The Bahummiest of Humbugs

[blue_eyed_obsession]

Sender: Seto Kaiba
Subject: Regarding Christmas

I'll never understand what all the fascination is with one day that was arbitrarily chosen to be significant.

Don't hand me those lines about it being a time to show "good will" and "appreciation" for your fellow man. If people truly believed those ideals were important they wouldn't need to adhere to a schedule to be reminded to extend that gratitude, nor would it lead to the near-riots at limited time sales. Nothing says "Peace on Earth" quite like elbowing someone else out of the way so you can grab the last product off the shelf for yourself.

It's all a marketing ploy.

Believe me, I should know... I wonder what the sales figures look like this year.

Comments

sender: della duck

[sos_pilot]

You must be fun at parties.

sender: Madhuri

[songbird_slayer]

I'd heard of the way merchants profit immensely in some worlds around this season as folk rush to gather treasures for their loved ones. I can see how it can make one feel outside of the spirit of things.

If it would loan some perspective, I would be happy to share my reason for the way I treat it. Of course, if you're merely looking to vent, that is valid and I wouldn't mind reading what more you have to say.

Sender: Ann Takamaki

[menaretrash]

And this is why I'm spending the holiday with my friends this year.

Merry Christmas, babe!

Sender: Norimune

[kikuichi]

Perhaps. But does it matter, when the people get to find time and have fun?

Sender: Amy Rose

[pricklybloom]

Maybe people like having their own meaning for these kinds of things. If you don't get the point of it, then it's probably because you're not putting anything into it.

You get as much as you give, after all.

Sender: Shigeru Miyata

[mysophobic]

I had never heard of Christmas before arriving here. But is it really all about marketing and buying things?

I guess buying things for the people you love and care about is a bit of a ploy, but as long as people enjoy themselves then it's not so bad, right?!

Still making people go nuts with trying to get gifts is a bit disingenuous especially if your whole marketing scheme is about peace and stuff.

sender: Traveler

[startraveler]

I think no matter what celebration, there is always something special sold or produced for it. That's just a part of it, even if someone is making money off it.

But I guess the important part is that a celebration is a good excuse for everyone to gather, even if they're normally busy.

This is the first time I'm experiencing "Christmas" though, so I can be mistaken.

Sender: Octavia

[systemofadowny]

It gets especially muddy if you believe Christmas appropriated Pagan traditions to nudge a rival religion out of the way and make room for baby Jesus' newly appointed birthday. At that point, discussing its origins becomes a minefield.

I've seen enough sinners in Hell to know almost no human is perfect; while Christmas shouldn't be the only time people appreciate what they have, it is enough to motivate them to try and share that good will with others. It's so powerful, in fact, that soldiers on opposite sides during the first World War held unsanctioned ceasefires to trade prisoners, bury each others' dead and even trade rations, carols and games of football. Higher-ups hated this and banned future truces so their bloody war can continue without pesky things like compassion affecting morale.

People themselves make holidays special. The reason they're full of contention is because of capitalist bigots like you reducing it all to finances. People elbow and trample over each other because people like you enforce a parasitic economy that would suck the life out of anything as long as there's profits to be gained. You and the rich dad you probably got your money from are why people spit at Christmas each time it's mentioned.

[herewardbound]

Personally, I've always felt the entire myth of 'Santa Claus' is bullshit.

An omniscient judgemental fat man is watching you sleep and judging your every move? What kind of totalitarian shit is that?

Nevermind the expectation it sets up in children who come from different backgrounds. The man hands out secondhand dolls and boardgames with pieces missing to poor children, and rich children get new game consoles and purebred puppies, and what-

What, exactly, is the takeaway from that? 'So sorry, little Kenji, but Sachiko got a new bicycle and the new Gamedude you asked Santa for, but this year you get socks. I guess you just weren't good enough!'

At the very least, I can appreciate this more historic pagan roots of winter holidays, which tended more towards the celebration of the survival of another year, and preparation for the long winter.

The really traditional 'spirit of the season', it turns out, is surviving and finding happiness at the darkest and harshest time of the year out of sheer spite.

Sender: Angela

[post_script]

You sound like a friend of mine--money and position aside.

Is the holiday truly like that? Quite a few people here seem to disagree with your perspective.