Santa Should be Banned

[Greater Novgorod]

Could call the Devil. It's 666, right? What's the charge for a call to Hell these days? Is it still a lamb sacrifice for a two minute call?

They modernized the call center in Dis. All credit cards are accepted, or your soul if you're a traditionalist.

Dis has reception that far underground? I need to get a hand on one of their phones.

[Hurdegaryp]

Out of curiosity, what do you think parents should reply with, when their 4 year old asks them where babies come from?

Kids, at a young age, are magical thinkers. They don't think factually like older children or adults do, they think magically and they have stronger imaginations for it. So, the Santa Claus myth as well as those of the Easter Bunny or the Sandman or the Stork are all things that help to boost the imagination of younger children.

You grow out of it after a few years. Granted, organized religion tends to artificially make similar concepts stronger than they are when viewed empirically, no matter how old the dedicated followers become.

[Vashtanaraada]

Kids, at a young age, are magical thinkers. They don't think factually like older children or adults do, they think magically and they have stronger imaginations for it. So, the Santa Claus myth as well as those of the Easter Bunny or the Sandman or the Stork are all things that help to boost the imagination of younger children.

You grow out of it after a few years. Granted, organized religion tends to artificially make similar concepts stronger than they are when viewed empirically, no matter how old the dedicated followers become.

This is turning into an argument against fictional media and literature....

[Conscentia]

It is possible to give gifts to children without lying about where they came from.

Out of curiosity, what do you think parents should reply with, when their 4 year old asks them where babies come from?

'From their mothers'.
I doubt a 4 year old would think to ask that. Either way, there are age-appropriate books that exist to explain reproduction to children.

[Gim]

It is possible to give gifts to children without lying about where they came from.

"Dad, how did I get this PS4?"
"We took the money out of your college fund."

How frank.

[Conscentia]

No, I was countering your point with a contrasting point, feel free to understand that is how a debate works. You simply stated that people can gift gifts to their children without lying about the gifts coming from a magical man in the North Pole. People who tend to believe that also think that lying about the Easter Bunny or any other fantasy beings is wrong and therefore would probably want to ban them as well. Although I worded it poorly to mimic what you were stating, the Santa myth boosts the imaginations and creativity of young children, who tend to be magical thinkers rather than factual thinkers. Do feel free to allow young children to enjoy their powerful imaginations while they have them, I wish I still had mine.

Young children are entirely capable of distinguishing stories from reality, and can have their imaginations and creativity fed by said stories. I've seen no reason to believe that Santa improves imagination or creativity in children at all - let alone that telling them that he's real would do so more so.

[Settrah]

Out of curiosity, what do you think parents should reply with, when their 4 year old asks them where babies come from?

'From their mothers'.
I doubt a 4 year old would think to ask that. Either way, there are age-appropriate books that exist to explain reproduction to children.

4 was just an example. Point is, there are children of various ages that can and will ask this topic. Because children are a LOT more inquisitive and perceptive than you may think, and they can and will be curious and persistent.

So either you be completely upfront and brutally honest, or you spin a little white lie to keep their imagination intact.

[Vashtanaraada]

"Dad, how did I get this PS4?"
"We took the money out of your college fund."

How frank.

Buying a PS4 over a PC is child cruelty.
ugh

[Gauthier]

How frank.

Buying a PS4 over a PC is child cruelty.
ugh

PS4s don't go obsolete the following year.

[Gim]

How frank.

Buying a PS4 over a PC is child cruelty.
ugh

Exactly. I'd rather buy a PC, which has more functions than just gaming.

[Gauthier]

Buying a PS4 over a PC is child cruelty.
ugh

Exactly. I'd rather buy a PC, which has more functions than just gaming.

"This Alienware/Falcon Northwest is so I can do accounting and essays!"

[The Eastern Hegemony]

I dunno. I think it's important for kids to have a sense of wonderment.

This. Also, it's better to say, "Santa had a really bad blizzard this year, and some of the toys got lost", than it is to say, "The company didn't do very well, so we didn't get our holiday bonuses and can't pay for any toys. Life sucks, huh?"

[Immoren]

You grow out of it after a few years. Granted, organized religion tends to artificially make similar concepts stronger than they are when viewed empirically, no matter how old the dedicated followers become.

This is turning into an argument against fictional media and literature....

I remember reading about TPrachett‘s anectode about older lady approaching him and asking "what's the point of writing books that are not factual" or something along those lines.
Or was it TPrachett? I think it was.

[Gim]

Exactly. I'd rather buy a PC, which has more functions than just gaming.

"This Alienware/Falcon Northwest is so I can do accounting and essays!"

High graphics on Microsoft Word is definitely something you need!

[Conscentia]

'From their mothers'.
I doubt a 4 year old would think to ask that. Either way, there are age-appropriate books that exist to explain reproduction to children.

4 was just an example. Point is, there are children of various ages that can and will ask this topic. Because children are a LOT more inquisitive and perceptive than you may think, and they can and will be curious and persistent.

So either you be completely upfront and brutally honest, or you spin a little white lie to keep their imagination intact.

And as I said, there are age-appropriate books written specifically for children.

Honesty doesn't have to be brutal. I'd imagine that a science lesson would benefit a child's sense of curiosity better than a lie created to prevent the kid from asking more questions so that the parent can be spared of having to answer their child's questions.

[Conscentia]

Buying a PS4 over a PC is child cruelty.
ugh

PS4s don't go obsolete the following year.

Yes they do. The manufacturers just can't afford to constantly design new ones every year.

[The Great state of Atlantis]

4 was just an example. Point is, there are children of various ages that can and will ask this topic. Because children are a LOT more inquisitive and perceptive than you may think, and they can and will be curious and persistent.

So either you be completely upfront and brutally honest, or you spin a little white lie to keep their imagination intact.

And as I said, there are age-appropriate books written specifically for children.

Honesty doesn't have to be brutal. I'd imagine that a science lesson would benefit a child's sense of curiosity better than a lie created to prevent the kid from asking more questions so that the parent can be spared of having to answer their child's questions.

Yup, let's give the kids a historical lesson about the various myths, sources and legends Santa's composed out of. Kinda takes away the sense of wonder and amazement don't you think?

[Vashtanaraada]

PS4s don't go obsolete the following year.

Yes they do. The manufacturers just can't afford to constantly design new ones every year.

Really the only steps taken in the name of progress are improved graphics and the odd new series, that's it.

[Conscentia]

And as I said, there are age-appropriate books written specifically for children.
Honesty doesn't have to be brutal. I'd imagine that a science lesson would benefit a child's sense of curiosity better than a lie created to prevent the kid from asking more questions so that the parent can be spared of having to answer their child's questions.

Yup, let's give kid a historical lesson about the various myths, sources and legends Santa's composed out of. Kinda takes away the sense of wonder and amazement don't you think?

Strawman.

I mean, for a start I said science not history. Science is fun. Krampus can take the humanities to Hell.
But seriously, that sentence was created within the context of explaining human reproduction to children. With regards to Santa, being honest would just mean being upfront about it being a story. We tell children stories all the time, and we're honest about them being stories.

[The Great state of Atlantis]

Yup, let's give kid a historical lesson about the various myths, sources and legends Santa's composed out of. Kinda takes away the sense of wonder and amazement don't you think?

Strawman.

No, no strawman, a comparison. Why do we decide to tell children the truth in an age-appropriate manner when it comes to say, making babies, but we keep them in the dark when it comes to Santa?

[Conscentia]

Strawman.

No, no strawman, a comparison. Why do we decide to tell children the truth in an age-appropriate manner when it comes to say, making babies, but we keep them in the dark when it comes to Santa?

I edited my post.

[Eastern Equestria]

How frank.

Buying a PS4 over a PC is child cruelty.
ugh

[Hurdegaryp]

'From their mothers'.
I doubt a 4 year old would think to ask that. Either way, there are age-appropriate books that exist to explain reproduction to children.

4 was just an example. Point is, there are children of various ages that can and will ask this topic. Because children are a LOT more inquisitive and perceptive than you may think, and they can and will be curious and persistent.

So either you be completely upfront and brutally honest, or you spin a little white lie to keep their imagination intact.

Many people keep forgetting that many young children are like sponges, they soak up anything they hear. So be prepared for them to ask unexpected questions.

[Amethystlands]

Why are there 42 pages of conversation...on this?

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Why are there 42 pages of conversation...on this?

Because Burger Meister reasons.