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

[MasterStratus]

Wait, Santa is a lie? Life has no meaning now...

In all seriousness though I'll probably tell my kid/s Santa is real 'till they're about six or so.

 

[Twilight_guy]

I think this topic has become a question of cold logic and truth verses romantic imaginings and ideals. Both have merits and flaws but you can't say that one is "better" or "worst" they just are. They're two theories that exist.

Not really. Saying that he's not real is the truth, saying he is real is a lie. There's a very, very big difference between them.

I wasn't saying that they are the same. I was pointing out that they are different systems of belief and thinking. They are very different. That's why they might be incompatible to compare.

Then they are not theories. Choose your words more carefully please.

Let me rephrase myself: They're two theories that exist about child rearing.
Santa is not real, true, but telling or not telling kids that he exists is part of two, or more, distinct theories of child up-bringing. Sorry for any confusion.

Also, I think its easier to say now that you'd raise your kids this way or that way, but when you actually get to where you have kids you may act different. Ideals and realties in actually situations vary greatly. Although that's not the point of the topic.

So what kind of child expert would advocate lying to your kids unless of course it is something that is none of their business or they are not ready for yet, but Santa doesn't fall into this category. What would Dr. Spock say?

All that I can say is that there will be a number of kids without hopes and dreams in the families of posters on this site. The romantics would be very sad with you guys. Blind devotion to logic without feeling has made you all black and white robots. But I shall say no more and I shall hope that the future finds your children with joy.
Oh, and even Dr. Spock could show emotion and "lie" in certain situations. Now good day my emotional mute colleges.

 

[hypothetical fact]

Of course santa exists; on billboards, t.v, packaging, news papers, magazines need I go on?
But you shouldn't tell your children that he lives anywhere else.

 

[Syndef]

Well, people think it's real cute for kids to believe in Santa. It also has a practical use, since it will scare most kids into being on their best behavior during December.
But I'd rather not deal with a child's reaction when he finds out that after so many years, something as great and magical as Santa wasn't real, especially since there are so many things that reinforce the belief (commercials, stories, TV shows, etc.)
I think it would be better if I tell a child the story about Sinder Klas (Dutch folks out there, correct my spelling, please) and explain how the modern image of Santa came about from that. Of course, I would tell the child to NEVER tell another child that Santa was not real.

 

[Elim Garak]

"When my kids ask me how Santa can live so long, I tell them he drinks blood."

 

[SimuLord]

I don't celebrate Christmas, and I wouldn't start just because I had a rugrat in the house. I intend to teach my children that giving someone a gift doesn't need an occasion, that there isn't some sort of mad accountant living in the Arctic keeping track of good and bad deeds for a day of reckoning in December---that's just too much pressure, really.

If I want to give my kids a gift on, say, March 19th (a date of absolutely no significance to me or anyone I know), just because they've been good kids, I'll do so. Plus, when every other kid is looking forward to Christmas, if my kids have earned themselves some presents, I'll buy them those presents in September or October and let them see that not celebrating Christmas doesn't mean they don't get cool stuff. Their friends will be so jealous that I think my kids will see the advantages in their pantheist father's arrangement.

 

[DKgear]

kids just want to know the truth so i say Santa don't if they ask.

 

[101194]

I'ma tell my Children that santa doesn't exist and that Jesus comes down in a flying Mustang and a Flame thrower and gives 360 X-Box to children and burns down your house if you bad and uses poor Chinese Children and dresses them up in elf costumes. Or not...

 

[EeveeElectro]

Oh, how I used to be scared when my mum told me that a fat, strange man in a red suit and beard was coming down our chimney, or breaking in with a gold key to deliver the presents that were already there.


I actually sat on Santa's knee last week. What a perv, haha.

 

[PatientGrasshopper]

Oh, how I used to be scared when my mum told me that a fat, strange man in a red suit and beard was coming down our chimney, or breaking in with a gold key to deliver the presents that were already there.


I actually sat on Santa's knee last week. What a perv, haha.

Yes seriously the guy is creepy. I mean he sees you when your sleeping he knows when your awake? What a pedophile. He also enslaves little people and forces them to make toys for him while he sits around being fat.

 

[PatientGrasshopper]

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.

Ok here is the thing, they should be told the truth but if they want to pretend that there is Santa or something else in their imagination as long as they know it is not real let them. It is good for kids to have an active imagination as long as they are aware of reality. It is never a good idea to lie to your kids, unless maybe when they are like 3 and ask where babies come from in which case say I will tell you when you are older. However even that should be taught at a younger age as parents seem to ingnore it all together. Wait, I trailed off what was I saying? Also, if you tell them the truth they will be better off in the long run. Oh and the whole gaming forums comment just because we play games does not mean we are schyzophranic and don't knwo reality when we see it.

 

[Mnemophage]

Speaking as an acclaimed liar, actually maintaining your deceptions can get pretty damn tiring, especially around a tiny person who relies on you for all their information, never goes away, and never stops with the questioning. It's just less tiresome, it's just easier to tell your kids the truth, and that's what I would do.

Thing is, I'm also a smartass and love showing off, so I wouldn't just say "there's no Santa, all your friends are dumb" and leave it at that; I'd present the history, the mythology, and discuss WHY their classmates choose en masse to believe in him. When raising a kid, the why and how behind your actions are far more important than the actions themselves. If you trust your kid enough to talk to them like an adult, they'll not only respect you more, they'll grow up to be more mindful and curious.

Also because then, if I'm poor during the holidays, I can just come out and say that, rather than having to explain why Santa didn't get them an Xbox 360 even after they covered ten sheets of paper with pleading and mailed ten copies of it to the North Pole, just in case.

 

[PatientGrasshopper]

Of course I will tell my children that Santa is real, what kind of horribly scarred person wouldn't?

I don't see how you would be horribly scarred to tell your kids the truth. Aren't kids scarred for a while when they find out Santa isn't real, that their parents have been lying to them all their life? Besides I think a creepy old man who always watches you and forces his slaves to make presents is pretty scarring.

 

[Archaeology Hat]

Yes.

Because he is.

Edit: On a serious note, yes I will. Because I feel the majority of other parents will have too, a degree of conformity to normality is healthy for children of primary school age. Not because I believe in conformity or whatever but because the different kids, the odd ones, are the ones who get bullied or just ignored.

 

[RyantheLion]

In the unlikely event of having a kid I would try to tell him the truth as often as possible.

 

[bkd69]

Lying to my children? Hellz yeah!

Santa's going to be the most believable thing I tell them:
http://www.everything2.com/e2node/Science%2520according%2520to%2520the%2520dad%2520from%2520Calvin%2520and%2520Hobbes

 

[Ultrajoe]

Of course I will tell my children that Santa is real, what kind of horribly scarred person wouldn't?

I don't see how you would be horribly scarred to tell your kids the truth. Aren't kids scarred for a while when they find out Santa isn't real, that their parents have been lying to them all their life? Besides I think a creepy old man who always watches you and forces his slaves to make presents is pretty scarring.

I think the fact that the real world is full of lies is a bigger shock. Why mollycoddle you children and tell them it makes perfect sense?

 

[TheTygerfire]

Of course, and then when they're old enough tell them otherwise. Simple.