Shout Dust wrote: » But most do celebrate it, whether for religious reasons or not. It's a tradition and part of our culture, and a good one imo. If I was in Japan and they had or have some equivalent of Christmas over there, where everything non-essential was shut down and all families and friends come together once a year I'd respect that as a tradition and part of their culture. I certainly wouldn't see it as some personal affront to my freedom or attack by the religious to impose their religion on others, as some seem to on here.
mango salsa wrote: » The open them up arguments make absolutely no sense to me to be honest. I mean seriously - talk of opression is a ludicrous argument and a lot of the other arguments seem like they are from children having tantrums.
citytillidie wrote: » What about people with no family and may see going to a pub on Christmas Day as a way to beat the lonelyness
Iggy154 wrote: » There are other and better ways to beat loneliness that going to a pub. Turning Christmas day into another Arthurs day/ halloween fiasco is a retrograde step.
hotmail.com wrote: » Having pubs open on Xmas Day won't ruin your day. If you feel it will, then it's pretty sad. Again I don't think you get the point of forcing the tradition upon people, no matter what you think. Until recently Sunday shopping was seen as a bad thing, things change.
Shout Dust wrote: » Never said it would ruin my day, but it certainly wouldn't brighten up the day of the extra people forced to work on it because a few can't stay out of the pub for a day. I certainly think its a tradition that is good, you get people travelling home from all parts of Ireland and abroad, and a great excuse for people to meet up again at a time at the same time.
Aidric wrote: » I haven't used the word oppression and I agree that it is too strong a word in this context. However, I fail to see you providing an argument as to why they should remain closed.
mango salsa wrote: » Very true As well as that the Father might have spent his weeks wages in drink on Christmas eve and the Wife and Kids would almost literally starve over Christmas[/B]
whats the point wrote: » Here is one of his reasons.
Aidric wrote: » Again quoting extreme examples as a basis for your argument. The quote you provided would be attributed to an alcoholic, not to the majority of pub goers.
whats the point wrote: » Where did he mention alcoholics in that post?
WhiteRoses wrote: » Clearly all those wanting the pubs to be open have never worked in the service industry. If pubs were allowed to open today, a great deal of them would do so with no consideration for their staff. I work in one and we are not allowed ask for time off in December as its too busy. All these comments about requesting the day off due to religious reasons makes me laugh. How many court cases do we see each week about pregnant women being fired for needing maternity leave, etc? Employers would find a way around it to fire anyone who didn't want to work Christmas Day. They'd use another excuse just get rid of anyone unwilling to work. Why should someone potentially lose their job over something like this? Also, as for the shops being closed, it's completely different. Nobody goes for a celebratory spot of shopping on Christmas Day but I bet people would want to go for a celebratory drink. If the pubs were open they'd be jammed and they'd require a lot of staff - no one who doesn't have to would want to work on a day like today. December is such a rough month for pubs and clubs. We're already stretched to our limit staff wise and the abuse from drunken idiots is unbelievable. Working all the big nights like Xmas eve, St. Stephens night and New Year's Eve isn't fun but I understand that this is what I signed up for. I have no problem working these nights or even putting up with the abuse but all that has been keeping me going is spending time with my family today. If I thought I'd have to work today I'd go insane. I think I deserve the day off. A pub is nowhere to be on Christmas Day.
WhiteRoses wrote: » Clearly all those wanting the pubs to be open have never worked in the service industry. If pubs were allowed to open today, a great deal of them would with no consideration for their staff. I work in one and we are not allowed ask for time off in December as its too busy. All these comments about requesting the day off due to religious reasons makes me laugh. How many court cases do we see each week about pregnant women being fired for needing maternity leave, etc? Employers would find a way around it to fire anyone who didn't want to work Christmas Day. They'd use another excuse just get rid of anyone unwilling to work. Why should someone potentially lose their job over something like this? Also, as for the shops being closed, it's completely different. Nobody goes for a celebratory spot of shopping on Christmas Day but I bet people would want to go for a celebratory drink. If the pubs were open they'd be jammed and they'd require a lot of staff - no one who doesn't have to would want to work on a day like today. December is such a rough month for pubs and clubs. We're already stretched to our limit staff wise and the abuse from drunken idiots is unbelievable. Working all the big nights like Xmas eve, St. Stephens night and New Year's Eve isn't fun but I understand that this is what I signed up for. I have no problem working these nights or even putting up with the abuse but all that has been keeping me going is spending time with my family today. If I thought I'd have to work today I'd go insane. I think I deserve the day off. A pub is nowhere to be on Christmas Day.
hotmail.com wrote: » A pub is nowhere to be on Xmas Day is a value judgement, something you can't impose on other people.
Cedrus wrote: » I NEED batteries!!!!!!! why is there no battery shop open on Christmas day, doeS no one think of the children? :rolleyes:
Aidric wrote: » Ah here, wake up. Someone who spends their entire wages on alcohol could be reasonably assumed to be an alcoholic. It didn't need to be expressly stated.
NiallSparky wrote: » Not a chance I'd go to a pub on Christmas Day. Still, laws forcing businesses not to operate because of outdated religious reasons have no place in a secular society. If it's all about the workers, why aren't other businesses prevented from operating today? Why should bar staff receive special treatment in this regard?
Shout Dust wrote: » Bookies are forced to close too I think, open to correction though?
Shout Dust wrote: » Are all our laws not value judgements?
Aidric wrote: » Why would they be open? No financial markets open or sporting events taking place on Christmas day that I know of.
P_1 wrote: » Well there was a full round of fixtures in the Egyptian premier league today I'll have you know
