Do you think it's ironic?

Question

We have been here lately discussing Christmas and how we feel about it-Loved GW's dissertation-I was just over on the Christmas Y!A section and was so appalled I had to leave. A 14 yo wondering if a $40 gift was enough for her bf. People spending $25-$50 on "gag" gifts for work gift exchanges. And everyone wonders why we "olders" are disenchanted with the holiday.

Answer 1

It's frightening really. I just read and answered a question from the 14 year old wanting the coat which was 40 pounds, that's really about $80.

Of course, she shouldn't really have a boyfriend at that age, but practically demanding an expensive coat and talking about "dumping" the poor young guy.

It's just greed, greed and more greed. I was shopping in one of the department stores just this last week and watched a young boy of no more than four having a total meltdown, screaming that he wanted an I pod. The parents were acting like it was no big deal and in my head I was praying for a responsible adult to take charge and take that kid out of the store with nothing.

One of my friends and I were talking about the fact that we were brought up to appreciate anything we were given, we did not ask for particular gifts, and certainly never had temper tantrums in a store or we would have been taken out pretty quickly. She's in her thirties, and I am in for forties, so it wasn't that long ago that we were being brought up with some sense of value and respect.

My family and I and our circle of friends don't give gifts between the adults; we just buy for the kids and use the holidays to spend time together and appreciate everyone's love and friendship.

I have neighbors who have worked all their lives and done everything right and have had to put their homes up for sale because they cannot afford medications that they need for their health, or the heat for their home; and are moving back into apartments in order to survive.

The world is in a bad place. I watch older people in the store all the time, putting food back in order to buy their prescriptions...don't know where it is all going to end. I don't even want to think about the fact that most of these younger people are using charge cards when they are in high school and enter college owing thousands of dollars....

It makes me sick to my stomach, I am sure that I am going to have ignore a lot of the greed on here over the next weeks.

I am blessed to value Christmas for more than the objects that I could receive, I bless my parents daily for bringing me up so well.

Try to have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year regardless of the upheaval of the world around us. Cheers.

Answer 2

I think its about everyone trying to out-do everyone else and the retail industry encouraging that thought. When I was younger it was called 'keeping up with the Joneses' but then it only meant that if the Jones family bought a new car their neighbors wanted one too and maybe one a little bigger.

It's a need to show that I'm a little better than you and it has escalated to the point it is today. Weddings were once simple family affairs with the reception in someones living room or patio, punch to drink and finger food made by the aunties. Now it's a Hollywood production costing 3 to 4 times the cost of my first home. And often someone is still paying the bill for it when the marriage goes on the rocks.

Yes, where will it end?

Answer 3

I've felt disgust by the overspending for Christmas, and I've also been guilty of it myself. This Christmas I'm thinking of my son-in-law, who has cancer and is awaiting a donor for a bone marrow transplant. He's been out of work for over a year and has had other treatments that have failed; this is his last hope. He has two little ones, ages 10 months and 3 years old. Everyone in the family is helping financially, but I don't know how much longer we can all keep it together. If he gets the transplant, it only has a 30% success rate. I don't know when, if ever, he'll be able to return to work. So now all the junk I've thrown money away on seems so senseless.

Answer 4

Yes, I have been checking out some of the other sections today also. There was a 16 year old girl that was trying to plan her birthday party and said her parents only had $5500 to spend. She wanted to know what kind of band and food she could buy and where she could have it for that amount. I am definitely disenchanted.

Answer 5

I have noticed that as I have gotten older the meanings of Christmas have changed. It isn't about the gifts under the tree anymore. naturally it is still about the Birth of Jesus Christ.
But it seems it's more about the memories of Christmas past, time spent with those that have passed on.
Perhaps it's really those memories that was the most precious gift.

Answer 6

So genuine. we've some distance to bypass, yet as you so fantastically illustrate, we do not comprehend the position we are going. We had better efficient make certain our route before this is too late and prefer the moth, we land up contained in the flames.

Answer 7

Yes, there is commercialism - its your choice whether you want to take part in it.

I make arrangements to do something special for family and friends over the holidays. I make an effort to visit with people who live far away. This is more important to me than expensive gifts.

Answer 8

I know exactly what you mean.I try to get the best for my Family and close friends.On my budget,I buy on sale or clearance all the time.I would love to spend 50 dollars on each one.I do what I can and they know it.They keep saying that I don't have to,but I feel I want to.Remember when we got oranges,apples,nuts and a candy cane?I do and we always got shoes and undies......

Answer 9

My family only does gifts for children. My husband knows better than to bring home a gift for me. Especially anything expensive like jewelry. He got a new television, but that was only cause it was onsale and we sold the other television (and he deserves it). I would much rather see a deposit in our daughters college fund or our 401K plan.

Answer 10

There a lot of categories that are too scarey for me and being the holiday season seems to compound all the fears and stress . Can`t wait for January 2nd.