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Should parents stop pretending that Santa is real?

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  • 24-11-2016 12:47pm
    #1
    DredFX
    Closed Accounts Posts: 287 ✭✭


    Article on the Telegraph today (also published on the Irish Examiner, though they deleted it within hours of posting it) reports on a suggestion by a psychologist and social scientist that parents should stop pretending Santa Claus exists because it could hurt their relations with their children.
    Psychologist Professor Christopher Boyle and social scientist Dr Kathy McKay also condemn the idea of a "terrifying" North Pole intelligence agency which judges children to be nice or naughty.

    Writing in the respected journal The Lancet Psychiatry, they argue: "If they (parents) are capable of lying about something so special and magical, can they be relied upon to continue as the guardians of wisdom and truth?"

    A professor from the University of New England in Australia also made the rather insightful claim that:
    that adults looked for a chance to be children again.

    "The persistence of fandom in stories like Harry Potter, Star Wars and Doctor Who well into adulthood demonstrates this desire to briefly re-enter childhood," she said.

    So, lying about Santa can bring progenitor-offspring relations into a serious penumbra.

    Anybody here resent their parents for maintaining the great Christmas masquerade? I sure as hell do.


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    #2
    GreenFolder2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 710 ✭✭✭GreenFolder2


    It's preparing them for disappointment when they discover politicians work mostly like Santa Claus and make wild promises that are never delivered.


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    #3
    Winterlong
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,759 ✭✭✭Winterlong


    Santa is not real?


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    #4
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    DredFX wrote: »
    Anybody here resent their parents for maintaining the great Christmas masquerade? I sure as hell do.

    If that's the sort of thing you resent them for then they must have been bloody good parents!


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    #5
    davo2001
    Registered Users Posts: 3,317 ✭✭✭davo2001


    Yes, all those extra presents from Santa really damaged me in later life, and don't even get me started about them trying to get me to behave! :rolleyes:


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    #6
    DredFX
    Closed Accounts Posts: 287 ✭✭DredFX


    Deleted User wrote: »
    If that's the sort of thing you resent them for then they must have been bloody good parents!

    They got me a pony in 2002!


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    #7
    silverharp
    Registered Users Posts: 17,849 ✭✭✭✭silverharp


    I think its weird that some parents push it to 9 10 11 , that just gas lighting the poor kids. Up to 6 or 7 is fine and if they come to the conclusion its not real tell them well done for figuring it out

    A belief in gender identity involves a level of faith as there is nothing tangible to prove its existence which, as something divorced from the physical body, is similar to the idea of a soul. - Colette Colfer



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    #8
    J. Marston
    Registered Users Posts: 23,120 ✭✭✭✭J. Marston


    4 year olds need to start living in the real world.


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    #9
    jameorahiely
    Registered Users Posts: 825 ✭✭✭jameorahiely


    Yes, especially those hypocrite atheists


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    #10
    Shenshen
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 9,453 Mod ✭✭✭✭Shenshen


    Hang on a moment, I'll get the popcorn.


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    #11
    Tombo2001
    Registered Users Posts: 6,522 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    If that's all ye have to worry about.....


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    #12
    RacoonQueen
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 20,364 Mod ✭✭✭✭RacoonQueen


    DredFX wrote: »
    Anybody here resent their parents for maintaining the great Christmas masquerade? I sure as hell do.

    No. My parents were great at the Santa/Easter Bunny/Tooth Fairy things.

    And gingerbread men...when they go us gingerbread men as after dinner treats they used to hide them around the house for us to find and tell us the gingerbread men had run away so we couldn't eat them.

    Such innocent times.


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    #13
    GreenFolder2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 710 ✭✭✭GreenFolder2


    Being a sceptic since a very early age, I basically ridiculed my parents for suggesting that an enormously fat man could fit down a narrow chimney.

    Also, I caught them putting Christmas presents under the tree.

    I didn't really believe in Santa once I got past the learning to talk phase.


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    #14
    _Brian
    Registered Users Posts: 18,515 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    This **** comes up year after year.

    Kids are only kids for a very short time, where's the harm in a bit of make believe that reaches into their home and makes them happy.

    I'm overwhelmingly greatful to my parents for all the fun Christmases we had as a family, proper magic times to look back on.

    I'm on a position where my eldest is just a few years out of santa but my younger is a believer. My eldest was also greatful for the Christmas gifts she godly and enjoys being part of the magic helping he sister get ready for santa coming.

    Far as I can see is only miserable pricks want to destroy the whole santa magic for young kids and I think they should be ashamed.


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    #15
    qo2cj1dsne8y4k
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,646 ✭✭✭✭qo2cj1dsne8y4k


    Absolutely not. Christmas was so special when Santa was real.


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    #16
    ballsymchugh
    Registered Users Posts: 7,936 ✭✭✭ballsymchugh


    i'd say it's great craic wherever you are.


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    #17
    Tombo2001
    Registered Users Posts: 6,522 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    Children love fantasy.

    The time that they can figure out for themselves that a rotund man in a red suit couldn't actually fit down the chimney is about the right time to stop believing in Santa anyways.....

    The other thing is that its a good way to give them possessions and control over things. In a gentle way, it gives them a bit of power in the parent-child relationship. This is my dolly, Santa gave it to me, I am in charge of it.


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    #18
    DredFX
    Closed Accounts Posts: 287 ✭✭DredFX


    _Brian wrote: »
    Far as I can see is only miserable pricks want to destroy the whole santa magic for young kids and I think they should be ashamed.

    Bunch of festiviphobes.
    LexieOnRale wrote: »
    Absolutely not. Christmas was so special when Santa was real.

    If a little duplicitous.


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    #19
    PabloAndRoy
    Registered Users Posts: 2,501 ✭✭✭PabloAndRoy


    Our 11 year old recently said to me "I know that he's not real. Just don't tell mum that I know, she might be upset".


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    #20
    givyjoe
    Registered Users Posts: 3,287 ✭✭✭givyjoe


    DredFX wrote: »
    Article on the Telegraph today (also published on the Irish Examiner, though they deleted it within hours of posting it) reports on a suggestion by a psychologist and social scientist that parents should stop pretending Santa Claus exists because it could hurt their relations with their children.



    A professor from the University of New England in Australia also made the rather insightful claim that:



    So, lying about Santa can bring progenitor-offspring relations into a serious penumbra.

    Anybody here resent their parents for maintaining the great Christmas masquerade? I sure as hell do.

    Same applies to Jebus and the like..


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    #21
    meeeeh
    Registered Users Posts: 11,624 ✭✭✭✭meeeeh


    Yeah whatever. And tomorrow someone else will publish a study that Santa lark encourages imagination. Was it in about 50% of studies published in respectable journals that results were not conclusive when study was reproduced.


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    #22
    Dirty Dingus McGee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭Dirty Dingus McGee


    No.It's a bit of harmless fun that shouldn't be over analysed by people who could be doing something productive.


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    #23
    Dirty Dingus McGee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭Dirty Dingus McGee


    GreenFolder2 wrote: »
    Being a sceptic since a very early age, I basically ridiculed my parents for suggesting that an enormously fat man could fit down a narrow chimney.

    Also, I caught them putting Christmas presents under the tree.

    I didn't really believe in Santa once I got past the learning to talk phase.


    Aren't you great.We put you in charge of everything and I'd safely say all the worlds problems would be solved very quickly.


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    #24
    emeldc
    Registered Users Posts: 2,594 ✭✭✭emeldc


    GreenFolder2 wrote: »
    Being a sceptic since a very early age, I basically ridiculed my parents for suggesting that an enormously fat man could fit down a narrow chimney.

    Also, I caught them putting Christmas presents under the tree.

    I didn't really believe in Santa once I got past the learning to talk phase.

    You must be great crack :)


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    #25
    pilly
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,005 ✭✭✭pilly


    Ah no, I loved Santa and sometimes like to think he still exists and is going to bring me something lovely.

    I loved Miracle on 34th Street and nearly believed again.

    Kids grow up too quick now. Let them enjoy the magic of their imaginations.


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    #26
    Mint Sauce
    Registered Users Posts: 29,294 ✭✭✭✭Mint Sauce


    No, its part of the Magic of Christmas. Putting all the commercialisation of it aside, I love chatting to my younger relations about what Santa is bringing, or has bought, or with friends/family my age, buying for their kids. Even the kid in the 37 38 year old me, has my imaginary Santa List.

    Kids innocence is lost all to quickly these days. Lets hold on to some of the mysteries and excitment for them.


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    #27
    PabloAndRoy
    Registered Users Posts: 2,501 ✭✭✭PabloAndRoy


    GreenFolder2 wrote: »
    Being a sceptic since a very early age, I basically ridiculed my parents for suggesting that an enormously fat man could fit down a narrow chimney.

    Also, I caught them putting Christmas presents under the tree.

    I didn't really believe in Santa once I got past the learning to talk phase.

    I blame the parents for this disrespectful behaviour.


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    #28
    meeeeh
    Registered Users Posts: 11,624 ✭✭✭✭meeeeh


    Btw what is so wrong about teaching kids that everyone lies?


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    #29
    whoopsadoodles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,058 ✭✭✭whoopsadoodles


    Resent my parents?

    On the contrary.

    I am so grateful for all the memories of magical Christmases.

    I still believe in santa and always will.


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    #30
    buck65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,969 ✭✭✭buck65


    I remember waiting for Santa and hearing bells back in the day, looking out my window, sleepless nights and all that lark I suppose I was around 10 when it all came crashing down. Christmas was never the same again for me - until I had kids, kids change everything!


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    #31
    eviltwin
    Registered Users Posts: 17,495 ✭✭✭✭eviltwin


    How about everyone just fcuk off and mind their own business. I choose to do the whole Santa thing. I have a teenager who has managed to learn the truth and survive, no trauma in our house. No trauma when I discovered the truth. Stay out of how people parent their kids.


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