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Christmas

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Original poster

Santa gives more to rich kids than to poor kids. Stop lying to your children about Santa Claus

26 replies

Gemtubbs · 14/11/2011 19:45

Hello,

I saw this message written on a billboard today. What do you think? Should we be lying to our kids, or is it all just harmless fun?

OP posts:
weevilswobble · 14/11/2011 19:55

On what billboard? Was it graffiti?

usualsuspect · 14/11/2011 19:57

Bit early for the Santa dissing thread

tx12noone · 14/11/2011 19:58

I lie to my kids all the time. No, there's no chocolate in the cupboard. If you don't get your shoes on right now I'm leaving without you. You'll love spending the day with Grandma...

I don't see why Santa should be singled out as the worst lie I've told. I guarantee you it's not.

piprabbit · 14/11/2011 20:00

I'd suggest that the writer of the message mind their own business.

lovingthecoast · 14/11/2011 20:00

I'm surprised the OP hasn't put, 'Discuss' at the end of the posting.

Anyway, we may tell fibs about Father Christmas but we never lie about Santa Claus. My children know he's the man from Coca-Cola.

Hulababy · 14/11/2011 20:00

To me it is more about telling a nice magical story. Can't see an harm in that personally.

I have yet to meet a parent in real life who has never yet lied to their child in some way.

MmeLindor. · 14/11/2011 20:02

Are you a journalist?

Not sure what to think of that. Some rich parents give loads, some poor parents give loads. Where is the lie?

lovingthecoast · 14/11/2011 20:02

Quite, Hula, especially when I say to them, 'Of course that will happen!Mummy wouldn't tell you lies!' Grin

Original poster
Gemtubbs · 14/11/2011 20:05

Discuss...If you want. : ) Just wanted to see what other people thought about this. It had never occured to me as even being an issue before. Tbh, I don't even know if it was a real billboard, someone had it as a picture on their facebook. It might have been a photoshop thing. Sorry if I mislead you. : )

OP posts:
Original poster
Gemtubbs · 14/11/2011 20:06

I'm not a journalist. I'm just a person. The lie is that Santa is real.

OP posts:
thousandDenier · 14/11/2011 20:07

I think the writer of that statement either doesn't have kids or lives in a spectacularly non-diverse bubble.

My 'poor' friends will heap gifts on their DCs and go very much without themselves. Or rack up hideous credit to do so.

My 'rich' friends can be somewhat parsimonious and give their children one non-flashy main toy and a stocking full of satsumas.

nocake · 14/11/2011 20:13

Did you ever watch Red Dwarf? Lister teaches Kryten to lie because the ability to lie is a very important part of being human. Think about all the lies you tell for numerous, and often very good, reasons.

No, Santa doesn't exist but there are good reasons to tell young kids that he does.

Original poster
Gemtubbs · 14/11/2011 20:16

I did see that Red Dwarf. Smeeeeg Heeeeeead

OP posts:
EverybodysScaryEyed · 14/11/2011 20:30

The value of the presents is irrelevant - you can have no money and still make Christmas magical for your kids. Santa is part of the magic.

Why take one more part of the magic away? At the age they believe in Santa they are too young to care how much they get as presents - they are just excited that Santa brought them something!!

Ismeyes · 14/11/2011 20:49

But he doesn't give more to rich kids than poor kids. If you search the regular worthy 'my kids only get a satsuma and button for Christmas', you will find miserly parents from all levels of income.

Solo · 14/11/2011 22:47

Miserly parents Ismeyes?! Shock

jasper · 14/11/2011 22:55

It's quite wrong.
Santa gives more to poor kids. Wink

Laugs · 14/11/2011 22:55

I saw a bloke in a 'Santa Didn't Die for Your Sins' t-shirt speaking on the Real Meaning of Christmas in our city centre on Saturday. I glowered. Was ready to knock him off his step if he tried to ruin it for my kids.

VoldemortsNipple · 14/11/2011 23:01

I always told my dcs that parents have to pay fc for the presents they get and whatever they do get, mum and dad had to work very hard to pay fc.

Some of their friends were very poor and relied on people in the community to make up presents under the tree. My dcs understood very clearly the reason why they didn't get much, but they could still happily believe at the same time.

Much better than them thinkjng it was because their friends had been naughty. They could still enjoy the lie though.

Mollydoggerson · 14/11/2011 23:03

You better watch out
You better not cry
You better be 6ood and I'm tellin6 you why,
Cause Santa Clause is comin6 to town.

He knows when you've been sleepin6
He knows when you 're awake
He knows if you've been bad or 6ood
So be 6ood for 6oodness sake!

scarlettsmummy2 · 14/11/2011 23:08

its not right- my experience as a foster carer is that those that have the least go a bit mad at Christmas, spending much more than those that can actually afford too.

Solo · 14/11/2011 23:11

VN I always told my Ds that too...'Mummy has to send Father Christmas a cheque to pay for your presents...' Haven't yet had that conversation with Dd though.

TuftytheBetrayer · 14/11/2011 23:15

Are you saying Father Christmas isn't real?

MitziKinsky · 14/11/2011 23:16

Santa tends to avoid children in Africa and Asia, I've noticed. There are a few lucky ones, but on the whole he delivers mostly to the western world.

Bonkerz · 14/11/2011 23:19

My DCs have been told not to write lists this year as santa has been watching them closely and will bring what they will like not necessarily what they want!!!!