart decorations are seen, some boys just don’t care about it. Maybe the effort only appears when a guy is in a relationship, so when the relationship ends, so does the attention.

Tony Smith, a sophomore family and consumer sciences major, said that it’s when a guy is in a relationship that Valentine’s Day becomes important.

“For (single men) it doesn’t really matter,” Smith said. “For us, it’s just another day,” Smith said.

But some guys celebrate the true meaning of Valentine’s Day of showing care and affection to family, romantic interests and friends.

Matt VanNuffelen, an undecided freshman, said that he and his best friend don’t care about exchanging Valentine’s Day gifts.

“It’s my best friend,” VanNuffelen said. “It doesn’t matter. I would feel weird giving a girl a gift or getting (a gift from a girl), but I’ve known him since I was in the fourth grade. It’s nice not to be (left out on Valentine’s Day).”

VanNuffelen said it is nice just to get gift for and from friends.

“(My best friend) got me a button last year with a funny saying (for Valentine’s Day),” VanNuffelen said.

While some people, like VanNuffelen, think that showing love for friends is worth celebrating, other people place more value in gift exchange.

Kathleen Rebbe, a junior elementary education major, said guys should receive gifts. “At least something. It doesn’t have to be extreme,” Kathleen Rebbe

Henna said it is not fair if it is only girls who receive gifts. She said guys should expect gifts too.

“Especially if they are giving,” Henna said.

Felicia Darnell can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].