Happy Over-Commercialised Day for Women!!

py2006 · 14-02-2011 12:40pm #1

I recall having a brief discussion with a strongly opinionated lady. She suggested that there should be a 'National Womans Day'. To which I replied, "oh, and do you think there should be a 'National Mens Day' also?". Her response was to throw her eyes up to heaven, tut loudly and utter a sharp "No".

I shared a grin with a colleague as I responded with, "You know there is actually a National Womans Day". She looked perplexed and said assuredly that "there certainly is not". I said, "Yes there is" to which which she got quite annoyed. Then I added, "Yes there is - its called Valentines Day".

It got a few laughs from those around us and she had no response at all.

Not sure why I opened with that but the main point I would like to make, and apologies if it has already been made, is that clearly this is an extremely commercialised time of year. The other day I was wandering around a card shop with a mate who was looking for a card for his better half and I couldn't believe the cheap (yet over priced), tacky garbage on sale.

He reassured me that his better half hated Valentines Day and everything it stood for yet I suggested he would be in considerable trouble if he didn't produce cards, chocolates, flowers and a pre-booked table a fancy restaurant!!

Is this what some women expect? It seems men get the raw end of the deal here. Ok, I expect one or two of you will crudely suggest that men get a spot of horizontal boogie later on in the night but surely thats for the women too!!

Perhaps, because I enjoy the fruits of being single on such a day I am over-analysing?

EDIT: Apologies if I come across against relationships/women etc as suggested below. That wasn't my intention.

Count Duckula · 14-02-2011 12:57pm

Wait... you're asking if all women expect to be treated like royalty immediately after you've related a story of your friend saying his girlfriend didn't want anything special from him. That you think she was lying says more about your mistrust of the opposite sex than it does women for being attention-seeking ingrates.

I know plenty of people who don't feel the need to celebrate on Valentine's Day. My girlfriend and I exchanged quite sappy emails and left it at that. She knows I love her; she doesn't need tat to show it. That said, I also know plenty of people that do like Valentine's Day, but even with them it's much more than a "buy your girlfriend expensive gifts day". It's about showing the other how much they mean to them.

Seems to me you have a rather hollow opinion, not of Valentine's Day, but of relationships in general.

py2006 · 14-02-2011 12:59pm

Count Duckula wrote: »

Wait... you're asking if all women expect to be treated like royalty immediately after you've related a story of your friend saying his girlfriend didn't want anything special from him.

I should clarify, that was said jokingly at the time!! The whole "you don't want to be in trouble with the missus" thing! Didn't mean to suggest other wise! (changed the word 'all' to 'some')

Count Duckula · 14-02-2011 1:03pm

So if you accept that his girlfriend really didn't want anything, why then ask if all women want something? You know they don't; you've just discussed one! It seems to me you've formed an unfair opinion here that women expect to be doted on at this time of the year, which in my experience - and that of my extended social circle - is simply not true!

py2006 · 14-02-2011 1:16pm

I think the point I was trying to make is being lost here. My observations are that Valentines day, over commercialised as it is, appears to be directed solely towards the woman. Certainly, from a commercial point of view.

Again, apologies if I came across anti-relationship or women in my original post!

Count Duckula · 14-02-2011 1:20pm

Then I think you've misunderstood Valentine's Day somewhat!

I'm sure you're right - there are women out there who essentially expect to be lavished in gifts and love on Valentine's Day, and that it's all about them. There must be women out there like that. But the vast majority either ignore it or take it as it is - a day to show their partner how much they love them.

And if you're too upset with the prospect of Valentine's Day being largely woman-oriented, may I point you to the fourteenth of March... Steak and Blowjob Day. Oh yes.

py2006 · 14-02-2011 1:24pm

Count Duckula wrote: »

And if you're too upset with the prospect of Valentine's Day being largely woman-oriented, may I point you to the fourteenth of March... Steak and Blowjob Day. Oh yes.

Hmm, I don't remember seeing cards for that occasion!! Perhaps I will complain!

Unfortunately, that day is not recognised or widely known!

twistyj · 14-02-2011 1:40pm

I agree with the whole commercial thing along with "merry get-everything-at-the-last-minute" (christmas) but imo i think that most couples decide between themselves what they want their valentines to be like and even if it is a day all about her then let her have it because its probably the most some girls get from lousy boyfriends anyway

(excluding her birthday of course!)

Stheno · 14-02-2011 1:55pm

py2006 wrote: »

I recall having a brief discussion with a strongly opinionated lady. She suggested that there should be a 'National Womans Day'. To which I replied, "oh, and do you think there should be a 'National Mens Day' also?". Her response was to throw her eyes up to heaven, tut loudly and utter a sharp "No".

I shared a grin with a colleague as I responded with, "You know there is actually a National Womans Day". She looked perplexed and said assuredly that "there certainly is not". I said, "Yes there is" to which which she got quite annoyed. Then I added, "Yes there is - its called Valentines

There actually is both International Women's day and International Men's days

mikedragon32 · 14-02-2011 2:10pm

py2006 wrote: »

Hmm, I don't remember seeing cards for that occasion!! Perhaps I will complain!

Unfortunately, that day is not recognised or widely known!

If there were cards for 14th March, do you think wimmen would go out and buy them?

Might as well just walk into a shop and announce their sexual activities for the evening!

Frogdog · 14-02-2011 2:16pm

Agree completely OP. I'm male, and work in a predominantly female office. Out of interest, I asked the girls what they got/are expecting to get from their OH. As usual, varied responses of; cards, flowers, chocolates, table at a restaurant etc. Even a weekend away by one!

I then asked them what they got their boyfriends.

Cue blank looks and a couple of "Oh I just got him a card" responses.

Gender equality how are we?! :rolleyes:

Dravokivich · 14-02-2011 2:21pm

Stheno wrote: »

There actually is both International Women's day and International Men's days

i was thinking of them too while reading op's intro.

Count Duckula · 14-02-2011 2:29pm

Frogdog wrote: »

Agree completely OP. I'm male, and work in a predominantly female office. Out of interest, I asked the girls what they got/are expecting to get from their OH. As usual, varied responses of; cards, flowers, chocolates, table at a restaurant etc. Even a weekend away by one!

I then asked them what they got their boyfriends.

Cue blank looks and a couple of "Oh I just got him a card" responses.

Gender equality how are we?! :rolleyes:

That says nothing about either Valentine's Day or the state of gender equality as a whole. It just means you work in an office filled with selfish cows.

RachaelVO · 14-02-2011 2:31pm

Well OP, I do kinda agree with ya (and I'm a girl...).

I fecking HATE valentines day. It's a loada sh1te! I am married, so it's not that I'm a bitter single woman! We don't buy each other presents for ANYTHING, b'days and christmas included. We have a pretty sold reasons for this.

1. Any money spent is OUR money, so you may as well buy yourself something you'll at least like (that goes for both of us)
2. We go out at LEAST once a month to a nice dinner and we take turns choosing the restaurant, and then as we have over night babysitters in the form of grandparents we are out on the p1ss for the night.

So basically we treat OURSELVES all year, so we don't see the point in doing it a few times a year. And I'd rather have a few beers and enjoy myself than have a poxy bunch of flower and a meal in a restaurant that charges over the odds for your meal in sittings and a set menu!

py2006 · 14-02-2011 2:48pm

Stheno wrote: »

There actually is both International Women's day and International Men's days

Dravokivich wrote: »

i was thinking of them too while reading op's intro.

Well she did say 'National' as opposed to 'International'. I am not sure if she actually meant International as I am sure she would have been aware of it.

py2006 · 14-02-2011 2:50pm

RachaelVO wrote: »

a meal in a restaurant that charges over the odds for your meal in sittings and a set menu!

Not to mention that the meal is thrown at you in order to get you in and out quickly!

HooterSnout · 14-02-2011 3:14pm

It is over commercialized. Not many will disagree with you there. To the point I like to call it Hallmarks Day. I think it's a nice idea, but you should stay away from the commercialized side of it. It's too much. No cards unless homemade. Simple flowers and special meal for your woman. I don't buy into the whole buy a really expensive present day.

um7y1h83ge06nx · 14-02-2011 4:31pm

It's my first Valentine's with the new girlfriend. She hates the whole idea of it but to be safe I got a €1 card and a €8 stuffed panda in Heatons!

She called over last night and we had a great, chilled out night, much better than any cards, meals out or crap.

mariebeth · 14-02-2011 8:02pm

I'm a girl, and to be honest I'm not that pushed about Valentines Day. It's 1 day that you're supposed to be all loved up, but what about the rest of the year? I'd feel much more special if I was going out with someone and he bought me flowers & took me to dinner on some random day, rather than on a day when him & every other guy is expected to. The most I'd expect on Valentines day if I was going out with someone would be a card.

Ebbs · 14-02-2011 8:09pm

Stheno wrote: »

There actually is both International Women's day and International Men's days

Your links are all all wrong. For those of you wonder the real ones are as follows:

Women's Day; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Da y
Men's day; http://www.steakandbjday.com/

Azureus · 14-02-2011 8:17pm

I dont expect anything from my boy on Valentines day and nothing is what I got.
Thats fine with me, he suprises me with random stuff at random times, I got a jacket and a clean house this weekend so I was over the moon anyway

we usually go out for dinner/cook for eachother around this time, but we do that every few weeks anyway-its just kinda an excuse to and I would rarely go out on the actua; night cuz its crowded and 'forced fun' imo

To generalise and say all women expect stuff and love the day is completely false, youll get a concensus of that on here if you look in LL. its fairly 50/50 and depends on the couple. I actually find that its my single mates who love it moreso than the coupled-up ones, first few texts I got this morning were all form my single girl mates wishing their close friends a happy valentines!

14-02-2011 9:04pm

I knew a girl once who thought that V-day was basically girlfriend day. She thought that she was just supposed to turn up and look pretty and it was all up to the guy to get her stuff/take her somewhere.

Girls like this make me feel embarrassed to be a girl. I'm always overcompensating by trying to be as low-maintenance as possible, because girls like that make me mad.

14-02-2011 9:25pm

I don't expect anything on Valentine's. Nor do I give anything. IMO if you love someone you shouldn't need an occasion to show it. All the holiday really does is make single people feel inadequate, and give restaraunts an excuse to fleece more customers than usual. I don't want anything to do with all the hype.
On the plus side, it's the one time of the year that you can get nice red underwear.

Abi · 14-02-2011 9:59pm

py2006 wrote: »

I think the point I was trying to make is being lost here. My observations are that Valentines day, over commercialised as it is, appears to be directed solely towards the woman. Certainly, from a commercial point of view.

Again, apologies if I came across anti-relationship or women in my original post!

I'm sorry but you do. I think that you thought if you posted this in the gentlemens club you might rally more support for your view.

I personally don't like the day myself, because I can see that the entire day is commercially driven towards spoiling women / allowing women to expect to be spoiled. It takes two people to make a relationship, not one.

If couples have to wait once a year to make proper time for each other, and show that they care about each other, then I pity them.

Cicero · 14-02-2011 10:41pm

I was out in a restuarant on Friday night with a few friends for a quick bite to eat..there were lot's of young couples out looking well chuffed with themselves, ordering champagne and oogling at each other- they were obviously celebrating valentines at the weekend as opposed to tonight...

They looked as though they were enjoying themselves which is great if that's what you like to do for Valentines..everyone is different (personally I hate eating out for valentines) but I don't think there are too many couples out there who do things that they don't like on the day..it just doesn't make sense or it's a sign that theres something fundementally wrong with their relationship

..some guys buy flowers and just recieve a card, some couples agree to buy silly presents some couples just get cards for each other and exchange nice jestures like cooking dinner etc....

.I've never met anyone who takes the day particularly seriously but looking at some posts here, there appears to be some that do.....and that scares me a little....

milehip1 · 15-02-2011 1:11am

Abi wrote: »

I'm sorry but you do.

I dont think his post could be taken as either.
It was well put and without malice,fact is valentines day is all about men buying tack for their girlfriend/wives/mistresses.

Bigger fools both sides for falling for the 1st hallmark holiday of the year.

The female workmate sounds like a pain to be honest tutting and
eye rolling!:rolleyes:

Abi · 15-02-2011 1:54am

milehip1 wrote: »

I dont think his post could be taken as either.
It was well put and without malice,fact is valentines day is all about men buying tack for their girlfriend/wives/mistresses.

Dont agree.

Bigger fools both sides for falling for the 1st hallmark holiday of the year.

Theres several of them.

milehip1 · 15-02-2011 3:06am

Abi wrote: »

Dont agree.

to which part exactly?

"Theres several of them" : yeah I know, thats why I called it the 1st

Gunsfortoys · 16-02-2011 5:44pm

RachaelVO wrote: »

Well OP, I do kinda agree with ya (and I'm a girl...).

I fecking HATE valentines day. It's a loada sh1te! I am married, so it's not that I'm a bitter single woman! We don't buy each other presents for ANYTHING, b'days and christmas included. We have a pretty sold reasons for this.

1. Any money spent is OUR money, so you may as well buy yourself something you'll at least like (that goes for both of us)
2. We go out at LEAST once a month to a nice dinner and we take turns choosing the restaurant, and then as we have over night babysitters in the form of grandparents we are out on the p1ss for the night.

So basically we treat OURSELVES all year, so we don't see the point in doing it a few times a year. And I'd rather have a few beers and enjoy myself than have a poxy bunch of flower and a meal in a restaurant that charges over the odds for your meal in sittings and a set menu!

This is the way things SHOULD be done.

MidgetWrestler · 17-02-2011 2:57am

RachaelVO wrote: »

Well OP, I do kinda agree with ya (and I'm a girl...).

I fecking HATE valentines day. It's a loada sh1te! I am married, so it's not that I'm a bitter single woman! We don't buy each other presents for ANYTHING, b'days and christmas included. We have a pretty sold reasons for this.

1. Any money spent is OUR money, so you may as well buy yourself something you'll at least like (that goes for both of us)
2. We go out at LEAST once a month to a nice dinner and we take turns choosing the restaurant, and then as we have over night babysitters in the form of grandparents we are out on the p1ss for the night.

So basically we treat OURSELVES all year, so we don't see the point in doing it a few times a year. And I'd rather have a few beers and enjoy myself than have a poxy bunch of flower and a meal in a restaurant that charges over the odds for your meal in sittings and a set menu!

Absolutely agree!! It's great to put the effort in to show someone you love them, but Valentines day.. imo it ends up being sub standard food, sub standard everything except fot the premium price. Much better to do your own thing or if you share a hobby that's better yet.

Happy Over-Commercialised Day for Women!!

Comments