Santa Should be Banned

[Hurdegaryp]

The cultural custom of Santa Claus is unethical and counterproductive to the greater good. It is not only wrong to teach children to believe in the existence of a fictional character, it sets up an unhealthy mindset lacking in skepticism. But more concerningly, an immoral and criminal character is being glorified as a benevolent figure of goodness. A character who spies on people without their knowledge or consent (stalking), a character who breaks into people's houses (breaking and entering).

Some may handwave this criminal behaviour away by saying Santa gives gifts. But it's a cruel lie. A cruel lie that normalizes the act of parents lying to their own children. Surely it would be more healthy for children to be aware of having recieved gifts from their parents than to be told it came from a stalker with a habit of breaking into people's houses at night. This cultural custom skews the moral compass of children by teaching them to be good for the sake of a reward, normalizes lying, promotes an unhealthy mindset detached from fact-checking, and glorifies an individual who would be despised if anyone else were to partake in those criminal actions like stalking and breaking and entering.

We can celebrate the holidays without Santa in it. The cultural practice of Santa Claus should be done away with, perhaps going so far as a ban if that's what it takes. Thoughts?

So, did you not get what you asked for, or...?

Receiving the wrong game console for Christmas have led to bursts of outrage more than once.

[Immoren]

So, did you not get what you asked for, or...?

Receiving the wrong game console for Christmas have led to bursts of outrage more than once.

That's good source for funniest homevideos material.

[Timsvill]

Do you remember when you were a kid, and the feeling of magic you felt on Christmas day when you saw the gifts that santa left you? Do you remember believing in a man who didn't give gifts because he had too, but because he wanted to? Santa brings magic to Christmas and harmless to kids. They'll out grow believing in him at some point.
Santa should not be banned.

[San Lumen]

Do you remember when you were a kid, and the feeling of magic you felt on Christmas day when you saw the gifts that santa left you? Do you remember believing in a man who didn't give gifts because he had too, but because he wanted to? Santa brings magic to Christmas and harmless to kids. They'll out grow believing in him at some point.
Santa should not be banned.

Exactly. People ought to read the famous letter from 1897 Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus.

[Cinia]

Is this whole thread a joke? There is no adverse repercussions for telling your children that Santa is real. The whole idea of Santa is to trick your kids into being good the entire year so Santa will bring them presents. Other than just "tricking" them which may be an invasion of trust, but whatever. Plus it gives those children the childhood wonderment that is magical to them and necessary to some. I don't see a problem with it.

[Socialist Tera]

OP IS THE GRINCH! Seriously, Santa Claus teaches us a lesson, it teaches us about skepticism and to question everything we learn, it also teaches us to adapt when our world is thrown on our head. If you ban him, we will just use Santa Christ instead.

[Alvecia]

i learned at an early age that Santa wasn't real (had fights with other kids pending his current existence). I'm still imaginative and like sci-fi and fantasy.

Depends on the child really, you can't group everyone under one umbrella with something like this.

A message for the OP and everyone who agrees with the OP: Father Christmas is coming, and you are on his list.

Reminds me of Robot Santa from Futurama

[Tokuopolis]

I can't really relate to that video. I never believed in Santa to begin with.

A NationStates forum member convinced me to watch a video that was actually quite pleasant and somewhat enlightening to watch. Today is a decent day.

Thank you! The Video shows why Santa should not banned. Kids will most likely believe something is "real" even though it isn't, and they'll eventually grow out of it, or perhaps more accurately, they'll still partake in it even though they are aware it is pure spectacle. I still like reading non-fiction books about monsters, cryptids, aliens and mythical creatures, but the way I enjoy it is different to how I enjoyed it when I was younger.

[Baltican Union]

This better be a joke or a troll, if it is the op deserves a medal

If its not, this just proves once more that liberals are brain dead.

[Teemant]

So edgy.

If you don't like santa then stay away from santa. No need to ban cool things for other people.

[Ykrovjnge Krjvwic]

Surprised this thread is still alive and well. "Tis the season to be jorry.

[New DeCapito]

This better be a joke or a troll, if it is the op deserves a medal

If its not, this just proves once more that liberals are brain dead.

...Edgy. What makes you think the poster is a liberal? What makes you think liberals are brain-dead? Have you ever heard of stereotyping?

[Hurdegaryp]

This better be a joke or a troll, if it is the op deserves a medal

If its not, this just proves once more that liberals are brain dead.

...Edgy. What makes you think the poster is a liberal? What makes you think liberals are brain-dead? Have you ever heard of stereotyping?

Read his signature, for it is full of blind hate.

[Ykrovjnge Krjvwic]

This better be a joke or a troll, if it is the op deserves a medal

If its not, this just proves once more that liberals are brain dead.

...Edgy. What makes you think the poster is a liberal? What makes you think liberals are brain-dead? Have you ever heard of stereotyping?

The guy's a white nationalist. If you expected him to have any coherent logic behind his remarks, you'd be asking too much of him.

[Valyrian Freeholds]

I mean god is a criminal character! He's committed genocide! He should be banned!

This is dumb, the whole story of Santa Claus is a nice thing that given kids good feeling and excitement for the holidays. Sure the bubble bursts but people get over it, clearly, Infected Mushroom and Valystria went through bad Santa Isn't Real phases,

[Hurdegaryp]

I mean god is a criminal character! He's committed genocide! He should be banned!

This is dumb, the whole story of Santa Claus is a nice thing that given kids good feeling and excitement for the holidays. Sure the bubble bursts but people get over it, clearly, Infected Mushroom and Valystria went through bad Santa Isn't Real phases,

We should pity those who want to ban everything they disagree with, for they shall never know happiness.

[Valyrian Freeholds]

I mean god is a criminal character! He's committed genocide! He should be banned!

This is dumb, the whole story of Santa Claus is a nice thing that given kids good feeling and excitement for the holidays. Sure the bubble bursts but people get over it, clearly, Infected Mushroom and Valystria went through bad Santa Isn't Real phases,

We should pity those who want to ban everything they disagree with, for they shall never know happiness.

You mean I can't get Infected Mushroom threads banned?

[Hurdegaryp]

We should pity those who want to ban everything they disagree with, for they shall never know happiness.

You mean I can't get Infected Mushroom threads banned?

Don't let me stop you from such an endeavour, but it will be as successful as IM's attempts to ban things. But hey, everybody needs a hobby.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

This better be a joke or a troll, if it is the op deserves a medal

If its not, this just proves once more that liberals are brain dead.

CRAWLING IN MY CRAWL

[Lydenburg]

I'm looking for Kefka.

[Valystria]

This is a pressing issue. The Santa Claus method is a widespread and deleterious social practice.

If you consider this a pressing issue, above all other actual pressing issues happening right now (like increasing gun crimes, ISIS issues such as child sex trafficking or religious executions, depletion of natural resources, the gross consumption of chocolate faster than the rate or production), then I'm very concerned for you.

Why? Why is this so pressing?

I don't approve of your attempt at silencing inquiry into the issue. Others have used your tactic too along the lines of, "How can you care about same-sex marriage not being legal, there are children starving in the world, etc."

So, did you not get what you asked for, or...?

This isn't about me.

Surely you aren't serious...

Why wouldn't I be?

Surely you aren't serious...

They are serious. And don't call them Shirley.

Indeed.

Should we ban Krampus too and all other fairy tale characters and fairy tales and ban disney films and shut down Disney World too? Kids should be only told truth and not allowed to have any imagination and no fantasy shall be allowed anymore. Are you people serious?

These questions aren't relevant to the issue.

You do realize that the benefits for this would really be outweighed by the disadvantages. The Santa myth gives a huge boost to the economy, through christmas tales, merchandise, etc.
And...you really can't enforce this. It's too hard to enforce.
And pouring resources into this would do very little except maybe annoy some people, reduce income a bit, make children be less cheerful(Long story but the idea of Santa Claus, even if they know he's fictional or not, cheer them up. It's like Star Wars: Someone tells you it's real. One day, you find out it's not real. You're a bit disappointed, but still like the fictional tales for what they are-fiction. Plus, you had begun to figure out they weren't real because no Jedi were around or no one had those powers. Also, the person who told you they are real didn't make active attempts to make you believe it is fact, nor came up with detailed counter-explanations. I they did, you soon realize those were stupid. However, you continue to enjoy the Star Wars mythology for what it is-Myth, despite believing once it is real.
That's what happens most of the time when people find out Santa is real.
Now, you'd have to go further with this ban:
Ban:
Easter Bunny
Similar Ethnic/Cultural holidays.
Religious Holidays
Hell, even Religion itself
etc.
Which would be a huge drain on resources to maintain, and would also cause tension between you and the populace, and likely petitions to unban it, as it would decrease your economic income surprisingly significantly, and would cause people to label you authoritarian and claim "He is trying to brainwash into believing what he wants us to believe", which could eventually lead to a civil war and your overthrow.
All from one seemingly insignificant ban.
Even if a civil war weren't to occur, you'd score lower on political freedoms and civil rights, especially if you banned religion and/or enforced your own beliefs as fact.

Looking on it now, with all those risks, does the minor advantages really justify the great cost, and potentially even greater cost?

The economic resources would be redirected elsewhere. Star Wars is not comparable.

The other holidays and holiday figures fall outside the focus of the issue and would each have to be examined individually.

I do not believe a ban on Santa would lead to civil war.

[Ostroeuropa]

Pointing out that Santa is a huge part of the economy kind of smacks of the broken windows fallacy.

[Valystria]

This better be a joke or a troll, if it is the op deserves a medal

If its not, this just proves once more that liberals are brain dead.

I'm not a liberal...

So edgy.

If you don't like santa then stay away from santa. No need to ban cool things for other people.

The ritual of Santa shouldn't be imposed upon children.

Strange how it never gets answered. I guess shows like Grimm should be banned too.

I'm starting to think IM is a fictional character created for the creator's amusement.

Ban it.

You are mistaken.

Is there a reason people should not be able to think of more than one thing at a time ? I see no problem with caring both about Daesh and children being lied to

Children are lied to by parents all the time. Where babies come from, where pets go after they die, why grandparents never visit anymore. What's so necessary about Santa as a fictional character needing to be a scapegoat that makes it a 'pressing issue'?

They shouldn't be lied to about any of that. Santa affects a vast quantity of people from an early age. It is a pressing issue.

[Calimama]

Then make a better argument than "You are mistaken...or This is a pressing issue...or Children shouldn't have to be imposed on..." People are making much better arguments than what you are saying.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

You do realize that the benefits for this would really be outweighed by the disadvantages. The Santa myth gives a huge boost to the economy, through christmas tales, merchandise, etc.
And...you really can't enforce this. It's too hard to enforce.
And pouring resources into this would do very little except maybe annoy some people, reduce income a bit, make children be less cheerful(Long story but the idea of Santa Claus, even if they know he's fictional or not, cheer them up. It's like Star Wars: Someone tells you it's real. One day, you find out it's not real. You're a bit disappointed, but still like the fictional tales for what they are-fiction. Plus, you had begun to figure out they weren't real because no Jedi were around or no one had those powers. Also, the person who told you they are real didn't make active attempts to make you believe it is fact, nor came up with detailed counter-explanations. I they did, you soon realize those were stupid. However, you continue to enjoy the Star Wars mythology for what it is-Myth, despite believing once it is real.
That's what happens most of the time when people find out Santa is real.
Now, you'd have to go further with this ban:
Ban:
Easter Bunny
Similar Ethnic/Cultural holidays.
Religious Holidays
Hell, even Religion itself
etc.
Which would be a huge drain on resources to maintain, and would also cause tension between you and the populace, and likely petitions to unban it, as it would decrease your economic income surprisingly significantly, and would cause people to label you authoritarian and claim "He is trying to brainwash into believing what he wants us to believe", which could eventually lead to a civil war and your overthrow.
All from one seemingly insignificant ban.
Even if a civil war weren't to occur, you'd score lower on political freedoms and civil rights, especially if you banned religion and/or enforced your own beliefs as fact.

Looking on it now, with all those risks, does the minor advantages really justify the great cost, and potentially even greater cost?

The economic resources would be redirected elsewhere.

Where?

Halloween doesn't have its own character.

Easter is too small.

Back to School sales are falling.

Valentines day is too exclusive.

And every other holiday is too small.

Killing off Santa will have a devastating effect on the economy.