24 May 2009, 11:41 pm
Giving children a belief and then destroying it serves a valuable function for undermining their epistemology. It's given me a swell history of angst and doubt. 
25 May 2009, 12:06 am
25 May 2009, 12:12 am
25 May 2009, 4:09 am
25 May 2009, 5:24 am
anna-banana wrote:
hypothetical situation in my case as I don't have nor plan on having kids- but I think I wouldn't. not only because I am a terrible liar and even a 3-year-old could easily see through my BS. I tend to think that if you wouldn't want your kid to believe in gods, fairies, heaven and hell and you'd want them to grow up to be a rational and enlightened human being, there is no reason to make an exception for the guy who rides magical reindeers and brings all of Earth's kids presents on Christmas.
but on the other hand- would that not be a bit too cruel? taking away the "magic" of Christmas from the poor kid? and what about all the kids who'd go to school/kindergarten with your skeptical offspring and could have their naive faith in the guy shattered forever?
for me finding out that there was no Santa was a part of the general trauma of discovering that the grown-ups don't know everything and that they lie. but existence of Santa as such I couldn't care less about, as long as there still were presents
so, would you? why/why not?
but on the other hand- would that not be a bit too cruel? taking away the "magic" of Christmas from the poor kid? and what about all the kids who'd go to school/kindergarten with your skeptical offspring and could have their naive faith in the guy shattered forever?
for me finding out that there was no Santa was a part of the general trauma of discovering that the grown-ups don't know everything and that they lie. but existence of Santa as such I couldn't care less about, as long as there still were presents
so, would you? why/why not?
i always knew santa was kindova lie, so i played along with it.
ive yet to meet a kid who TRULY believes santa is REAL - in norway. i guess its cultural, and places w more religion/spirituality may push fictional people further.
whenever ive talked about santa as bs at my dads, in front of my sister, their mother looks at me jokingly-angrily, and i have to correct myself as if ive said a bad word. the kids still KNOW its not real.
so... i would probably talk about santa as if hes real, then the kids will see some neighbor in a santa suit, theyll recognize his voice, glasses and wrist-watch (my brother collected these hints) and theyll do their own little researchproject "who is santa!?"
untill they find themselves too old to believe in sillynesses, all by themselves
25 May 2009, 5:42 am
Nina Hagen- I Hate Santa Clause 
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4HUzXXpLFo[/youtube]
25 May 2009, 1:20 pm
Orwell wrote:
I never really believed in Santa. I was a pathological debunker as a little kid. My line of reasoning as a child went:
Adults seem not to believe in Santa.
Gifts appear at Christmas.
Since adults do not believe in Santa, they likely have a better, alternate explanation for the gifts.
This explanation is that they are responsible for the gifts.
Plus, every "Santa" I saw had an obvious fake beard. I mean, come on, if you're going to try and pull off a hoax, at least find a real man who can grow a beard to look the part.
Adults seem not to believe in Santa.
Gifts appear at Christmas.
Since adults do not believe in Santa, they likely have a better, alternate explanation for the gifts.
This explanation is that they are responsible for the gifts.
Plus, every "Santa" I saw had an obvious fake beard. I mean, come on, if you're going to try and pull off a hoax, at least find a real man who can grow a beard to look the part.
yeah, I kinda had that too. but on the other hand, I was born paranoid, and my parents knew how to feed on that. you can't imagine the tricks they'd do to make me believe that they had nothing to do with the presents.
still though, my dad ruined it for me when he himself dressed up as Santa Claus. I must have been about 7-8, I recognised him immediately.
MissConstrue wrote:
It's pretty cute hear both my nieces and nephew talk about santa like he's real....I almost feel attempted but then again I shouldn't....or should I?
My sister would probably get angry at me in a jiff if they got their facts from "unreliable" sources.
My sister would probably get angry at me in a jiff if they got their facts from "unreliable" sources.
exactly the reason why I don't talk to kids. ever. I learned the hard way lol
twoshots wrote:
Giving children a belief and then destroying it serves a valuable function for undermining their epistemology. It's given me a swell history of angst and doubt.
now this trail of thought appeals to me a lot, being an atheist
25 May 2009, 1:40 pm
25 May 2009, 2:11 pm
Gromit wrote:
You can find an interview with the author of "Parenting Beyond Belief" here: http://infidelguy.libsyn.com/index.php?post_category=Interviews
yet another one of your links that don't work
25 May 2009, 2:18 pm
LePetitPrince wrote:
It actually depends on what the faith of the mother would be since the mother would have far more influence on a kid of this age.
I have trouble understanding what faith has to do with this at all. I would think a christian would have more trouble with the notion of santa than an atheist, since most believe commercialism has destroyed the meaning of Christmas. It makes me think of an old Saturday Nite Live skit with the church lady...Santa...switch a couple of letters and it becomes Satan...who else would be behind stearing the focus of Christmas away from the baby Jesus? LePetitPrince wrote:
Hypothetically, In case I become a single parent, the kid would probably learn about Santa from other kids at School, he/she would start asking about it. I would try to explain it as he's some symbol of generosity and nothing more.
Other kids at school is where kids usually learn there is no santa.
25 May 2009, 3:00 pm
25 May 2009, 3:11 pm
25 May 2009, 3:56 pm
I didn't belive it. but I like presents
26 May 2009, 12:54 pm
ruveyn wrote:
One cannot "make" anyone believe in anything. One can make it easier or harder to believe in something, but belief is a product of free will.
ruveyn
ruveyn
you can make a child believe in anything, at least up to a certain age. and let's not start the free will discussion again
26 May 2009, 7:22 pm
26 May 2009, 7:35 pm
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