Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please. First of all, Christmas is a secular holiday in the United States.

Second, why on earth would you cater to someone else's child, who believe in a made up story. 8-10 years old and still believing in Santa is one of the saddest things I've ever heard in my life.

ONE THE SADDEST THINGS YOU'VE EVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE!!!!

VERY credible, PP.

Yes. Any fifth grader who believes in Santa has some serious issues and I feel sorry for them. It's very sad that their life is like that.

So many straw men in this thread. Nobody expects a 5th grader to still believe or anyone to coddle a 5th grader. But my sweet little 5 year old is ALL ABOUT Santa this year and yeah, I would be peeved if some a-hole just had to say IN the mall that Santa isn't real.

Some ahole in the mall has more influence than you?

Anonymous wrote:Okay, can we agree to disagree on the level of public censorship needed in general on this issue and focus on OP's scenario:

"We were talking in public about Santa (DC questioned who the guy in a Santa suit was) I said it was a man dressed up and told st nics story."

Her kid was in view of a guy in a Santa suit when this conversation took place. So, presumably, they were within earshot of a bunch of kids waiting in line to see said Santa. I'm not Christian and I think that is super crappy of OP.

Well, only OP can say for sure. But that's certainly not the assumption I would make. Where are there a bunch of kids waiting in line to see Santa on Wednesday, November 12?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please. First of all, Christmas is a secular holiday in the United States.

Second, why on earth would you cater to someone else's child, who believe in a made up story. 8-10 years old and still believing in Santa is one of the saddest things I've ever heard in my life.

ONE THE SADDEST THINGS YOU'VE EVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE!!!!

VERY credible, PP.

Yes. Any fifth grader who believes in Santa has some serious issues and I feel sorry for them. It's very sad that their life is like that.

Dumbass. Everybody knows that kids that age just play along to ensure that the presents keep flowing.

But keep telling your SAD SAD SAD TRAGIC story!

Anonymous wrote:Okay, can we agree to disagree on the level of public censorship needed in general on this issue and focus on OP's scenario:

"We were talking in public about Santa (DC questioned who the guy in a Santa suit was) I said it was a man dressed up and told st nics story."

Her kid was in view of a guy in a Santa suit when this conversation took place. So, presumably, they were within earshot of a bunch of kids waiting in line to see said Santa. I'm not Christian and I think that is super crappy of OP.

Okay, I see the point. I think that is a level of going out if your way to prove a point. Much in the same way you know people who say "Merry Christmas" to everyone in sight in a false cheery voice do it to prove a point too. Neither is polite.

Okay, can we agree to disagree on the level of public censorship needed in general on this issue and focus on OP's scenario:

"We were talking in public about Santa (DC questioned who the guy in a Santa suit was) I said it was a man dressed up and told st nics story."

Her kid was in view of a guy in a Santa suit when this conversation took place. So, presumably, they were within earshot of a bunch of kids waiting in line to see said Santa. I'm not Christian and I think that is super crappy of OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please. First of all, Christmas is a secular holiday in the United States.

Second, why on earth would you cater to someone else's child, who believe in a made up story. 8-10 years old and still believing in Santa is one of the saddest things I've ever heard in my life.

ONE THE SADDEST THINGS YOU'VE EVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE!!!!

VERY credible, PP.

Yes. Any fifth grader who believes in Santa has some serious issues and I feel sorry for them. It's very sad that their life is like that.

So many straw men in this thread. Nobody expects a 5th grader to still believe or anyone to coddle a 5th grader. But my sweet little 5 year old is ALL ABOUT Santa this year and yeah, I would be peeved if some a-hole just had to say IN the mall that Santa isn't real.

Really? Someone is an a-hole for not upholding your family's specific cultural traditions in a PUBLIC SPACE?

Any public space in general- no. Don't care. Specifically the mall, where Santa is set up- yeah, that's annoying.

But not annoying for anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas to go to a mall with their child and have to tell them, "Sshhh...we will talk about it later" or explain to them why they are only being surrounded by cultural symbols that have nothing to do with their own traditions but we can't discuss that because we might offend those who already have all of the power in the situation. Yeah that's not annoying at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Any public space in general- no. Don't care. Specifically the mall, where Santa is set up- yeah, that's annoying.

OK, I agree that when people are in the Santa area of the mall, at Santa time, they should not talk audibly about how Santa is not real.

Now, was OP in the Santa area of the mall, at Santa time, when this incident occurred?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please. First of all, Christmas is a secular holiday in the United States.

Second, why on earth would you cater to someone else's child, who believe in a made up story. 8-10 years old and still believing in Santa is one of the saddest things I've ever heard in my life.

ONE THE SADDEST THINGS YOU'VE EVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE!!!!

VERY credible, PP.

Yes. Any fifth grader who believes in Santa has some serious issues and I feel sorry for them. It's very sad that their life is like that.

So many straw men in this thread. Nobody expects a 5th grader to still believe or anyone to coddle a 5th grader. But my sweet little 5 year old is ALL ABOUT Santa this year and yeah, I would be peeved if some a-hole just had to say IN the mall that Santa isn't real.

Really? Someone is an a-hole for not upholding your family's specific cultural traditions in a PUBLIC SPACE?

Any public space in general- no. Don't care. Specifically the mall, where Santa is set up- yeah, that's annoying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please. First of all, Christmas is a secular holiday in the United States.

Second, why on earth would you cater to someone else's child, who believe in a made up story. 8-10 years old and still believing in Santa is one of the saddest things I've ever heard in my life.

ONE THE SADDEST THINGS YOU'VE EVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE!!!!

VERY credible, PP.

Yes. Any fifth grader who believes in Santa has some serious issues and I feel sorry for them. It's very sad that their life is like that.

So many straw men in this thread. Nobody expects a 5th grader to still believe or anyone to coddle a 5th grader. But my sweet little 5 year old is ALL ABOUT Santa this year and yeah, I would be peeved if some a-hole just had to say IN the mall that Santa isn't real.

Really? Someone is an a-hole for not upholding your family's specific cultural traditions in a PUBLIC SPACE?

Anonymous wrote:Just a note...for all of those saying not to "ruin" your kid's Christmas, make sure you don't ask a child you don't know what Santa is bringing him for Christmas.

Because all if a sudden I would be the rude parent for explaining we don't believe in Santa in public (GASP!) but it would be perfectly okay for you to assume everyone else shares your religious and cultural beliefs (or else is "polite" enough to keep their own quiet). You people are truly truly unbelievable.

Just a note...for all of those saying not to "ruin" your kid's Christmas, make sure you don't ask a child you don't know what Santa is bringing him for Christmas.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please. First of all, Christmas is a secular holiday in the United States.

Second, why on earth would you cater to someone else's child, who believe in a made up story. 8-10 years old and still believing in Santa is one of the saddest things I've ever heard in my life.

ONE THE SADDEST THINGS YOU'VE EVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE!!!!

VERY credible, PP.

Yes. Any fifth grader who believes in Santa has some serious issues and I feel sorry for them. It's very sad that their life is like that.

So many straw men in this thread. Nobody expects a 5th grader to still believe or anyone to coddle a 5th grader. But my sweet little 5 year old is ALL ABOUT Santa this year and yeah, I would be peeved if some a-hole just had to say IN the mall that Santa isn't real.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm on board with the parents who think that these kinds of conversations need to be saved for moments when no one can hear you. If this woman heard you loud enough to say something to you, this wasn't the right time. I plan to completely tell my kid that it's just a guy in a suit and about the story, but it's not your place to ruin the holiday for someone else's kid. I am very aware that our family beliefs about how to handle this holiday could potentially ruin it for other families. Just a catch of what you're saying could blow up a little kid's world.

Fortunately, OP did not do this.

What OP did, was catch the attention of somebody who decided to tell OP that she disapproved of OP's behavior.

OP, I'm on board with the parents who think that these kinds of conversations need to be saved for moments when no one can hear you. If this woman heard you loud enough to say something to you, this wasn't the right time. I plan to completely tell my kid that it's just a guy in a suit and about the story, but it's not your place to ruin the holiday for someone else's kid. I am very aware that our family beliefs about how to handle this holiday could potentially ruin it for other families. Just a catch of what you're saying could blow up a little kid's world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please. First of all, Christmas is a secular holiday in the United States.

Second, why on earth would you cater to someone else's child, who believe in a made up story. 8-10 years old and still believing in Santa is one of the saddest things I've ever heard in my life.

ONE THE SADDEST THINGS YOU'VE EVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE!!!!

VERY credible, PP.

Yes. Any fifth grader who believes in Santa has some serious issues and I feel sorry for them. It's very sad that their life is like that.