Soddin bleedin Valentines day.

[strangely made]

I have nothing against Valentines per se; it is after all an ancient tradition from the 14th century when it was socially acceptable for lovers to send tokens to each other and to write letters of love.

What I do have a problem with is card companies making money out of it, and especially this new thing of children being bombarded on kids programs about Valentines day. A time that should be for lovers to express their love for each other if they wish has been taken over by programs like "Sabrina" and most other programs aimed at children.

Last year our daughter was in tears because she didn’t get a card , she's ten for god's sake ( well she was nine at the time)and should be enjoying being a child instead of being forced to grow up way to quickly by program makers desperate for a subject to make their frankly crap episodes more interesting.

I know this is a rant and I refuse to apologise for that.

[BigBlackGamer]

I have nothing against Valentines per se; it is after all an ancient tradition from the 14th century when it was socially acceptable for lovers to send tokens to each other and to write letters of love.

What I do have a problem with is card companies making money out of it, and especially this new thing of children being bombarded on kids programs about Valentines day. A time that should be for lovers to express their love for each other if they wish has been taken over by programs like "Sabrina" and most other programs aimed at children.

Last year our daughter was in tears because she didn’t get a card , she's ten for god's sake ( well she was nine at the time)and should be enjoying being a child instead of being forced to grow up way to quickly by program makers desperate for a subject to make their frankly crap episodes more interesting.

I know this is a rant and I refuse to apologise for that.

I live in the United States, so no degree of crass commercialism can suprise me.

My ex managed to turn Valentine's Day into a living hell...every...fucking...year (please pardon my French).  Nothing I got her was ever good enough.  Someone could have given this woman a suitcase full of $100 bills, and she would have complained about the color of the suitcase...

Alas, but now I rant...   :P

[ZK]

I don't have to worry about Valentine's Day. I never got anything for it, aside from the gifts my family give. Other then that, bah, forget having to spend "oodles" of money for me of cheaply made paraphenalia for the holiday. ^_^

[indarkestknight]

http://www.despair.com/bittersweets.html

That says it all about my feelings about Valentine's Day.

[Jefepato]

I've spent my entire life 31% happier due to having ignored Valentine's Day entirely.

[Elvi]

http://www.despair.com/bittersweets.html
That says it all about my feelings about Valentine's Day.

*LOL* I love them! and I want all the t-shirts and the frownies!

Jefepato,  31%? and what statistics to you base this finding on? If you have always ignored Valentines day, then by what do you judge this huge happiness boost?

As for my feelings on Valentines day?
How do you tell a ten year old, who shouldn't even be bothered about such a thing, that it is a load af absolute clap trap and why have it when we tell each other that we love each other every day?
The answer is you don't, because you end up with her in floods of frustrated tears because she thinks that it is important and she must do something even if it is for us, otherwause she won't really love us, because the sodding media have told her so.........

[Jefepato]

I judge it exactly the same way every other statistic is judged: by making it up on the spot whenever it suits my purpose.

[Elvi]

*nods*
I knew it would be highly scientifically researched and thoroughly tested. *laughs*

[MagicalPen]

For once, i have a GF for Valentines day. Only problem is that she is on the other side of the world so i cant spend it with her.  >:( :'(

[strangely made]

If you phone up Interfauna you could send her a dozen red kangaroos .

[ZK]

I like the day after Valetine's Day. You know, the day where all the candy is marked half off and such? ^_^

[Celestial Goblin]

I like the day after Valetine's Day. You know, the day where all the candy is marked half off and such? ^_^

Brilliant observation.
I do agree the current Valentine's day is a commercial thing. All wrap, no candy. And what we adults see as noisy annoyance, kids will fall for. Oh well, love should be all year.

[ZK]

As should candy be half-off.

Since my family eats 90% Organic Grown and Handled foods. I lurve dem evil sweets. :D

[Hannibal]

Valentines Day is what you make of it. Complaining that it is about crass commercialism sounds like a cope out to me or an excuse not to make an effort. Just because the media and commercial enterprises push you to celebrate it in a certain way, doesn't mean you have to be affected by that. If you don't like the commercialism, make a gesture of love in a way that celebrates Valentines Day the way you think it ought to be celebrated. An excellent definition of unhappiness is:

Unhappiness = Expectation minus Perception of Reality

Any disappointment from modern Valentines Day is largely derived from your own expectations or perceptions. Get some new ones and make it about what you want it to be about.

Thus ends today's sermon .... ;D

[strangely made]

But why do you need a special day to tell some one you love them or to show it? Elvi and me show our love for each other every day and tell each other how much we love the other on numerous occasions each day . Special treats and things are done radomly through the year and flowers , plants or dolphins with bells are exchanged when ever we feel like it.

And its not valentines days it's self we dont agree with , it's the media shoving it down kids throats that we don't approve of.

[Vandren]

But why do you need a special day to tell some one you love them or to show it?

Who said anything about "needing" it?  Personally, my answer to the question is that no one "needs" it.  However, it can be nice.  And (depending on when what day it occurs), it can be a good excuse to take some time off and get away from things like work and just spend some time alone together (admittedly, haven't been able to do this in a couple years, but that's not the point).

Honestly, I have no response either way on the subject.  Some years I like it, others I don't.  Depends on my mood at the time (and, until 8-9 years ago, on whether I was seeing anyone at the time).  :)

As for commercialism . . . name a "major" holiday that isn't overly commercialized.  Heck, American card/candy/flower companies made up "Sweetest Day" to sell more cards during the holiday off-season.

[Hannibal]

And its not valentines days it's self we dont agree with , it's the media shoving it down kids throats that we don't approve of.

Aren't you reinforcing how important it is by making a fuss over it?

[ZK]

I want candy! ^_^

[Siegfried]

I thought you were candy.  You are nice and sweet to eat... ;D

[ZK]

Awww. *blush*

[Vandren]

The historian in me (can't beat the bloody idiot into submission, dammit ;)) wants to point out, too, that Valentine's hasn't "become" commercialized, it always was commercialized.  Like all the other saints' days and holidays.  Saints' days were excellent times for the Church to sell blessings, indulgences, and pardons (not to mention for everyone else to sell food, charms, relics, etc.).  Major holidays - say the winter solstice/Christmas - were times to buy, buy, buy even back 1500+ years ago. 

Which also applies to the question here . . . did the Germanic and Celtic tribes need the winter solstice and its exchange of gifts (the root of our modern Christmas exchange) in order to display the bonds of quasi-feudal loyalty?

Well, no, they didn't.  But it made a nice excuse to have a party in the middle of boring, depressing, despondent winter.  :D

[Elvi]

Aren't you reinforcing how important it is by making a fuss over it?

How, in telling a ten year old that we don't need one day a year, to tell each other that we love each other because we, (all three of us), tell each other every day and do nice things for each other on the spur of the moment to show we care, reinforcing it's importance? 

[SlvKitty]

http://grove.ufl.edu/~leo/val.html

Origins....

It's interesting...

[Lilian]

I totally agree with Zulo, half off candy is fun!  ^_^