Regarding Santa Claus [NO KIDS ALLOWED]

[The Virgo]

Regarding Santa Claus ... why do people do it? Why do people, year after year, bullshit their kids into believing that there is Santa? Why do that?

The only real reason I can see is to instill the fear of a higher authority at a young age (he sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake. He know's if you've been bad or good, SO BE GOOD FOR GOODNESS SAKE.) and, by telling them that being naughty results in no presents, forces them to be nice for some higher power.

Why don't people just outright tell their kids there is no Santa and get it over with?

Also, no, you may not turn this into a religious debate comparing it to God/Jesus/Moses/Mohammad/etc. We're talking about Santa, not God. Debates between atheists and believers never become more than flame-wars. Thank you for keeping it nice.

 

[DustyDrB]

Probably because we enjoyed the myth when we were kids, and it wasn't some traumatic event when we found it wasn't real. I'm just speaking for myself, but believing in Santa as a kid was fun. But when I moved on, it was no big deal. Maybe people just want their kids to have that same experience?

 

[Hero in a half shell]

It's good fun, and it makes the world that little bit more magical. Also it's an excuse to get your children to behave.

 

[SilentCom]

Spoiler: The Easter Bunny isn't real either.

 

[TehCookie]

It's tradition. It's not very smart, but it's fun. Who doesn't love telling obvious lies to children and making them believe you. This one is just socially acceptable.

 

[Berithil]

1. It's tradition. And as long the kid doesn't grow up to be eighteen and still believing Santa comes down a chimney, its a harmless one.
2. Let kids be kids. They don't have to know everything an adult does when they're six. same reason most parents don't tell their six year old about sex

 

[I Have No Idea]

snip

It's a multi-cultural thing that's deeply woven into a lot of tradition, and it doesn't hurt that it's a lot of fun for the kids and the parents. The parents get to pretend and get their kids in better behavior (for a while, at least) and the kids get all wide eyed and excited for ol' Kris Kringle arriving at their hour. It's fun for everyone. It sounds to me like you have a problem with it sounding like indoctrination or something, but correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[CODE-D]

Regarding Santa Claus ... why do people do it? Why do people, year after year, bullshit their kids into believing that there is Santa? Why do that?

The only real reason I can see is to instill the fear of a higher authority at a young age (he sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake. He know's if you've been bad or good, SO BE GOOD FOR GOODNESS SAKE.) and, by telling them that being naughty results in no presents, forces them to be nice for some higher power.

Why don't people just outright tell their kids there is no Santa and get it over with?

Also, no, you may not turn this into a religious debate comparing it to God/Jesus/Moses/Mohammad/etc. We're talking about Santa, not God. Debates between atheists and believers never become more than flame-wars. Thank you for keeping it nice.

How dare we try to spread a little wonder and imagination in this cynical logical world.

Here kids I bought you this like I do all your other shit. Paid for it with my money at the store where it was manufactured in a factory by sad minimum wage saps along thousands of others so dont think for a second its special for you because you acted a bit better this year. No you could have acted like a shitty brat and I wouldve bought it for you to shut up.

Kids there is also no such thing as magic, mystical creatures, those videogames you play are just several programs running, those tv characters you love are just reading scripts and one day you will die.



So in summation, if you did that your an asshole of the highest degree ruining something thats meant to be fun.
How bitter one must be to have contempt for santa.
I pity you.

 

[CODE-D]

Probably because we enjoyed the myth when we were kids, and it wasn't some traumatic event when we found it wasn't real. I'm just speaking for myself, but believing in Santa as a kid was fun. But when I moved on, it was no big deal. Maybe people just want their kids to have that same experience?

Actually, a few friends of mine still haven't forgiven their parents for lying to them. When you develop a trust towards your parents, only them to find out that they have been lying to you, is quite traumatic.

I don't believe that parents/people should lie to children about St. Nicholas. It's wrong, and it could cause paranoia and mistrust when they're older. It gives them a bad sense of logic. People should be open and truthful with children.

Oh my god....
One thousand facepalms.
You and your friends fail life forever. Hopefully their sensitive minds can handle the shit and lies that may come in the future you have to deal with and matter.
All I can say is grow up and get over it.

 

[Muspelheim]

Because it's a cute little story that, unless the kids are already unhinged or the family is dysfunctional or doctrinating elsewhere, won't leave -any- sort of emotional scaring. It just won't.

I doubt all parents across the world retell the tale of Santa Claus with the goal to indoctrinate the planet's children into spiritual obedience. Again, sweet little story based on the idea that good deeds pay off in the end. And finding out something you thought was real ain't, is not going to kill you.

Furthermore, I remember that I never "truly" believed in Santa Claus. I liked the idea of him actually existing somewhere and keeping tabs on my good deeds to reward me for them later, but I was fairly sure he didn't. If he did, then it was a pretty good scam he had going, since my parents bought all my gifts instead of him. Did it matter in the slightest? No. Cute story, and it was worth being nice even if it wasn't true.

 

[The Virgo]

How dare we try to spread a little wonder and imagination in this cynical logical world.

What's the point of doing that, exactly? To one day disappoint them? If they find out now that the world is shit and life is shit and people are shit and their stupid cartoons are shit while they're young, that means they can start being logical and smart when their young, rather than wait for them to get older. They'll be way ahead of the game!

Here kids I bought you this like I do all your other shit. Paid for it with my money at the store where it was manufactured in a factory by sad minimum wage saps along thousands of others so dont think for a second its special for you because you acted a bit better this year. No you could have acted like a shitty brat and I wouldve bought it for you to shut up.

Kids there is also no such thing as magic, mystical creatures, those videogames you play are just several programs running, those tv characters you love are just reading scripts and one day you will die.

...... AAAAAaaannnnd? It's all true. Everything you just said right there is the honest truth. There's no magic. Haven't seen any dragons or unicorns or anything like that all my life. And if they know the videogames are nothing but code, they can start learning and they can start early on game design. Notch did the same thing and look where he is now.

So in summation, if you did that your an asshole of the highest degree ruining something thats meant to be fun.

It's not meant to be fun, it's meant to deceive and teach kids to obey ... which, for the case of the latter, isn't such a bad thing, I guess. Oh, and also to make toy companies rich.

 

[The Virgo]

Your an idiot, you just dont get it or your a troll.

Actually, neither of the three. The word you are looking for is "Realist". Also, what is there to get? And why have you been so pissed off in this thread? What is it about the fictional old, fat bastard that makes you feel like you have to defend him and the lies he stands for?

I almost feel pity for you.

Oh, and you need to learn the difference between "your" and "you're".

 

[Muspelheim]

What's the point of doing that, exactly? To one day disappoint them? If they find out now that the world is shit and life is shit and people are shit and their stupid cartoons are shit while they're young, that means they can start being logical and smart when their young, rather than wait for them to get older. They'll be way ahead of the game!

I think they can learn to be insufferably smug on their own. Childhood isn't a huge race towards the finishline.

...... AAAAAaaannnnd? It's all true. Everything you just said right there is the honest truth. There's no magic. Haven't seen any dragons or unicorns or anything like that all my life. And if they know the videogames are nothing but code, they can start learning and they can start early on game design. Notch did the same thing and look where he is now.

Again, they'll figure it all out by themselves, eventually. And when they do, they won't break down in tears because what they used to believe when they were five years old turned out to be false, if they're normal. Furthermore, dragons and unicorns aren't real. But they're bleedin' awesome, why go out of your way to tell kids they're not? Again, they'll figure it out eventually.

It's not meant to be fun, it's meant to deceive and teach kids to obey ... which, for the case of the latter, isn't such a bad thing, I guess. Oh, and also to make toy companies rich.

I weren't aware parents were all part of this shadowy conspiracy to deceive children into submission right out of the crib. They also plant falsified evidence of trolls and elves out in the field to further seduce the innocent, no doubt. Why isn't there a book about this, with a foreboding title and a frightening cover?

 

[The Virgo]

It's not meant to be fun, it's meant to deceive and teach kids to obey ... which, for the case of the latter, isn't such a bad thing, I guess. Oh, and also to make toy companies rich.

I weren't aware parents were all part of this shadowy conspiracy to deceive children into submission right out of the crib. They also plant falsified evidence of trolls and elves out in the field to further seduce the innocent, no doubt. Why isn't there a book about this, with a foreboding title and a frightening cover?

I love how you took everything I said all of out of context for ... some unknown reason? Never said that, nor did I say that the toy companies and parents were in a conspiracy.

But if I had an account on a picture-sharing site, I would definitely start working on a book cover for "The Parent Puppets: What Your Mom, Dad and the Toy Companies DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW"

 

[Muspelheim]

It's not meant to be fun, it's meant to deceive and teach kids to obey ... which, for the case of the latter, isn't such a bad thing, I guess. Oh, and also to make toy companies rich.

I weren't aware parents were all part of this shadowy conspiracy to deceive children into submission right out of the crib. They also plant falsified evidence of trolls and elves out in the field to further seduce the innocent, no doubt. Why isn't there a book about this, with a foreboding title and a frightening cover?

I love how you took everything I said all of out of context for ... some unknown reason? Never said that, nor did I say that the toy companies and parents were in a conspiracy.

But if I had an account on a picture-sharing site, I would definitely start working on a book cover for "The Parent Puppets: What Your Mom, Dad and the Toy Companies DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW"

Well, I'm afraid that it is simply the way your point comes across; a rather silly conspiracy theory where the admittadly silly but in the end harmless Santa Claus tradition is some sort of active deception from the parents to ensure children's obedience. Again, it sounds like something that could be printed on pocket-sized pamphlets being handed out to the unsuspecting masses on the streets.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

Do me a favour for a second. Take a look at a map. Pretty colorful isn't it? Look at all those names too.

Happen to notice theres not a great many places left that we as a species haven't discovered yet? Back in the days before mass communication or international travel, people were frightened, they were excited, they were inspired to go out into the bigger world and travel.
Through that exploration and the imagination it took to do so, Mankind became the master of Earth, answerable only to Nature itself, but all that came at a price.

The more we explored, the more we realised the Monopods weren't really there, the dragon's didn't terrorise the seas and that the Northern Lights were not the heralds of the gods. Through our discoveries and the knowledge that came with them, we took the magic out of the world.

Now I don't know you, so I have no idea what your opinion on children or education or creativity are, but do you really want to take away that small piece of magic and imagination a harmless tradition like Santa Claus brings to a child? Children are not stupid, nor do they deserve to be treated as such due solely to their age. Sooner or later they will learn the truth, but to take away that imagination and hope from one so young just seems so cold and cruel.

 

[CODE-D]

Your an idiot, you just dont get it or your a troll.

Actually, neither of the three. The word you are looking for is "Realist". Also, what is there to get? And why have you been so pissed off in this thread? What is it about the fictional old, fat bastard that makes you feel like you have to defend him and the lies he stands for?

I almost feel pity for you.

Oh, and you need to learn the difference between "your" and "you're".

Good, save your pity for your future spawn.
Your.

 

[The Virgo]

Your an idiot, you just dont get it or your a troll.

Actually, neither of the three. The word you are looking for is "Realist". Also, what is there to get? And why have you been so pissed off in this thread? What is it about the fictional old, fat bastard that makes you feel like you have to defend him and the lies he stands for?

I almost feel pity for you.

Oh, and you need to learn the difference between "your" and "you're".

Good, save your pity for your future spawn.
Your.

*shakes head and laughs* You just don't get it, do you? Throughout this whole thread, you've been one cranky person. You haven't provided the need for much intellectual discussion. Here, watch how this is done with the below post.

Do me a favour for a second. Take a look at a map. Pretty colorful isn't it? Look at all those names too.

Happen to notice theres not a great many places left that we as a species haven't discovered yet? Back in the days before mass communication or international travel, people were frightened, they were excited, they were inspired to go out into the bigger world and travel.
Through that exploration and the imagination it took to do so, Mankind became the master of Earth, answerable only to Nature itself, but all that came at a price.

The more we explored, the more we realised the Monopods weren't really there, the dragon's didn't terrorise the seas and that the Northern Lights were not the heralds of the gods. Through our discoveries and the knowledge that came with them, we took the magic out of the world.

Now I don't know you, so I have no idea what your opinion on children or education or creativity are, but do you really want to take away that small piece of magic and imagination a harmless tradition like Santa Claus brings to a child? Children are not stupid, nor do they deserve to be treated as such due solely to their age. Sooner or later they will learn the truth, but to take away that imagination and hope from one so young just seems so cold and cruel.

Hmm, a rather interesting post you have made there.

Yes, a lot of the "magic" in the world was lost. A bit of this magic, I think, was rekindled back in the early days of the Space Age, as the image of traveling through the vast reaches of the universe and possibly meeting different other species on other planets must have fascinated not only kids, but even some adults as well. Hell, some adults still believe that there are aliens. As for me, I can't say either way, there may very well be, for all I know and what the governments do not tell us, but until I see someone with a probe stuck up his/her ass, I shall remain skeptical.

So, yes, the magic is lost. But the removal of that magic didn't destroy creativity or imagination. We still have painters and poets and even songwriters that write good songs. And let's not also forget that if you do not have something, it won't be missed. What I mean by that is that if you did a test with two children and you had one of them raised with a belief in Santa and the Easter Bunny and dragons and things ... and had one child raised knowing they were all false ... I bet you whatever you want that they would both turn out fine. Maybe not, I grant you, but I'm 98% sure they would be grow up to be fine, model citizens.

Growing up without magic doesn't necessarily mean a life without creativity or imagination. It would just mean a life of grounded realism.

 

[Bat Vader]

How dare we try to spread a little wonder and imagination in this cynical logical world.

What's the point of doing that, exactly? To one day disappoint them? If they find out now that the world is shit and life is shit and people are shit and their stupid cartoons are shit while they're young, that means they can start being logical and smart when their young, rather than wait for them to get older. They'll be way ahead of the game!

Here kids I bought you this like I do all your other shit. Paid for it with my money at the store where it was manufactured in a factory by sad minimum wage saps along thousands of others so dont think for a second its special for you because you acted a bit better this year. No you could have acted like a shitty brat and I wouldve bought it for you to shut up.

Kids there is also no such thing as magic, mystical creatures, those videogames you play are just several programs running, those tv characters you love are just reading scripts and one day you will die.

...... AAAAAaaannnnd? It's all true. Everything you just said right there is the honest truth. There's no magic. Haven't seen any dragons or unicorns or anything like that all my life. And if they know the videogames are nothing but code, they can start learning and they can start early on game design. Notch did the same thing and look where he is now.

So in summation, if you did that your an asshole of the highest degree ruining something thats meant to be fun.

It's not meant to be fun, it's meant to deceive and teach kids to obey ... which, for the case of the latter, isn't such a bad thing, I guess. Oh, and also to make toy companies rich.

Your an idiot, you just dont get it or your a troll.
and santa isnt meant to be fun? oh well the smiles on my little brothers faces disagree.
I pity you even more now.

There is no need to insult others over this. We can all discuss this in a civil manner.

On Topic: I don't think it is really up to us to judge whether a parent tells their child/children there is or isn't a Santa Claus. That is just my opinion on the matter though.

 

[Risingblade]

The world is already a crappy enough place, your childhood is the only time you'll ever get the chance to believe in the wonders of magic and such.