Santa

Is it wrong to permit children to believe in Santa Claus?

Post 1

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 10:21am

Is it wrong to let someone believe something that you know isn't true? Yes, I think it's wrong. Nothing wrong with playing around with the idea of Santa, as long as the child knows it's just a fantasy.

Post 2

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 10:25am

I have a friend who tells his children, "Santa Claus is mommy and daddy playing make-believe." The kids still get to play along creatively while understanding the fictional aspects of Santa, and they get presents from him to boot! That sounds pretty fair to me.

Post 3

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 1:22pm

they get presents from him to boot! That sounds pretty fair to me.

What do they say when the children ask why Santa is an altruist?

Post 4

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 1:24pm

Is Santa an altruist if he gives because he wants to?

Sarah

Post 5

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 1:31pm

I agree with Sarah's speculation. If we can play make-believe about the nature of Santa, then we can endow him with all sorts of magical qualities like his abilities to produce toys for hundreds of millions of children and his egoistic motivations.

Post 6

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 2:36pm

The story goes that Santa gives out presents to kids who are on their best behavior throughout the year. He's no altruist. It's twisted because he doesn't exist. But there is a fantasy exchange going on. You can say the same thing about Christianity.

I like how Luke's friends handle it.

Post 7

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 3:34pm

I think Branden got it best. The story in and of itself is ok if you let them know it's a story and that it's not real. If you let them think it's real oftentimes they'll ultimately feel betrayed and won't trust you as well.

Fit my experience anyway.

---Landon

Post 8

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 7:10pm

Hey, wait a minute!

It finally sank in.

Are you guys trying to say that Santa Claus doesn't exist?

Dayaamm!

Whaddameyegonnadooooo?????!!!!!!

Woe is me!!!!!!!

//;-(

Michael

Post 9

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 7:12pm

Michael-
At least we still have the easter bunny.

Post 10

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 7:32pm

If you mean that chocolate bunny, I bit it's head off...

Post 11

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 8:01pm

I think parents should tell their kids Santa is real.

But when they finally tell their kids the truth about Santa, they should make a point of saying, "Now you know that you can never trust anything an authority tells you. You can't even trust what your parents tell you. You have to be skeptical and question everything and decide for yourself what's true and what's false."

Post 12

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 8:11pm

This thread should be called Much Ado About the Inane.
It's FUCKING Santa Claus! If anything will detract from objectivism, it is when we seriously start entertaining the immorality of Santa Claus. If there is anyone out there who has ever been fucked up due to their parents lending credence to Santa then you need to seriously get a rational grip on yourself. Do any of you who have kids ever play make-believe--maybe crawl under a blanket with your kid and act as if you are in a rocket ship visiting other planets? Are you an evil asshole for evading reality with your child? No. I'll repeat myself, it's FUCKING Santa Claus.

Post 13

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 9:00pm

Hmmm...to play devil's advocate, Jody...I remember my mom getting upset when I questioned Santa's existence. She said if I didn't believe, I wouldn't get any presents. She seemed mad, which I didn't understand. Fast forward to today, and she still doesn't understand my atheism. If it were simply an isolated game, that'd be one thing, but you don't think there's a slippery slope argument here? Santa leads to religion, blind faith, etc.? Especially when that Santa is used as a tool, a weapon, even, against children to coerce behavior?

Post 14

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 9:28pm

Joe,

I got the same thing, but ironically enough, my mom was an atheist at the time!

Post 15

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 9:29pm

That's too funny...

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 9:38pm

Oh, nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

What moral devastation and... and... and...

(choking on words)

NOW SOMEONE IS FUCKING SANTA CLAUSE?

(thud)

Post 17

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 10:12pm

That would be Mrs. Clause, I assume...or one of the elves? (Herme, maybe, gay Icon that he is...).
(Edited by Joe Maurone
on 10/09, 10:13pm)

Post 18

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 10:18pm

"Permit"/Allow? No

Promote/Advocate? Yes.

LLAP
J:D

Post 19

Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 10:44pm