“Frick” Santa Claus

[WooBadger18]

For those talking about kids wondering why Santa gave more to one kid than them, that’s kinda a basic part of life. I had a grandma who did this. I literally got dress socks when my cousins got bikes.

My folks were depression era raised so I routinely got less gifts and basically needs when classmates received far more. You learned that not everything is equal.

Later on I could buy myself a car from raising hogs for a job when my classmates had to bum rides since they had a lot of crap but no money. Life flipped.

I agree that’s a good lesson for kids to learn, but isn’t it better for them to learn that sometimes life isn’t fair because some people have more money or grandma plays favorites? Because getting fewer presents from Santa doesn’t really teach them that. Santa is all-knowing (at least when it comes to children’s behavior). So if you get fewer presents from Santa, it isn’t because life is unfair, it’s because the other child was better than you. In fact, it would actually be unfair if you got the same gifts because you were not equally good

 

[madguy30]

 

[bos]

Actually that is what obtuse is. It just depends on why you’re asking the question. And the reason I think you’re being obtuse is because I don’t think you’re asking because you genuinely want to know where I think the line is. It seems more like you’re doing it to nitpick

I actually want to know and you’re making an assumption with insult. I can see we are getting nowhere, so I’ll move on.

 

[bos]

For those talking about kids wondering why Santa gave more to one kid than them, that’s kinda a basic part of life. I had a grandma who did this. I literally got dress socks when my cousins got bikes.

My folks were depression era raised so I routinely got less gifts and basically needs when classmates received far more. You learned that not everything is equal.

Later on I could buy myself a car from raising hogs for a job when my classmates had to bum rides since they had a lot of crap but no money. Life flipped.

Yeah, basically where my perspective is from. My parents did well but weren’t affluent by any means. They were raised by low income parents who worked all of the time and had to learn English very quickly. Heck, my dad didn’t know much English for the first year or two of school. They had big families and had to basically raise each other. Both of my parents still had fond memories of Santa even if it was thin. They made sure it was magical for me even if I wasn’t getting what some of my “better off” friends did. I was raised to appreciate what I have and find opportunities as they came around. My kids understand that others are less fortunate. They don’t brag about what they have to others and are willing to share anything that have. I’m very proud of that.

 

[Farnsworth]

For those talking about kids wondering why Santa gave more to one kid than them, that’s kinda a basic part of life. I had a grandma who did this. I literally got dress socks when my cousins got bikes.

I lived this with one side of the family as well. Grandparents on dad's (step-dads) side had 7 kids, and around 20 grandchildren. I was the only one that wasn't a true "last name". I was a step-child of one of their kids. It was reflected VERY MUCH in the presents or treatment I got whenever visiting.

 

[burn587]

I don’t have or want kids, so I’ve never really had to deal with the question. But thinking through my experiences as a kid, I don’t think I would do the whole Santa thing if I did have kids. For me the joy and magic of Christmas/Santa really was balanced out by the feeling of betrayal I felt once I found out I had been lied to for years in the guise of “it’s fun for little kids.” Then finding out at the same time about the Easter bunny, tooth fairy etc were all fake too led me to asking if Jesus was real. So I guess I would’ve preferred if my parents had just not done it, I would’ve preferred not being lied to.

However if I did have kids I’d be all about teaching them about Krampus. Who needs an elf on a shelf when there’s a demon that will eat you for misbehaving?

 

[Farnsworth]

I don’t have or want kids, so I’ve never really had to deal with the question. But thinking through my experiences as a kid, I don’t think I would do the whole Santa thing if I did have kids. For me the joy and magic of Christmas/Santa really was balanced out by the feeling of betrayal I felt once I found out I had been lied to for years in the guise of “it’s fun for little kids.” Then finding out at the same time about the Easter bunny, tooth fairy etc were all fake too led me to asking if Jesus was real. So I guess I would’ve preferred if my parents had just not done it, I would’ve preferred not being lied to.

However if I did have kids I’d be all about teaching them about Krampus. Who needs an elf on a shelf when there’s a demon that will eat you for misbehaving?

Feeling of betrayal? As a child that lasts all of 5 seconds, for the amount of joy it provided. If we all felt betrayed by it growing up, the tradition would have died out by now.

I can't speak to the last part, because I never thought Jesus was real as a child, at least in the son of god sense.

 

[Farnsworth]

That statement is a ridiculous conclusion from the study that was done. Not blaming you, but the physicist that wrote the post you are pulling that from.


"less able to distinguish fantasy from reality" is concluded by giving kindergartners statements like:

"This is Moses. Moses was leading his people from their enemies, when they reached the sea. Moses had a magic staff and he used it. He waved his staff and the sea parted into two, and Moses and his people escaped through the dry land in the middle."

...and noticing that children that say they attend church regularly or go to a parochial school are more likely to say the "Moses" in this statement was real. The experimenters categorize this as "fantastical".

The paper also has issues with confusing lack of evidence of a difference with evidence of a lack of a difference (and they don't even give p values for the lack of evidence results, they just say it was insignificant!!!).

For full disclosure, I was more commenting on how CF runs far away from topics to push non-sense. I didn't read the article posted more than a few lines, and didn't even click on the part I quoted. It was more for the dragging religion into it effect.

 

[madguy30]

Feeling of betrayal? As a child that lasts all of 5 seconds, for the amount of joy it provided. If we all felt betrayed by it growing up, the tradition would have died out by now.

I can't speak to the last part, because I never thought Jesus was real as a child, at least in the son of god sense.

herewego.gif

 

[bos]

I don’t have or want kids, so I’ve never really had to deal with the question. But thinking through my experiences as a kid, I don’t think I would do the whole Santa thing if I did have kids. For me the joy and magic of Christmas/Santa really was balanced out by the feeling of betrayal I felt once I found out I had been lied to for years in the guise of “it’s fun for little kids.” Then finding out at the same time about the Easter bunny, tooth fairy etc were all fake too led me to asking if Jesus was real. So I guess I would’ve preferred if my parents had just not done it, I would’ve preferred not being lied to.

However if I did have kids I’d be all about teaching them about Krampus. Who needs an elf on a shelf when there’s a demon that will eat you for misbehaving?

Lol. The Krampus part would have killed me as a kid. I mean, my parents once told me my toes would fall off if I didn’t stay off the chemically treated lawn after it was first sprayed. Stuck with me for years. I think physical harm got me more as a kid than a lie about Santa.

 

[bos]

herewego.gif

Agree. Let’s keep religion out. This is about the Santa tradition.

 

[Farnsworth]

Agree. Let’s keep religion out. This is about the Santa tradition.

100% agree. I was just surprised CF could stay on topic, a Christmas Miracle!

 

[everyyard]

I can’t be the only one who feels this way. I feel like we lie to our kids about Santa for no good reason. Why do we need to invent for kids a magical figure who watches their every move all year long and brings them presents on Christmas? Why can’t we as parents just take credit for the gifts we bought? Why not make the Christmas present tradition be about the spirit of giving?

i’m in the middle. I don’t feel any need to get the credit for the gifts, but also think the Santa/tooth fairy/Easter bunny/whatever leprechaun thing all is a bit much. A little magic I’m okay with. It’s all a bit exhausting. I think an Elf on the Shelf was the worst gift anyone ever gave our family. we try to make the holidays about the people.

 

[bos]

i’m in the middle. I don’t feel any need to get the credit for the gifts, but also think the Santa/tooth fairy/Easter bunny/whatever leprechaun thing all is a bit much. A little magic I’m okay with. It’s all a bit exhausting. I think an Elf on the Shelf was the worst gift anyone ever gave our family. we try to make the holidays about the people.

I really think it’s all gotten blown up with commercialism. Just look at how the tradition has morphed through generations past. I don’t know how you go back or lighten the load.

 

[madguy30]

I really think it’s all gotten blown up with commercialism. Just look at how the tradition has morphed through generations past. I don’t know how you go back or lighten the load.

Christmas in general has followed other trends in the 'keeping up'-ness: HUGE parties for 1 year old birthdays, gender reveal explosions, needing the bigger house with more space to put more useless junk in and on and on. I got plenty of stuff for Xmas when I was little but I can't believe the amount of stuff my niece and nephews get.

Off the off topic--my SIL is all about Santa including making threats during the summer for behavior (he's watching blah blah) but outright shut down the notion of Sasquatch last summer when I was trying to discuss prospects with a curious nephew.

 

[bos]

Christmas in general has followed other trends in the 'keeping up'-ness: HUGE parties for 1 year old birthdays, gender reveal explosions, needing the bigger house with more space to put more useless junk in and on and on. I got plenty of stuff for Xmas when I was little but I can't believe the amount of stuff my niece and nephews get.

Off the off topic--my SIL is all about Santa including making threats during the summer for behavior (he's watching blah blah) but outright shut down the notion of Sasquatch last summer when I was trying to discuss prospects with a curious nephew.

Ha! Is she terrified of the mighty Sasquatch? Did she not watch Harry and the Hendersens?

 

[Bipolarcy]

I think the biggest deal for kids is getting the presents, regardless of where they came from. What does the “magic” of Santa really add? Something that you have to admit later that you lied about? A reason for kids from less well-off families to wonder why Santa didn’t bring them as much stuff as he brought their friends?

Name one kid who has been traumatized for life because he found out his parents lied about Santa, or the tooth fairy, or the Easter bunny. Most parents don't label a lot of gifts as coming from Santa anyway, not in my experience, so the harm you perceive happening to poor kids just doesn't wash.

 

[WooBadger18]

I actually want to know and you’re making an assumption with insult. I can see we are getting nowhere, so I’ll move on.

Ok, off the top of my head, an action figure would come from Santa, a bike or gaming system would come from mom and dad. But even that’s difficult because it’s so context specific.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

We've never used Santa as some kind of threat. Frankly, that's kind of lazy parenting.

My daughter is at the point where she knows but Christmas Morning is still a fun tradition in our house. We're definitely in the 'Believe in the Magic' mode though as she got to school age the 'big stuff' came from mom and dad.

Another thing that all goes back to 'Just Be Kind'.

 

[bos]

Ok, off the top of my head, an action figure would come from Santa, a bike or gaming system would come from mom and dad. But even that’s difficult because it’s so context specific.

In my family growing up that was typically the play. Mom and dad gave the big gift. In my wife’s family it was different. Every once in awhile when I was a kid, my parents would sneak in a “wow” gift for that morning but not as often as my in-laws apparently did. I don’t remember looking back, what gifts I got off the top of my head anyway. My mom took a million pictures so it would be fun to go back and look.