Valentine's Day

liah

So it's coming up next week. People generally fall into two groups:

1) People who love Valentine's day and take on the tradition.
2) People who complain endlessly about it.

My Valentine's date this year seems like it's going to be my computer, so I'm not coming at this from a loved-up perspective, nor that of one who's ever really celebrated Valentine's day at all, but I have some questions for group 2.

The argument is generally 'I don't need a designated day out of the year to show my partner I love them' or 'it's so corporate'-- okay, fair enough, that's you, but why call Valentine's crap for everyone else except to make yourself feel superior? So what if other people like to use that day to splash out? Do you buy/receive Christmas presents? The same argument can be applied there, too, but I never see it.

I really don't get the hate for Valentine's day above most other holidays, it's the same concept, and the arguments always come across as either bitter or self-affirming.

Can some of you Valentine's haters explain your hate?

Screaminmidget

Another over-commercialised day, like christmas or easter. Drives me nuts tbph :mad:

Sisko

Not a hater or a lover. Its just another day of the week for me


**edit**

Not been one of those people that bases there life around relationships. I imagine those who hate the day are recently single people, people who spend their time counting the days since their last relationship types. And I imagine those that love it are people currently in a relationship.


Also always seems like a womens holiday too , maybe thats it.

But for me, I don't give it much thought. Its just a typical day.

Not a hater or lover, mostly just dismiss it

FatherLen

im single so naturally i hate it with the very fibres of my soul

admiralofthefleet

its just another day and a total waste of money. you dont have to bring you missus out on a specific day of the year for shite food to show her you love her.

liah

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

its just another day and a total waste of money. you dont have to bring you missus out on a specific day of the year for shite food to show her you love her.

Funnily enough I've found the people I know who make that argument are the ones least likely to randomly display their love. :pac:

GLaDOS

I usually take it with a bit of humour, make a card, small silly gift or something. Single this year so nothing to do

smash

I think it's more of a thing for chicks, so guys couldn't really be bothered with it. Which is why a lot of couples fight on valentines day I suppose.

knird evol

liah wrote: »

So it's coming up next week. People generally fall into two groups:

1) People who love Valentine's day and take on the tradition.
2) People who complain endlessly about it.

I think people fall into two groups

1) People who have no interest in it.
2) Women.

liah

steve06 wrote: »

I think it's more of a thing for chicks, so guys couldn't really be bothered with it. Which is why a lot of couples fight on valentines day I suppose.

But there's Steak and Blowjob day for men to balance it out.

n0irin

I don't call Valentines crap for anyone else, I think it's fair enough and each to their own. It's just a tradition that I choose not to follow.

To me, romance should be somewhat spontaneous and personal - and I don't see how being forced to do romantic things on a certain day that everyone else is fits in with my idea of romance. I don't like the idea of stereotypical gifts like roses and heart shaped boxes of chocolates and dinner in a restaurant packed to the gills with other couples - and I like the idea of romance being tailored for the individual and definitely not forced. But, then again, that's just me - fair enough to anybody who enjoys the day and all the traditions that it entails!

smokedeels

Al Capone kinda ruined it for me.

Sprrratt

Dunno why everything thinks Valentines Day is a waste! Its simple!

2 euro shop perfume + "I love you" = infinite sex

Earthhorse

I don't know if it is like other days, though I'm mostly indifferent to it myself. Your birthday is a time to celebrate yourself, Christmas (which, yes, has become a completely cynical and overcommercialised exercise) is a time for family, friends and rest, and Easter...well Easter's about chocolate, you can't argue with that.

Valentine's Day just seems especially cynical to me; the price of eating out and flowers is jacked up to rip off couples (not that everyone celebrates the day that way).

smash

liah wrote: »

But there's Steak and Blowjob day for men to balance it out.

But it comes at a cost... might as well rent a hooker and have something different

But realistically, I think anniversaries are where you should be exchanging gifts and showing love or whatever, not a hallmark day that you share with everyone else.

n0irin

knird evol wrote: »

I think people fall into two groups

1) People who have no interest in it.
2) Women.

I'm a woman, and I've got no interest in it! I've no idea but it's possible that I'm in the minority...

starviewadams

liah wrote: »

But there's Steak and Blowjob day for men to balance it out.

What day of the year does this holiday fall on??

i57dwun4yb1pt8

starviewadams wrote: »

What day of the year does this holiday fall on??

well,
its usually NOT a certain day of each month .

Captain Chaos

starviewadams wrote: »

What day of the year does this holiday fall on??

March 14th.

Sanjuro

liah wrote: »

So it's coming up next week. People generally fall into two groups:

1) People who love Valentine's day and take on the tradition.
2) People who complain endlessly about it.

My Valentine's date this year seems like it's going to be my computer, so I'm not coming at this from a loved-up perspective, nor that of one who's ever really celebrated Valentine's day at all, but I have some questions for group 2.

The argument is generally 'I don't need a designated day out of the year to show my partner I love them' or 'it's so corporate'-- okay, fair enough, that's you, but why call Valentine's crap for everyone else except to make yourself feel superior? So what if other people like to use that day to splash out? Do you buy/receive Christmas presents? The same argument can be applied there, too, but I never see it.

I really don't get the hate for Valentine's day above most other holidays, it's the same concept, and the arguments always come across as either bitter or self-affirming.

Can some of you Valentine's haters explain your hate?

Isn't this something that can be asked of all haters, no matter what they hate? It comes down to 'well I don't like it, so I should smugly ruin it for everyone else.'

liah

Earthhorse wrote: »

I don't know if it is like other days, though I'm mostly indifferent to it myself. Your birthday is a time to celebrate yourself, Christmas (which, yes, has become a completely cynical and overcommercialised exercise) is a time for family, friends and rest, and Easter...well Easter's about chocolate, you can't argue with that.

Valentine's Day just seems especially cynical to me; the price of eating out and flowers is jacked up to rip off couples (not that everyone celebrates the day that way).

To me they're all essentially the same thing, they're all about giving something to someone you care about on a designated national day, at the crux of it. And they've each been taken advantage of by advertising and marketing companies to a massive degree. Valentine's day exploits couples, every other major giving holiday exploits families. Everyone's exploited equally. :pac:

The extra hate for Valentine's day seems especially bitter to me for some reason which is why I asked. I have very little feeling toward the actual holiday, myself.. mostly just have a sense of humour about it and a general curiosity towards other people's reactions to it.

Aglomerado

knird evol wrote: »

I think people fall into two groups

1) People who have no interest in it.
2) Women.

Hey! I'm a woman and I've got no interest in it!

I'm not one for grandiose gestures of affection on a designated day, it's the little, everyday things that really matter, even something as simple as the OH bringing you a cup of coffee in bed.

Pherekydes

liah wrote: »

So it's coming up next week. People generally fall into two groups:

1) People who love Valentine's day and take on the tradition.
2) People who complain endlessly about it.

I fall into another category that sort of combines 1 and 2: I'll take on the tradition, cos otherwise I'm ****ing dead. :mad:

On a happier note , today is the 21st anniversary of meeting herself.

jackiebaron

n0irin wrote: »

I'm a woman, and I've got no interest in it! I've no idea but it's possible that I'm in the minority...

My girlfriend hates it too. Thinks it's a joke.

I cook for her or take her out for dinner and get her liquored up at least once a week and then she rides me and falls asleep on me and then makes me a fryup the next day and fecks off to work. Why would I want to be reminded once a year of what to do when I do it naturally all year round. And Hallmark can FCUK RIGHT OFF!!

smash

liah wrote: »

The extra hate for Valentine's day seems especially bitter to me for some reason which is why I asked.

Christmas is for children, lets face it, it's not religious any more.
Easter is for children too.
Birthdays are for you, to celebrate your life.
Anniversaries are for couples to celebrate their life together.
valentines day is for companies and businesses to exploit people.

I think that's it really. If hallmark invented 'love day'(like in the simpsons) in the summer because there was nothing happening then, people would go mad.

Setun

liah wrote: »

I really don't get the hate for Valentine's day above most other holidays, it's the same concept, and the arguments always come across as either bitter or self-affirming.

Can some of you Valentine's haters explain your hate?

Most holidays/days of celebration have their basis in some historical event, or myth etc, but St Valentines Day was hijacked from being a nice tradition into a strange holiday of invented provenance in order to generate commercial profits in the typically slow month of February. I think that's why there are so many who are cynical of it - the feeling that we're simply falling for a capitalist trap masquerading as "Spend Money On The One You Love" day.

Having said that, myself and the gf are going out to see a nice theatre performance on Valentines day. Looking forward to it!

liah

steve06 wrote: »

Christmas is for children, lets face it, it's not religious any more.
Easter is for children too.
Birthdays are for you, to celebrate your life.
Anniversaries are for couples to celebrate their life together.
valentines day is for companies and businesses to exploit people.

I think that's it really. If hallmark invented 'love day'(like in the simpsons) in the summer because there was nothing happening then, people would go mad.

See, it still reads as the same thing for me. Giving something to someone you care about on a designated day. You just made Valentine's day seem a lot worse than the rest by your phrasing but it isn't really because the national holidays such as Christmas and Easter you mentioned also are just as much for companies and businesses to exploit people.

Birthdays and Anniversaries don't come into this because they're not designated holidays that there's one date for everyone for, different dynamic really as it takes away the entire 'corporate' part of the argument.

Turtyturd

Can't wait for Valentines Day...once thats out of the way it's only 6 months til Love Day.

whiskeyman

Sprrratt wrote: »

Dunno why everything thinks Valentines Day is a waste! Its simple!

2 euro shop perfume + "I love you" = infinite pyjama and big hoopy ear-ring wearing burd sex

FYP...

Sprrratt

whiskeyman wrote: »

FYP...

I build my relationships on lo....




Okay

KnifeWRENCH

FatherLen wrote: »

im single so naturally i hate it with the very fibres of my soul

^ This.

I've never been in a relationship on Valentine's Day so in my mind the only purpose of the day is to make me feel bad about myself.

I hope all lucky loved-up fúckers suffer traumatic breakups on Valentine's Night. :mad:

/self-righteous bitterness

smash

liah wrote: »

See, it still reads as the same thing for me. Giving something to someone you care about on a designated day. You just made Valentine's day seem a lot worse than the rest by your phrasing but it isn't really because the national holidays such as Christmas and Easter you mentioned also are just as much for companies and businesses to exploit people.

Birthdays and Anniversaries don't come into this because they're not designated holidays that there's one date for everyone for, different dynamic really as it takes away the entire 'corporate' part of the argument.

Ok well leaving Birthdays and Anniversaries out of it, you have Valentines, Easter and Christmas. Easter and Christmas were originally religious holidays but now their for kids really. For the kids, Christmas is the best day of the year. To see them enjoy it is worth the money. They both also public holidays.

Valentines isn't a public holiday, and was never a religious holiday. It's a man made day that means nothing really. If someone wants to participate them let them but it's all a bit silly in my opinion. Although I wouldn't turn down the steak or blowjob.

Carl Sagan

liah wrote: »

But there's Steak and Blowjob day for men to balance it out.

Doesn't happen. :mad:

liah

Carl Sagan wrote: »

Doesn't happen. :mad:

Does too.

smash

liah wrote: »

Does too.

you single?

liah

steve06 wrote: »

you single?

My Valentine's date is my computer. What do you think

Screaminmidget

liah wrote: »

But there's Steak and Blowjob day for men to balance it out.

Steak?? I'm There

Captain Chaos wrote: »

March 14th.

Good one
Can't believe no one else spotted this :P

Captain Chaos

Carl Sagan wrote: »

Doesn't happen. :mad:

What more could one want after a good med/rare steak, just being greedy then really.:D

smash

liah wrote: »

My Valentine's date is my computer. What do you think

I'll bring the steak if you bring...
:D

On another note, O'Briens off licence have some great deals for valentines day.

jackiebaron

liah wrote: »

I really don't get the hate for Valentine's day above most other holidays, it's the same concept, and the arguments always come across as either bitter or self-affirming.

Can some of you Valentine's haters explain your hate?

Well some holidays are ok. For those people who believe in the zombie sky-wizard, then Christmas and Easter are for them. But non-skypilots can enjoy the pagan sides to these festivals as well such as gving gifts, getting pissed, eating chocolate eggs, whatever. We have bank holidays too throughout the year and sh1t like that. The overriding feature of all these specific days is that we all get a day off school/work (well the vast majority of us) and can stay in bed or have a long weekend at the seaside or in the pub or wherever.

Valentine's Day is just a crass and cynical attempt at guilt-tripping people into expressing their love and affection for someone by spending money on them. As are mother's day, father's day and one or two other farcical "days" that the card and chocolate industry dreamt up. You should be respectful to your mother or father 24/7. You don't see the card industries advising little kids "Look don't buy a card for your ma on mother's Day. Just do the dishes and bring her up tea and toast in bed" do you? Do you bollox!
If these bastards thought they could get away with a "Pet's Day" or a "Nextdoor Neighbour's Day" they'd try and fob that crap off on us too to sell a few stupid trinkets.

Setun

liah wrote: »

My Valentine's date is my computer. What do you think

Liah, you'll be fine with just your computer You can watch this video on repeat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycAcjO81Kbg

liah

steve06 wrote: »

Ok well leaving Birthdays and Anniversaries out of it, you have Valentines, Easter and Christmas. Easter and Christmas were originally religious holidays but now their for kids really. For the kids, Christmas is the best day of the year. To see them enjoy it is worth the money. They both also public holidays.

Valentines isn't a public holiday, and was never a religious holiday. It's a man made day that means nothing really. If someone wants to participate them let them but it's all a bit silly in my opinion. Although I wouldn't turn down the steak or blowjob.

..

Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day,[1][2][3] is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions.[1][3] The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 500 AD. It was deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, but its religious observance is still permitted.

liah

jackiebaron wrote: »

Well some holidays are ok. For those people who believe in the zombie sky-wizard, then Christmas and Easter are for them. But non-skypilots can enjoy the pagan sides to these festivals as well such as gving gifts, getting pissed, eating chocolate eggs, whatever. We have bank holidays too throughout the year and sh1t like that. The overriding feature of all these specific days is that we all get a day off school/work (well the vast majority of us) and can stay in bed or have a long weekend at the seaside or in the pub or wherever.

Valentine's Day is just a crass and cynical attempt at guilt-tripping people into expressing their love and affection for someone by spending money on them. As are mother's day, father's day and one or two other farcical "days" that the card and chocolate industry dreamt up. You should be respectful to your mother or father 24/7. You don't see the card industries advising little kids "Look don't buy a card for your ma on mother's Day. Just do the dishes and bring her up tea and toast in bed" do you? Do you bollox!
If these bastards thought they could get away with a "Pet's Day" or a "Nextdoor Neighbour's Day" they'd try and fob that crap off on us too to sell a few stupid trinkets.

Arguably that's just perspective, though. I could equally say Valentine's day is a global day to celebrate the idea of love and partnership that's been manipulated by companies like every other holiday, the rest of it is purely projection; it's not an either or scenario at all. You can still do things randomly for your partner and celebrate on the national day for it. At least, there doesn't seem to be any valid reason to hate this particular holiday more than any other (e.g. as you mentioned Mother's or Father's days).

evercloserunion

It seems that by now the alternative hipster attitude of hating Valentine's day because it's, loike, sooooo commercial, has now become so prevalent that surely the new alternative hipster thing to do is to celebrate it by buying a card and flowers and taking your loved one out for a nice meal?

smash

ok, so it was a religious holiday... not since I've been alive though

Captain_Generic

evercloserunion wrote: »

It seems that by now the alternative hipster attitude of hating Valentine's day because it's, loike, sooooo commercial, has now become so prevalent that surely the new alternative hipster thing to do is to celebrate it by buying a card and flowers and taking your loved one out for a nice meal?

http://www.cracked.com/article_18916

Columbia

Neither of us are that into it. I'm heading over to her house to cook dinner, and she's going to bake something for dessert. We do the same at least once a week anyway, but this time there'll likely be some Valentines theme to what she bakes.

Kasabian

I need a date for Valentine's .

*Looks around , nope she's not here.

Earthhorse

liah wrote: »

To me they're all essentially the same thing, they're all about giving something to someone you care about on a designated national day, at the crux of it. And they've each been taken advantage of by advertising and marketing companies to a massive degree. Valentine's day exploits couples, every other major giving holiday exploits families. Everyone's exploited equally. :pac:

That's fair enough. To me there is still something of real value, beyond the gift giving, left in Christmas and it especially felt that way growing up (probably because I was still Christian). Valentine's Day, on the other hand, doesn't strike any resonance with me and so I'm more cynical about it.

The extra hate for Valentine's day seems especially bitter to me for some reason which is why I asked. I have very little feeling toward the actual holiday, myself.. mostly just have a sense of humour about it and a general curiosity towards other people's reactions to it.

It is especially bitter. Personally, I'm indifferent, though I do think the holiday is biased in favour of guys treating girls (hence steak and blowjob day which is only a myth anyway).

Xivilai

Blah, its not the lonely desperation talking, but Valentine's day just seems so plastic...