Regarding Santa Claus [NO KIDS ALLOWED]

[Fumofu]

Christmas was always more fun when I believed in Santa because my parents put so much extra effort into getting me good gifts and sneaking them under the tree when I was sleeping. Ever since I found out all they've given me is money every year and while I still appreciate that, it's not as fun as it used to be.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Hey, I didnt say everyone here is one of them, I just said there were a lot. No generalization there dude. I know most of you are cool guys and gals.

Well, I'll give you that. Especially in recent years. You're cool, I respect that.

In regards to what I said earlier, take everything The Virgo says with a massive heaping of salt. His father never hugged him as a child. I haven't forgotten the thread he created (or at least was a major part of) in which we were told to define what makes us happy in life and he shot down each and every person's response with his incredibly emo outlook on life.

Trust me, you'll feel much better off knowing and treating him like the professional troll he is. Truly.

[sub]This is one reason I normally stay out of Off-Topic. Nothing's happening in Gaming Discussion today, though. Sadface.[/sub]

OT: I'm 21 and I like to believe in the Spirit of Christmas, as opposed to its true meaning. There's nothing wrong with forgetting what a shit-tastic world this is for one month out of the year, and just enjoying it. Nothing wrong at all.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

Regarding Santa Claus ... why do people do it? Why do people, year after year, bullshit their kids into believing that there is Santa? Why do that?

Kids love it and parents love making their kids happy so I see no reason why not to do it.

The word you are looking for is "Realist".

Okay, so as a realist you think Santa is a method of scaring kids into being good over a few weeks rather than a bit of fun? This is the second time I've had to wonder if I should burst into laughter or pity you.

Also, if we're going into social bullshit then it's important for kids to have an active imagination. Magic, Santa, the Tooth Fairy, Dragons etc all have an impact on childhood development. Santa happens to be a big one for happiness and imagination.

 

[Olivia Faraday]

OT: I'm 21 and I like to believe in the Spirit of Christmas, as opposed to its true meaning. There's nothing wrong with forgetting what a shit-tastic world this is for one month out of the year, and just enjoying it. Nothing wrong at all.

You can enjoy the Spirit of Christmas without being a Santa lover.

I love Christmas more than anybody I know. My mother always says that I turn into an eight year old for the entire month of December. I check the weather every day hoping for snow. I live alone, but have always decorated my apartment like a grandfather with 20 grandchildren decorates his house. I spend four times more what I can afford just so I can see everybody smile at their gifts (and I love getting as much as I love giving!)

My uncle has terminal cancer and is living with my parents. I've moved back in to help her take care of him. He's never had any love for Christmas, but this year he says that he got 100% into it just because my energy was so infectious.

I love Christmas. Christmas is better than fresh Subway subs, a brand new book that's never been opened, the moment when you finish a new game that you know is going into your revised top 10.

I just don't like Santa and never have, and there are plenty other people like me out there.

Is that not okay?

 

[El Presidente]

I think you're looking a bit too much into it. It's fun, nothing more nothing less.

 

[El_Chubba_Chubba]

Oh he is real...

Its just the easter bunny and Lenny Kravitz that are fictitious.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Is that not okay?

That is okay. In fact that is more than okay. You should be very proud for what you do for your family and friends. What I meant was more along the lines of just displacing what cynical feelings and burdens that one may have during the season, in order to fully enjoy it, as you have so described. I know Santa is just a story to tell children.

...and when I figured this out, I didn't hilariously bottle it down inside and let it boil for who knows how long, like The Virgo here. That's ridiculous.

I simply kept the Spirit of Christmas alive inside of me, to come back once a year, much like you do.

Believe me buddy, I am on your side.

 

[FoolKiller]

Two things:

1. I think that the lie is still propagated because the economy loves it. If it makes money why eliminate it.

2. Personally, I won't lie to my kids. I think the whole Santa thing goes against Christmas spirit at this point. Also, if I'm not very successful financially I really don't want my children thinking that Santa plays favourites just because the better gifts get given to the children of families with more money.

 

[Palademon]

Well I'd prefer if they didn't do it.

I cried. At the age of...13 I think it was.

 

[AhumbleKnight]

OT: It's harmless fun. The OP is still surly about a little white lie. Can we just move on and let kids be kids?

Why do we need Santa for kids to be kids. Kids have awesome imaginations and create their own interesting fun games every day. They don't need their parents to lie to them for that to happen.

I was unaware that belief in Santa was the sole criteria for kids to be kids.

What parent tells their kid everything? Are you saying that kids should be told where babies come from immediately? Will kids be told that a large percentage of the world is in turmoil? Pain, murder, and rape are common?

Santa is a part of childhood. It's a magical and joyous thing that brings happiness to many kids. Life is hard enough.

You completely ignored the point I was trying to make. Then you made a large illogical jump and ask if I think we should tell kids about everything immediately...
I talk about lieing to kids being an undesirable thing. That is all. But hey, I will answer you stupid, off topic question. You tell kids about the truths (both harsh and wonderful) when they are old enough to ask. You also use your judgement to determine how much depth you will go into when explaining said fact of life.

 

[The Virgo]

In regards to what I said earlier, take everything The Virgo says with a massive heaping of salt. His father never hugged him as a child. I haven't forgotten the thread he created (or at least was a major part of) in which we were told to define what makes us happy in life and he shot down each and every person's response with his incredibly emo outlook on life.

Firstly, my father and I actually get along really great. My mother, on the other hand, is a monster *****.

And secondly, I believe you are highly wrong about "thread he created (or at least was a major part of) in which we were told to define what makes us happy in life and he shot down each and every person's response with his incredibly emo outlook on life." I want to see which thread that was that I supposedly created. And if I did create it, I bet you that you'll see that I didn't do it to everybody, maybe just one or two, at the most.

Go on. Find that thread. I call your bluff.

 

[Roxor]

I'm not having kids because I don't have any interest in devoting eighteen years of my life to taking care of them. That's a level of commitment that I just am not interested in. I'll borrow my sister's and spoil them rotten, instead. Best of both worlds.

You sound like me. I'm never going to have kids of my own, but if my sister does, their Uncle Rohan is probably going to wind up giving them a couple of hundred games on Steam by the time they're ten.

That said, if I did, I probably wouldn't tell them there's a Santa Claus until I was old enough to see if their personalities would enjoy the myth or not.

I think I'd probably tell them the story, but add the disclaimer that it's still just a story. Maybe offer to let them do what I did and play Santa for the family. That was fun. I'd shut myself in my room the day before Christmas with the wrapping paper, sticky tape, a pair of scissors, and everyone's presents, wrap them up, then put them under the tree that evening before bed. Sure, it meant no surprises for me, and I knew what everyone was getting, but it was still fun for me at the time. As I got older, I ended up abandoning the pre-printed paper for plain paper and drawing on it myself. I still do that on the rare occasions when I wrap gifts for other people.

Don't get me wrong. I love magic. I'm a 26 year old woman and my room is decorated with unicorns.

I don't suppose they're purple and named Twilight, are they?

Okay, in all seriousness, I basically grew up on science fiction and science non-fiction, but I don't think it killed any love for magic, considering my first dabblings in writing fan fiction were for Harry Potter universe variants, and more recently, My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic.

Personally, as a kid, I didn't like Santa! He didn't creep me out or anything. There was just something about him that seemed wrong to me. It didn't make sense that he did all those houses a night, and how could he eat 12 billion cookies without getting sick? What made reindeer fly? What distinguished the arbitrary difference between good and bad girls and boys? Nobody could provide any satisfactory answers and always seemed annoyed that I was asking the questions. Christmas became frustrating for me as I felt myself constantly being pushed to stop asking questions, which was a part of my personality.

I got more and more resentment for Santa because of how I wasn't allowed to question his authority, until I started running experiments. I tried to see if I could trip Santa up. When I went to sit on his lap at the mall, I asked him for a bunch of stuff I had no interest in. I gave Santa one list and my parents another. When none of the gifts I'd asked Santa for showed up, and all the gifts I'd asked my parents for had, my theory was proven true!

I confronted them about it. I was so mad at them. Why hadn't they just told me? Did they think I was dumb? It was a whole big blowup. I was about five and a half at the time.

You, madam, were a model kid. Applying the scientific method at age five? That's brilliant. We need more kids like you.

 

[Ashannon Blackthorn]

It's weird. I'm torn about this thread. I want to smack the OP and congratulate him at the same time.

Smack him because of his generally whiny emo condescending crap he writes, but he is right.

But then again, I also don't see the harm and I sure as hell don't buy no conspiracy theories. Most conspiracy theories are for the weak minded trying to prove that they "know" stuff the common masses don't.

But Santa is a symbol and as good Saint George (Carlin) said, "I leave symbols to the symbol minded..."

So maybe the OP can re-write his topic and leave out the shit and I'd be a lot more happy to fully support him as opposed ot giving him a lukewarm meh and a imaginary boot to the balls.

Also, for how I deal with ol Saint Nick... I tell the kids he's not real physically. There is no large fat man with flying moose and all that. But, I tell them what he represents is real and that they should cherish that instead of some physical being. Most kids can handle that, still get the magic and they get the realism. Best of both worlds.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Firstly, my father and I actually get along really great. My mother, on the other hand, is a monster *****.

And secondly, I believe you are highly wrong about "thread he created (or at least was a major part of) in which we were told to define what makes us happy in life and he shot down each and every person's response with his incredibly emo outlook on life." I want to see which thread that was that I supposedly created. And if I did create it, I bet you that you'll see that I didn't do it to everybody, maybe just one or two, at the most.

Go on. Find that thread. I call your bluff.

Nah. Too little, too late.

I personally, don't like you very much, so...no, I don't think I will.

Good day.

 

[omega 616]

Spoiler: The Easter Bunny isn't real either.

Dude!

Somebody needs to work on there spoiler tags!

On topic. Firstly no kid is good all year round for santa, that lie gets broken out late November to make kids behave.

Secondly, it's a decent reason to get over hyped kids, with one more sleep to go, to go to sleep. I am sure you remember going to bed on xmas eve squeeing like crazy that tomorrow you will be ripping open them presents that have mocking you for a whole month! The excitement is almost too much to bear!

Will people stop trying to suck the fun out of stuff? We already live in a pretty shitty world, having santa, the easter bunny and the tooth fairy make the world a teeny tiny bit better twice or thrice a year!

 

[silversnake4133]

I don't really see why there's a problem with it. If anything it teaches children both delayed gratification and that if you want to be rewarded you have to work for it (in this case they have to mind their manners and be "good" ie, not whining, screaming, crying, etc). Besides to many kids "Santa" can act as like the "generous Grandfather" because all he wants to do is give presents and spread cheer. Eventually kids learn that there is no actual Santa Claus, but that notion instilled a greater appreciation for my parents because they are so willing to give me a better Christmas before their own.

Yeah parents are essentially lying to their children, but at that age, kids aren't really going to know the difference. Besides Santa Claus has become a symbol of cheer and generosity for this holiday season. Not necessarily commercialism, but just giving to others to make them happy. This then translates into the "being good" aspect for children. If they help others and act in a positive manner toward others then they can expect that "good karma" back in the form of presents that Santa Claus will bring. Heck I'm 22 and I still believe in Santa Claus, I don't know why it's such a big deal that others don't, or that adults aren't supposed to believe in him.

 

[Singularly Datarific]

Spoiler: The Easter Bunny isn't real either.

Aaaanyways, prolly because it's fun to be able to believe in a mystical thing such as Santa. Also, behavior. Little kids care about presents so the threat of NO presents is a good way to get them in line.

 

[Capricious]

Look this does not matter if it is truth fiction real or fake this santa clause was once adopted as a story of old saint nick from germany where the parents were to poor to promote such an idea where saint nick was an old toy maker that whittled in his free time he gave his creations to kids when he passed by nothing more he became over glorified by being dubbed a saint after his death and renamed santa clause when translated is saintly cause. now it is used to promote consumerism on winter solstice pagan holiday later made to be hedonistic then was made to be christian based giving underlying "tones." Anger is unnecessary in this I personally do not celebrate any holiday due to my religious beliefs saying why have festivities on one given day why can it not be every day what make this day different and don't say christmas cheer or some nonsense like that.

I see Santa didn't give you any punctuation marks for Christmas.

There's just no right way to raise a child. Hence why I don't want one.

And here we come to the crux of it. You sir, hate children. That does not make you a bad person. My first girlfriend despised children. There is no manual that says "Raising Kids for Dummies". However, it is not incredibly difficult to know how to raise a child. You have to be dedicated, you have to be patient, you have to be strong. You make these points about incredibly traumatic events, and bombs, and child abuse. THIS IS FUCKING SANTA CLAUS. Yes, it is a lie. But you know what? WE LIE EVERY DAY. Actors lie as part of their profession! Being traumatised because of the Santa lie is like being traumatised by learning that James Bond is a fictional character. Santa is a harmless, fun thing for parents. As a parent, I know this. You are not a parent. You do not know. You also, as I predict, find children repulsive. Santa claus is NOT FOR YOU. IT IS FOR US. STOP TRYING TO BE A SMARTARSE, AND LET US GO ABOUT OUR BUSINESS.

I also see that you do not read. So let me reiterate that I does not matter that santa is real but what he purveys. He is a storybook character based on a real man. This is to help teach children what to be considered. Therefore he is to just convey the fact that you must have a year round attitude but get rewards for it. What I ask is why promote any such idea of rewarding good behavior. Why not just take it as a story to learn a moral? Why not show your detest and hate to the world? Why must we only come together once in a year? If you take these as rhetorical I will not fault you. I am a parent that view that children as do we need to learn and relearn values. The way to teach may be different but all the same the child will learn. And since the child will learn regardless of what we teach others will teach in our place.

 

[The Virgo]

Firstly, my father and I actually get along really great. My mother, on the other hand, is a monster *****.

And secondly, I believe you are highly wrong about "thread he created (or at least was a major part of) in which we were told to define what makes us happy in life and he shot down each and every person's response with his incredibly emo outlook on life." I want to see which thread that was that I supposedly created. And if I did create it, I bet you that you'll see that I didn't do it to everybody, maybe just one or two, at the most.

Go on. Find that thread. I call your bluff.

Nah. Too little, too late.

I personally, don't like you very much, so...no, I don't think I will.

Good day.

Either you find it or I will contact the mods and ask them to give you an infraction for unfounded slander, since you are unwilling to prove anything and I will not allow someone do speak badly of me about something I supposedly did on another thread without any proof. You wanna do that, have the proof to back it up.

You have 24 hours from the time of this post to either find what you're talking about or remove what you said before I contact the mods.

By the way, I love how THIS guy calls me professional troll when he won't even back up what he says. Lawl. That is all. XD

 

[Capricious]

When i have a son or daughter, im going to trick him/her into thinking im Santa. Say "I'll be back in the morning" and go out the door with a big sack on christmas eve night. ((And then climb in through my bedroom window and go to bed.))

Show up in the morning with snow on my boots, the smell of deer on my clothes and the last few presents in my bag. Then when they think im Santa, i'll tell them you, "cant tell anyone, not even your mother "

Childhood is about fantasy and whimsy. You have to build up all that happiness, so when the soul crushing depression that is High School bares down on you, you have a nice little reserve to fall on. Besides, whats more fun then saying the stupidest thing you can think of to a child and they believe it. "Yeah, People in China have to walk on their hands. If they let go, they fall into space! D: See, the world is a Dodecaoctahedron. And babies come from space! Theyre hidden inside Meteorites!" /worst father ever

My daughter and her friends believe that my name is Dr. Coconut because they lost my name in a paper shredding accident but I have a doctorate "even though I don't" and give them candy calling it medicine. I know they don't believe me but they have fun with it and they really don't know my name and their parents don't either because I introduce myself to them as such. Even so they think I'm rather insane they know that I am intelligent and don't question it. Majority of the parents tell their kids I'm a mad scientist just pervading the fun even more.