Xmas - hate it, hate it, hate it.

[Flatpackhamster]

And again, you're being silly - I'm not demanding that I be allowed to be miserable. I don't want to be miserable. I just don't want to celebrate Xmas! I want to enjoy my holiday in my own way, which I should be allowed to, without being called miserable!!!

 

Me, me, me.

 

Do you say Muslims are miserable because they don't celebrate Xmas? No? Why?

 

Because they don't throw their toys out of the pram when everyone around them is having a good time. And you think British muslims don't celebrate Christmas? I think you'd be surprised. The only ones who grumble are the religious extremists, and that's what you're sounding like. Militant atheism is as vicious and spiteful as militant Islam or militant Christianity. It's a sign of a closed mind.

 

Why should I be treated differently just because I don't celebrate a religious holiday?

 

Firstly, it isn't a religious holiday. There is no religious compunction about it. It's a state holiday. That should cheer you up, after all, the government's in charge.

 

You're treated differently because you're telling people to treat you differently. So they do.

 

I'm an atheist and have been for 25 years. But that doesn't mean I stamp my little foot about how awful it is that there's still religious holidays. I respect other people's beliefs even though I know they're wrong. I embrace the spirit (my homemade sloe gin) of the season, I try to spread a little cheer and an awful lot of food and ale around. My wife will go to church on Christmas Eve and I'll stay at home with the baby and do some cooking, and feed the cat some roast partridge. We'll get together with my C of E friends and my catholic friends and my atheist friends and we'll drink and eat and wish each other a happy Christmas, because Christmas isn't about a Magic Sky Being, it's about people.

 

You'd have a far more enjoyable time during your Atheist Winterval WorkBreak if you unwound your righteous indignation and just accepted that Christmas is going to happen all around you.

 

Grow up.

 

I'm not the one throwing a temper tantrum because the world won't do what I want. You sound like you're nine years old. Me, me, me, I want, I want, I want.

[localzuk]

Me, me, me.

 

Says the person demanding everyone follow the same behaviour as everyone else, because doing something different is obviously making them uncomfortable.

 

Because they don't throw their toys out of the pram when everyone around them is having a good time. And you think British muslims don't celebrate Christmas? I think you'd be surprised. The only ones who grumble are the religious extremists, and that's what you're sounding like. Militant atheism is as vicious and spiteful as militant Islam or militant Christianity. It's a sign of a closed mind.

 

There's no toy throwing. As far as I've seen, I've outlined that I like the time off, and like spending time on my own too. I've said I don't like the way people try to make me out to be weird or something like that, and you've responded by inferring I'm a basement dwelling misery who subsists on cheesy snacks. Seems you're the one toy throwing.

 

Firstly, it isn't a religious holiday. There is no religious compunction about it. It's a state holiday. That should cheer you up, after all, the government's in charge.

 

Nope, its a religious holiday. Hence 'Christmas' being from Christ's birthday. Or, if you want to look further back, you find Saturnalia, another religious festival, or Winter Solstice, another religious festival...

 

You're treated differently because you're telling people to treat you differently. So they do.

 

No. See above. I've simply said how I want to spend my time, and you've come along telling me I'm basically wrong.

 

I'm an atheist and have been for 25 years. But that doesn't mean I stamp my little foot about how awful it is that there's still religious holidays. I respect other people's beliefs even though I know they're wrong. I embrace the spirit (my homemade sloe gin) of the season, I try to spread a little cheer and an awful lot of food and ale around. My wife will go to church on Christmas Eve and I'll stay at home with the baby and do some cooking, and feed the cat some roast partridge. We'll get together with my C of E friends and my catholic friends and my atheist friends and we'll drink and eat and wish each other a happy Christmas, because Christmas isn't about a Magic Sky Being, it's about people.

 

I find it difficult to respect the beliefs from religions that have caused millions of deaths, and currently perpetuate bigotry on a large scale against anyone who is different (eg. homosexuals, or, shock horror, women).

 

You'd have a far more enjoyable time during your Atheist Winterval WorkBreak if you unwound your righteous indignation and just accepted that Christmas is going to happen all around you.

 

No, I'll enjoy sitting down with the food I make, watching some movies, maybe give my parents a call as I do regularly, play some games, have a chat with some of the community on Twitch.tv. None of it 'Christmas' related. Just 'time off work' stuff.

 

I'm not the one throwing a temper tantrum because the world won't do what I want. You sound like you're nine years old. Me, me, me, I want, I want, I want.

 

See, that's what you sound like to me - almost demanding that everyone respect something simply because you say so.

[X-13]

Last week one of the ladies from Finance had a singing, dancing snowman delivered. I grimaced that it wasn't even December yet. I return a laptop to Science only to come back to my desk and what do I find?

12" sparkly pink christmas tree on my desk.

 

If you don't want it...

 

Our Santa may be black this year... . He was shocked when we asked him!

 

A black guy playing someone who breaks into every house in the world in one night.

 

 

I'm saying nothing.

Edited November 27, 2012 by X-13

[elsiegee40]

And in a nutshell, that's kinda one of the points being made here - you've just said that you should enjoy Christmas with others. Why? What if that is not enjoyable to you? Why can't we just enjoy the holiday in our own way, rather than having a religious holiday and an obsession with 'gathering' being forced upon us?

Point taken @localzuk, Ihave modified @Flatpackhamster 's statement in bold. however, I don't think anyone's said that you have no right to be happy on your own at Christmas.

 

What everyone's complaining about is the people who seem to be determined to be miserable for the entire Christmas period... and often don't seem to want anyone else to enjoy it... rather than going to do something that makes them happy (as you do) whether that involves tinsel, tacky presents and too much food or not.

 

Everyone has a free choice about how to spend Christmas. Those of us who use the period to be happy, regardless of whether that's alone or with others, and regardless of whether we are celebrating Christmas or just having a few days off have a right to do so. Those who want to be grumpy about it, ought to look at their lives seriously. If you can't make the most of a few days when you are paid to be off work, there is something wrong.

 

There's your problem. You're getting your views from a bunch of po-faced misanthropes who, with luck, will be first against the wall when the revolution comes.

 

Christmas is a good time. You don't have to run around spending money you don't have an talking to people you don't like. Do it your own way. Switch off the TV and watch a film on DVD instead. Go to the pub. Spend some time with people you haven't seen for ages. Help someone out.

 

I love to cook for family and friends, I love to make mince pies and sausage rolls and my boozy christmas brownies and hand them out to cold carollers. I like seeing friends, and drinking too much. This year will be my baby daughter's first Christmas, and while she's too small to appreciate it, it's an added bit of joy for us.

 

Sitting around whining about how awful Christmas is instead of making it a good time for yourself and your loved ones (if applicable)is your problem here. If it's a bad time for you, make it a good time. If you've nobody to enjoy Christmas with and you want company, find some other people who are in the same position and get together and all make lunch together and share that time.

[tmcd35]

What everyone's complaining about is the people who seem to be determined to be miserable for the entire Christmas period... and often don't seem to want anyone else to enjoy it... rather than going to do something that makes them happy (as you do) whether that involves tinsel, tacky presents and too much food or not.

 

Those who want to be grumpy about it, ought to look at their lives seriously. If you can't make the most of a few days when you are paid to be off work, there is something wrong.

 

Personnally I think this shows a lack of understanding of what it is that is making us so grumpy and miserable. And no, it's not out of some grim determination! It the in your face, 24/7 over the top commercialisation that I'm constantly exposed to whether I want it or not! I'm happy for the two weeks off, but it's all the rest that goes with this time of year. Argh!

[Flatpackhamster]

Says the person demanding everyone follow the same behaviour as everyone else, because doing something different is obviously making them uncomfortable.

 

In my first post I wrote "Do it your own way". You ignored that. You're still ignoring it.

 

There's no toy throwing.

 

Your post replying to mine was whingy and childish.

 

As far as I've seen, I've outlined that I like the time off, and like spending time on my own too. I've said I don't like the way people try to make me out to be weird or something like that, and you've responded by inferring I'm a basement dwelling misery who subsists on cheesy snacks.

 

If the cap fits... But no, I was just stating that I'm not judging your choice of lifestyle.

 

Nope, its a religious holiday. Hence 'Christmas' being from Christ's birthday. Or, if you want to look further back, you find Saturnalia, another religious festival, or Winter Solstice, another religious festival...

 

It's not a religious holiday. There is no religious compunction to it. If you don't want to God it up you are not required to. It was a religious holiday. It no longer is. It is a state holiday, enforced by the government.

 

No. See above. I've simply said how I want to spend my time, and you've come along telling me I'm basically wrong.

 

What part of "DO IT YOUR OWN WAY" do you not understand?

 

I find it difficult to respect the beliefs from religions that have caused millions of deaths, and currently perpetuate bigotry on a large scale against anyone who is different (eg. homosexuals, or, shock horror, women).

 

No, people do those things and use religion as an excuse. Those people were good, or bad, before religion got anywhere near them. Sometimes religious fervour amplifies behaviour, such as the brutality of the Inquisition, or the brave men who refused to fight in the war but served as padres or medical orderlies. But it's the people, not the religion.

 

No, I'll enjoy sitting down with the food I make, watching some movies, maybe give my parents a call as I do regularly, play some games, have a chat with some of the community on Twitch.tv. None of it 'Christmas' related. Just 'time off work' stuff.

 

See, that's what you sound like to me - almost demanding that everyone respect something simply because you say so.

 

So, we're still not getting 'Do it your own way', then?

[X-13]

If you don't want to God it up

 

Best. Phrase. Ever.

[mrbios]

Well i love xmas day, nothing better than my parents cooking a xmas meal....looking forward to it even more this year because i had a **** xmas meal last year elsewhere.

 

2 and a half year old son who's starting to realise what presents are too

 

I also love the dark mornings and darker evenings, not sure why.

 

The only thing i don't like is the cold, but even that's only when it's windy....that and all the illnesses going around, i attempt to avoid those as best i can.

[Flatpackhamster]

Point taken @localzuk, Ihave modified @Flatpackhamster 's statement in bold. however, I don't think anyone's said that you have no right to be happy on your own at Christmas.

 

Thank you for improving what I wrote. It's much more accurate. I trust that this satisfies those for whom a good time involves no direct social contact and no expression of festive joy.

 

Next week, how 'Happy New Year' should be altered in order to satisfy both those of a non-heliocentric worldview and those who find the religious traditions of the Gregorian calendar an insult to their belief structure, or lack of one.

[SYNACK]

Um, just to point out that it appears this whole Christmas thing is winding people up already. Its good that some of you have things to do that make you enjoy it. I'll just be enjoying the time off and trying to stay well clear of the madness and overly stressed people liable to snap at any second. Way to stressful, it supposed to be a holiday, not like work on an ERO inspection day.

[basicchannel]

This is all you need to get you through it:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wbVxaQa-26E/UI3tiNI_kYI/AAAAAAAAAL4/Iw9K5LEcyqM/s1600/230201961.jpg

 

[hardtailstar]

Firstly, it isn't a religious holiday. There is no religious compunction about it. It's a state holiday. That should cheer you up, after all, the government's in charge.

 

Christmas IS a religious holiday! Its about the birth of Jesus. The reason why its also a state holiday is because the government from years back got itself involved in the church and this is where we are now.

 

IMO if you dont believe in God you shouldnt be celebrating Christmas, afterall thats what Christmas is about.

 

Yes Christmas has become over comercialised, celebrated by all, starts too early.

Edited November 27, 2012 by hardtailstar

[mattx]

There's your problem. You're getting your views from a bunch of po-faced misanthropes who, with luck, will be first against the wall when the revolution comes.

 

Christmas is a good time. You don't have to run around spending money you don't have an talking to people you don't like. Do it your own way. Switch off the TV and watch a film on DVD instead. Go to the pub. Spend some time with people you haven't seen for ages. Help someone out.

 

I love to cook for family and friends, I love to make mince pies and sausage rolls and my boozy christmas brownies and hand them out to cold carollers. I like seeing friends, and drinking too much. This year will be my baby daughter's first Christmas, and while she's too small to appreciate it, it's an added bit of joy for us.

 

Sitting around whining about how awful Christmas is instead of making it a good time for yourself and your loved ones is your problem here. If it's a bad time for you, make it a good time. If you've nobody to enjoy Christmas with, find some other people who are in the same position and get together and all make lunch together and share that time.

 

And there was me thinking he was just a journalist trying to be funny......

[mattx]

Firstly, it isn't a religious holiday. There is no religious compunction about it. It's a state holiday. That should cheer you up, after all, the government's in charge.

 

They like to think they are but it's the bankers that are in charge - you know, the ones who will no doubt get an even larger bonus this year.........

[mattx]

Well, I hate to break it to you, but the 'religious holiday' that's 'forced' upon you was around long before you were and will be around long after you're dust. So you can either ignore it or you can enjoy it, but either way, it's going to happen. Getting your knickers in a twist about how people aren't respecting your right to be miserable isn't going to change that.

 

As for the 'obsession with gathering' - nobody's saying you have to get together. I haven't said you 'should' enjoy Christmas with others. If your idea of a good time is sitting in your mum's basement for the whole of December, hating the world, eating cheesy wotsits and then knock yourself out.

 

I think anyone XXXXXX whilst eating cheesy wotsits may take issue with that.......left or right wing.

Edited November 27, 2012 by witch

[tmcd35]

Christmas IS a religious holiday! Its about the birth of Jesus. The reason why its also a state holiday is because the government from years back got itself involved in the church and this is where we are now.

 

IMO if you dont believe in God you shouldnt be celebrating Christmas, afterall thats what Christmas is about.

 

I very much doubt that has been true at any point in the last 30 years, probably was true before that. Looking here: Seasonal Good Intentions | British Religion in Numbers, only 24% will go to church and celebrate the birth of Jesus on that day. Then over here: BBC News - Census: How religious is the UK?, suggests that only 41% of the country identify themselves a Christian. Probably less than 20% of the country go to church on a regular basis.

 

What ever links to religion the "festive season" once had, has long since gone for most and in general it is now, like Easter, a way for big business to ramp up high hysteria resulting in a nice profit boost for their shareholders.

 

If Christmas was truely celebrated as you suggest I'd actually be happier this time of year. It'd be far easier, as an agnostic, to ignore the festival in the same way as I can blissfully ignore Ramadan or Hanukkah.

[siuko]

I am happy with christmas... becuase...

 

I only need to book 2 days annual leave off and I get to be off from 21st Dec - 7th Jan!!!

 

W0000000000000000000000000000T!

[elsiegee40]

Um, just to point out that it appears this whole Christmas thing is winding people up already. Its good that some of you have things to do that make you enjoy it. I'll just be enjoying the time off and trying to stay well clear of the madness and overly stressed people liable to snap at any second. Way to stressful, it supposed to be a holiday, not like work on an ERO inspection day.

You're missing the point @SYNACK . We haven't had a a decent disagreement on here for ages! We might as well get it out of the way before we hit the festive period proper!

[mattx]

You're missing the point @SYNACK . We haven't had a a decent disagreement on here for ages! We might as well get it out of the way before we hit the festive period proper!

 

I can soon change that......

[DeltaBravo]

Just curious, does anyone actually go to church on Christmas day?

[hardtailstar]

I very much doubt that has been true at any point in the last 30 years, probably was true before that. Looking here: Seasonal Good Intentions | British Religion in Numbers, only 24% will go to church and celebrate the birth of Jesus on that day. Then over here: BBC News - Census: How religious is the UK?, suggests that only 41% of the country identify themselves a Christian. Probably less than 20% of the country go to church on a regular basis.

 

What ever links to religion the "festive season" once had, has long since gone for most and in general it is now, like Easter, a way for big business to ramp up high hysteria resulting in a nice profit boost for their shareholders.

 

If Christmas was truely celebrated as you suggest I'd actually be happier this time of year. It'd be far easier, as an agnostic, to ignore the festival in the same way as I can blissfully ignore Ramadan or Hanukkah.

 

in my head I was thinking back futher than victorians..... Now they are some people we can blame about Christmas too!

[hardtailstar]

Just curious, does anyone actually go to church on Christmas day?

 

I do with parents as they are religous.

[sparkeh]

Just curious, does anyone actually go to church on Christmas day?

Yeah, and actually I am not religious at all, but (and this is a personal feeling before anyone gets huffaty about it) its nice to go and remember the reason behind why all this happening

[tech_guy]

Lol - season of goodwill to all men and this thread has turned in to a slanging match.....

 

And leave the goats out of it, mattx

[jinnantonnixx]

You're missing the point @SYNACK . We haven't had a a decent disagreement on here for ages! We might as well get it out of the way before we hit the festive period proper!

 

Edugeek®: You come for the advice, but stay for the arguments.™