I have it on good authority that there is a massive psychological operation to deceive young children (as young as 2 or 3) into believing a myth that is called "Santa Claus."
This psyop is engaged on the youngest of minds in society. It is perpetuated in such a way as to have grown men dress up in a costume, pretend to live in a make-believe place, and bestow free gibs on those who have no income to buy such things for themselves.
The media promotes this deception. Adults all throughout society promote this deception. Some adults lie about the truth when confronted by children who ask "inconvenient" questions.
So ...
I remember when I started to question the existence of the jolly man. I started wondering: How could such a fat man get down a narrow chimney? What about houses that didn't have a chimney? What about kids who lived in apartments? Wait a second! How can he make it to all the houses all around the world in just one night??? There must be what ... a million houses? How is that possible.
Santa is a fun story for kids, but I think many adults get more joy out of it than the kids, in many cases. But it is also the first introduction to a massive lie told to us at a time that we are incapable of understanding truth from fiction.
Does it set the stage later in life for people to continue to be deceived about other, more important things? Does it set the stage to promote socialism or communism?
If we have 3 options, which is best for kids and society in general:
(1) Pretend that Santa Claus is real, keep pretending, until the kids "grow out of it" (through no help from the adults), and continue doing things the way they have been done for a long time? (But is this damaging to people in the long run, setting them up to believe in lies all throughout their life, and not question "authority?")
(2) Tell kids right away that it is all just a fantasy, and let them play at it the way they "play house" or "cops and robbers." They know they are not really an adult in their playhouse. They know they are not really a mother or father in that playhouse. They know that tea is not real. They know they are not a cop or a robber (or cowboy or Indian). But they have fun pretending and using their imagination. Is this a better path?
(3) Let them believe the deception, but when they start to question, sit down to have a talk with them. Have them say why they might believe it, and why they might question in. Help them work out the truth for themselves, and then congratulate them on figuring it out on their own. Use this as a learning tool in the future, as you help guide them through life in seeing the lies of society.
What say you?
I remember reading an anon post on 8chan that shattered Christmas for me. This is from memory reading that post. I should have saved it. : Goes back to ancient Roman times and the giving gifts , debauchery and celebration of Saturn. I think pedophilia and Paganism was involved too. Like everything else it has evolved into something else. Because, hurr durr, Jesus was born Dec 25th, right!??
That anon's post had some really good points that just tied things in for me and I remember feeling totally betrayed about my favorite time of year. And the crazy part, after reading it, it had a resonating truth to it. LIke I already knew.
You can find some details about Saturnalia online. It touches to topic but damn, this anon post just blew my mind. I do know I read it while it was 8chan, before it went down for couple months and came back as 8kun.
In our house santa brings practical things like cartoon character toothbrushes, socks, mittens, and hats. Mom and Dad give the fun stuff. An imaginary guy in a red suit, shouldn't get too much credit or promote idolatry.
I don't know if I'd say it's some giant psyop, but I've decided to just tell my young kids he's not real. Sure its fun, I believed in Santa when I was a kid, but I feel it only distracts from Jesus and who He is. How can I tell my kids about Jesus and what He did for us, then tell them some fat man gives us gifts for being "good?" Contradicts everything. Feel the same about the Easter bunny too.
I was thinking about this and to a lesser extent the Easter Bunny.
The "fun" part of these myths get kids to pay attention to the events, hopefully that translates later in life into being a Christian.
IMO a side effect of this, might actually be good. Everyone is lying to them, their loved ones, the TV, the media ... everyone. When the truth comes out they will perhaps learn to think more critically and question what they are being told in the future or at least make that a stronger possibility? We see a large number of folks not thinking critically so maybe it doesn't actually work.
Most people never grow out of it because they don't have any guidance from any adults in their life who themselves have ever grown out of it.
If it leads to an entire society that is deceived throughout their life, does that make it an evil thing and not a good thing?
Or, is it possible to "undo the damage" by using the deception as a lesson in life for looking at other deceptions?
We should not be lying to our kids! I know this will hit people hard because of the “magic of Xmas” but it’s not worth it.
Seriously?
Ya this is a joke
I prefer Belschnikle
Option 3 seems like the best path. I have had a problem with Santa, the Easter bunny, and Halloween ever since I "grew" out of them, but I got shamed by my family into perpetuating it with my kids that I would be "ruining childhood fun" otherwise. I just think we do not need to be teaching them to be good for toys, that magical beings bring them things, or dressing up like evil things to get treats from others. Seems to send the wrong message and set them up for accepting and wanting the wrong things in life.
Be the parent. Choose the truths you will teach your child. Don’t passively let culture do whatever it wants with your child’s brain.
He's a pagan representation of Father Time.
I don't remember ever believing in Santa Claus, but then again my asshole older brother told me it was just a story when I was very young? I have a distinct memory of him showing me wrapped presents hidden in the closet the week before Christmas and giving me the low down on what the adults were up to.