Forums > Social Discussion > did you ever realise that christmas rhymes with capitalist?

Posted: 18th Dec 2004
Sad isn't it? It reminds me of greetings card manufacturers introducing new holidays, like Fathers Day.

Money, money, money. We're all going to hell.

"I believe the cost of life is Death and we will all pay that in full. Everything else should be a gift. We paid the cover charge of life, we were born."

Bill Hicks, February 1988

Posted: 19th Dec 2004
it also rhymes with lots of things that end in -ist and -is, and -ess (depending on pronunciation)

like bliss (sorta), happiness, joyfulness

"beg beg grovel beg grovel"
"master"
--FSA

"There was an arse there, i couldn't help myself"
--Rougie

Posted: 19th Dec 2004
I'm not sure I agree with the rhymes bit. However I say Christmas I can't get it to rhyme with capitalist.



Your personal Christmas need only get as capitalistic as you let it. You don't have to buy into this spend, spend, spend culture if you don't want to. You could tell everyone that asks you what you want for Christmas that you want them to take any money they would have spent on you and give it to your favorite charity.



Instead of buying people gifts you can make them gifts or gift them your time instead.



Gifting of time is something the Elderly love. To do it all you need is a sheet of paper on which you draw up a gift voucher of time. Let them know they can ask you to do anything in the time you have offered them, such as spring cleaning, painting, gardening, taking them out..... however they wish to spend that gifted time with you. Lots of elderly people don't like to ask for help with things around the house because they think they are bothering you. With gifted time they know that you have set aside that time for them and they feel its ok to ask. That has to be way better than getting yet another pair of socks or slippers!



Home made gifts are more personal. People can see the love you have for them if you are prepared to make them individual taylored gifts. You may not be the best artist/cook/stitcher/knitter/carpenter/welder in the world but you can bet they will love that gift more than something you went into a store to buy.



Hold off getting on the train bound for Hell just yet Mags. You still have way too many Poi & staff moves to teach me!

Feed me Chocolate!!! Feed me NOW!

Posted: 19th Dec 2004
on the point of card manufacturers they introduced nurses day and something else i think it was teachers day what ever next just to get some more money

Tell me and I forget, Show me and I remember, Involve me and I understand

Posted: 20th Dec 2004
i see the origal purpose in it. if people just used it to get together with friends and family that would be cool. but to many people base it on materal gifts

SLEEP WITH ANGELS muckieha

Posted: 20th Dec 2004
that gift of time, to the elderly or anyone is a really good idea skulduggery.

the point i'd like to make about the gifts is why at christmas fullstop? if you care for that person enough should you really need a set day to give them pressies?

its the whole notion of giving gifts at christmas that gets me, although the time one is a really beautiful example of a true gift, i just dont understand why people need the set day to give to loved ones. i think people appreciate getting gifts much more when they dont expect one.

its the same with the spirit, directly relating it to the above, if the christmas spirit was carried by all people all the time then wouldnt the western world be a whole lot better off?(i say western world because to my knowledge thats where what i'm talking about happens)

"but have you considered there is more to life than your eyelids?"

jointly owned by Fire_Spinning_Angel and Blu_Valley

Posted: 21st Dec 2004
Its about being together, especially with my family - and i know it shouldnt be that there is just one day in the year when i should make the time but thats just the way it is.

As for presents, i like to give things that i know will make others happy, its not a case of just wrapping up the first thing you see and popping a bow on top. Its also a time of year where i can thank people for what they have done for me over the year and let them know how much i appreciate them. xxx

tHeReS gOoD aNd EvIl iN EaCh InDiViDuAl fIrE, iDeNtIfIeS nEeDs AnD fEeDs OuR dEsIrEs.

Posted: 21st Dec 2004
"the time of getting as much stuff you dont need "



Oh no no no, I medically need 3 Aerotech clubs.




But honestly, do *any* of us actually physically need any of the stuff we are ever given?

Well, excpet medicine that without you would die.



Besides, Christmas will never get cancelled as people enjoy getting free stuff.

Its human nature I reckon.

Posted: 22nd Dec 2004
this is true, for the moment.

but the silly thing is the stuff isnt really free because you should feel obliged to give something in return.

Vixen, those points about what christmas means to you are fair, its just i find it rather odd that some people use a religious holiday they dont even believe happened and give it different reasons for celebration(not that i'm saying you dont believe in christ). its just bizzare, like i said before, why not just do it all the time? or whenever the chance arises? without false meanings for christmas would good will ever be seen by the general populus?

"but have you considered there is more to life than your eyelids?"

jointly owned by Fire_Spinning_Angel and Blu_Valley

Posted: 23rd Dec 2004
I hate the whole thing of advertising in the run up, I see the other day the *new* dirty dancing album... dirty dancing is a film, an 80's film (I think)... how the hell CAN they bring out a *new* cd of a film... I just couldn't believe it.

I used to be indecisive, but I'm not so sure now.....

Posted: 23rd Dec 2004
so what other religous holidays are used to make money? I've never heard shops advertising hunnaka trees

"but have you considered there is more to life than your eyelids?"

jointly owned by Fire_Spinning_Angel and Blu_Valley

Posted: 23rd Dec 2004

Written by: Untimely Calculations Often Fail

---

But honestly, do *any* of us actually physically need any of the stuff we are ever given?

---

Not unless it relates to one of these:....

https://web.utk.edu/~gwynne/maslow.HTM


on the subject of commercialised holidays - well i'm not sure about card companies setting them up, but their nature has definately changed due to commercialisation:

Valentines Day
Halloween
Easter
Mothers day, Fathers day, Grandparent's day...
St. Patricks Day
New Year's Eve
well... i think that covers pretty much all the big ones... this is a consumer culture, so yeah they're going to.... any opportunity.

doesn't mean you have to go along with their terms though, like Skully and others have pointed out, Christmas does not have to mean capitalist...

Aurinko freedom agreement reached 10th Sept 2006

if it makes no sense that's because it's NOn-sense.

Posted: 24th Dec 2004
The giving of gifts is a symbolic ritual based on the gifts from the Three Wise Men being given to the baby Jesus. Most people know that on some level, though they don't openly acknowledge it. It's the same way lots of people take Communion in church without really thinking of the symbolism behind the action they're emulating.

I wouldn't read too far into it, this time of year you do see a lot of sales and such, but you also see a lot of family togetherness, giving to charity, and celebration of life that most other holidays don't bring with them. Most people I know are more concerned with what they're giving than what they're receiving. I personally put a LOT (maybe too much) of personal pride in giving a gift that is well-thought-out and will serve a good purpose for the recipient, because I like to know that I've given someone a lasting happiness. That's the Christmas spirit, I think.

What hits the fan is not evenly distributed.

Posted: 24th Dec 2004
maybe, but wouldnt it be great if "family togetherness"was always the attitude instead of needing to use one day, then having a 364 day break?

"but have you considered there is more to life than your eyelids?"

jointly owned by Fire_Spinning_Angel and Blu_Valley