Poll: Does Santa Claus exist? More importantly, what will you tell your children?

[IrrelevantTangent]

Santa Claus may have been based off a real-life saint that lived a long time ago, but as far as I'm concerned, either he's dead now or very, very old. If I had children (and I don't), personally, I'd let them believe in the comforting illusion of Saint Nick's existence until they're old enough to be able to hear the truth without it shattering their preconceived notions of reality.

 

[Jaythulhu]

Third, as for your tirade against Santa, let me guess, you didn't get that toy/game you wanted, right?

Is that supposed to be an attempt at humour, or an insult? Either way, 0 points. My "tirade" against santa claus has already been explained in my tirade against santa claus. If I really need to repeat myself again, it's because he's an anthropomorphic personification of the greed, hypocrisy and commercialism that has taken over a christian religious festival.

Santa is not real, he never has been, he never will be. Stop lying to your kids, and maybe they'll hate you a little less when they're teenagers.

 

[jim_doki]

im really not happy this thread is still going

to put it simply, it's important for children to be told about Santa. There are lots of reasons why:

1, It's fun to believe in magic. Magic is AWESOME. barriers become non existant. yes, it's not real, but then again neither are the stories of Middle Earth or Narnia. Are you honestly telling me you will explain to your children, every time you read these stories to them, that ejnoying them, even if they are false, is wrong?

b, There are a lot of bigger lies in this world. Not all of them are as easy to deal with as "There is no Santa Claus". Justice, truth, fairness, all of these are lies. but if you tell a child straight up that there is no peace to be had, you are raising a sociopath. Discovering Santa isn't real prepares kids for the understanding. they are not prepared at birth to be told that it's all lies

3, The idea of the impossible being true has two effects. It will foster a creative and powerful imagination, forcing them to discover the arts and other creative things, and it will get them to think logically, and find the impossible from the truth. Rules like Ochm's Razor (spelling?) will be encouraged in my household. I will not be happy with my children until they ask me about Santa (please take that for what it means, i will of course be a loving and caring father regardless, i think you see my point)

d and most importantly, Santa is everywhere. ads, tv, movies, school, he's everywhere. If you tell your kid there is no Santa, these things will keep popping in, and will constantly be questioned by your younger self. not to mention the fact that there are other kids who DO believe in The Big Red Man and your child can, and will, spoil it for them.

Basically there are things out there you cannot ask children to understand. They won't "get" that christmas is all about commercialism because they won't understand what commercialism is. Forcing it on them before they are ready will do more harm than good

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I am a complete realist and find the concept of Santa Claus rather pointless however I cannot fathom the harm is allowing your children to believe in him. This topic sounds like a weak attempt at machoism, by "well my child will not know this because I believe it is stupid!" While you are entitled to your own opinion, it is not about you, it is about your child(ren) and the delight they will have believing in this fantasy.

You cannot deny how excited children become around Christmas time for the sole reason Santa is coming or they get to see him in the mall. Where is the harm in is?

 

[I III II X4]

Is that supposed to be an attempt at humour, or an insult? Either way, 0 points. My "tirade" against santa claus has already been explained in my tirade against santa claus. If I really need to repeat myself again, it's because he's an anthropomorphic personification of the greed, hypocrisy and commercialism that has taken over a christian religious festival.

Santa is not real, he never has been, he never will be. Stop lying to your kids, and maybe they'll hate you a little less when they're teenagers.

I see that it could be taken as in insult, but it was merely an attempt at humor.

About the whole, "Don't lie to your kids from day one", in all honesty, I wonder what sort of child would develop. I see pros, but a few cons as well...ultimately, we'll all choose to do what we think is right when the time comes.

 

[Dudemeister]

Quick, this kid might grow up un-cynical!
Can't have that now can we!
What's the problem with letting kids believe in Santa?
What possible harm can it do?

 

[Captain Wes]

My children will spend all their time in learning beds (just like dad). Once a year, usually around their birthday, they will be allowed outside to glance at the world around them (under strict supervision of course). Santa's existance will be learned once they reach the age of 18 and they are allowed (Read: forced) to leave the home to make their fortune. So I guess what I'm getting at is, no they won't be told santa exists.

 

[nekolux]

As i grew up there was no doubt at all in my mind that santa didn't exist. My parents put up the usual facade of course but it was a poorly built lie and so logically improbable that i didn't even believe in it for a single second.

To me christmas is a time to give and to receive. It's just a time where you can lay back and just relax for a bit. Now why would anyone try to screw it up by telling lies to their kids? My point is that children obviously do not need to be lied to. Give them the presents, bring them out to buy presents for other people and that's it.

If my spouse were to disagree well.... No she wouldn't for the simple fact that i believe all these stuff should be talked about before marriage. And i really cannot see myself falling in love with a girl who thinks that lying to kids is ok because it's just what everyone does.

No, Santa Claus does not exist. And I plan on telling my children he doesn't. I'm not going to have them blindly believe in something that obviously isn't true. If my spouse disagrees, I'm not sure what I'd do then. I'd have to put in more thought.

Lol! That's horrible. Let's take all the innocence out of being a child, hell, let's give them jobs too...

The best part about Christmas was believing in it. I will be telling my kids about Santa, because I remember how much I enjoyed it as a kid.

Yes but you remember the crash when you found out he didn't exist? No lying about santa is just building up your kid for a huge crash when he finds out he doesnt exist. See the more children believe in these lies the more happy they are as they revel in them. But the moment the lie is gone it's just going to all come down.

Oh and i intend to teach my children philosophy myself. So... logic is a branch of philosophy they'll appreciate me not lying about an old dude who apparently flies around the world in 24 hours while simultaneously managing to put presents in every single house AND eating all those cookies and milk. ( i mean i know cookies are awesome but there's no way someone can scoff all that down )

Quick, this kid might grow up un-cynical!
Can't have that now can we!
What's the problem with letting kids believe in Santa?
What possible harm can it do?

To you my dear sir i answer with explosm
http://www.explosm.net/articles/42202/#evenmore =)

 

[Hey Joe]

1. No, are you insane?

2. I will tell me kids he exists, and say that if they don't do their chores Santa will punch them in the face.

I'm going to be a great father.

 

[DamienHell]

Santa IS real, why would I tell my kids otherwise, I'm not gonna lie to them

 

[iseko]

Why would i tell my children they should behave or a happy fat man isn't going to give my kid candy? If some weirdo every gives my kid some candy i'd beat the crap out of him.

 

[jim_doki]

As i grew up there was no doubt at all in my mind that santa didn't exist. My parents put up the usual facade of course but it was a poorly built lie and so logically improbable that i didn't even believe in it for a single second.

forgive me for this, but i call bullshit

a three year old cannot logically determine anything.

Yes but you remember the crash when you found out he didn't exist? No lying about santa is just building up your kid for a huge crash when he finds out he doesnt exist. See the more children believe in these lies the more happy they are as they revel in them. But the moment the lie is gone it's just going to all come down.

no. I dont remember this at all.

and if you really DID figure it out when you were so long, neither do you

 

[nekolux]

As i grew up there was no doubt at all in my mind that santa didn't exist. My parents put up the usual facade of course but it was a poorly built lie and so logically improbable that i didn't even believe in it for a single second.

forgive me for this, but i call bullshit

a three year old cannot logically determine anything.

Yes but you remember the crash when you found out he didn't exist? No lying about santa is just building up your kid for a huge crash when he finds out he doesnt exist. See the more children believe in these lies the more happy they are as they revel in them. But the moment the lie is gone it's just going to all come down.

no. I dont remember this at all.

and if you really DID figure it out when you were so long, neither do you

Like i said dude i never really believed in that concept. And i couldn't really recall any memories from when i was 3? But as far as i remember i never really believed in an old man jumping down my chimney chute to leave me presents. ( Partly because i lived in an apartment. )

Ok the second points lets put it this way. If you go around telling your friends that santa exists. You'd look rather stupid wouldn't you. Now why would we go around making 3 year olds look stupid? People laugh at their innocence, but this stems from them being silly enough to belief in the story.

It's never too early, to be logical.

 

[Jaythulhu]

About the whole, "Don't lie to your kids from day one", in all honesty, I wonder what sort of child would develop. I see pros, but a few cons as well...ultimately, we'll all choose to do what we think is right when the time comes.

How did you feel about your parents when you found out santa was a lie? Or the tooth fairy, or the easter bunny, or any other of the nonsense we fill chilrens' heads with? It was never an issue for me (we didn't celebrate a santa-based christmas, my folks are nutjob catholics), but can still recall the reactions of some of my friends, and that kind of thing is far more likely to leave a negative psychological impact. A child trusts its parents implicitly. "Santa" and such end up being a betrayal of that trust.

If I was unfortunate enough to have kids, I'd not be telling them santa is real. I'd much rather not risk breaking their trust or losing their respect, because it's a downhill slide from there. Once gone, those things are almost impossible to retrieve.

 

[jim_doki]

Like i said dude i never really believed in that concept. And i couldn't really recall any memories from when i was 3? But as far as i remember i never really believed in an old man jumping down my chimney chute to leave me presents. ( Partly because i lived in an apartment. )

Ok the second points lets put it this way. If you go around telling your friends that santa exists. You'd look rather stupid wouldn't you. Now why would we go around making 3 year olds look stupid? People laugh at their innocence, but this stems from them being silly enough to belief in the story.

It's never too early, to be logical.

I see. Yeah, I'll give you some of the... Traditional Santa mythos is a little bit unbelievable under modern contexts, but let's think for a second which is more likely for a child to assume:
"Santa comes in through chimneys, i dont have a chimney, I still have presents, He must find another way in?"


Or:

"santa comes in through chimneys, I dont have a chimney, i still get presents, my parents and everyone in the world, including TV and movies, must be lying to me"

keeping in mind that I am assuming that these are loving caring parents who have given their child no reason to doubt them.

How did you feel about your parents when you found out santa was a lie? Or the tooth fairy, or the easter bunny, or any other of the nonsense we fill chilrens' heads with? It was never an issue for me (we didn't celebrate a santa-based christmas, my folks are nutjob catholics), but can still recall the reactions of some of my friends, and that kind of thing is far more likely to leave a negative psychological impact. A child trusts its parents implicitly. "Santa" and such end up being a betrayal of that trust.

If I was unfortunate enough to have kids, I'd not be telling them santa is real. I'd much rather not risk breaking their trust or losing their respect, because it's a downhill slide from there. Once gone, those things are almost impossible to retrieve.

I didn't mind all that much. In the scheme of things that happened at the same time (having to move to a new state ect) and having figured it out myself the non existance really didn't bother me that much. I didn't see it as being lied to, it was more a fun thing to do. in fact i would say it had the opposite effect on me. My parents never lied when confronted with questions, and have always maintained that Yes, it is lying to children, but it's not a damaging lie. It makes life fun and gives hope. Kids need something fun sometimes because they CANNOT handle reality. there are a lot of scary and sad dissapointments out there, and Santa is something that helps them come to terms with it.

just food for thought

 

[falcontwin]

This has probably been said but.

Yes virginia there is a santa claus http://www.stormfax.com/virginia.htm

I havent read the thread (Other than the first post) But this is my response to it.

 

[-bladerunner-]

Jim_doki hit the nail on the head

 

[axia777]

Really now, why have so many supposed adults and teen-agers voted "Yes" to Santa existing? Are they joking or are they just stone cold fools? Either way it is kind of sad.

 

[nekolux]

Like i said dude i never really believed in that concept. And i couldn't really recall any memories from when i was 3? But as far as i remember i never really believed in an old man jumping down my chimney chute to leave me presents. ( Partly because i lived in an apartment. )

Ok the second points lets put it this way. If you go around telling your friends that santa exists. You'd look rather stupid wouldn't you. Now why would we go around making 3 year olds look stupid? People laugh at their innocence, but this stems from them being silly enough to belief in the story.

It's never too early, to be logical.

I see. Yeah, I'll give you some of the... Traditional Santa mythos is a little bit unbelievable under modern contexts, but let's think for a second which is more likely for a child to assume:
"Santa comes in through chimneys, i dont have a chimney, I still have presents, He must find another way in?"


Or:

"santa comes in through chimneys, I dont have a chimney, i still get presents, my parents and everyone in the world, including TV and movies, must be lying to me"

keeping in mind that I am assuming that these are loving caring parents who have given their child no reason to doubt them.

TBH my parents were just bad at this game of playing santa so i saw through it easily. But i didn't mind because i could see it was just parents trying to keep a little innocence in kids ( Well ok fine i didnt actually put so much thought into it at THAT time ).

Point is that i saw their lying as a gesture of goodwill. ( Or maybe i'm just one hell of a cynical kid =P )

 

[I III II X4]

How did you feel about your parents when you found out santa was a lie? Or the tooth fairy, or the easter bunny, or any other of the nonsense we fill chilrens' heads with? It was never an issue for me (we didn't celebrate a santa-based christmas, my folks are nutjob catholics), but can still recall the reactions of some of my friends, and that kind of thing is far more likely to leave a negative psychological impact. A child trusts its parents implicitly. "Santa" and such end up being a betrayal of that trust.

If I was unfortunate enough to have kids, I'd not be telling them santa is real. I'd much rather not risk breaking their trust or losing their respect, because it's a downhill slide from there. Once gone, those things are almost impossible to retrieve.

Only fools let their lives be destroyed by a simple lie. Though I see it from your point of view to as to not "lie" to the child. People "lie" to their child to protect them from the evil in this world, or to at least give the child a happy moment amidst all the darkness.