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Died By Bear
Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Location: On the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
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 Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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There's no rule or law that says you have to pay attention to any of it. Don't like the music on the radio? Pop in a cd. Don't like what's on TV? There are a heck of a lot of choices. Hate church? Don't go. It's simple. Yes, I also agree with Yaya on what they've turned Christmas into, but hey what can you do.
What I'm saying is if you don't like the marketing of Christmas - just don't buy into it and ignore it. Being with family during the holidays is what really matters. Look, if you can learn to tune out loud music and noise pollution in Korea, then you can do the same thing with the marketing of Christmas
Last edited by Died By Bear on Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:25 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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sallymonster
Joined: 06 Feb 2010
Location: Seattle area
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Died By Bear wrote: |
| It's nice to be with family during the holidays, there's no denying that - if you have a healthy relationship with your family/kin. |
This. When I lived in the US, I wasn't too into the holidays because they meant having to visit my co-dependent family. Now that I'm an ocean away and have to work the weeks before and after Christmas, I feel like I can finally enjoy the season. It's like a breath of fresh air. I love my family and we have an OK relationship, but I don't love being around all of their problems. |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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I miss the decorations in NYC. I miss shopping at Macy's at Herald Square, the uptown Bloomingdale's (the downtown one is horrible), and all of the little shops that sell traditional toys. I love finding the perfect gift for each loved one, Christian or not. It's a special time.
I REALLY miss having my friends over on Christmas for a day of ordered (American) Chinese food, video games, and movies. I'll be making the mushu from scratch this year. The gaming and movies will be the same, though my sister will be missed. |
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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:44 pm Post subject: Re: Why I no longer like spending Xmas in the West |
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| Yaya wrote: |
1) The endless parade of Xmas songs, including hip-hop and remixed versions.
2) The use of the holiday to sell everything under the sun.
3) In the U.S., December tends to be the month with the highest rates of armed robbery or mugging and depression and suicide.
4) Many bad Xmas movies.
5) The flooding of shopping malls with people.
6) Pressure to buy people gifts.
7) The fact that Xmas starts after Thanksgiving and lasts and lasts and lasts (though it's worse in the Philippines, where they start playing Xmas songs in OCTOBER!).
 Putting up an Xmas tree can be a hassle. |
Don't know about the muggings and whatnot, but the suicide thing is pure myth according to the CDC.
http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/holiday.html
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The idea that suicides occur more frequently during the holiday season is a long perpetuated myth. The Annenberg Public Policy Center has been tracking media reports on suicide since 2000. A recent analysis found that 40% of articles written during the 2008 holiday season perpetuated the myth.1
CDC�s National Center for Health Statistics reports that the suicide rate is, in fact, the lowest in December.1 The rate peaks in the spring and the fall. This pattern has not changed in recent years. The holiday suicide myth supports misinformation about suicide that might ultimately hamper prevention efforts. |
Also, I disagree with this list in general.
As others have pointed out, the Xmas songs are no more annoying than other songs that get overplayed.
Malls do get flooded with shoppers, but why would that matter unless you also go to the mall?
Pressure to by stuff for people? Depends on what your friends and family are like. My brother and his family have made a present truce with each other and with my parents for several years now, deciding to donate money to charity each year instead of exchanging gifts. Also, there is at least as much pressure here to give money/gifts for funerals, weddings, house-warming, last day at a job, new baby etc.
Oh, and Christmas here is almost always without snow.  |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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First of all, your title says "West" but many of your points are strictly American (Thanksgiving is the big one, and the consumerism isn't as big outside the US).
This is my first xmas back in the homeland I have to say it's not as overpowering as I remember. I actually play carols at home to get into the spirit. You try to break the never-ending loop of pop-garbage playing on the sound system everywhere. I've seen one Salvation Army collector and she wasn't even dressed up (which, incidentally, made me donate more than usual). I haven't seen Santa besides in the big city parade. The malls aren't anymore busy than usual, maybe a tad more but after Asia I feel like I'm on a deserted island even during parades and rush hour. I have very little money for gifts this year as does my family but that makes it more fun to try to spend every dollar, or even just imagination and creativity, to get them something meaningful.
You don't have to like Christmas, but I don't like it when people poo-poo it either. It's the one time of year that my family ever puts any effort in, and it's been years since we've all been together. There's even a new addition now which makes it more exciting. Some of us have memories of dad actually being at home for a day or two, or mom actually stopping being a female dog long enough for everyone to drink eggnog, eat cookies and go to bed dreaming of a tomorrow that for once might surprise us. And that spirit allows us to at least try to do better things for others, too. It's called magic, and I'll be damned if I'm not allowed to believe it, even as a cynical young adult for at least a few days a year.
If you really feel that Christmas is lame or over-commercialized I suggest you donate your time and/or money to those who need and want a better Christmas. |
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ESL Milk "Everyday
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:32 am Post subject: |
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Without Christmas, December would just be a cold, miserable month with nothing to make it special.
I don't care about all of those things, Christmas rocks. In Korea, it's kind of not as good, but it's still not bad. |
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Newbie
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 7:15 am Post subject: Re: Why I no longer like spending Xmas in the West |
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| Yaya wrote: |
1) The endless parade of Xmas songs, including hip-hop and remixed versions.
2) The use of the holiday to sell everything under the sun.
3) In the U.S., December tends to be the month with the highest rates of armed robbery or mugging and depression and suicide.
4) Many bad Xmas movies.
5) The flooding of shopping malls with people.
6) Pressure to buy people gifts.
7) The fact that Xmas starts after Thanksgiving and lasts and lasts and lasts (though it's worse in the Philippines, where they start playing Xmas songs in OCTOBER!).
Putting up an Xmas tree can be a hassle. |
1. Love Christmas Music. Ipod is loaded with it. Love how you can have pop, country, gospel, and crooner verisons of the same song. Love how so many songs can so easily put a smile on my face. Love how when I was in Korea "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christma" and "I'll be Home For Christmas" would always get me all choked up.
2. Love shopping for gifts. Nothing better than seeing a kids' face lightup when they're opening presents Christmas morning.
3. If people are stupid enough to kill themselves... the world's a better place without'em
4. My favorite time of year for movies. Rudoplh, Frosty, Elf, Holiday Inn, White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life Can't go a year without watching them.
5. LOVE malls at Christmas time... the music, the decorations, all the people. Great.
6. You're not normal, are you?
7. Just about the right time for me.
8. Just put one up with the wife and daughter. Neve seen my little girl so happy. Was it a pain to cut down and haul home? Yes. But worth it.
I really feel bad for you. Your anti-Christmas rant says a lot about how sad and empty your personal life must be. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 7:28 am Post subject: |
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My life ain't perfect but it ain't empty, either.
I also have nothing against Christmas per se, just that I don't miss all the negative stuff about it in the U.S. (or West), that's all. |
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Newbie
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 7:44 am Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
My life ain't perfect but it ain't empty, either.
I also have nothing against Christmas per se, just that I don't miss all the negative stuff about it in the U.S. (or West), that's all. |
Fair enough, but isn't number 3 the only thing that is truly a negative? |
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lithium
Joined: 18 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 7:53 am Post subject: Re: Why I no longer like spending Xmas in the West |
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| Yaya wrote: |
1) The endless parade of Xmas songs, including hip-hop and remixed versions.
2) The use of the holiday to sell everything under the sun.
3) In the U.S., December tends to be the month with the highest rates of armed robbery or mugging and depression and suicide.
4) Many bad Xmas movies.
5) The flooding of shopping malls with people.
6) Pressure to buy people gifts.
7) The fact that Xmas starts after Thanksgiving and lasts and lasts and lasts (though it's worse in the Philippines, where they start playing Xmas songs in OCTOBER!).
Putting up an Xmas tree can be a hassle. |
Why are all of your posts negative? Only you could make such a joyous season seem like a pain. OF ALL THE CHARLIE BROWNS IN THE WORLD, YOU'RE THE CHARLIE BROWNIEST! |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 8:01 am Post subject: |
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I'm no fan of the kitschy, commercial side of Xmas, but to me Xmas is a time to spend with family eating good food, drinking good wine, and just relaxing. For people with busy lives or live long distances away, it's an excuse to make time no matter how stressful the lead up is, and if they don't take that opportunity, they may never and may lose touch with their families and loved ones.
Two negative things about Xmas are that people make it way more stressful than it should be, and people spend beyond their means. It's up to you to not go down that road though, hopefully with support from the people that matter to you. |
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WadRUG'naDoo
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| Xmas is lame. |
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Kimchieluver
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 9:56 am Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
My life ain't perfect but it ain't empty, either.
I also have nothing against Christmas per se, just that I don't miss all the negative stuff about it in the U.S. (or West), that's all. |
Damn,
I hate agreeing with Yaya. But Christmas is so over-commercialized in the West. And they play those happy tunes to get you into the spirit of buying material goods not to get you into the Christmas spirit, but to get you into the shopping mall so you can buy a present that has been advertised on TV infinitude what your child, nephew, whatever thinks it's a great gift.
I have never seen a better Christmas than here in Korea. The whole family getting together and just relaxing and having a dinner out. Or just going to a fancy restaurant with your GF or spouse.
I do miss Christmas dinner in the west, but with all the kids around wanting nothing but to open their material gifts ruins the moment. |
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rumdiary
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:43 am Post subject: Re: Why I no longer like spending Xmas in the West |
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| Yaya wrote: |
1) The endless parade of Xmas songs, including hip-hop and remixed versions.
2) The use of the holiday to sell everything under the sun.
3) In the U.S., December tends to be the month with the highest rates of armed robbery or mugging and depression and suicide.
4) Many bad Xmas movies.
5) The flooding of shopping malls with people.
6) Pressure to buy people gifts.
7) The fact that Xmas starts after Thanksgiving and lasts and lasts and lasts (though it's worse in the Philippines, where they start playing Xmas songs in OCTOBER!).
Putting up an Xmas tree can be a hassle. |
You have probably been in Korea way too long and have severed all your relationships with family and friends. If making excuses to hate Christmas makes you feel better than more power to you. |
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swashbuckler
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:54 am Post subject: Re: Why I no longer like spending Xmas in the West |
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| Yaya wrote: |
1) The endless parade of Xmas songs, including hip-hop and remixed versions.
2) The use of the holiday to sell everything under the sun.
3) In the U.S., December tends to be the month with the highest rates of armed robbery or mugging and depression and suicide.
4) Many bad Xmas movies.
5) The flooding of shopping malls with people.
6) Pressure to buy people gifts.
7) The fact that Xmas starts after Thanksgiving and lasts and lasts and lasts (though it's worse in the Philippines, where they start playing Xmas songs in OCTOBER!).
Putting up an Xmas tree can be a hassle. |
You forget, 9) all the fat heifers in the USA stuffing their faces on Turkey and Christmas Cake, something you've talked about on here ad nauseum. |
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