The two worst things about the holiday season

[Orrex]

1. Rehashes of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, of which Scrooged is the only acceptable permutation.

2. Commercials that hawk their products to the tune of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas or some other holiday rhyme a la Twelve Days of Christmas.

If you have two other "worst thing" suggestions, I would be delighted to read them.

[femmocrat]

1. Here's my two:

1. The mall. Everything about it: the cheesy decorations, the music, the crowds, the people dragging fussy kids to ride the train, the fake "spirit"... I can't stand it.
2. Those big inflatable snow globes that people put in their yards. How ridiculous are those things?

[Orrex]

2. Good call on the lawn-globes

I complained to the Lounge about the Halloween versions a few weeks back. Ugly, ugly things.

[trof]

8. Got one across the street AND a merry go round.

:eyes:

[amitten]

12. Inflatable snow globes + B.B. gun = Christmas fun!

I hate those things too...

[Jade Fox]

3. The commercials tying Christmas to.....

ridiculous things like cars or pain relievers.

Ever known anyone who buys people cars for Christmas?

[Orrex]

4. I've been seeing ads for McDonald's "Arch Cards"

Nothing says Christmas Cheer like a $10 gift card to the golden arches.

And when did gift cards become acceptable as gifts?!? I thought the whole point was to put on at least the appearance of giving a moment's thought to another person?!?

[Jade Fox]

5. Yeah, I saw those too. Unfreakingbelievable.

However I must defend giving/getting gift cards. At least you know you've given/received something that will be appreciated because it will be chosen by the receiver. I get frankly annoyed when people give me stupid crap that will go directly to Good Will. I'd rather they just gave me the money (enter gift cards) so I can buy something I need. Please, no MacDonald's, tho. :)

[Orrex]

6. Gift cards

If they're for a seldom seen niece or nephew, I guess I can see the point. But the commercials make it seem like they're the ideal gift for everyone on your list. "Here you go, wife of seven years. Enjoy this gift card for Pottery Barn."

[China_cat]

18. Please...I've got relatives whose only taste is in

their mouths. Please give me a gift card, please, please. Don't pick out something yourself.

That's the sentiment from everybody these relatives buy for. Any occasion, not just christmas.

[haf216]

16. I give gift card's to my sister and brother,

every year. They live in other states and are very picky when it cames to what they like and want. I would NEVER be able to get it right, so I send the card and everybody's happy.

[Oeditpus Rex]

17. The whole point

is for believers to celebrate the birth of their christ.

I still haven't figured out how it turned into a celebration of crass capitalism.

[Orrex]

23. The First Commandment: Thou shalt spend forever and ever amen.

All that stuff about "virgin births" and whatnot is just window-dressing...

[Dulcinea]

28. I love gift cards.

They're my favorite gift! I'll take a gift card to Amazon or any bookstore over some ugly outfit I'll end up returning. Returns suck!

[jakefrep]

10. The car thing always baffles me....

...it seems to me that (in a couple situation) car buying is usually a joint decision. Unless you know EXACTLY what the other person wants, you do this at your peril.

But a car dealer told me once that the week before Christmas is always one of the busiest times of year for the service department because they're trying to get all of the newly-sold cars ready in time for Chrsitmas.

[carlydenise]

15. I wish someone would buy me a car for xmas

I
end up with a new vacuum.
Carly

[China_cat]

19. I hope not from your husband.

I made it clear before we ever got married that household appliances would NOT be acceptable as gifts for any occasion and would, in fact, be grounds for separate bedrooms. With deadbolt locks.

[NMDemDist2]

20. it's a tax thing usually. gotta get that major purchase in before the end

of the year

[Christa]

7. My two:

tying Christmas gifts and love together

I think it's my second one as well :mad:

[skygazer]

9. Only two?

Mostly I hate the manufactured urgency to buy gifts at a time when everyone and their brother are out buying gifts, the prices are inflated, and the stress level is so high. People talk about the holidays as a time when people feel nice and are caring - why aren't we nice and caring all the time? And why is the focus so firmly on gifts? Because retailers want it that way and advertise aggressively to make it so. And people feel guilty if they don't give lavish gifts or buy the latest gadget for their over-indulged kids.

Some of my best Christmases have been times that others would probably feel angry about. Like the years I worked in a kennel and went in to work at 6 am on Christmas like I did every other day of the year. And I stood in the pen surrounded by the animals I loved, watching the light grow on the horizon and feeling like I was the only person awake in the world. And it occurred to me then that Jesus was born among animals and it seemed the perfect place to be at that moment. And I don't even believe.

[NMDemDist2]

11. ahhhh the Muppets Christmas Carol is a classic IMO n/t

[Orrex]

24. All post-Henson muppetry is sock-based ancestor worship

Frank Oz notwithstanding.

[NMDemDist2]

26. perhaps....

but Ratso RAWKS!!

just saying... :shrug:

[Orrex]

27. I disagree, and I believe that the Rats preceded Henson's death

They appeared in The Muppets Take Manhattan.

[spinbaby]

13. I hate the jewelry commercials

Express your love with a diamond chip embedded in some overpriced trinket from a chain jewelry store.

[carlydenise]

14. Yeah.........say you love her with a diamond xmas gift...........

never mind that you work for minimum, she will love you more if you buy her a 599.00 necklace....diamonds are forever, so are the payments........
Carly

[ruiner4u]

25. Remember,

the only way to say you love her is spending one months salary on a diamond...

[azmouse]

29. The Jared Jewelry Store commercial...

I don't know if it's shown nationally but here in AZ it's shown constantly.

Some woman gets a piece of jewelry from her husband and everyone ooohs and aaahs over it and she brags that he 'went to Jared'. Another woman looks at her husband like he's a piece of sh*t and she practically spits the words "He went to Jared" at him, like if he was anything worthwhile that's where he would have shopped for her. Nice attitude at Xmas!

:banghead: I REALLY hate that commercial! Why does anyone need expensive jewelry for Xmas? And why shop at that jewelry store with the hateful, nasty commercial?

[tigereye]

21. giant plastic Santas

adn the endless hawking of product as a substitute for kindness.

[Kali]

22. Family...

and .... family.:mad: :banghead: