Valentine's Day

liah · 09-02-2011 02:47PM #1

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 · 09-02-2011 02:49PM

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

Sisko · 09-02-2011 02:50PM

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.

09-02-2011 02:50PM

Not a hater or lover, mostly just dismiss it

FatherLen · 09-02-2011 02:50PM

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

admiralofthefleet · 09-02-2011 02:51PM

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 · 09-02-2011 02:53PM

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 · 09-02-2011 02:53PM

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 · 09-02-2011 02:55PM

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 · 09-02-2011 02:55PM

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 · 09-02-2011 02:56PM

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 · 09-02-2011 02:56PM

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 · 09-02-2011 02:56PM

Al Capone kinda ruined it for me.

Sprrratt · 09-02-2011 02:56PM

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

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

Earthhorse · 09-02-2011 02:57PM

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 · 09-02-2011 02:57PM

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 · 09-02-2011 02:59PM

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 · 09-02-2011 02:59PM

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 · 09-02-2011 03:00PM

starviewadams wrote: »

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

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

Captain Chaos · 09-02-2011 03:01PM

starviewadams wrote: »

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

March 14th.

Sanjuro · 09-02-2011 03:01PM

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 · 09-02-2011 03:01PM

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 · 09-02-2011 03:02PM

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 · 09-02-2011 03:02PM

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 · 09-02-2011 03:06PM

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 · 09-02-2011 03:06PM

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 · 09-02-2011 03:09PM

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 · 09-02-2011 03:09PM

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 · 09-02-2011 03:10PM

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

whiskeyman · 09-02-2011 03:12PM

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 · 09-02-2011 03:13PM

whiskeyman wrote: »

FYP...

I build my relationships on lo....

Okay

Valentine's Day

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