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Original poster

Real tree Vs artificial tree? Is it a status symbol?

607 replies

CatsWhiskers1976 · 07/12/2020 11:26

Just putting up our artificial tree and having some thoughts.
At work the other day we got to discussing Christmas trees, and the old real vs artificial debate. It seemed to me that there was a bit of 'snobbery' against those who had artificial trees (maybe that's just where I work!). There were those who said artificial trees were just TERRIBLE for the environment. Given that most people I know have had their tree for many years (our family one was about 40 years old before it was replaced) is this really true? Cutting down live trees is okay for the environment? I have never had a real tree, growing up I didn't know anyone who had a real tree and in our circles it was usually only the slightly more well off people who ever had real trees. Apologies if this offends anyone, it was just my experience as a child growing up in working class Scotland.
Some people at work looked horrified at the thought of having a 'plastic' tree (mind, they were going off to cut the perfect one down on their 'estate').
So what do you think? Real Vs artificial? I spent a fair bit a few years ago to get a really nice realistic looking artificial tree which I hope will last years. At the time we had cats and I was afraid they would get hurt/never leave the real tree alone so I have stuck with artificial.
What does everyone else have? Do you judge people with fake trees?

OP posts:
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7
TheKeatingFive · 08/12/2020 11:39

Aspect

VinylDetective · 08/12/2020 11:40

@TheKeatingFive

They don’t, the cheap and nasty ones do.

A real tree will always be better at looking like a real tree than a plastic copy. And that’s before we get into the sensorial adjective.

Oh for God’s sake, it’s a matter of opinion. 🤷‍♀️
Anordinarymum · 08/12/2020 11:40

Last year I bought a tree from my local garden centre. I put it up and decorated it it and hung lights off it, and then the needles started to drop. By the week before Christmas there were hardly any needles left. I took a photo of it and the receipt back to the garden centre who argues that I had placed it next to a radiator which I had not.
They very reluctantly gave me a voucher to spend instore since I refused another bloody tree.
I'm having an artificial one delivered tomorrow with lights already on. I'm looking forward to it.

Level75 · 08/12/2020 11:40

Clearing up the needles and watering is hardly the huge hassle some people are implying. Would you have fake houseplants because they need watering and might drop leaves? No, because it's a weird ass thing to have fake plants in preference to real.

CrownAddict · 08/12/2020 11:42

Definitely think it's a focus.for.snobbery. Our artificial is 20 years old and going strong. Relatives definitely a bit.sniffy about it and relish their annual.tree choosing. Which is fine by me
But yes, class thing.

TheKeatingFive · 08/12/2020 11:42

Oh for God’s sake, it’s a matter of opinion

Well not really. If you want a real tree in your house a plastic copy is never going to ‘look better’.

If you arent fussed about having a real tree, then your view is different.

TheKeatingFive · 08/12/2020 11:43

Would you have fake houseplants because they need watering and might drop leaves? No, because it's a weird ass thing to have fake plants in preference to real.

Exactly. Or bunches of flowers.

VinylDetective · 08/12/2020 11:44

@TheKeatingFive

Oh for God’s sake, it’s a matter of opinion

Well not really. If you want a real tree in your house a plastic copy is never going to ‘look better’.

If you arent fussed about having a real tree, then your view is different.

Exactly. A matter of opinion.
StatisticallyChallenged · 08/12/2020 11:45

None of my houseplants drop needles or leaves, certainly nothing like a Christmas tree does!

TheKeatingFive · 08/12/2020 11:46

Exactly. A matter of opinion.

Not quite. I think the below is basically a category error.

Good quality modern fake trees look better than the real thing.

VinylDetective · 08/12/2020 11:47

It’s my opinion. I’m entitled to have one. You could have an argument in an empty room @TheKeatingFive.

Poorlykitten · 08/12/2020 11:48

Really? People will
Make anything in to an act of snobbery. Bonkers. It’s a tree. It’s a personal preference. Not a class issue.

TheKeatingFive · 08/12/2020 11:48

You could have an argument in an empty room @TheKeatingFive.

Well that’s very rich coming from you. Wink

VinylDetective · 08/12/2020 11:50

@TheKeatingFive

You could have an argument in an empty room @TheKeatingFive.

Well that’s very rich coming from you. Wink

🤷‍♀️
Janegrey333 · 08/12/2020 11:54

Of course a real tree looks better than a faux tree - and there really is no sensible argument or opinion to the contrary. To try to justify fake over genuine is pointless.

It IS sad, however, to see the dead trees discarded after people have grown tired of them. More and more people down n’t even wait for Twelfth Night. Could the reason for that be that they put the tree up far far too early? Christmas is not a movable feast.

Janegrey333 · 08/12/2020 11:55

...don’t even...

Janegrey333 · 08/12/2020 11:57

@Anordinarymum

Last year I bought a tree from my local garden centre. I put it up and decorated it it and hung lights off it, and then the needles started to drop. By the week before Christmas there were hardly any needles left. I took a photo of it and the receipt back to the garden centre who argues that I had placed it next to a radiator which I had not. They very reluctantly gave me a voucher to spend instore since I refused another bloody tree. I'm having an artificial one delivered tomorrow with lights already on. I'm looking forward to it.
Did you put it up in November, as some do?
draughtycatflap · 08/12/2020 11:59

I did think one year that an artificial tree would be so much easier but the husband took one look, snapped and farted, then it was back in the box.

Bluntness100 · 08/12/2020 12:04

Always an artificial one growing up, grew up working class. I guess you’d say we were solidly middle, and I did a real one for about ten years, swapped to a balsam hill artificial one about five years ago, as I just couldn’t be arsed any more, the getting it, watering it, hoovering up the needles, then disposing of it. I honestly don’t think it’s worth the effort.

DinoGloria · 08/12/2020 12:06

Not aware of it being a class or snobby thing, more practicality.

Middle class family and as children always had a fake one. I loved it.

But we were aware of the plastic issue about 20 years ago and so moved to real. Even a tree had for 20 years will never rot down after use.

For me, tree plantations are at least land for birds.

But I think it's become easier to get real trees - we normally get the ones from IKEA which cost £25 but you can use £20 in stores in feb Grin

This year though we've used a local family business. They deliver and pick up too. We are lazy this year.

Anordinarymum · 08/12/2020 12:09

Janegrey333

I put the real one up about 2 weeks before Christmas. Prior to that it was outside as the man suggested when I bought it. It had shed it's needles within a bloody week. I had to remove all the decorations and then the lights and then I had to take it outside and chop it up and bin it. Then I had to vacuum all the needles which also got into one of my dogs foot making him limp.

I alternate between real and artificial trees. My old tree had been given to a charity shop so I went for a real one.

In the past I have overwatered real ones and damaged carpets, and also the cat has peed behind them. Artificial trees don't bite you either :)

Mumtumwobble · 08/12/2020 12:10

I personally like the look of artificial trees. I like how they’re symmetrical and full and bushy. I always ended up with gaps (usually near the top) in a real tree, and I’ve bought some really expensive ones over the years. I know this is how they’re supposed to be, but I don’t like it. I also like how I can position the branches so that I can get my baubles just right, particularly the heavier ones. I also like that it looks just as good on the day I take it down as when I put it up. I do think you get what you pay for though with artificial trees and the more expensive ones are definitely better. I don’t really care if others like my tree or not. We do and that’s what matters. Likewise if you prefer a real tree crack on.

teateateateateamoretea · 08/12/2020 12:12

Good quality modern fake trees look better than the real thing

I agree. much nicer

Averyyounggrandmaofsix · 08/12/2020 12:14

I have never seen so many people declaring themselves Middle Class, even on here. Hilarious!

lazylinguist · 08/12/2020 12:15

How can a plastic thing look like a better tree than a tree does?!