Holiday Rant
Nov. 19th, 2003 03:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
patgundOkay, I'd like to say this is a rant, this is only a rant.
Beep.
It's mid-November, when the shopping malls are dusting off the Christmas/Hannukah/Whatever decorations that they've had up since just after Labour day, the radio is alive with holiday jingles telling people to buy! buy! buy!, and people who don't show any sign of their faith most of the year suddenly go Uber-Religious on us.
And for those of us who either dislike the holidays, or suffer from seasonal depression, it's the most horrible time of the year.
Now look, I don't have a problem with those of whatever faith who live their lives all year around according to their beliefs and values. And I don't have a problem with those that just want to celebrate the winter. However, this time of the year has become a massively crass consumer orgy, and not a particularly fun one either. And I don't think it's just because I'm a Pagan - I've heard simular complaints from Christians and Jews as well. If there is a religious theme to most of this, it's financial sacrifice to the Great God Mammon.
And doing any shopping - for whatever reason - is like trying to empty a swimming pool with an eyedropper. Not to mention crowds that put a "Who" concert to shame.
Maybe part of my distaste for holiday shopping comes from the fact I worked too many years at Toy stores during the holiday season. And got exposed to the most ill-tempered, annoying, spoiled brats that I could ever imagine. And those were the parents! Many of whom seemed to be trying to tell me I was some sort of abusive psycho that would harm their little Trevor or darling Brittney forever and ever if I don't pull the hot toy du jour for that year out of my ass right that second.
Newsflash - your little kid is *not* going to suffer irredemable harm if they don't get the hot toy of the year, or everything on their "gimme" list. I don't care if the hot toy for that year is "Chicken Molestor Elmo", "Latex Fantasy Barbie", "My Little Pony Dog Food Factory", or any of the hundreds of other things that the Saturday MorningAdvertisementCartoons are trying to sell your child. Because you know what, there's other kids that didn't get "Monster Truck Optimus Prime" or "OB/GYN Barbie", and they're not scarred for life.
I don't mind giving presents, though I usually limit it to close friends and selected family. But that's because I want to, not because I have some tinsel-wrapped monkey on my back screeching "buy! buy!" in my ear. All that this over-hyped promotion does is tick me off more, so that by the time the holiday actually rolls around, "holiday cheer" has been replaced with "holiday sarcasm". Enough already.
Beep.
It's mid-November, when the shopping malls are dusting off the Christmas/Hannukah/Whatever decorations that they've had up since just after Labour day, the radio is alive with holiday jingles telling people to buy! buy! buy!, and people who don't show any sign of their faith most of the year suddenly go Uber-Religious on us.
And for those of us who either dislike the holidays, or suffer from seasonal depression, it's the most horrible time of the year.
Now look, I don't have a problem with those of whatever faith who live their lives all year around according to their beliefs and values. And I don't have a problem with those that just want to celebrate the winter. However, this time of the year has become a massively crass consumer orgy, and not a particularly fun one either. And I don't think it's just because I'm a Pagan - I've heard simular complaints from Christians and Jews as well. If there is a religious theme to most of this, it's financial sacrifice to the Great God Mammon.
And doing any shopping - for whatever reason - is like trying to empty a swimming pool with an eyedropper. Not to mention crowds that put a "Who" concert to shame.
Maybe part of my distaste for holiday shopping comes from the fact I worked too many years at Toy stores during the holiday season. And got exposed to the most ill-tempered, annoying, spoiled brats that I could ever imagine. And those were the parents! Many of whom seemed to be trying to tell me I was some sort of abusive psycho that would harm their little Trevor or darling Brittney forever and ever if I don't pull the hot toy du jour for that year out of my ass right that second.
Newsflash - your little kid is *not* going to suffer irredemable harm if they don't get the hot toy of the year, or everything on their "gimme" list. I don't care if the hot toy for that year is "Chicken Molestor Elmo", "Latex Fantasy Barbie", "My Little Pony Dog Food Factory", or any of the hundreds of other things that the Saturday Morning
I don't mind giving presents, though I usually limit it to close friends and selected family. But that's because I want to, not because I have some tinsel-wrapped monkey on my back screeching "buy! buy!" in my ear. All that this over-hyped promotion does is tick me off more, so that by the time the holiday actually rolls around, "holiday cheer" has been replaced with "holiday sarcasm". Enough already.
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no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 05:10 pm (UTC)I enjoy giving what presents I can afford to family and such, but you WON'T find me in the mall, and I'll be damned if you ever find me looking for the hot toy of the year.
>Newsflash - your little kid is *not* going to suffer irredemable harm if they don't get the hot toy of the year[snip]there's other kids that didn't get [snip] and they're not scarred for life.
Shudder! I may be scarred for life from having read that list!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 07:13 pm (UTC)Hey, I remember this phrase! :)
Sorry to set you off as well, but you've read my rant. I hear your pain and annoyance. How long will it be (if ever?) before such a thing will change?
no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 07:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-20 08:35 am (UTC)