A call to ban the sale of fireworks

[Berries]

Tell me where the tooth fairy comes from.
Tell me about Xmas or easter,,,not your fucking holidays or the money you were given as a demanding little shit that wanted what he hadn't earnt,the real reasons and how you really honored them,,,and I might believe you.

Not gonna happen is it ?

And 30 minites to look it up on google doesn't count.

So you still lose.

I bet your kids don't believe in Santa.

[rustyrobot]

Tell me where the tooth fairy comes from.
Tell me about Xmas or easter,,,not your fucking holidays or the money you were given as a demanding little shit that wanted what he hadn't earnt,the real reasons and how you really honored them,,,and I might believe you.

Not gonna happen is it ?

And 30 minites to look it up on google doesn't count.

So you still lose.

Lose what? The 'who is the grumpiest meanest old git competition'?

What does/did Christmas mean? It meant that my parents didn't have to work so they get to spend the day at home with us, we see our extended family, have a big meal together, often go to the beach, yes we played with our new toys, met our friends in the street and ran around shooting each other with imaginary guns or made ramps for our bikes. It meant Star Wars or Indiana Jones on the TV and no adverts, it meant staying up late, it meant summer weather and strawberries.

Why are you so caught up in it having to have some old meaning - ALL those meanings were just made up by people at some point anyway. Rituals exist now, why not celebrate those?

My kids don't believe in Santa Claus, they don't believe in the tooth fairy, but they know about our family rituals. We don't see our children as "Demanding little shits who want what they haven't earned" - we see them as little people to nurture and treasure, who haven't gotten all bitter and cynical like you. We want to celebrate them, celebrate these few years of naivety about the harsh reality of the world. Help them when it hurts, let the revel in it when it's fun.

What does it mean to 'really honour' something? Worship? Flagellation? Is that what you learned in school? Church?

I know about the pre-christian origins of most of our festivals. They are aligned for Northern Hemisphere seasons, they are for people living closely with the land. I live in a city, I am supported by a network of other humans working hard in their jobs, and providing services for one another. The dynamics have changed. Let's celebrate holidays.

[Banditbandit]

Tell me where the tooth fairy comes from.
Tell me about Xmas or easter,,,not your fucking holidays or the money you were given as a demanding little shit that wanted what he hadn't earnt,the real reasons and how you really honored them,,,and I might believe you.

Not gonna happen is it ?

And 30 minites to look it up on google doesn't count.

So you still lose.

Gee I'll bet your kids really enjoy (or will really enjoy) having a father like you ....

[Paul in NZ]

Well this debates gone to crap - should probably ban them....

End of the day - we had a few small fireworks in our back yard. We had the grandkids staying and the look on the 2 year olds face said it all. He was absolutely entranced and it was jolly good fun - lasted 15 mins or so and was conducted in a safe fashion.

We had their very excitable boxer (dog) with us and as he likes me a whole bunch, my job was keeping him calm and as long as he was with me he was as good as gold. In fact he was a lot happier when he could see what was going on that being stuck inside... (yeah I thought it was peculiar but he is a boxer)