Bill Maher on Christmas

Jeanwah

He's got a point. And the whole Oprah thing is insane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iKYDyqX ... r_embedded

polaris_x

The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement

just finished the book ... it pretty much says americans (focus of the book) are only interested in accumulating items ... with many who do so even tho they can't afford it ... a culture and economy based on consumerism ...

Jeanwah

I believe it Polaris. I used to like Christmas but it's celebrated by most people as such a selfish occasion.
As in "What do you want for Christmas?" Why does one have to want anything, really? Is that what the single point is? That's why I like Lennon's quote, "So this is Christmas and what have YOU done?"

polaris_x

Jeanwah wrote:

I believe it Polaris. I used to like Christmas but it's celebrated by most people as such a selfish occasion.
As in "What do you want for Christmas?" Why does one have to want anything, really? Is that what the single point is? That's why I like Lennon's quote, "So this is Christmas and what have YOU done?"

it's taken over ... and the tragedy is that people are unaware of it ... and when you try and point it out ... you get flamed! ... hahaha ...

Shawshank

I have to say that "World's Best Macaroni and Cheese" at 1:07 must be damn good to get idiots that riled up. It's a shame that our country has turned from being a nation of producers to a nation of mostly consumers. It's the unfortunate by product of greed and laziness.

BinauralJam

I'd say it's still special for kids. As an adult if forces me to talk to my sister once a year.

Jason P

polaris_x wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

I believe it Polaris. I used to like Christmas but it's celebrated by most people as such a selfish occasion.
As in "What do you want for Christmas?" Why does one have to want anything, really? Is that what the single point is? That's why I like Lennon's quote, "So this is Christmas and what have YOU done?"

it's taken over ... and the tragedy is that people are unaware of it ... and when you try and point it out ... you get flamed! ... hahaha ...

I will continue be one of those flamers

Have a merry boxing day!

Hugh Freaking Dillon

a very good percentage of people on this board say uber-consumerism is wrong yet they collect and hoard vinyl like it's water in a drought, paying enough for a vinyl single they could have invested the money instead.

unsung

Price example please. I bought a bunch when they were released.

To stay on topic:

Holidays are big business.

Byrnzie

Jeanwah wrote:

He's got a point. And the whole Oprah thing is insane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iKYDyqX ... r_embedded

If Oprah gave me an expensive flat screen t.v I'd only be happy at the prospect of selling it the next day and spending the money on beer, or on a trip somewhere - or both.

Jeanwah

BinauralJam wrote:

I'd say it's still special for kids. As an adult if forces me to talk to my sister once a year.

Yeah, it is special for kids, but we're teaching them that the wrong message. My adult sisters have been known to have fits when they don't get their "#1 starred item on their Christmas list". :roll:

Jeanwah

"Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect." ~Oren Arnold

Shawshank

This year my family and I switched it up a bit. We got a few presents, but nothing like we typically do. This year we came up with "coupons". Actually my daughter did this for my wife back on her birthday and we loved it. It was so creative and it was fun. She had things like "10 drink refills", "5 laundry day passes" so my daughter did the laundry for her those days. I know it may sound stupid, but they are centered around us doing something for each other in our family. For example, one coupon for my son is 15 trips to this skatepark about 45 minutes from us that he loves going to. Another is a "clean your room" pass. So if we tell him to get his room cleaned, he can cash that in and he gets a reprieve for a couple days. My daughter loves Justin Beiber, so one of her coupons is she gets 4 car trips where we listen to nothing but Justin Beiber. One of the ones I gave for my wife was a weekend trip to anywhere she wants to go. She can pick out the place, the activities, everything. Like I said, I know it may sound a little silly, and you really have to know how crazy our family is to appreciate this.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

awesome. great example for the kids. My wife and I emplored my family to stop the ridiculous mountain of gifts, and so for the past few years we pick names and buy one present for one person. The kids still get gifts from everyone, but there is no need for all us adults to get a bunch of stuff we don't need. I like it much better.

On her side of the family, all we do is a $10 fun gift stealing game. The kids still get the mountain, but that's ok.

Shawshank wrote:

This year my family and I switched it up a bit. We got a few presents, but nothing like we typically do. This year we came up with "coupons". Actually my daughter did this for my wife back on her birthday and we loved it. It was so creative and it was fun. She had things like "10 drink refills", "5 laundry day passes" so my daughter did the laundry for her those days. I know it may sound stupid, but they are centered around us doing something for each other in our family. For example, one coupon for my son is 15 trips to this skatepark about 45 minutes from us that he loves going to. Another is a "clean your room" pass. So if we tell him to get his room cleaned, he can cash that in and he gets a reprieve for a couple days. My daughter loves Justin Beiber, so one of her coupons is she gets 4 car trips where we listen to nothing but Justin Beiber. One of the ones I gave for my wife was a weekend trip to anywhere she wants to go. She can pick out the place, the activities, everything. Like I said, I know it may sound a little silly, and you really have to know how crazy our family is to appreciate this.

Gary Carter

Byrnzie wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

He's got a point. And the whole Oprah thing is insane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iKYDyqX ... r_embedded

If Oprah gave me an expensive flat screen t.v I'd only be happy at the prospect of selling it the next day and spending the money on beer, or on a trip somewhere - or both.

you forgot pj concert tickets :P


funny clip but true

blackredyellow

Paul David wrote:

awesome. great example for the kids. My wife and I emplored my family to stop the ridiculous mountain of gifts, and so for the past few years we pick names and buy one present for one person. The kids still get gifts from everyone, but there is no need for all us adults to get a bunch of stuff we don't need. I like it much better.

On her side of the family, all we do is a $10 fun gift stealing game. The kids still get the mountain, but that's ok.

Adults buying pointless gifts for each other just to buy a gift is obnoxious... the grab bag thing or secret santa can make it fun, and not break the bank.

Nothing worse than getting a big gift from someone you weren't expecting to get one from. You either feel obligated to give something back or look like a cheap bastard. Earlier in life, I felt obligated, now I just say "thanks" and don't reciprocated. You either think I'm the cheap bastard and never get me a gift again, or you bought me a gift because you just enjoy giving.... either way I'm fine with it anymore.

Byrnzie

Here in China people just celebrate Christmas by giving an apple.
It's kind of touching really, and probably somewhat closer to the original spirit of Christianity.

RoadTripper

Yea I know what you're saying. I work at Trader Joe's and people are unbelievable. Everyone says that "Christmas snuck up on me". I think that's because people are so caught up in consumerism and false satisfactions that they literally LOSE TRACK OF TIME. It's scary. I think Modest Mouse said it best in the song Custom Concern. "We're losing all touch building a desert". Losing all touch in humanity trying to build something that can never be accomplished.

he still stands

Jeanwah

he still stands wrote:

That's great.

catefrances

Shawshank wrote:

... My daughter loves Justin Beiber, so one of her coupons is she gets 4 car trips where we listen to nothing but Justin Beiber. ....

hope theyre short trips to the market.

whygohome

polaris_x wrote:

The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement

just finished the book ... it pretty much says americans (focus of the book) are only interested in accumulating items ... with many who do so even tho they can't afford it ... a culture and economy based on consumerism ...

Very sad

whygohome

unsung wrote:

Price example please. I bought a bunch when they were released.

To stay on topic:

Holidays are big business.

Exactly. Is there anything more manufactured than Valentine's Day?

whygohome

I am finding it difficult to stick to my agnostic guns by not celebrating Christmas. It is just too much fun buying my nieces and nephews gifts. I guess I am an enabler.

Anyway, the consumer/material culture has destroyed this holiday, as well as most of the other ones. As far as my reasons for not celebrating Xmas, I am repulsed by people trampling each other or camping overnight for a sale; I don't even care that I believe the Bible to be fiction.

keeponrockin

whygohome wrote:

I am finding it difficult to stick to my agnostic guns by not celebrating Christmas. It is just too much fun buying my nieces and nephews gifts. I guess I am an enabler.

Anyway, the consumer/material culture has destroyed this holiday, as well as most of the other ones. As far as my reasons for not celebrating Xmas, I am repulsed by people trampling each other or camping overnight for a sale; I don't even care that I believe the Bible to be fiction.

I think you can balance it. My friends and family buy each other gifts, but it's certainly not the reason for the season. I had a party last week and was happier than I've been in a long time, and it wasn't cause of the gifts. I was with my best friends and we were all having an amazing time.

stargirl69

I told all my friends this year that I was only buying gifts for my immediate family and asked them not to get me anything as they would not be reciprocated.
It is not that I am cheap in the slightest but I have just clawed myself back from one of the worst financial years of my life,causing me to re-evaluate a lot in my life.

So why then on telling my friends of my plans did they completely disregard my wishes and give me gifts? ... and ones that I don't need ( 3 copies of the one book :evil: ) ... people need to start LISTENING ... when someone tells you their wish we must respect it as their wish without such disregard

Now I am the one left feeling shit that I didn't get them anything despite them being fully aware ... how soon should I start telling them no gifts next year?


I don't know who Bill Maher is or what was going on with the Oprah show but I got what he was saying.
A week before Christmas I watched the most bizarre mass Christmas consumption sight in a city centre branch of Marks and Spencers.There had been a specialist area set up as for one day they were selling ladies cardigans retail £35 for £10,one per customer.Trying to get to the toilet,the reason I was in the store,I walked into the area completely unaware what was going on and was faced with 200 women penned in,being taken in 5 at a time to choose the colour and size they wanted.
I watched this sight astonished,many of the women were in a state of euphoria,all chattering,smiling waiting in anticipation for a cardigan that another 200+ women would also be wearing come boxing day ... weapons of mass consumption.

Jeanwah

stargirl69 wrote:

I told all my friends this year that I was only buying gifts for my immediate family and asked them not to get me anything as they would not be reciprocated.
It is not that I am cheap in the slightest but I have just clawed myself back from one of the worst financial years of my life,causing me to re-evaluate a lot in my life.

So why then on telling my friends of my plans did they completely disregard my wishes and give me gifts? ... and ones that I don't need ( 3 copies of the one book :evil: ) ... people need to start LISTENING ... when someone tells you their wish we must respect it as their wish without such disregard

Now I am the one left feeling shit that I didn't get them anything despite them being fully aware ... how soon should I start telling them no gifts next year?

Don't feel bad about not reciprocating, you told your friends up front of your wishes. And I would probably start telling them NOW about next year, they may just listen at some point.

haffajappa

I had an awesome Christmas...
We went and spent time on the island, and the gift i got?
A fucking RECORD snowfall for snowboarding! !
2.5m in 48 hours.....

thanks santa!

mikepegg44

I think it is really easy to look at the macro level of the christmas season and say people only care about gifts, but at the individual level it is much harder. Sure Kids can have a fit if they don't get what they want, but if you have kids you realize that this is not exclusive to the Christmas Season.
I don't know anyone who simply teaches people that christmas is about giving presents and nothing else...but that could be an anomaly.
There is enough good cheer this time of year for me to think that most people get that it isn't just about gifts. but if you want to bash the time of year, consumerism, capitalism, or any combination of, keeping it at a macro level is just fine.

Jason P

I'm experiencing one of the hidden dangers of Xmas ... high blood pressure! Too much crappy food and drinks has taken a toll on me.

Oh well, I was planning on starting my workout regimen back up ... now I have good incentive.