What would you think about....

[NWB]

But what if the parents are atheists?

Then they probably won't start the Santa myth to begin with. That would be their choice.

 

[fdeck]

In my view, since only children believe in Santa, attacking Santa can serve no purpose other than driving a wedge between children and their parents. I wouldn't be comfortable with that. Putting up an atheist sign is a different deal, if an atheist believes that its main purpose is to direct a public message towards adults.

 

[bassinplace]

Then they probably won't start the Santa myth to begin with. That would be their choice.

But he said the atheists should keep their opinion to themselves, so it read kinda confusing. I see what you're saying though.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

Just so I'm square on the issue here. We're all in agreement that there actually ISN'T a Santa Clause? Because I'm still reeling over the concept that the earth isn't flat which was proposed a few posts back.

 

[bassinplace]

Just so I'm square on the issue here. We're all in agreement that there actually ISN'T a Santa Clause? Because I'm still reeling over the concept that the earth isn't flat which was proposed a few posts back.

Yes, there is a Santa Clause, and if you're not good, he'll throw you off the edge of the planet.

 

[bluesblaster]

Im trying to wrap my brain around the concept of a north pole on a flat earth...............would it be in the middle then ? and where would the south pole be in relation. I dont see how any of this is going to make santas job any easier.

 

[Funky Ghost]

North Pole? No no, that's not right. He lives with the York Mole. That's just a cover though. He's really the Easter Bunny. They live in Queens.

 

[fingerbun]

Answering the original question....

On the one hand I hope people would mostly play along with the Santa game as part of the magic of childhood, though I know some won't...

On the other hand if someone really wants to raise such a billboard they should be allowed to. Suppression of ideas is dangerous and we should be careful what we choose to censor.

 

[bluesblaster]

I knew it !!!! Santa and the Easter Bunny living in sin. Innocence lost.... Oh the Humanity

 

[Unrepresented]

The people who would be most likely to be impacted by the information that Santa Claus is not real would also be the same people without the literacy to understand the meaning of the billboard.

 

[skychief]

The people who would be most likely to be impacted by the information that Santa Claus is not real would also be the same people without the literacy to understand the meaning of the billboard.

I was thinking this too, but most kids can read when they're 6. They might believe in Santa until they're 9 or 10. (or even older....)

 

[Unrepresented]

I was thinking this too, but most kids can read when they're 6. They might believe in Santa until they're 9 or 10. (or even older....)

I was apparently ahead of the cynicism curve.

The public sphere should not necessarily be devoid of discussion, even if there are children present. Civil discourse shouldn't be limited to after the hours children are asleep.

If the discussion of the presence or absence of Santa Claus provokes a valuable conversation on everything from our religious backgrounds to our consumer mentality to behavioral psychology in children, then I believe we're better off for having had it.

 

[Chebass88]

.....people paying to have billboards put up around your city saying: "Santa Claus isn't real".

Should they be allowed to?

Absolutely. Santa Claus is NOT real, and even well-meaning parents who encourage the myth are BS-ing their kids.

 

[sandmangeck]

I think they should be allowed to post it. But it would be a dick move. I acknowledge I am bsing my kids (4 yr old daughter and 8 month old son) but it is for their pleasure as youngsters. Just because its bs doesn't mean its negative.

 

[Unrepresented]

I think they should be allowed to post it. But it would be a dick move. I acknowledge I am bsing my kids (4 yr old daughter and 8 month old son) but it is for their pleasure as youngsters. Just because its bs doesn't mean its negative.

What part of lying to your children about old foreign men who sneak into your house at night dependent on their behavior seems like it is meant to bring them pleasure?

Just thinking objectively.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Sorry, but I disagree. I see no reason at all why as a society we should keep lying to our children. Maybe some parents don't mind lying to their kids, but IMO that's not setting a very good example. What else are they going to believe in the future?

Is that lying or playing pretend? If my nephew came up to me dressed up in cowboy attire and said, "Look, I'm a cowboy!" I wouldn't tell him to stop lying.

i want to live in a society where people are allowed to do that. I also want to live in a society where there aren't ***hats who would.

+1

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Whats wrong with a child having that wonderous experience of being a child and the innocent possibilitys of there imaginations either by cultural folklore and family celebrations to books that make them dream of wonderous places and adventures, The world dumps its harsh realities on them soon enough. I guess its a free country but I think the athiests should keep there gloomy philosphy to themselves and let parents decide how and when to ease there children into the realities of life.

I take slight offense to that - not a lot, but some.

I'm basically an atheist and I still do the whole Christmas thing. Why? Because it's fun! Heck, I have Jewish friends who opt to celebrate Christmas instead of their traditional Hanukkah because of similar reasons. It's just a nice tradition and one that my family members (as well as myself) love. I wouldn't be so quick to say atheists would be the ones to post such things on billboards. That's very assumptive and naive.

 

[sandmangeck]

What part of lying to your children about old foreign men who sneak into your house at night dependent on their behavior seems like it is meant to bring them pleasure?

Just thinking objectively.

Sounds like someone didn't get a lot of christmas presents as a kid

 

[bluesblaster]

I take slight offense to that - not a lot, but some.

I'm basically an atheist and I still do the whole Christmas thing. Why? Because it's fun! Heck, I have Jewish friends who opt to celebrate Christmas instead of their traditional Hanukkah because of similar reasons. It's just a nice tradition and one that my family members (as well as myself) love. I wouldn't be so quick to say atheists would be the ones to post such things on billboards. That's very assumptive and naive.

I wasnt neccesaily attacking athiests, to each there own. What I meant was let the kids be kids and they'll figure out the truth about santa and the easter bunny and the rest soon enough. Its not kids putting up the alleged billboard its the grown ups. Get my point now ?

 

[Unrepresented]

I wasnt neccesaily attacking athiests, to each there own. What I meant was let the kids be kids and they'll figure out the truth about santa and the easter bunny and the rest soon enough. Its not kids putting up the alleged billboard its the grown ups. Get my point now ?

If someone is considered an atheist for denying the existence of Santa, I suspect most of us will fall under that heading.