Anybody else dislike the holiday season?

Osiris

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That's what dismays me, Osiris: How children are manipulated and bomarded with the buy, buy, buy message so incessantly. There's little escape from the pressure unless a parent is willing to banish the TV, radio, magazines and newspapers from the home from Haloween to MLK day. And maybe that ain't a bad idea.

It is the most irritating thing about the holidays. Not to mention that the things he sees and asks for he says "You and mommy need these." We are now trying the "teach the difference between want and need" thing.

One good thing though, he is giving away his old toys he doesn't play with to Catholic Community Services to distribute to the poor. One in particular was a Batman figure and car that I bought him. As he put it in the box, he looked at me and said, "Are you OK with me giving this away?" I asked if he was and he said, "I like it because it's from you, but maybe another daddy can give it to their son and he can be as happy as we are."

That is what makes the season worth it.
 

Willy_the_Wonka

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The consumerism is asinine, especially in an economy like this. The saccharine Happy Happy Joy Joy just reeks of insincerity or denial or both.

I seriously try to let my loved ones know how I feel about them every day... these "traditions" are increasingly expensive, and I have no desire to be included in anyone's plans or expectations for gifts or other obligations, either giving or receiving. I don't mind spending quality time with loved ones, but the whole ritual of decorating to the hilt, buying and wrapping tons of presents, going out shopping (especially for everyday stuff at this time of year), or even the inane marketing of Xmas with wintry wonderland imagery in a place like California or Hawaii (I split residency in these two places) and Xmas carols (and the millions of covers of them by all manner of popular artists, YAK! :puke:) ....nothing is simple about Christmas anymore. And I really resent people trying to make me feel like a "Scrooge" because I think it's all crass and tacky. That one video of the house with synchronized John Tesh-like music playing with Christmas Lights is a perfect example of the gaudiness and lack of good taste I'm referring to. (I am so glad I don't live next door to that!) Or those ridiculous inflatable Lawn Decorations, as big as an SUV! :eek:

Sorry.... :rolleyes:
 

B_NineInchCock_160IQ

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I dislike the cold weather. I sometimes dislike the forced quality time with the family that often tends to make everyone irritable and unpleasant, though sometimes that's okay. I dislike the "Christians" who feel like they need to start acting hostile toward anyone who isn't being flamboyantly festive. I dislike the nauseatingly rampant consumerism. I dislike Turkey. I dislike all the sweets and the constant encouragement to engorge yourself right around the time when it's cold enough that I tend to not want to go to the gym anymore- and the weight gain the usually comes with it. I dislike feeling like a loser when/if I'm not with anyone on those "special" days. I dislike all the drunken assholes around New Year's. I dislike the six weeks of bad Christmas music. I dislike dead pine tree needles. I dislike the memories of bad New Year's past: broken relationships, awkward social situations, friends committing suicide, etc. I dislike the pressure to spend a bunch of money on a bunch of people I barely know. I dislike that other people feel the pressure to spend money on me for presents I probably won't even like because they barely know me. I dislike egg nog. I dislike corny holiday movies.

Other than that I don't think they're that bad.
 

simcha

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The secular/christian holiday season sucks. I was an assistant manager at walgreens for three years and this time of year was just 3 months of hell. It started with Halloween and didn't end until after New Year's...

The music sucks. The people are miserable. You know, customers are extra grumpy this time of year and they would all take it out on us. It was crazy busy on top of dealing with nasty people. And because we worked in a place with a pharmacy and this time of year is flu season, we had so many sick and nasty people wandering through our store coughing and sneezing up germs, ruining displays, throwing garbage everywhere, and yelling at us.

I haven't worked that job in almost 10 years and I still cringe when I see the Halloween stuff coming out. I tend to avoid malls and any big stores this time of year and have resorted to "shopping" on the Internet if I buy anyone anything.
 

Equus14

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The secular/christian holiday season sucks. I was an assistant manager at walgreens for three years and this time of year was just 3 months of hell. It started with Halloween and didn't end until after New Year's...

The music sucks. The people are miserable. You know, customers are extra grumpy this time of year and they would all take it out on us. It was crazy busy on top of dealing with nasty people. And because we worked in a place with a pharmacy and this time of year is flu season, we had so many sick and nasty people wandering through our store coughing and sneezing up germs, ruining displays, throwing garbage everywhere, and yelling at us.

I haven't worked that job in almost 10 years and I still cringe when I see the Halloween stuff coming out. I tend to avoid malls and any big stores this time of year and have resorted to "shopping" on the Internet if I buy anyone anything.


As a former assistant manager of a video movie store for 3 years, I feel your pain. Retail really is HELL during the holidays.
 

SpeedoGuy

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I dislike the pressure to spend a bunch of money on a bunch of people I barely know. I dislike that other people feel the pressure to spend money on me for presents I probably won't even like because they barely know me.

I literally have a cabinet full of unused gifts that were purchased for me over the years by people who nothing about my tastes or preferences or interests. Colognes, shirts, books, scarfs, etc. I don't want to sound ungrateful but I'd really rather that they save the money or donate it to a worthy charity than feel obligated to purchase for me things I neither want nor need.
 

viking1

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I used to really hate it. The last 3 years were such a positive change in my life i now look forward to the Holiday Season.

I'm glad to hear that. I'm glad to hear when anyone has a change for the happier.

Wow, NIC, your outlook on the holidays is very similar to mine...
 

Principessa

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I used to really hate it. The last 3 years were such a positive change in my life i now look forward to the Holiday Season.
Let me guess, you met your lovely lady about 3 years ago . . .:wink::smile::rolleyes:

I mentioned the joy of the children? I was trying to avoid the consumerism issue. My 5 year old has already asked for just about every thing he has seen on the TV, including a nice new Jenn Air range which he can't even use yet. :rolleyes:
Hey, if the boy wants to learn to cook, don't stop him! :tongue:
 

sjprep06

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There are only two things that I look forward to around this time: the end of school and my month long break. I lost the 'joy' for holidays quite a few years ago...
 

B_NineInchCock_160IQ

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I forgot to mention I hate how dry my skin gets in the winter. Also I hate not being able to drive my car (it doesn't work on snow)

Some of the things I really like about the holiday season:

-trick or treating with my nephews is fun
-the cold weather gives me an excuse to wear my awesome Neo coat, my sexy silk scarf, and my nice leather gloves
-I can also wear my Neo coat on Halloween with sunglasses and nobody thinks I'm weird
-The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D is playing in theaters again
-prime Oscar season means lots of good stuff to see at the movie theater
-sexy girls at Halloween parties
-seeing family can be nice, especially some of them that I actually enjoy seeing but rarely get to
-many people try to be decent human beings, if only for a few weeks out of the year
-I like candles and fireplaces and the holiday season panders to my pyromania
-Christmas lights
-Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo
-since I'm now a public school teacher I get a bunch of days off from work
-post-holiday sales
 

SpeedoGuy

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I asked if he was and he said, "I like it because it's from you, but maybe another daddy can give it to their son and he can be as happy as we are."

That is what makes the season worth it.

So, the young man made his statement against the rampant greed of the season? Well, good on 'im. I like that. And good on you too, Osiris. :smile:
 

diesel82

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hell no... its SUMMER and its CHRISTMAS! Nothing beats lying on the beach on Christmas day... who needs a white christmas?!
 

arthurdent

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I think for a lot of us the holiday season has lost its meaning. The stores around here started putting Christmas things out right after Halloween. The radio stations have been playing Christmas music now for weeks by the time it gets here I'll be sick of it. I too get a little depressed around tis time of year.

Only since Halloween? In the UK the Christmas cards and crackers and wrapping paper starts to appear in the shops in late August! I hate it all. What has Father Christmas got to do with the birth of Jesus anyway?
 

Osiris

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Hey, if the boy wants to learn to cook, don't stop him! :tongue:

He can go to his godparent's house and burn it down with their JennAir. I like my current one much better.

So, the young man made his statement against the rampant greed of the season? Well, good on 'im. I like that. And good on you too, Osiris. :smile:

Every now and again, I guess we get it right. Funny how they show you when you least expect it.

nah. I'd rather visit Constantinople. Fewer angry Muslims there.

Why did Constantinople get the works?
It's nobody's business but the Turks.