Subverting Santa Claus
I was thinking of started a more expanded thread entitled, "Christmas in the Gulch" wherein I began by questioning how Christmas could work in the Gulch, but decided that it's too far from Christmas for that (my store had its Christmas merchandise coming in in September...)
But something occurred to me last night that I felt compelled to share...
My first thought was, "Santa doesn't fit into the objectivist view of things; he travels the world giving away gifts"
But it's not Santa's fault. When I was a kid, Santa *was* trading value for value when he made his Christmas run.
See, I was taught, as were my siblings and peers, that you only got gifts if you were good; the better you did, the better/more gifts he would bring. Keep your room clean, obey dad and mom, clean your plate, get good grades, all could earn you better presents from Santa.
And, of course, if you behaved badly enough, he would bring you a lump of coal.
That's trading value for value. In exchange for the behavior he desires (for whatever reason) he offers material objects the kids desire.
Nowadays, I suspect the good behavior aspect has been removed, turning everyone's kid into a moocher.
(And let's not get into a big debate as to the existence and nature of Santa Claus, for the sake of parents who may have little ones reading over their shoulder...)
But something occurred to me last night that I felt compelled to share...
My first thought was, "Santa doesn't fit into the objectivist view of things; he travels the world giving away gifts"
But it's not Santa's fault. When I was a kid, Santa *was* trading value for value when he made his Christmas run.
See, I was taught, as were my siblings and peers, that you only got gifts if you were good; the better you did, the better/more gifts he would bring. Keep your room clean, obey dad and mom, clean your plate, get good grades, all could earn you better presents from Santa.
And, of course, if you behaved badly enough, he would bring you a lump of coal.
That's trading value for value. In exchange for the behavior he desires (for whatever reason) he offers material objects the kids desire.
Nowadays, I suspect the good behavior aspect has been removed, turning everyone's kid into a moocher.
(And let's not get into a big debate as to the existence and nature of Santa Claus, for the sake of parents who may have little ones reading over their shoulder...)
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My kids are 5 and 3, and I think they don't see as clear a distinction between reality and fantasy as I do. They know I don't believe in it, but one kids told me when he was 4 he was choosing to believe. We did leave gifts for them. They're more into the gifts than where they came from.
Most of the year when they want something we find tasks for them and pay them at the same rate we would pay a nanny to do the tasks. They've been good about that. I fined them $12 for throwing $12 worth of lotion down the drain to see if it dissolve in soapy water. Now he's careful to use cheap lotions for experiments b/c he knows how much work he does earning money. I'm impressed fora 5 y/o. I don't agree with anything about [the mainstream view of] Santa, but I don't sweat it.
(A sign would obviously be more for the parents of young kids.) The older kids know me...I work at their school. lol I'm trying to think up a hard hitting, short, to the point, phrase to put on a sign. Any ideas?