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

[The_root_of_all_evil]

You just may find they're actually capable of handling a bit of truth every now and then.

Personally I find kids have far too much misery to deal with, as do adults.

 

[Ultrajoe]

Wow, so many of you are a bunch of cynical bastards.

In case you hadn't noticed, life is not all sweetness and light. Children get enough rubbish stuffed into their heads without having more sunshine blown up their arses. Stop mollycoddling them, wrapping them in bubblepaper and telling them everything is dandy. Start teaching them about the REAL world they're a part of.

You just may find they're actually capable of handling a bit of truth every now and then.

If i may ask, how was your childhood?

Really, i'm just trying to get an angle on where these feeling come from.

 

[AuntyEthel]

Wow, so many of you are a bunch of cynical bastards.

In case you hadn't noticed, life is not all sweetness and light. Children get enough rubbish stuffed into their heads without having more sunshine blown up their arses. Stop mollycoddling them, wrapping them in bubblepaper and telling them everything is dandy. Start teaching them about the REAL world they're a part of.

You just may find they're actually capable of handling a bit of truth every now and then.

Look, kids aren't exactly the most self-aware beings on this planet. Having them believe that Santa exists until they're 5/6/7 will enliven their childhood. Telling your child from day 1 how cold and real the world is is a great way to breed a miserable bastard.

Its also laughable that you talk about the REAL world, yet you're posting on a gaming website. Games are probably the zenith of escapism from the real world.

 

[Jursa]

Yes of course Santa is real, - *I tell them while putting presents under the tree*.

 

[Solo508]

What kind of sadist wouldn't tell their children that santa is real? Let them have a magical imagination while they still can. They figure it out in the end anyway. Didn't we all?

 

[pffh]

When my son asked me if santa was real I told him to think logically about and he figured out that he couldn't be real.

 

[D_987]

I will tell my kids Santa is real - simply because I remember Christmas always seeming slightly more exciting when I believed that.

 

[triggahappyhaza]

If i have kids i will tell them santa doesnt exist its the right thing to do so they dont think im a hipocrit if i tell them off for lying.

 

[D_987]

If i have kids i will tell them Santa doesn't exist its the right thing to do so they dont think im a hipocrit if i tell them off for lying.

It may be the "right thing to do", but its also the boring thing to do. Christmas will always be more exciting if you believed in Santa.

 

[Stasisesque]

What kind of sadist wouldn't tell their children that santa is real? Let them have a magical imagination while they still can. They figure it out in the end anyway. Didn't we all?

...figure what out in the end?

I didn't vote, as there's no option for "Yes, but never having children". My parents never told me Father Christmas didn't exist, as I never asked - the logical side of my brain has known, since before I can remember, that he probably doesn't; but the fantastical side of my brain still thinks maybe he could be.

I'm always going to partially-believe in Father Christmas, and elves and flying reindeer - because that's what Christmas is to me: that, food, carols, family films, tinsel and acting like a five year old.

My partner is Jewish, so if we ever did lose our minds and have children, explaining the truth about Santa would be the least of our worries concerning Christmas.

 

[anNIALLator]

If I had kids, I'd want to keep up the santa illusion as long as I can. It makes christmas so much more fun when santa exists. Maybe it's just getting older, but I think the magic goes out of christmas without santa. Hell, people tell their kids that god exists. OJ, OJ!

 

[Gahars]

Of course there is no Santa Claus, and no, I won't tell my children he's real.

 

[qbert4ever]

What kind of sadist wouldn't tell their children that santa is real? Let them have a magical imagination while they still can. They figure it out in the end anyway. Didn't we all?

See, this is what I want to know. How do you think that it is "good" to lie to your kids for some of the most important time of their lives, only for them to learn in the end that Mommy and Daddy are big fat liers and should not be trusted? I know that when I learned that Santa wasn't real, I was more then a little pissed. I fail to see how trusting my ability to teach my kids right and wrong without needing to depend on some made up figure, or trusting in them to be able to do good or have an imagination by themselves without needing to believe in something that isn't real, is bad.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm laugh in some kids face if he talks about Santa, nor will I say to my kids "Santa isn't real, and if you think he is then choke and die!". But at the same time I'm not going to give them (any more) reason to hate me when they get older by lying through my teeth about something that I don't think they need.

And, really, it's not like you need Santa in your life to turn out ok. Plenty of kids turn out fine without thinking some fat dude breaks into their house every year and will give them coal for being bad. You can have fantasy, wonder, and imagination while still knowing that it's not really real.

But hey, like I said before, I'm no shrink and I have no clue which option is better for the kid. If you tell them there is a Santa, I'm not gonna shit on your candycane. For all I know having Santa is actually good for them. All I'm saying is that there is more then one option, and I have mine picked out.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I learned on my own that my parents put presents under the tree, if I ever have kids so can they, it's a special moment in and of itself, and it was never something I ever had problems with.

I will LOOOOOVEEEE telling my sisters kids that there is no Santa though, it will be glorious.

 

[Ace of Spades]

If by some miracle of fate, I have children, I will not tell them that Santa exists.

 

[Atvomat_Nikonov]

I plan on telling them straight away that there is no Santa Claus and that the presents are given to them by myself and their mother. The one thing I absoloutely hate is being lied to, and having your parents lie to you about Santa Claus blatant lying. Plus, they'd be in tears and the like when the realise that there is no Santa Claus.
If my spouse disagrees with me, I'd try my best to convince her that my way is more sensible but chances are I'd probably end up succumbing to her will.

 

[JediMB]

I plan to teach my children (if I have any) about respect, kindness and trust, and other such things. Treat others the way you yourself wish to be treated, etc.

If I want to tickle their imaginations (which I probably will), I'll read them books and tell them other fantasy stories.

Its also laughable that you talk about the REAL world, yet you're posting on a gaming website. Games are probably the zenith of escapism from the real world.

Escapism and actually believing that the fantasy world is real are very different things. I'd like my children to have a fairly good grasp on reality, thank you very much.

 

[Lord George]

I'm going to invent a better lie then Santa clause I'm gonna say that a magical blue ogre with seven arms who wears a top hat will come out of the sink to shower them with presents but only if they don't disturb mummy and daddy all through December and if they don't then he will come and eat them. Ahhh childhood