Historical Christmas Archive - December 2014

[Hobie-wan]

If you don't like Christmas, you simply don't deserve it, or any holiday.

The "holiday season" isn't an automatic reason to "just be happy and enjoy". I hate this time of year. As previously mentioned, Christmas music drives me nuts. Some people do get enjoyment out of the season, but lots of people behave like animals and drive like assholes while pursuing their commercialism. Retailers are horribly stressed from management trying to cover for the crowds down to the face to face workers dealing with crowds. Lots of families incur a ton of debt for months in the name of giving gifts. Things end up feeling like obligations instead of nice for niceness sake. Someone gave a $100 gift while getting a $20 one? One gift is very thoughtful while another is just a gift card? No matter how much "It's the thought that counts", it probably sticks in one's brain. Skip someone because you can't buy for everyone? That sucks too, especially if they thought of you.

So whatever. Fuck holidays. Giving gifts and doing nice things because it is a socially obligated thing sucks. You know what rules? Random acts of kindness and unexpected gifts. This year wish someone a happy March 22nd, just because you're happy to know them and found something you thought they'd enjoy.

[Luke]

Random acts of kindness and unexpected gifts. This year wish someone a happy March 22nd, just because you're happy to know them and found something you thought they'd enjoy.

A holiday is only a reminder to do exactly this. There ISN'T an obligation if you are truly friends with people. It should always be "Oh Shit! Luke would love another copy of NHL 2002", but sometimes you need a reminder that "Oh! Shit! Luke would love another copy of NHL 2002".

If your friends or family forces this upon you...well. Fuck off. Your fault for not saying how you feel. The biggest reason my marriage works is that I can tell family to back off and that "we're our own family, and we'll have our own traditions".

So if you can't do that, again, fuck off.

If you can't say "I'm not obligated" or some other shit to people shut your mouth. Sew it shut.

And if someone said "Of for Fuck's sake. 4/22? Again?" would you feel the same way?

Give people shit and let them know you care. Christmas is a reminder of that. And that's cool. It's all "Hey you...You know your friend has been wanting that Darth Vader Pez Dispenser...Plus, ya know...it's the time of giving..C'mon".

Plus a lot of stuff I don't like...but hating Christmas is dumb.

Hating Christmas music parodies...tolerable.

[AppleQueso]

*farts in Luke's general direction*

[dsheinem]

For those who are not intolerant or disrespectful to those of faith on this board, click the spoiler for the meaning of various items we use in our homes during this time of joy, celebration and reflection

Man it sucks that you feel you have to put up this disclaimer or to spoiler tag things like this. Then again, we lost a regular over a debate about Santa this year

I don't have any issue with the religiosity of Christmas. Almost all holidays are grounded in a combination of mythos, superstition, and actual events and have become something beyond those roots in the modern era anyway. I see Christmas as no exception to that general rule. I am generally pretty bah humbug on holidays, but I do like Christmas by in large, even if I have had it with the yearly month plus of music and hooplah that surrounds it.

Also, mjm, I think a lot of those symbols have been "re-branded" as Christian symbols for Christmas but have their "Winter holiday" origins in other celebrations.

[J T]

Luke is like the grinch who loves Christmas. So full of Christmas cheer he tells people to fuck off, repeatedly.

[pepharytheworm]

Being atheist or agnostic it's harder in a different way or any of the religions who don't have a holiday around this time so even happy holidays is a joke. To be honest this season sucks for anyone not raised at least somewhat christian. Telling my father I don't want anything for Christmas brings up so much explaining and confusion. I worked retail management for years which is even worse. Can't wait for it to be over.

Oh fuck off. "I'm different so it's more harder for me" Didn't mean to diss you, but I think you need a tissue.

I have plenty of atheist friends who aren't so self aware (and sometimes self absorbed with their own beliefs) that love Christmas.

Presents, horrible tv specials, great food, champagne, a tree in your house decorated with star wars ornaments, pajama parties, again presents, telling people you care for them, kissing under mistletoe, fruit cake that has been soaking in brandy for five months, snowmen, the economy being okay for a month, and did I mention Presents?

Call it commercial bullshit. Call it a misconstrued holiday. But to not have fun for a reason to have fun sucks butt hair. If you don't like Christmas, you simply don't deserve it, or any holiday.

Fucking businesses give you a reason to be happy and you shit on it? Fuuuuuuuuuuuck you. They even give you days off if you aren't in retail. They're all "Hey. Here is a bonus for no other reason than we want to you to spend some money and make people happy".

Save for Saint Patrick's Day (which has better food, more booze, better music, and encourages the showing of boobs) Christmas is awesome, possibly the best holiday ever, and there is NO reason to not celebrate it. It really is the "Do something nice for someone for no reason" day.

Whether you agree with me or not you are way out of line. You are pretty much telling people to conform to your holiday despite their religious or non religious beliefs. What does it matter if you have atheist friends that do, plenty of people feel closer to how I feel but won't speak up because people speak like what you said to me. You seem to also missed the "raised at least somewhat Christian" which is how a lot of agnostics and atheists were raised here. What gives you the right to say I don't deserve any holiday because I don't like/celebrate secular or the religious Christmas. Do you realize how many peoples you are insulting with that privileged speech?

I talked about working retail and you say "They even give you days off if you aren't in retail." Is that suppose to change my mind, people getting off days so they can come to our stores which is why we work still?

I am not criticizing anyone's faith or belief only how Christmas makes me and others feel. I was not mean about people who celebrate Christmas, but you are about me not. But you know I don't need a "Do something nice for someone for no reason" Day for me to to that often in my life on many days throughout the year.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Luke is like the grinch who loves Christmas. So full of Christmas cheer he tells people to fuck off, repeatedly.

[mjmjr25]

Re-branded or double-branded or whatever else - putting context to why some, self included, use those symbols for this holiday.

As for the member who left - he messaged me the other day and I wouldn't be surprised if he's back soon.

[Erik_Twice]

I, for one, can't wait for the day Eurovision replaces Christmas.

[dsheinem]

Re-branded or double-branded or whatever else - putting context to why some, self included, use those symbols for this holiday.

That's cool. I just saw the phrase "the meaning" used to introduce them whereas some of the things you listed have multiple, sometimes pre-Christmas or pre-Christian meanings...didn't know if you knew (or cared ).

As for the member who left - he messaged me the other day and I wouldn't be surprised if he's back soon.

Cool, I miss having him around to provide that loooong historical lens on things from time to time