Toronto Malls Silence Christmas Bells

[WhiteTiger]

A quote from the article:

The ringing of Salvation Army bells has been one of the iconic sounds of the holiday season for more than 100 years in North America, but at least two of Toronto's largest shopping malls — the Eaton Centre and Fairview — have silenced them because of noise complaints.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/sto...#ixzz17067TNrR

I can see both sides of this. I have been in retail, and it can get very annoying around Christmas with the music constantly piped in as early as mid-Nov.

I can see why the outlets nearby would have employee's complaining. Now, the folks who rush by aren't the ones complaining, it's the various stores that are.

However, they are in a mall, there have to be other options. Move the kettle location around. Change where it is every other hour or so. Use the bells less. Though, this seems to be an 'operator' thing. I have been by kettles where the person isn't ringing the bell, and I've been around ones where the operator doesn't STOP ringing the bell.

It does kind of seem to be much ado about nothing, though.

[Buff]

This story sounds familiar. Wasn't this done in other cities last year?

[TurnedTheCorner]

SA needs to get with the times and refresh its donation model. I think donations to the kettles have been down for years now. I bet a smart phone app would raise more.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Seeing the Salvation Army kettle out is one of the first signs of Christmas usually, it's a tradition of sorts for me. It's silly to see them fade away, it's just some bells clinging, if it's that big of a deal don't let some of the overzealous people ring the bells like crazy.

[TylerSVT]

I always throw in a buck or 2 everytime i see them.

[mikey_the_redneck]

It's probably some foreign religious Christmas haters making the complaints....

[Regulator75]

They need hotter collectors that jingle while "they" bounce.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

It's probably some foreign religious Christmas haters making the complaints....

Oh for sure.

Shopping Mall Management is a notorious breeding ground for foreign-born religious zealots.

This is the latest (and potentially the fatal one) shot in the ongoing WAR ON CHRISTMAS.

[Cheerio]

I don't friggin get it. These fataing foreigners come to our country and complain that our holidays are offensive to them? We have to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Really? You wouldn't see me going to Israel and telling them to stop calling Hanukah because it's offensive to me.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

I don't friggin get it. These fataing foreigners come to our country and complain that our holidays are offensive to them? We have to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Really?

I make a point of wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, just because of people like that.

[Johnny Canuck]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

I make a point of wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, just because of people like that.

See, I try to make a point of saying Happy Holidays to people I don't know overly well because it covers everything everyone is celebrating (For the record I prefer Merry Christmas and use it amongst family and friends)

That said the whole "put the Christ back in Christmas" slogan thats been all over my facebook page is starting to get annoying. It was originally a pagan holiday! (but that is a debate for another day/thread)

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

I don't friggin get it. These fataing foreigners come to our country and complain that our holidays are offensive to them? We have to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Really? You wouldn't see me going to Israel and telling them to stop calling Hanukah because it's offensive to me.

Who told you that you have to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas? What's his name?

I too am sick of these foreigners and Jews and atheists coming over here telling us what we can and can't say in December, but I've been looking for years and ain't never found one willing to tell me to my face that I can't say Merry Christmas. They are cowards, every last one of 'em.

[Flames89]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I too am sick of these foreigners and Jews and atheists coming over here telling us what we can and can't say in December, but I've been looking for years and ain't never found one willing to tell me to my face that I can't say Merry Christmas. They are cowards, every last one of 'em.

You know, sometimes, you read a post and you are forced to rethink what your previous (mis)conceptions were of that poster.

As for the OP. That is too bad, Toronto already has exclusively white and blue lights to mark the "holidays".

Also, as another digression, the Santa display thing at the Eaton Centre here is in Toronto is TERRIBLE. It's now reduced to a chair with about 6' of white felt surrounding it. Feel bad for the kids, pretty weak showing these days.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I too am sick of these foreigners and Jews and atheists coming over here telling us what we can and can't say in December, but I've been looking for years and ain't never found one willing to tell me to my face that I can't say Merry Christmas.

I find this hilarious.

I'm an atheist. I will still say 'Merry Christmas'... why? Because it's Christmas. It's a holiday, it says so on my calendar. I don't care if I don't believe in Christianity, but like it or not, there's a perfectly good holiday there and it has a name. If you don't celebrate it, fine, but I do simply for the aspects of 1) spending time with family, 2) getting time off work, and 3) getting presents.

[burn_baby_burn]

The terrorists have won!

[Incogneto]

I'm an atheist, and I love Christmas. The rest are just PC a-holes.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

I find this hilarious.

I'm an atheist. I will still say 'Merry Christmas'... why? Because it's Christmas. It's a holiday, it says so on my calendar. I don't care if I don't believe in Christianity, but like it or not, there's a perfectly good holiday there and it has a name. If you don't celebrate it, fine, but I do simply for the aspects of 1) spending time with family, 2) getting time off work, and 3) getting presents.

That's kind of how I feel. I'm far from a Christian, but the holiday has a name and that's what I use. When I say "Christmas", "Christ" isn't even what I think about. I think of a nice time of year when I see more of my family than normal. For others it is more of a religious event, and that's what the holiday is supposed to be about for them. I have wished my Jew friends "Happy Hanukkah" but you won't see a menorah on my mantle either.

As for the bell ringers, I find the bells to be festive background noise at most, and they don't really bother me. I don't see the problem with them.

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Who told you that you have to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas? What's his name?

I too am sick of these foreigners and Jews and atheists coming over here telling us what we can and can't say in December, but I've been looking for years and ain't never found one willing to tell me to my face that I can't say Merry Christmas. They are cowards, every last one of 'em.

This post almost seems like sarcasm. I have a feeling some people are taking it too seriously.

[RedHot25]

I see that some of you have not met Rouge yet...

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

I see that some of you have not met Rouge yet...

Pretty sure the fact that he can't find anyone that actually says "you can't say Merry Christmas" while some people claim that that's exactly what some "foreigners, Jews, and/or atheists" are saying gives it away.