Just stop all this crap buying?

[PassingStranger]

Woman in front of me today at shop buying a load of secret santa stuff this morning. I heard her telling the assistant. She also mentioned some of it was for a lucky dip. It was all sweets and chocolate too.

Can people not make a stand now and refuse to get sucked into all this crap.

Just because of a fairytale about a virgin birth sometime in December possibly the whole countries been brainwashed for years,into thinking people have got to have presents and secret santas and lucky díps etc?

Does anyone actually need any of this stuff anyway and more chocolate?
Will the world end if we start to push back?

Its so heavily entrenched into people's minds, they feel its Just something they must do.

I look forward to the day more people start to reject these things and think for themselves?

Is this really want I want to do or am im doing it because its something I have always done?

Do people really need what i am buying?
Martin Lewis seems to be on track with it.
Its ugly.

We will have to agree to disagree on that one!

Tat and consumerism is not my thing but if it genuinely makes you feel good, go for it.

Thing is that it doesn't actually make many people feel good, judging from the amount of stressed-out threads about how much they "have to" buy, or the moaning threads about the unsatisfactory tat they've received. And in that case you think, why are you bothering then?

I feel like it’s just the momentum of consumption we get caught in.
The people saying “stop” might seem rude or judgmental etc but if course that’s why as a society we keep spending.
No one wants to be the killjoy.

I feel like it’s just the momentum of consumption we get caught in.
The people saying “stop” might seem rude or judgmental etc but if course that’s why as a society we keep spending.
No one wants to be the killjoy.

I feel like it’s just the momentum of consumption we get caught in.
The people saying “stop” might seem rude or judgmental etc but if course that’s why as a society we keep spending.
No one wants to be the killjoy.

Hardly anyone in this country can say they are a Christian Yeah, only 27 million+ people in the 2021 census. Hardly worth counting that 🙄 Or are you assuming that because you don’t know many or any Christians, then they can’t possibly exist?

It’s always Christianity, isn’t it? None of you would mock Islam or Judaism, or Hinduism in the same way; I think that’s because you’d be shitting yourselves in case someone accused you of being racist or anti semitic. But Christianity is seen as fair game. Why is that? Why are you comfortable referring to Christian teachings as a fairy tale, or talking about magical sky fairies, as I’ve seen on other posts, but you’re all remarkably quiet when it’s Diwali or Eid or Rosh Hashannah? I’m assuming that anyone who doesn’t believe in virgin births is equally suspicious about the existence of Ravana the demon king? Or Allah swapping a prophet’s son for a ram? Or the existence of Adam and Eve?

Christianity is an acceptable religion to insult on MN, try it with others and you'll be on the naughty step.

This, Christianity is to be mocked and ridiculed as outdated and irrelevant… other religions welcomed and lauded!

I have an angel for the top made in Kindergarten by my now 46 year old daughter. Clearing my mother's house 20 years ago I brought home a set of fairy lights, each one is a nursery rhyme, I recall them when I was little and they weren't new then, I wouldn't say they were old but the flex is two twisted strands with a cotton outer covering! They actually still work too, once I'd replaced the 15 amp round pin plug.

Sorry I don't agree
Islam gets alot more abuse.
I say that as a Christian.

Not anywhere that's not rabidly right wing it doesn't. On MN it's open season.

Sales were apparently disappointing on the UK high street for Black Friday. Maybe the economic outlook is going to limit the tat sales

The only things I bought on BF was cleaning materials like dishwasher tablets and Persil which generally go on offer

If the choice is between a lump of coal and... flexing online about your "£900" budget and "three figure" perfume bottle... then I'll choose the coal. At least I don't go about telling people how much it cost. God, how embarrassing.

Totally agree! She sounds like a total w*nker
My fave perfume is approx £55. I love it. I wouldn't thank you for spending 3 figures on any else, because I won't like it as much. I like what I like and that's that. If you want to indulge yourself and can afford, that's fine. Whatever makes you happy....but it's not all about money. You can all the money in the world and still be a miserable sod. It's about the meaning of it, not the price tag. She sounds very sad making it all about that

I didnt read it like that, I think she was just challenging the kids that everything people buy is rubbish

As did I. There is a lot of nastiness on this thread.

It is disrespectful to “call it out” and actually rather hurtful when Christians feel a huge sense of magic at this time of year.
It’s akin to “calling out” marriage as an outdated pointless institution on someone’s wedding day.
Yes we can ignore you, but I’m absolutely certain you wouldn’t be so openly disparaging about say Hinduism.
Keep those thoughts to yourself

No, I won't keep my beliefs about religion to myself. And yes I think all religion is bad and most of it misogynist to the core. It was a method of social control for centuries and in some parts of the world continues to be so. By the way this is a public forum to discuss issues around and about anything.

As for the buying tat around Christmas - it's hugely damaging to the environment and the sole purpose of Chinese companies around Christmas is to make as much money out of you that they can without a care for the long term consequences. A significant proportion of said tat is made by modern day slaves kept in horrendous conditions, including young children. So please don't come on here saying my views of Christianity might cause offense. Religion has caused more conflict and misery in history than everything else put together.

The books/scrolls that went into the current version of the bible were voted upon by a council of men in Rome in c 500 AD for political gain. Do you beleive those men were ordained by God? 🧐

Are those 27 million actually Christian? 🤔 Have they given up their lives to Christ Jesus in hope of salvation, accepting him as the one true lord and saviour? Do they live by his example as far as is possible? Probably not. There are 27 million who are culturally Christian who do not even know what's in the bible. They do not even know what the holy trinity is.

Has anyone come up with a definitive definition of 'tat' yet? Or is it just something the poster doesn't personally like?

I think most posters are currently distracted by a debate on the process of scriptural canonisation today, but I can try to answer.

For me "tat" isn't a useless word - it generally refers to poor-quality which have been designed to sell quickly, rather than to be genuinely useful and lasting. My PIL have curtains that I hate, for example, but I wouldn't call them "tat".

Nope by now they're busy rustling up a definition of a Christian.

Yes, that's what I would take to be 'tat' too - lightweight plastic toys that are designed for party bags etc.
I would not describe chocolates you don't like, toiletries that you would not buy yourself or Christmas-themed bedding etc brought out every year as 'tat' but I have seen all these things described as such on MN.
Rude, entitled and tone deaf imho