The War on Christmas Thread

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

This should probably be in the WRGMG thread, but the rant suits here too:

I have no problem with people celebrating their own holidays however they want, as long as there are no expectations that I participate in the celebrating along with them. I find it annoying to be expected to celebrate Christmas because I'm a white Canadian guy. Really, I don't give a damn about Christmas. I've been in China for ten years, and Spring Festival is more meaningful to me than Christmas is. I'm not religious and I don't care about the holiday. Other Canadians and Americans here seem to think that I'm a grinch and to practically be offended by my absence of interest, but really I just don't see why I should be expected to participate in a holiday that's not important to me. I'm happy for others to enjoy it, but I don't want to feel pushed to participate in it. Not singing carols or wanting to make everything Christmasy around me doesn't make me a bad guy.

I think you need to get over yourself. Unless you live in some small quadrant of society unknown to most I simply don't see anyone that is pushed or expected to participate in Christmas activities. I have never gone caroling, I don't decorate my house but I have also never, ever felt any pressure to participate in any Christmas acts. I mean if it's your family and friends expecting you to join in holiday celebrations you don't have to be forced but the funny thing about friends and families is they like to hang out with friends and family so if you don't like to be part of that it's more your problem than theirs. You are a self pronounced Grinch and that's fine but the reality is nobody cares.

[rubecube]

One of my friends trolled me pretty good yesterday by getting another one of our friends to text me her Christmas playlist.

[rubecube]

The one thing that does chap my ass about Christmas, is that the people who celebrate (at least in my life) don't really respect your requests not to be included. I've been basically telling my mom and my sister for the last few years not to send me presents and card because I don't want to participate and I still get them sent to me, which in turn makes me feel like a dink for not getting them anything. Same with Christmas dinners. I find if I get invited to one and politely decline, I catch a whole bunch of crap for it.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by rubecube

The one thing that does chap my ass about Christmas, is that the people who celebrate (at least in my life) don't really respect your requests not to be included. I've been basically telling my mom and my sister for the last few years not to send me presents and card because I don't want to participate and I still get them sent to me, which in turn makes me feel like a dink for not getting them anything. Same with Christmas dinners. I find if I get invited to one and politely decline, I catch a whole bunch of crap for it.

Why though? People wanting you to be involved with them at Xmas and inviting you to dinner seems like something most people would like. Why choose not to participate and turn down dinner invites? There are a lot of people quite frankly who would love to receive these invites and gifts from people thinking about them at this time of year.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Igster

Why though? People wanting you to be involved with them at Xmas and inviting you to dinner seems like something most people would like. Why choose not to participate and turn down dinner invites? There are a lot of people quite frankly who would love to receive these invites and gifts from people thinking about them at this time of year.

I get that most people would like it, but sometimes I have other plans and sometimes I just don't want to go because I'm kind of one of those people who likes being by himself much of the time. Either way, it should be my choice whether I want to be included or not. I'm also not a fan of big dinners with a bunch of people I don't know or don't have anything in common with. It's not that I don't appreciate the gesture, I just don't want to go. It'd be like if someone offered me NBA tickets. It's a great gesture and lots of people would love to go to an NBA game, but it's not something I have any interest in.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think you need to get over yourself. Unless you live in some small quadrant of society unknown to most I simply don't see anyone that is pushed or expected to participate in Christmas activities. I have never gone caroling, I don't decorate my house but I have also never, ever felt any pressure to participate in any Christmas acts. I mean if it's your family and friends expecting you to join in holiday celebrations you don't have to be forced but the funny thing about friends and families is they like to hang out with friends and family so if you don't like to be part of that it's more your problem than theirs. You are a self pronounced Grinch and that's fine but the reality is nobody cares.

Originally Posted by Johnnyb

I have no problem with people celebrating their own holidays however they want, as long as there are no expectations that I participate in the celebrating along with them. I find it annoying to be expected to celebrate Christmas because I'm a white Canadian guy. Really, I don't give a damn about Christmas. I've been in China for ten years, and Spring Festival is more meaningful to me than Christmas is. I'm not religious and I don't care about the holiday. Other Canadians and Americans here seem to think that I'm a grinch and to practically be offended by my absence of interest, but really I just don't see why I should be expected to participate in a holiday that's not important to me. I'm happy for others to enjoy it, but I don't want to feel pushed to participate in it. Not singing carols or wanting to make everything Christmasy around me doesn't make me a bad guy.

Also, your post is far grinchier than mine in that it is rude and completely lacking the spirit of the Christmas season. As I said, I'm happy for others to celebrate and enjoy Christmas, I just don't want to feel pressured to participate or judged as a grinch if I'm not enthusiastic for the same holiday as them.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

How you feel is probably at odds with their intentions. You feel pushed and annoyed, they're likely just happy and wanting to spread it.

I don't put up a tree or decorations, buy gifts (and ask others not to buy for me), sing songs or listen to the music, watch movies, check out lights, etc. I've never felt pushed though and likewise never been called a grinch. I usually just express that I'm stoked others are enjoying themselves and thank them for trying to include me when they do!

You get back what you give out usually.

I agree that it is not their intention at all. Things like this may just get focused on more in expat communities where people feel a desire to pull together in their otherness. I'll go out for the group dinner, do a secret Santa gift exchange, I bought a gingerbread house for people in the office to eat, but I don't go around wishing everyone "Merry Christmas" or being excited about it and sharing stories or making lots of extra plans.

It's nice for people that they are enjoying the season. I like that. It bothers me more that it is presumed I should share the same values and interests. At the same time lots of expats refuse to celebrate the Chinese holidays.

I imagine it is not a situation relevant to most on CP. Just a personal experience.

[GirlySports]

In china you dont really have a choice about Spring Festival

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

In china you dont really have a choice about Spring Festival

I would like to experience this. Can someone explain more?

[chemgear]

Is the war over yet? Have the righteous crazies won/lost/whatever? Can we all get along yet?

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

I got a card pretty much out of necessity as the only nice card left, but I was disgusted by its wording.

"Happy Christmas."

Seriously, I'm fine with Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, but Happy Christmas is an abomination that needs to be stopped.

That's just a cultural, it's typically the greeting used in the UK.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by rubecube

The one thing that does chap my ass about Christmas, is that the people who celebrate (at least in my life) don't really respect your requests not to be included. I've been basically telling my mom and my sister for the last few years not to send me presents and card because I don't want to participate and I still get them sent to me, which in turn makes me feel like a dink for not getting them anything. Same with Christmas dinners. I find if I get invited to one and politely decline, I catch a whole bunch of crap for it.

Your the type of person here in Victoria that Chaps my Ass. Good for your for being edgy but c'mon man. I'm a huge Atheist and anti capitalist as well but getting off your soap box for one damn day of the year os not going to kill you. All your doing is brieng down everyone else because of it. #### me... Your all high and mighty about equal rights and being nice to everyone the rest of the year.why can't you at this time of year.


I'm fine with not wanting to be part of the cooperate consumption monster that markets people only love you if they buy you gifts but turning down dinner? You don't need to agree with the capalist/religous tones of Christmas but a person portraying himself as a SJW would be on board for the message of just spending time with the ones you love and the message of unity rhis time of year regardless of beliefs.

I'm not trying to fight nor will I reapond to you being indignant about my post. Its more of a gear grinder for me. I have a dozen friends that do the same thing as you but then meet up and have their own dinner as a "anti chtistmas " thing. Which is just full of hypocrisy because their is really no difference between what they are doing and everyone else. Its a gathering where everyone shows up to hang out and eat food. If people can't look past all the other bull#### and hangout with the people that invited you , then your not actually good friends with this people or care about them. A good friend would come if they can regardless of context because they are important to you and you care about them. You are probably just a ####ty friend if you can't get of your soapbox.

It reminds me of a scene in 8 crazy nights.
Whitey : AND A HAPPY FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKAH TO YOU

Chinese Man: I’m not Jewish.

Whitey: NEITHER AM I BUT THAT DON’T STOP ME FROM ENJOYING THE HOLIDAY.


Like I said it's nothing personal but there are so many hipsters that are dinks like this it's ridiculous. They are so cynical that they get a hard on by acting like this. They are the type that make anyone who is a atheist and a progressive here in Victoria seem like jokes . I'm saying this as an Athiest and socialist. How mentally weak are these individuals that can't attend something that holds alot of meaning to your friends to be there because you feel it crushes you as a human to be there. If you can't look past the superficial bull#### around the holiday and juat enjoy the company of friends like you would anyother day of the year then you are not really friends with people who invite you and deserve any flak you get from them. Just treat it like a gathering any other day of the year and if you can't then just don't be friends with them .

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Your the type of person here in Victoria that Chaps my Ass. Good for your for being edgy but c'mon man. I'm a huge Atheist and anti capitalist as well but getting off your soap box for one damn day of the year os not going to kill you. All your doing is brieng down everyone else because of it. #### me... Your all high and mighty about equal rights and being nice to everyone the rest of the year.why can't you at this time of year.


I'm fine with not wanting to be part of the cooperate consumption monster that markets people only love you if they buy you gifts but turning down dinner? You don't need to agree with the capalist/religous tones of Christmas but a person portraying himself as a SJW would be on board for the message of just spending time with the ones you love and the message of unity rhis time of year regardless of beliefs.

I'm not trying to fight nor will I reapond to you being indignant about my post. Its more of a gear grinder for me. I have a dozen friends that do the same thing as you but then meet up and have their own dinner as a "anti chtistmas " thing. Which is just full of hypocrisy because their is really no difference between what they are doing and everyone else. Its a gathering where everyone shows up to hang out and eat food. If people can't look past all the other bull#### and hangout with the people that invited you , then your not actually good friends with this people or care about them. A good friend would come if they can regardless of context because they are important to you and you care about them. You are probably just a ####ty friend if you can't get of your soapbox.

It reminds me of a scene in 8 crazy nights.
Whitey : AND A HAPPY FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKAH TO YOU

Chinese Man: I’m not Jewish.

Whitey: NEITHER AM I BUT THAT DON’T STOP ME FROM ENJOYING THE HOLIDAY.


Like I said it's nothing personal but there are so many hipsters that are dinks like this it's ridiculous. They are so cynical that they get a hard on by acting like this. They are the type that make anyone who is a atheist and a progressive here in Victoria seem like jokes . I'm saying this as an Athiest and socialist.

100% sure this was a drunk post.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by bigtmac19

That's just a cultural, it's typically the greeting used in the UK.

Then the UK needs to be stopped.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

How you feel is probably at odds with their intentions. You feel pushed and annoyed, they're likely just happy and wanting to spread it.

I don't put up a tree or decorations, buy gifts (and ask others not to buy for me), sing songs or listen to the music, watch movies, check out lights, etc. I've never felt pushed though and likewise never been called a grinch. I usually just express that I'm stoked others are enjoying themselves and thank them for trying to include me when they do!

You get back what you give out usually.

Bingo.

[combustiblefuel]

Also there is no actual war on Christmas.

Bill O' Riley made this up. He even has refered to him self as a general in charge of gaining the rights back for Christians around the holiday. It is just some more bull#### Fox is spitimg out to rile up there average age veiwer (70).

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Bingo.

I feel a fair analogy for my situation in Shanghai would probably be like having all your friends who are the same ethnicity as you be fans of the same hockey team. They assume that you're also a fan because of your shared ethnicity.

Their team is about to win the cup and they want to invite you out to watch games, they talk about it all the time and share stories of how great the last game was, what their plans are for next game and how they're going to celebrate and of course they expect you to be part of it too - all the while you really cheer for the opposition.

Of course they are well intentioned and there is nothing really harmful in it, but it's bothersome that they assume you cheer for their team just because of your ethnicity. And of course you're happy for them that they are happy with their team's success, but you're not going to cheer for their team and you probably don't want to attend the rally with them when you could spend time with other friends who also don't care about it. After all, you'll still be friends when their celebrations are over.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

I feel a fair analogy for my situation in Shanghai would probably be like having all your friends who are the same ethnicity as you be fans of the same hockey team. They assume that you're also a fan because of your shared ethnicity.

Their team is about to win the cup and they want to invite you out to watch games, they talk about it all the time and share stories of how great the last game was, what their plans are for next game and how they're going to celebrate and of course they expect you to be part of it too - all the while you really cheer for the opposition.

Of course they are well intentioned and there is nothing really harmful in it, but it's bothersome that they assume you cheer for their team just because of your ethnicity. And of course you're happy for them that they are happy with their team's success, but you're not going to cheer for their team and you probably don't want to attend the rally with them when you could spend time with other friends who also don't care about it. After all, you'll still be friends when their celebrations are over.

I completely understand it may annoy some people . Lifes to short to let little things like this bother you. I may not celabrate one particular event personally but It's not going to stop me from enjoying the party.

[peter12]

This thread was composed of a lot of strong bitterness and misplaced anger.

[CliffFletcher]

It seems like it isn't Christmas some people resent as it is familial and social obligations. Which isn't surprising, given how atomized our society has become, with more and more people living alone and feeling put out and awkward in even the most informal social gatherings. Well, as has been pointed out, you get what you give. If you can't be arsed to foster those bonds, don't expect others to take any concern over your well-being.