No No No It's Too Early

[USUK]

You could also look at it from the other point of view that by not filling his kids' heads with nonsense about non-existent bearded fat men, he has done them a favour.

 

I loved Christmas when I was a kid. I loved it because of the knowledge that I was going to get lots of toys and things bought for me; it was a purely materialistic view. Spending time with family etc... didn't even register on my scale... I wanted PRESENTS! This is one of the main reasons why now, as an adult, I despise what Christmas has become. By telling kids that Santa is coming and will bring them lots of goodies if they behave, I believe parents are creating a sense of materialism in their kids which, as with all behavior patterns that are nurtured during childhood, will remain with them throughout their lives.

 

Christmas, such as it is in the 21st century, is an utter abomination. The yule festival used to be about celebrating the returning of the light at winter solstice; about gathering all family and friends, enjoying a feast and creating a sense of togetherness to get the family unit through the dark winter nights. But then the church decided that they could not accept people celebrating a pagan festival so they hijacked it with some complete garbage about the virgin birth of Jesus (who according to most historians was probably born in either march or september) and ordered everyone in Christian countries to celebrate their festival or else.

 

Having been hijacked by the church, in the 20th century it was then hijacked by capitalism. We are so bombarded now with advertising from around September onwards that it is impossible to escape it anywhere. I read somewhere that the common image of Santa Clause in a red suit was invented by none other than the world's worst marketing slags, Coca Cola. Traditionally he was green before they got involved. Even companies whose products have sod all to do with Christmas have to jump on the bandwagon to 'maximise revenue' these days. Last year, Macdonalds was running a special festive menu FFS. What the hell?!?

 

But it is not just advertising that has society over a barrel, it is the social pressures that go with it. It is almost as if the message is "if you don't spend lots of money you don't have on buying pointless crap for your kids then you are a bad parent". And people swallow it hook line and sinker. Many parents feel that they absolutely have to spend £hundreds on Xboxs, bikes etc.. because they feel that to do otherwise is somehow socially unacceptable and that other people will scorn them for being so frugal when they should be showering their little darlings with gifts just to remind them how special they are. Isn't showing kids love enough these days?

 

Have I turned into a grumpy old man? Too right I have. But I would prefer to stand up and say 'enough is enough' and to recognise this depraved irrationality for what it is, than to just play along with the pretense that modern-day Christmas is a wonderful, magical time just to fit in.

 

 

 

Are you sure it wasn't Hallmark who invented Christmas

[Mecky]

It's not too early at all

[Guest]

You could also look at it from the other point of view that by not filling his kids' heads with nonsense about non-existent bearded fat men, he has done them a favour. ...

Flattening an aspect of childhood imagination and joy at an age when they're too young to understand adult concerns with faith (or lack thereof) and commercialism, at a time when they should be caught up, along with their friends, in the excitement? Yes, that's a huge favour. Age-appropriate discovery and explanation about Rudolph et al. Age-appropriate discovery, explanation and freedom to make up their own minds about Christmas as a religious celebration.

...Christmas, such as it is in the 21st century, is an utter abomination. [snip] ...

Your rant made me chuckle.

 

I think you do most folk a disservice to suggest that they're so easily subject to manipulation by social and commercial pressure to the point of irrationality. The Christmas period is what you make of it. You're free to gather your friends around the Festivus pole, or to head to church for a Christmas service; free to turn off your TV and read Christmas ghost stories, or to enjoy a few work-free days of whatever Ant, Dec and Brucie are up to this year; free to indulge your family and friends, or to exchange tokens of love and appreciation; free to select from MacDonalds' festive menu, or to conjure up roast goose.

 

And yes, you're also free to ignore it entirely, though unless you're child- , family- and friend-free, it's generally a time to consider something other than your own beliefs and essentially selfish requirements.

[Smithster]

I think you do most folk a disservice to suggest that they're so easily subject to manipulation by social and commercial pressure to the point of irrationality.

 

Really? Have you never walked through Meadowhall in the run up to Christmas?

[Smithster]

And yes, you're also free to ignore it entirely, though unless you're child- , family- and friend-free, it's generally a time to consider something other than your own beliefs and essentially selfish requirements.

 

I think you slightly misunderstand my point though. I am all in favour of a winter solstice celebration; a time of gathering with friends and family to eat, drink and be merry. That's what it used to be and that is what I would like it to return to. My gripe is with the consumerist nonsense that goes with it.

[cooljules]

Why should it be banned? Also banning xmas because you don't like it and depriving your kids seems unfair. Did you not return xmas cards or anything?

 

nope dont send cards, presents even to people who have sent them me.........yet they already knew how i stand.

 

sign on my door says no carol singers etc.

[Guest]

Really? Have you never walked through Meadowhall in the run up to Christmas?

Not recently.

 

I'm not denying the commercialisation of Christmas. I'm maintaining that we have the capacity to respond to it appropriately, according to what you want to make of it. Suggesting that we're all hypnotised by festive bling into rampant consumerism to the point of 'depraved irrationality' is a vast over-simplification, hardly applicable to anyone with the requisite clutch of functioning brain cells.

 

It isn't 'impossible to escape it anywhere'. You can escape it in your own home. You're not obliged to follow some mesmerised herd dreamt up by the ad execs, you know; though if you've got young children, a certain degree of going with the tinsel-draped flow of festive merriment probably should be in order.

[Guest]

I think you slightly misunderstand my point though. I am all in favour of a winter solstice celebration; a time of gathering with friends and family to eat, drink and be merry. That's what it used to be and that is what I would like it to return to. My gripe is with the consumerist nonsense that goes with it.

No, I understood that your issue is with the commercialisation of Christmas. That final paragraph was an attempt to bring the post back to the point to which I was originally responding.

[Smithster]

Not recently.

 

I'm not denying the commercialisation of Christmas. I'm maintaining that we have the capacity to respond to it appropriately, according what you want to make of it. Suggesting that we're all hypnotised by festive bling into rampant consumerism to the point of 'depraved irrationality' is a vast over-simplification, hardly applicable to anyone with the requisite clutch of functioning brain cells.

 

People are susceptible to commercial and social pressure whether they are consciously aware of it or not. Now I will agree that not everybody succumbs to it but a large percentage of the population spend their lives 'following the herd' without ever being aware of it.

 

It isn't 'impossible to escape it anywhere'. You can escape it in your own home. You're not obliged to follow some mesmerised herd dreamt up by the ad execs, you know; though if you've got young children, a certain degree of going with the tinsel-draped flow of festive merriment probably should be in order.

 

And herein is the issue of 'social pressure'. If I had children I would feel forced to go with the flow and to spend vast sums of money on presents, otherwise my children would hate me and they themselves would become social outcasts at school because their parents didn't buy them presents for Christmas and must therefore be weirdos.

[Mr Bloke]

Christmas is supposed to be the season of goodwill!

 

If only all those that 'prepared for Christmas' in September could also maintain this gesture throughout their 'festive season'!

 

Let me be the first(?) to wish you all a very merry Christmas!

 

 

Now can we get back to reality?