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Letting your kid believe in Santa for a while is far more powerful learning experience than showing it that others believe in this nonsense: not only can't othe

by jules 13y ago

Letting your kid believe in Santa for a while is far more powerful learning experience than showing it that others believe in this nonsense: not only can't others' beliefs be trusted, your own beliefs can't be either.

gnaritas 13y ago
There are better ways to teach that than by showing them you're a liar. Telling them Santa is real is IMHO wrong; that's not a debatable point, that's my opinion. I don't support teaching delusions to kids whether it's Santa or God.
- jules 13y ago
  What are those better ways?
  - gnaritas 13y ago
    Start with honesty, that's a pretty good one. Don't mentally abuse your child with delusions, that's a pretty good one too.
    - jules 13y ago
      This reply does not answer the question. It's just another attempt at emotional blackmail, which is all you've done so far in this entire discussion. I guess those ultra-strict deontological ethics only apply when it suits you.
      - gnaritas 13y ago
        >This reply does not answer the question. Yes it does, it in fact gave two answers to the question. > It's just another attempt at emotional blackmail I don't agree, but if that's what you think, then move along, I don't care.
- gfodor 13y ago
  "Son, I'm sorry, but Santa isn't real. We just pretend he exists to make Christmas more fun. However, Jesus, the dude who came from the Sky Wizard and rose from the dead and tells us about heaven, we actually celebrate Christmas for him and he's totally real." The juxtaposition of the Santa and Jesus myths has always baffled me. It is truly a spectacular example of the mental hoops people will go to get past their fear of death: even when they are given an opportunity to question their wider beliefs when the truth about the non-existence of Santa is revealed, they are somehow able to effortlessly compartmentalize the "real" unbelievable stories (like rising from the dead, etc) and the "made up" stories (Santa visits all children on Christmas, elves make the toys, etc.) You couldn't make this up if you tried: we piggyback a widely acknowledged fake myth about a man with superpowers on top of a widely believed myth about a man with superpowers, and "grow out" of the former but will go to the grave with the latter. It's the ultimate troll.
  - gnaritas 13y ago
    I'm an atheist, it's all non-sense as far as I'm concerned, I don't pretend anything.
- icebraining 13y ago
  There are better ways to teach that than by showing them you're a liar. Why? There were going to find out anyway.
  - gnaritas 13y ago
    Excuse me?
    - icebraining 13y ago
      None of us could live with an habitual truth-teller; but thank goodness none of us has to. An habitual truth-teller is simply an impossible creature; he does not exist; he never has existed. Of course there are people who think they never lie, but it is not so--and this ignorance is one of the very things that shame our so-called civilization. Everybody lies--every day; every hour; awake; asleep; in his dreams; in his joy; in his mourning; if he keeps his tongue still, his hands, his feet, his eyes, his attitude, will convey deception--and purposely. Even in sermons--but that is a platitude. http://www.online-literature.com/twain/1320/ http://www.online-literature.com/twain/1320/
      - gnaritas 13y ago
        Yea, bullshit. You're clearly not paying attention to the conversation. Troll elsewhere.

by jules 13y ago

gnaritas 13y ago

There are better ways to teach that than by showing them you're a liar. Telling them Santa is real is IMHO wrong; that's not a debatable point, that's my opinion. I don't support teaching delusions to kids whether it's Santa or God.

jules 13y ago
What are those better ways?
- gnaritas 13y ago
  Start with honesty, that's a pretty good one. Don't mentally abuse your child with delusions, that's a pretty good one too.
  - jules 13y ago
    This reply does not answer the question. It's just another attempt at emotional blackmail, which is all you've done so far in this entire discussion. I guess those ultra-strict deontological ethics only apply when it suits you.
    - gnaritas 13y ago
      >This reply does not answer the question. Yes it does, it in fact gave two answers to the question. > It's just another attempt at emotional blackmail I don't agree, but if that's what you think, then move along, I don't care.
gfodor 13y ago
"Son, I'm sorry, but Santa isn't real. We just pretend he exists to make Christmas more fun. However, Jesus, the dude who came from the Sky Wizard and rose from the dead and tells us about heaven, we actually celebrate Christmas for him and he's totally real." The juxtaposition of the Santa and Jesus myths has always baffled me. It is truly a spectacular example of the mental hoops people will go to get past their fear of death: even when they are given an opportunity to question their wider beliefs when the truth about the non-existence of Santa is revealed, they are somehow able to effortlessly compartmentalize the "real" unbelievable stories (like rising from the dead, etc) and the "made up" stories (Santa visits all children on Christmas, elves make the toys, etc.) You couldn't make this up if you tried: we piggyback a widely acknowledged fake myth about a man with superpowers on top of a widely believed myth about a man with superpowers, and "grow out" of the former but will go to the grave with the latter. It's the ultimate troll.
- gnaritas 13y ago
  I'm an atheist, it's all non-sense as far as I'm concerned, I don't pretend anything.
icebraining 13y ago
There are better ways to teach that than by showing them you're a liar. Why? There were going to find out anyway.
- gnaritas 13y ago
  Excuse me?
  - icebraining 13y ago
    None of us could live with an habitual truth-teller; but thank goodness none of us has to. An habitual truth-teller is simply an impossible creature; he does not exist; he never has existed. Of course there are people who think they never lie, but it is not so--and this ignorance is one of the very things that shame our so-called civilization. Everybody lies--every day; every hour; awake; asleep; in his dreams; in his joy; in his mourning; if he keeps his tongue still, his hands, his feet, his eyes, his attitude, will convey deception--and purposely. Even in sermons--but that is a platitude. http://www.online-literature.com/twain/1320/ http://www.online-literature.com/twain/1320/
    - gnaritas 13y ago
      Yea, bullshit. You're clearly not paying attention to the conversation. Troll elsewhere.