• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!
I can't wait for this to be over. I am so fucking sick of Christmas songs and having to park a mile and a half away from the entrance and waiting in line for, what seems like, days. I thought we were in a recession. Why are people even AT the stores in this number? Don't these people have homes, or at least, somewhere better to be? I really think that this whole fucked up holiday is a self perpetuating hate machine at this point. Christmas is such a stressful pain in the ass, that people would rather trudge through department stores and groceries, simply to ameliorate the in laws, relatives, kids, etc. than to disappoint, or heavens, offend anyone by coming up short on Christmas. They also hate that they are stuck in this logjam of humanity, and they hate themselves for perpetuating it on an annual basis. I had enough this year and said, no more. If you want to use it as an excuse to get together, invite me over to drink your booze or come over to my place to drink mine and remind ourselves why we're involved in each others' lives in the first place, then i'm all for that. Otherwise, this holiday sucks.

I avoid a lot of the misery of the holidays by simply doing my shopping all year. Your in a store some where and you see something and think; "That looks cool and would make a great gift at Christmas!" Buy it then. Shop when it's still an adventure and fun!
 
Upvote 0
Hey OSUK, here is another way of thinking of the term "myth" (not saying this is what was or was not meant by Muck, but I think it can still help). Myths really aren't falsehoods or "lies breathed through silver", but rather they are stories that are told by communities in order to convey deep-meaning truths that cannot easily be stated by a recitation of facts and theories. In this sense, what you and I believe about Jesus is a myth; however, we also believe that it is a unique myth in that it actually occurred. If you want to go deeper into this type of thinking, you need to read C.S. Lewis, who expresses it best in writing, as well as Tolkien who was the one who originally shared this understanding with Lewis, but unfortunately didn't write too much about the idea.

I've read everything Lewis wrote. Brilliant, brilliant man. I get your point. On a forum like this, you have to look at the context and try to get a sense of it. I judged Muck to be myth-busting, not using myth in the sense you described. But if I am wrong, it wouldn't be the first time. :)

This morning I finished up the last item on my list to get ready for the rest of the week. I have leaned toward bah humbug the past few weeks, but I'm feeling kinda fesitive. In a couple of hours Punkin will be home from college, and I am looking forward to spoiling her.

Joseph Campbell has also wrote extensively on this idea.


I think when we stop looking for meaning we are lost in the desert of time.
It's on us to find meaning from the chaos of the holidays. I find it with people I love being with.

That's all well and good. I enjoy my own family -- I'd even add the in-laws.
But what if the people you're obligated to spend it with make everything into a drama?
 
Upvote 0
If you guys hate Christmas so much why do you even bother to acknowledge it, when even hearing it apparently sends a rasp file over your nerve endings?
Self flagleration?

Is it something one can avoid? The music, sales, time off, bonuses, bright lights flashing at you from the street, or random stores being closed on a weekday... Is there proof that Dec 25th is the actual birthday of Jesus? Or is that when sales would slump and consumerism needed a boost in the early 1900's and jolly old St. Nick could arrive. Merry Christmas everyone! Where's the booze?
 
Upvote 0
Joseph Campbell has also wrote extensively on this idea.




That's all well and good. I enjoy my own family -- I'd even add the in-laws.
But what if the people you're obligated to spend it with make everything into a drama?


"You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family." Here is the rub.
Filter. Filter. Filter. But the "bottom line" is it's on you how much you "suffer" from contact with your family and people you have "obligations" too. Some times, because it's a family holiday, we get dragged into the emotional history of our families. We have to learn to take a step back and let the emotions cool. We can then attempt to be more rational with our feelings about family members. You can't control or change what others feel. Control your own "suffering".
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Sitting at the in-laws on Christmas Eve talking with two of my brother-in-laws after dinner. We are enjoying some good ales, talking about various topics and having a nice evening. My one brother-in-law looks at us and says so what is up with this gift exchange stuff, aren't we all just a bit old for giving each other stupid stuff. I don't need anymore junk and I am sure neither of you do. Is there any reason why we can't just each bring a nice bottle of bourbon or scotch to share and maybe a cigar or two for after dinner? I said yes, this is what I keep telling my wife, so each of you convince your wife of this idea. Here's hoping next year can be the year!
 
Upvote 0
I used to hate Christmas. I worked in retail for several years after I got out of school and saw the very worst of the materialization of Christmas. It was probably 6-7 years after I left retail before the bad feelings I had toward the season began to subside. Over the years, with constant reminders from a great family of what Christmas really is about, I've learned to enjoy it and learned to savor the time with family. Tomorrow when my grandson is here will be special. When he opens his tOSU basketball and goal, and tOSU soccer ball, and tOSU socks, and Woody bobblehead, and tOSU magnets (he's only 19 months) will be fun. But the time with him, his mother, his father, and my wife and other daughter will make it truly special. That, and remembering why the baby was sent here 2,000 years ago make it truly one of the best if not the best days of the year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you!!
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Back
Top