More People being turned off Christmas?

JupiterKid · 27-12-2018 12:24PM #1

I like Christmas but loathe the disgusting commercialism and forced cheeriness spewed forth by the media and advertsing. Add social media into the mix like FB and it can get too much for some.

The way it gets relentlessly earlier each year, the pressure to outdo others in buying lavish and often unaffordable gifts, putting up decorations and the tree in November (WTF?.

)

I have a feeling that the over-commercialisation of Christmas in the West could eventually backfire on advertisers and businesses seeking to bleed people dry as more and more people just eschew the false Christmas over-consumption over the coming 20 years. In fact, I can see see this trend already starting.

Anyone else see this happening?

P_1 · 27-12-2018 12:26PM

It has already started alright. When you have the media almost chiding people for not spending more you know a significant amount of people have already started doing so

27-12-2018 12:38PM

This cheeriness was forced down one's throat listening to RTE Radio 1. One particular cringeworthy moment was on Christmas Eve, when the radio announcer said that he would repeat christmas greetings to these particular sprogs, well, because they were'nt listening to the radio the first time their names were announced. ugh.

silverharp · 27-12-2018 12:42PM

i cut my tv cable a couple of years back, its a very good antidote to all the fake news about what you ought to be doing or worried about at xmas. christmas is brilliant.

whisky_galore · 27-12-2018 12:44PM

The shops have got a lot to answer for, putting up xmas displays around Halloween is just barefaced attention grabbing for all the wrong reasons. It's not "cheery" or in the spirit of Xmas it's just a money grab. That and putting on Xmas lights in mid Nov because the local chamber of commerce says so.

bladespin · 27-12-2018 12:48PM

JupiterKid wrote:

putting up decorations and the tree in November (WTF?. )

This is not new or recent, lots start the second halloween's over (and then complain about being fed up with them december 26th).

Yes, it's commercial, though I think this has fallen off a lot in recent years; more ane more are leaning toward the more trad gifts and experiences.

looksee · 27-12-2018 12:50PM

On the one hand you have complaints about the 'nanny state' and on the other complaints about 'them' not taking over people's lives and preventing them from going too far.

No-one is being forced to spend more, 'more' depends on what you have to start with. I looked at a few of the pics on the Santa thread and thought that some silly money had been spent in some households, but I have no doubt that the people concerned would defend their right to spend their own money how they choose - other people might need to cut back but not me!

I did not think this year particularly that Christmas started significantly early - there was one year a while back when there were so many protests about christmas starting before Halloween that most places have calmed down and waited at least until November. Social media is like everything else, some people will use it to an extent that is ridiculous, others of us can be on fb but not find it necessary to engage with all the 'what I had for breakfast' nonsense.

tl:dr if Christmas is bugging you, back off and ignore it.

maccored · 27-12-2018 12:53PM

its called getting older, is it not? christmas has been commercial since coca cola invented the modern day santa in the 30s

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 27-12-2018 01:03PM

If people are being dragged in to all the hype then they need to step away from the hype and do their own thing for Christmas. It's easy enough to avoid it and prepare for, and enjoy, your traditional Christmas if you want to.

BilboBagOfCans · 27-12-2018 02:23PM

Agreed that you can avoid it, it's not hard to change radio stations etc, I don't personally see much one-upmanship around Christmas but I do not follow those who push this crap so it's easy to avoid if you wish

andekwarhola · 27-12-2018 02:27PM

Uriah Drab Rope wrote: »

If people are being dragged in to all the hype then they need to step away from the hype and do their own thing for Christmas. It's easy enough to avoid it and prepare for, and enjoy, your traditional Christmas if you want to.

People actually want to moan about it as they presumably think it gives them a patina of intelligence or individuality.

Like endless tedious bulletins on how they don't do Facebook.

Do Christmas or don't do Christmas. Nobody gives a fcuk.

goat2 · 27-12-2018 02:34PM

I love having home decorated, meeting family, and having a traditional Christmas Day,
The only thing I don't like is, all this commercialism that goes with it, if you want to go shopping, car parks are full, queues in shops, and having to buy presents for people, when people have ample and can buy their own, I don't like it when I have to smile and say thank you for something I did not need or want, I drop hints, a diesel voucher or a pay as you go for my phone, and still I don't get any of these, just tat

OldMrBrennan83 · 27-12-2018 02:35PM

Turn it all off and enjoy it your own way with the people you want. Nobody is forcing anything on you.

looksee · 27-12-2018 02:56PM

goat2 wrote: »

I love having home decorated, meeting family, and having a traditional Christmas Day,
The only thing I don't like is, all this commercialism that goes with it, if you want to go shopping, car parks are full, queues in shops, and having to buy presents for people, when people have ample and can buy their own, I don't like it when I have to smile and say thank you for something I did not need or want, I drop hints, a diesel voucher or a pay as you go for my phone, and still I don't get any of these, just tat

So what you are saying is you want to be part of the commercialism, want to go shopping for the decorations and 'tradition', but want everyone else to not do it so you can do it in comfort?

Mr. teddywinkles · 27-12-2018 03:00PM

January sales after Christmas is what annoys me. Spend a ****load at Christmas and still expect people to spend more after when your broke.

Mrsmum · 27-12-2018 03:05PM

I suppose the other side of commercialism though is that that's how a lot of people earn their living. From what I've heard, Christmas is when shops, hotels etc do about 30% of their yearly trade enabling them to survive sometimes. Take that away from them and lots more unemployed, No? However, having said that though, all the needless tat bought is shocking.

Dirtdrifter · 27-12-2018 03:07PM

JupiterKid wrote: »

I have a feeling that the over-commercialisation of Christmas in the West could eventually backfire on advertisers and businesses seeking to bleed people dry as more and more people just eschew the false Christmas over-consumption over the coming 20 years. In fact, I can see see this trend already starting.

Anyone else see this happening?

No signs of this happening here in mayo anyway

goat2 · 27-12-2018 03:08PM

looksee wrote: »

So what you are saying is you want to be part of the commercialism, want to go shopping for the decorations and 'tradition', but want everyone else to not do it so you can do it in comfort?

No, I use the same tree with past 20 yrs, Might add new decoration now and then, and did go led for the bulbs and lights, that is it
Ant every person is entitled to do as they please,
But I do shop local, and keep it local, small town, need the money to go round.

igCorcaigh · 27-12-2018 03:10PM

No tree or decorations this year, just candles.
I love candles.

jmayo · 27-12-2018 03:13PM

I believe we are definitely becoming more Americanised and that equals consumption and commercialisation to the nth degree.

We recently adopted the Black Friday sales.
We even have some now calling it the holidays.

Then add in the feckers that think they should create something resembling the Las Vegas strip.
And no I am not anti lights, a tree and decorations, it's the ones with the flashing santas, the reindeers and snowmen all over the garden, the strip lights on the gates, the lights on the chimneys, etc, etc.

igCorcaigh · 27-12-2018 03:15PM

jmayo wrote: »

I believe we are definitely becoming more Americanised and that equals consumption and commercialisation to the nth degree.

We recently adopted the Black Friday sales.
We even have some now calling it the holidays.

Then add in the feckers that think they should create something resembling the Las Vegas strip.
And no I am not anti lights, a tree and decorations, it's the ones with the flashing santas, the reindeers and snowmen all over the garden, the strip lights on the gates, the lights on the chimneys, etc, etc.

Vulgar stuff it is, some people have no taste.
A wreath on the door is lovely though.

OldMrBrennan83 · 27-12-2018 03:17PM

igCorcaigh wrote: »

Vulgar stuff it is, some people have no taste.
A wreath on the door is lovely though.

Same. We do up the living room because the Mrs likes it and put a wreath on the door. I can understand the outside stuff if you've kids though.

igCorcaigh · 27-12-2018 03:21PM

Patww79 wrote: »

Same. We do up the living room because the Mrs likes it and put a wreath on the door. I can understand the outside stuff if you've kids though.

Oh for sure. Christmas is all about the kids. As it should be.

beauf · 27-12-2018 03:29PM

I'm getting tired of it all.

This year we greatly reduced the decorations. Just tired off the clutter it creates. No longer have the patience and time to waste on it.

Also tired of the cost. Only for one of the kids is Xmas mad I would have gone very minimalist.

Dakota Dan · 27-12-2018 03:43PM

Uriah Drab Rope wrote: »

If people are being dragged in to all the hype then they need to step away from the hype and do their own thing for Christmas. It's easy enough to avoid it and prepare for, and enjoy, your traditional Christmas if you want to.

Exactly, nobody forces anybody to spend for Christmas and the only reason the shops keep advertising is because people keep shopping. They spend a month before Christmas shopping and then off shopping again on Stephens day.

Dakota Dan · 27-12-2018 03:50PM

jmayo wrote: »

I believe we are definitely becoming more Americanised and that equals consumption and commercialisation to the nth degree.

We recently adopted the Black Friday sales.
We even have some now calling it the holidays.

Then add in the feckers that think they should create something resembling the Las Vegas strip.
And no I am not anti lights, a tree and decorations, it's the ones with the flashing santas, the reindeers and snowmen all over the garden, the strip lights on the gates, the lights on the chimneys, etc, etc.

You don’t need Christmas for this nonsense though, what about the yummy mummies wanting the latestv SUV in January to drive little Lorcan a mile to school and to outdo Jane next door.

igCorcaigh · 27-12-2018 03:56PM

You wouldn't even know we're just decades away from a serious global catastrophe.

People would need to wake up a bit.

Advertising works I guess, I haven't watched TV or listened to radio in years. Get the radio on podcast with no ads. Keep things simple.

RobbingBandit · 27-12-2018 04:00PM

Easter next after this weekend eggs everywhere in shops

jmayo · 27-12-2018 04:03PM

igCorcaigh wrote: »

You wouldn't even know we're just decades away from a serious global catastrophe.

People would need to wake up a bit.

Advertising works I guess, I haven't watched TV or listened to radio in years. Get the radio on podcast with no ads. Keep things simple.

Actually you might then have not noticed the incessant ads now on RTE radio at the moment asking if you like watching dramas and thrillers, streaming on your laptop.

Because you know what, you watching that drama through the internet, most likely hosted and provided by a non Irish private entity, produced and funded by a non Irish entity, probably over a broadband link that you pay a private company for, means that you should pay a TV license towards RTE. :rolleyes:

Yep RTE that has sweet FA to do with providing you with the show you are watching. :mad:

Maybe this belongs in a thread of it's own, but it is something that I only really noticed over the christmas period.

Badly Drunk Boy · 27-12-2018 04:07PM

RobbingBandit wrote: »

Easter next after this weekend eggs everywhere in shops

Ah, you forgot about Valentine's Day.

igCorcaigh · 27-12-2018 04:07PM

No J, I did not see or hear about those ads.
Is that plan still going ahead?
Pure Mafia shoite isn't it.

More People being turned off Christmas?

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