A Christmas riddle was posted on Twitter on November 19, 2012:
 
Q: Why didn’t the shoelace get what it wanted for Christmas?
A: It was on the knotty list.
 
“Knotty list” is a pun on “naughty list.” Another version was posted on Reddit—Dad Jokes on December 17, 2017:
 
Q: Why don’t strings get any presents for Christmas?
A: Because they’re always on the knotty list.
 
     
Twitter
Ajai Coleman‏
@ajai_coleman
Why didn’t the shoelace get what it wanted for Christmas? It was on the knotty list.
11:32 AM - 19 Nov 2012
 
Twitter
Mikey‏
@MikeyTKO
Why didn’t the rope get any Christmas presents? - It was on the knotty list. #dadjokes
1:57 PM - 15 Mar 2017
     
We Heart It
My Favorite Puns- Holiday Edition
Posted to Holiday on December 5, 2017
(...)
8. Children whi don’t learn to tie there shoes properly are bound to end up on the knotty list.
 
Reddit—Dad Jokes
Why don’t strings get any presents for Christmas? (self.dadjokes)
submitted December 17, 2017 by nrith
Because they’re always on the knotty list.
 
Twitter
keepingitcreel‏
@Keepingitcreel
Why don’t strings get any presents for Christmas? Because they’re always on the knotty list.
2:15 AM - 17 Dec 2017