Poll: Hypocrisy in Christmas beliefs?

[attackshark]

happy saturday.

had a thought. i'm anti-christmas. i have my reasons, none of which are religious. still force myself to purchase a few things for my girlfriend because she is not AC and i like her. she understands and respects my views, even if she doesn't agree with them.

is it hypocritical of me to purchase gifts for a holiday i'm against if it's for someone i care about?

i've got my own thoughts, but i want to hear yours.

 

[Esotera]

It's not hypocritical to give gifts if you're anti-christmas, as people will probably hold it against you even if they say they're ok with it. I'd also say it's fine to accept gifts (as this is basically the same argument in reverse order).

In my mind, it gets hypocritical when you start accepting/giving expensive gifts, or even worse, starting asking for specific things. If you're going to be anti-christmas the best way to do it is to not make a big deal out of the whole holiday, e.g. having a meal with family and exchanging a few token presents like chocolate/dvds. And it's always a good idea to make sure everybody knows you don't really care about Christmas, as it's not exactly the social norm.

 

[EeveeElectro]

No it isn't.

It's what makes them happy and it's what they want. In a relationship, you have to include them if you want it to work. If you do something to make them unhappy like not buying them Christmas presents then you're effectively forcing your beliefs on them and being quite selfish.

Others you care about (or just anyone) shouldn't have to go without or suffer because you don't like something.


I suppose it boils down to how much you love that person.

 

[JoJo]

To be honest it depends on your reason for being against Christmas, which hasn't been stated. If you aren't against gift giving in general, perhaps you can just see it as giving your girlfriend some nice gifts, which happens to coincide with Christmas. If you are against gift giving, then it probably is a bit hypocritical. Still, in the vein of what EeveeElectro said, giving her a gift is most likely the best course of action regardless.

 

[Heronblade]

Depends

Do your "AC" views include a disapproval of the idea of gift giving, or just the context in which it is placed? If the latter, then no. You're just doing something nice for someone you care about.

 

[skywolfblue]

happy saturday.

had a thought. i'm anti-christmas. i have my reasons, none of which are religious. still force myself to purchase a few things for my girlfriend because she is not AC and i like her. she understands and respects my views, even if she doesn't agree with them.

is it hypocritical of me to purchase gifts for a holiday i'm against if it's for someone i care about?

i've got my own thoughts, but i want to hear yours.

Would you give her a gift on any other day of the year?

If Christmas isn't a holiday, then it is just one of those "any other days".

 

[lacktheknack]

I would say yes... but I would also say that no one cares. It's a gift for your girlfriend, only a right bastard would be upset at you for giving gifts to your girlfriend because it's December.

 

[Erttheking]

You're going to have to clarify what you mean by "anti-Christmas" before I can really answer that question.

 

[Your Rival]

Is it hypocritical to actively participate in something your against? Yes, yes it is.

However, I would like to add that this problem is completely trivial and self inflicted, its not worth further consideration.

 

[Lieju]

Depends on your reasons for being anti-Christmas.

If you're against giving gifts, then yes.

Or if you're anti-consumerism, spending a lot of money on something she might not even need would probably be as well.
But presents don't have to be material and you don't have to spend money to support shops with practises you oppose.

 

[Morti]

Probably not, giving gifts is all about the recipient. If you anti-corporate, you can still give gifts by making your own, or doing something special.

What would be hipocritical of you would be to accept gifts. If someone insists, ask them to make a charitable donation on your behalf.

 

[MrFalconfly]

Anti-christmas?!?

So you're against the Christian holiday Christmas?

Or against the corporate practices that has turned christmas (well most of it) into what we see today?

Or against giving gifts?

I don't understand.

I'm atheist myself so I don't celebrate "Christmas" per say (well it's called Jul in Denmark and were not even remotely religious in my family so what we're celebrating is actually pretty close to the original Winter solstice tradition of Yule Tide which was a Viking tradition), but I still follow lots of the traditions. I put Elves up, start listening to music of the season, and by presents for my friends and family.

 

[SecondPrize]

happy saturday.

had a thought. i'm anti-christmas. i have my reasons, none of which are religious. still force myself to purchase a few things for my girlfriend because she is not AC and i like her. she understands and respects my views, even if she doesn't agree with them.

is it hypocritical of me to purchase gifts for a holiday i'm against if it's for someone i care about?

i've got my own thoughts, but i want to hear yours.

To answer your question, no. Christmas isn't teetering on the brink and won't fall either way based on your purchase of some presents.

 

[rasputin0009]

If you're against the consumerism attitude about Christmas then yes, it's hypocritical to buy your girlfriend an iPhone. But if you made her something, or bought something that isn't made in mass-production, then no, it's not hypocritical.

 

[Legion]

No it isn't.

It's what makes them happy and it's what they want. In a relationship, you have to include them if you want it to work. If you do something to make them unhappy like not buying them Christmas presents then you're effectively forcing your beliefs on them and being quite selfish.

Others you care about (or just anyone) shouldn't have to go without or suffer because you don't like something.


I suppose it boils down to how much you love that person.

Exactly.

It's like claiming it is hypocritical to say you aren't into a certain kind of music but go with a partner/significant other/family member to see a concert based around it. You aren't doing it for you, you are doing it for them, so your stance on the matter isn't particularly relevant.

Unless, as others have stated, you are against the concept of buying gifts for people in general. Or are pushing people out of the way to grab the present (or doing whatever it is that you disagree with about Christmas).

Then again, even if it is hypocritical, I don't see why it would really matter. It's not exactly harming anybody.

 

[EeveeElectro]

One more thing.
I'm stoked about Christmas because I get to spend it with my boyfriend and I know right now he's going to ADORE the presents I got him because they're just so him and I can't wait to see his face when he opens them. That's more exciting and makes me happier than me receiving presents (although I am excited about getting my DS! )

The feeling of knowing you've made someone happy is unmatched.

 

[attackshark]

Would you give her a gift on any other day of the year?

If Christmas isn't a holiday, then it is just one of those "any other days".

can and do. not often, but enough to make them special occasions.

 

[Qtastic]

I'm not into Christmas for historical and religious reasons, but the holiday is about more the Jesus or Pagans or Saturnalia or orgies or whatever. It's about togetherness. It has evolved FAR past its roots. So yeah, gifts are fine for believers and nonbelievers of Christianity imo.