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War on Christmas!!!

metsmarathon Nov 10 2015 07:46 AM

OMG, y'all! there's a war on christmas out there! something must be done! those heathen bastards at starbucks have levvied hte first volley of this season's antichristmas battle! gone are the ornaments and coniferous fronds of 2009. gone are the carolers and snowflakes of 2010. gone is the downhill tobogganing with a dog of 2011. (i mean, if you can't figure out the christmassy allegory here, i don;t know what to tell you) gone too, is the snowman of 2012. a snowman, just like the one that christ made, as the bible tells us. gone are the ornament-y shapes and snowflake-y motif of 2013. gone for good are the.. uh.. ribbonish asterisks of 2014. are they bows? i can't tell. but tehy're christian, gotdammit! what are we left with? red! and the green and white of the logo. but red! what nonsense is this! red, as a christmas color? since when? how am i to know it's really for christmas and not for valentines day, or is celebrating solo cups? how will i know it's christmas time at all without a snowman on my goddamned coffee cup. what's that? red symbolizes the blood of jesus? well... it's still not goddamned christian enough! this cup thing has me embarrassed for all christians. could you imagine if they dared to have blue and white cups? or, god forbid, black cups with red and green? could you imagine the uproar if a major retailer dared to acknowledge one of the minority celebrations in this country? if this happened in another country, particularly in a fairly arid part of the world, where the local populace became outraged that a certain purveyor of beverages did not adequately and strongly enough show fealty to a particular deity, could you even believe hte hate and vitriol that would come out from the same places in this country that are currently outraged over a red fucking cup, about how backwards those locals are, and how medieval their beliefs? there would surely be guffawing about sharia law, and how much better america is. starbucks is a private enterprise, and is free to acknowledge, or not acknowledge the holidays as they see fit. and they do. they still sell their christmas blend, and the non-denominational holiday blend. they sell a freakin' advent calendar, for chrissakes! and all the holiday-themed coffee mugs and you can shake a stick at. do they really need to put the christ child on the cups for you to figure out it's for christmas? alternatively, could you image if, for 7 crazy nights, eveybody who shopped there got a blue cup with candles? how would the christians feel? the sane ones would probably think, "hey, cool, good job on the inclusiveness!" or maybe just, "ooh, pretty!" but the fucking lunatics would feel like their very existence is being threatened, and fail to pick up on how it might feel to a non-christian to always be given a christian cup every time they wanted a cup of warm coffee in the damned winter.

metsmarathon Nov 10 2015 07:48 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

meanwhile, as a actual christmas-loving christian, i actually would like to see, and heartily embrace, an actual war on christmas that resulted in christmas paraphernalia not being on store shelves before fucking columbus day.

MFS62 Nov 10 2015 07:50 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

[crossout:242lucqi]As long as they fucking don't celebrate Ramadan.[/crossout:242lucqi] Well said. Later

dgwphotography Nov 10 2015 08:00 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

metsmarathon wrote: OMG, y'all! there's a war on christmas out there! something must be done! those heathen bastards at starbucks have levvied hte first volley of this season's antichristmas battle! gone are the ornaments and coniferous fronds of 2009. gone are the carolers and snowflakes of 2010. gone is the downhill tobogganing with a dog of 2011. (i mean, if you can't figure out the christmassy allegory here, i don;t know what to tell you) gone too, is the snowman of 2012. a snowman, just like the one that christ made, as the bible tells us. gone are the ornament-y shapes and snowflake-y motif of 2013. gone for good are the.. uh.. ribbonish asterisks of 2014. are they bows? i can't tell. but tehy're christian, gotdammit! what are we left with? red! and the green and white of the logo. but red! what nonsense is this! red, as a christmas color? since when? how am i to know it's really for christmas and not for valentines day, or is celebrating solo cups? how will i know it's christmas time at all without a snowman on my goddamned coffee cup. what's that? red symbolizes the blood of jesus? well... it's still not goddamned christian enough! this cup thing has me embarrassed for all christians. could you imagine if they dared to have blue and white cups? or, god forbid, black cups with red and green? could you imagine the uproar if a major retailer dared to acknowledge one of the minority celebrations in this country? if this happened in another country, particularly in a fairly arid part of the world, where the local populace became outraged that a certain purveyor of beverages did not adequately and strongly enough show fealty to a particular deity, could you even believe hte hate and vitriol that would come out from the same places in this country that are currently outraged over a red fucking cup, about how backwards those locals are, and how medieval their beliefs? there would surely be guffawing about sharia law, and how much better america is. starbucks is a private enterprise, and is free to acknowledge, or not acknowledge the holidays as they see fit. and they do. they still sell their christmas blend, and the non-denominational holiday blend. they sell a freakin' advent calendar, for chrissakes! and all the holiday-themed coffee mugs and you can shake a stick at. do they really need to put the christ child on the cups for you to figure out it's for christmas? alternatively, could you image if, for 7 crazy nights, eveybody who shopped there got a blue cup with candles? how would the christians feel? the sane ones would probably think, "hey, cool, good job on the inclusiveness!" or maybe just, "ooh, pretty!" but the fucking lunatics would feel like their very existence is being threatened, and fail to pick up on how it might feel to a non-christian to always be given a christian cup every time they wanted a cup of warm coffee in the damned winter. Screw all of it, and just get a white cup from Dunkin donuts

Mets – Willets Point Nov 10 2015 08:14 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

My Dunkin' Donuts cup yesterday had an image of a wreath around the word "Joy" on it. Kind of the wrong attitude for Veterans Day in my opinion.

MFS62 Nov 10 2015 08:23 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Mets – Willets Point wrote: My Dunkin' Donuts cup yesterday had an image of a wreath around the word "Joy" on it. Kind of the wrong attitude for Veterans Day in my opinion. Thank you. Later

dgwphotography Nov 10 2015 08:28 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

metsmarathon wrote: meanwhile, as a actual christmas-loving christian, i actually would like to see, and heartily embrace, an actual war on christmas that resulted in christmas paraphernalia not being on store shelves before fucking columbus day. Then you'll love Nordstrom

Ceetar Nov 10 2015 09:11 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

dgwphotography wrote: metsmarathon wrote: meanwhile, as a actual christmas-loving christian, i actually would like to see, and heartily embrace, an actual war on christmas that resulted in christmas paraphernalia not being on store shelves before fucking columbus day. Then you'll love Nordstrom We've actually reached the point where stores can use non-things as marketing. "We're not opening on Thanksgiving!" "We're not decorating way early!" Whatever. I don't care that stores put stuff for sale early. I think this is all a product of the economy. Stores were getting stuck with merchandise after the holidays, and someone made the realization that it make more sense to sell out of your Halloween stuff by 10/20 than be left with eating the price of 50 leftover plastic pumpkins. (or paying for storage for next season) And then someone decided/realized that empty shelves in a seasonal aisle looked bad, and that there wasn't enough Thanksgiving stuff to fill shelves, so you might as well get the christmas stuff up there early. It's the same way in beer. The whole reason pumpkin spice and oktoberfest beers show up early is because bars have dedicated seasonal taps and when they run out of say Sam Summer and it's not being brewed anymore, they need to have Sam Fall to throw up there. We're all pawns in a bigger capitalism game. I knew there was outrage over the cups but I couldn't quite figure out from the outrage at outrage what the problem was and didn't care to dig deeper. Does make me want Starbucks though. I love the Holiday season, but no matter how you try to force it it just doesn't happen until after Thanksgiving and usually a little after that. I'm not sure there's enough money/advertising/marketing that can stretch that season to two full months, but you never know. How about the SIMON mall wall on christmas? What was that about? some trashy corporate-thinkgroup Santa setup pissed people off right?

metsmarathon Nov 10 2015 09:42 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

yeah, their santa wasn't christmassy enough. fucking people... i should rant about that one next. taking the christianity out of hte commercial representation of christmas. fucking hell. i care that stores put stuff up early for their respective season in the sense that when it is the actual season, it becomes more and more impossible to find things for that season. try needing to buy a goddamend pair of gloves in goddamned january, or worse, february.

cooby Nov 10 2015 10:35 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Excellent rants. My problem is with people who profess to be "non Christians" and will go out of their way to disparage those of us who do believe, but go ahead and celebrate the holiday anyway. For that one day a year it's fine!!! (okay two days, because Black Friday is their real holiday) I know people like that and I hate it (nobody here, btw, that I know of)

Benjamin Grimm Nov 10 2015 10:41 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Like it or not, there's a religious Christmas and a secular Christmas that both happen to have the same name and fall on the same day. One is about church and the birth of Jesus and nativity scenes and wise men and the other is about Santa Claus and shopping and reindeer and shopping and Frosty the Snowman and shopping and... I don't really have much use for either Christmas, but while I can easily avoid the religious Christmas I'm drawn in to the secular Christmas because of family members.

themetfairy Nov 10 2015 10:43 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

I don't disparage Christians or Christmas. I do have issues with those people who insist that everyone should be greeted with "Merry Christmas" for the month and a half leading up to the holiday, and who take offense with the much more inclusive "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" that would actually welcome the panoply of holidays celebrated at that time.

cooby Nov 10 2015 10:46 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

No no, please don't think I mean people of other faiths or even nonfaiths. I mean people like my one nephew, and his buddies, that think Christians (and other faiths) are fair game for their taunts.

Vic Sage Nov 10 2015 10:49 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

bah, humbug.

themetfairy Nov 10 2015 10:57 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

cooby wrote: No no, please don't think I mean people of other faiths or even nonfaiths. I mean people like my one nephew, and his buddies, that think Christians (and other faiths) are fair game for their taunts. Sweetie - I know you don't. Your nephew should get coal in his stocking!

Centerfield Nov 10 2015 10:58 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

My two cents can basically be summed up with this: Don't be a dick about it. It's no skin off your back to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Sure, I realize it's always been Merry Christmas for you, but the world changes. Not everyone celebrates it. Recognize differences in people. Practice tolerance. Try to say Happy Holidays and don't be a dick about it. On the other hand... If a nice old lady says Merry Christmas or hands you a Christmas cookie, it's not the end of the world. If she had good intentions, don't be a dick about it. Change takes time and patience. (That being said, if some asshole says Merry Christmas in a confrontational way to someone who clearly does not celebrate, I'm ok with popping the asshole in the nose.)

themetfairy Nov 10 2015 11:00 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Centerfield wrote: My two cents can basically be summed up with this: Don't be a dick about it. It's no skin off your back to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Sure, I realize it's always been Merry Christmas for you, but the world changes. Not everyone celebrates it. Recognize differences in people. Practice tolerance. Try to say Happy Holidays and don't be a dick about it. On the other hand... If a nice old lady says Merry Christmas or hands you a Christmas cookie, it's not the end of the world. If she had good intentions, don't be a dick about it. Change takes time and patience. (That being said, if some asshole says Merry Christmas in a confrontational way to someone who clearly does not celebrate, I'm ok with popping the asshole in the nose.) Adding one more - if you greet someone with Happy Holidays and he/she gets all huffy because you didn't say Merry Christmas, that person is a dick.

Centerfield Nov 10 2015 11:01 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

themetfairy wrote: My two cents can basically be summed up with this: Don't be a dick about it. It's no skin off your back to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Sure, I realize it's always been Merry Christmas for you, but the world changes. Not everyone celebrates it. Recognize differences in people. Practice tolerance. Try to say Happy Holidays and don't be a dick about it. On the other hand... If a nice old lady says Merry Christmas or hands you a Christmas cookie, it's not the end of the world. If she had good intentions, don't be a dick about it. Change takes time and patience. (That being said, if some asshole says Merry Christmas in a confrontational way to someone who clearly does not celebrate, I'm ok with popping the asshole in the nose.) Adding one more - if you greet someone with Happy Holidays and he/she gets all huffy because you didn't say Merry Christmas, that person is a dick. Agreed. Punch away.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 10 2015 11:02 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

I've enlisted to fight with the enemies of Christmas. Santa Claus can't hide with that bright red suit and that red-nosed reindeer.

Vic Sage Nov 10 2015 11:03 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Do you say that as a former attorney for Rudolph?

Benjamin Grimm Nov 10 2015 11:03 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

I agree with what Centerfield said. (Although at first I misread his last point and thought he was advocating pooping on someone's nose.) If someone says "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" to you it's a gesture of goodwill and shouldn't invite umbrage. Anyone who's offended by either greeting is being ridiculous.

Ceetar Nov 10 2015 11:10 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Eh, Merry Christmas practically means Happy Holidays at this point. And Christmas is still a thing that exists. Whether or not you celebrate you can still be wished a nice 12/25. "How dare you wish me general merriment during what, even if you don't celebrate anything, is a generally merry time of year with parties and decorations and lights and what not." But don't go my me, I'm antisocial and hate small talk/token greetings. I generally stick to a mumbled 'have a nice day'.

Vic Sage Nov 10 2015 11:17 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

as a devout non-theist, i have absolutely no problem with anybody wishing me a merry xmas, or putting xmas symbols on their house, or companies putting it on their stores and products. I don't even have much problem with governmental institutions doing it, as long as their giving equal time to other religious celebrations of the season. Most of the symbols come from druidic and pantheistic ceremonies celebrating the harvest, or the solstice, and have nothing to do with christianity anyway. It was just the way the church tried to co-opt the local heathens, by incorporating local rituals into the christian religion. So, in the same way, Christianity has co-opted our current gods into their institutions now, too -- the twin gods of commerce and consumption. Hallelujah, praise the lord, and pass the xmas tradition.

cooby Nov 10 2015 11:23 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

I'm okay with "Happy Holidays", because after all there are several holidays in December and January.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 10 2015 11:23 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

themetfairy wrote: I do have issues with those people who insist that everyone should be greeted with "Merry Christmas" for the month and a half leading up to the holiday, and who take offense with the much more inclusive "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings".... I had no idea this was even a thing. Hello or Hi works fine for me. Or you can just give me the hello nod. That'll do. Any greeting, really.

Centerfield Nov 10 2015 11:48 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

That being said, can we get rid of Christmas Carols? They're already starting. I hate that during the last two months of the year every time I walk into a store I hear the same inane songs over and over. Frosty. Rudolph. Chestnuts roasting on a fucking fire. These are campy, folky, bad songs and I am sick of hearing them. I hate even more when they try to get me to sing them. I had plenty of holiday cheer before you started bugging me about singing these dumb songs. Especially the kids songs. Frosty? Really? There is no occasion where someone asks me to sing my ABC's or Row, Row, Row your Boat. Why do I have to sing Frosty? No one asks me to sing Yankee Doodle on the 4th of July. I think if I sat on a jury and the defendant said "I killed him because he kept singing Jingle Bell Rock" I'd be inclined to let him go.

cooby Nov 10 2015 11:52 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Better those though than Mariah and Beiber singing All I want for Christmas is you. (IMO, but you all might think differently!) You know what I love about threads like this? We are all so close knit and love the Mets and so many other things, but then we find something to argue about :D And still remain friends. That's how it should be.

Ceetar Nov 10 2015 11:55 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Centerfield wrote: That being said, can we get rid of Christmas Carols? They're already starting. I hate that during the last two months of the year every time I walk into a store I hear the same inane songs over and over. Frosty. Rudolph. Chestnuts roasting on a fucking fire. These are campy, folky, bad songs and I am sick of hearing them. I hate even more when they try to get me to sing them. I had plenty of holiday cheer before you started bugging me about singing these dumb songs. Especially the kids songs. Frosty? Really? There is no occasion where someone asks me to sing my ABC's or Row, Row, Row your Boat. Why do I have to sing Frosty? No one asks me to sing Yankee Doodle on the 4th of July. I think if I sat on a jury and the defendant said "I killed him because he kept singing Jingle Bell Rock" I'd be inclined to let him go. I'm okay with carols (though yes, wait a while please) but there are SO MANY and I wish we could play more than 4. We're not stuck with the stupid radio. grab a spotify or pandora playlist and gimme some variety. I realize i'm saying in this in a forum where you all post the same couple of dozen rock songs from the same decade over and over again.

Centerfield Nov 10 2015 11:57 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Confession: You know, I kinda like the Mariah song. That's the one where she wears the red Santa suit right? I have never heard the Bieber song. Hope not to. Ever.

Centerfield Nov 10 2015 11:58 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Ceetar wrote: Centerfield wrote: That being said, can we get rid of Christmas Carols? They're already starting. I hate that during the last two months of the year every time I walk into a store I hear the same inane songs over and over. Frosty. Rudolph. Chestnuts roasting on a fucking fire. These are campy, folky, bad songs and I am sick of hearing them. I hate even more when they try to get me to sing them. I had plenty of holiday cheer before you started bugging me about singing these dumb songs. Especially the kids songs. Frosty? Really? There is no occasion where someone asks me to sing my ABC's or Row, Row, Row your Boat. Why do I have to sing Frosty? No one asks me to sing Yankee Doodle on the 4th of July. I think if I sat on a jury and the defendant said "I killed him because he kept singing Jingle Bell Rock" I'd be inclined to let him go. Stay tuned this December. We are going to nominate, vote on and rank the 180 greatest Christmas Carols of all time. I'm okay with carols (though yes, wait a while please) but there are SO MANY and I wish we could play more than 4. We're not stuck with the stupid radio. grab a spotify or pandora playlist and gimme some variety. I realize i'm saying in this in a forum where you all post the same couple of dozen rock songs from the same decade over and over again. This December we will nominate, vote on and rank the 180 greatest Christmas Carols of all time. BG is starting a database right now.

cooby Nov 10 2015 12:08 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Centerfield wrote: Confession: You know, I kinda like the Mariah song. That's the one where she wears the red Santa suit right? I have never heard the Bieber song. Hope not to. Ever. Same one. You just never noticed Bieber because she looks so cute in the video. :) And LOL to the BG Xmas song database.

Ceetar Nov 10 2015 12:13 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Centerfield wrote: This December we will nominate, vote on and rank the 180 greatest Christmas Carols of all time. BG is starting a database right now. Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Prime.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 10 2015 12:21 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Centerfield wrote: This December we will nominate, vote on and rank the 180 greatest Christmas Carols of all time. BG is starting a database right now. Good idea, but the instant someone votes for Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer the whole thing will be off.

Vic Sage Nov 10 2015 12:37 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Ceetar wrote: This December we will nominate, vote on and rank the 180 greatest Christmas Carols of all time. BG is starting a database right now. Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Prime. I LOVE Jonathan Coulton... and that's a funny song. Other great Xmas songs: Donna and Blitzen - Badly Drawn Boy Run Run Rudolph - Dave Edmunds 25th December - Everything But the Girl Merry Xmas, Maggie Thatcher - Elton John Father Christmas - The Kinks Fairytale of NY - Pogues Christmas Rapping - Waitresses 2000 miles - Pretenders Santa Hates Poor kids - Your Favorite Martian Sleigh Ride - The Blenders

Ceetar Nov 10 2015 12:46 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas Only a hippopotamus will do

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 10 2015 01:01 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

My two cents can basically be summed up with this: Don't be a dick about it. It's no skin off your back to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Sure, I realize it's always been Merry Christmas for you, but the world changes. Not everyone celebrates it. Recognize differences in people. Practice tolerance. Try to say Happy Holidays and don't be a dick about it. On the other hand... If a nice old lady says Merry Christmas or hands you a Christmas cookie, it's not the end of the world. If she had good intentions, don't be a dick about it. Change takes time and patience. (That being said, if some asshole says Merry Christmas in a confrontational way to someone who clearly does not celebrate, I'm ok with popping the asshole in the nose.) I'm totally a tithing member of the Church of Don't Be a Dick. And I've come around full circle on the Mariah song. It has Darlene Love-ly legs, it does.

themetfairy Nov 10 2015 01:48 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

I like the Mariah song. And I generally like Wonderful Christmastime, but why the fuck couldn't Sir Paul write a second fucking verse? Was he in that much of a rush to the recording studio that he figured he'd just sing the same verse twice?

Mets Guy in Michigan Nov 10 2015 08:49 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

I love -- LOVE -- Christmas songs. I would not be shocked if Starbucks itself is behind much of the manufactured outrage, basking in the glow of advertising it could not afford to buy.

MFS62 Nov 10 2015 09:49 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

I think if I sat on a jury and the defendant said "I killed him because he kept singing Jingle Bell Rock" I'd be inclined to let him go. I remember reading a story many years ago (it may be apocryphal) about a defendant in a murder case in Texas. His defense was "He just needed killin'" He got off. Repeatedly singing Jingle Bell Rock seems like justifiable homicide to me. :) Later

Ceetar Nov 11 2015 07:49 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: I love -- LOVE -- Christmas songs. I would not be shocked if Starbucks itself is behind much of the manufactured outrage, basking in the glow of advertising it could not afford to buy. I've liked the designs in the past, but I really don't care for this one. just personal taste. But it's working at least, all the manufactured outrage is only making me want Starbucks.

cooby Nov 11 2015 06:07 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Ceetar wrote: I realize i'm saying in this in a forum where you all post the same couple of dozen rock songs from the same decade over and over again. Were you around in about 2005 when we had the Band Challenge? Now THAT brought out some obscure stuff

Mets – Willets Point Nov 12 2015 08:03 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

cooby wrote: Ceetar wrote: I realize i'm saying in this in a forum where you all post the same couple of dozen rock songs from the same decade over and over again. Were you around in about 2005 when we had the Band Challenge? Now THAT brought out some obscure stuff Still regret that we never finished that project.

Edgy MD Nov 12 2015 08:24 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: I love -- LOVE -- Christmas songs. I would not be shocked if Starbucks itself is behind much of the manufactured outrage, basking in the glow of advertising it could not afford to buy. I would be shocked if they weren't. To see folks sharing images from "Occupy Democrats" — OCCUPY DEMOCRATS! — zinging others for alleged hypocrisy while lifting up this massive corporate monolith with questionable (at bet) labor practices and deeply exploitative procurement practices... is amazing.

Ceetar Nov 12 2015 08:27 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Edgy MD wrote: Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: I love -- LOVE -- Christmas songs. I would not be shocked if Starbucks itself is behind much of the manufactured outrage, basking in the glow of advertising it could not afford to buy. I would be shocked if they weren't. Except there are legitimately people that think this way. And of course the talking heads start weighing in, and the politicians, and it becomes a thing. Whatever. I got some coming in today. I hear the thing is to write a name on it now and be funny about it, but i'm drawing a blank. Prince of Darkness maybe? I still think Starbucks should go full on Google Doodle with the cups. At least on a monthly basis. Let's get a Martin Luther King tribute for January or something.

metsmarathon Nov 12 2015 08:38 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

i love christmas carols. when mrs.mm was pregnant with minimm, we got ourselves a fancy new car, and in that fancy new car was sirius/xm. and since minimm was a winter baby, we did a fair bit of driving to her doctor appointments, and on the radio, we listened to the holly station. it was on when we drove to the hospital to have minimm make his grand debut, and it was on when we drove home in a friggin' blizzard. christmas carols have since always brought me back to that time. ok, it was only 6 years ago, but still. i'm a nostalgic sort. and it doesn't hurt that the µmm's are also winter babies, which only reinforces the nostalgia. i like the campy terrible traditional christmas songs a lot better than some of hte newer, campier, more terrible christmas songs. i mean, that one with the shoes? sheesh...! that said, i'm in favor of mixing up the holiday playlist. and also adding a soundtrack to the other holidays. i mean, there's just not enough thanksgiving songs out there. I'm actually more okay with christmas songs than i am with christmas merchandise and decorations. both start too soon, but given the choice, i'd rather have the songs than the visual assault. and i wish that christmas songs and carols would stick around as long - or longer - than people leave up their decorations. winter is cold and dreary - at least brighten it up with some fun happy music.

Edgy MD Nov 12 2015 08:39 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Ceetar wrote: Except there are legitimately people that think this way. Big whoop? Is that the point in the culture wars? To find the people with the most unreasonable position, even if there are only six of them, and wrap myself in virtue by calling them out? And meanwhile shame millions of others by guilt-by-association? A minuscule minority wants to boycott Starbucks — a group so small that they will do literally NO damage to Starbucks — and that's skin off of NOBODY's red nose. Many of them likely either don't get their joe there anyhow, or won't remember to boycott because they really are just share anything that comes along in their social media feed anyhow. I can show you folks with an even more unreasonable position, but I just have no taste for that at all. Coming back at these folks-so-obscure-I-wouldn't-know-where-to-find-them with all the megatonnage in my cultural arsenal is far more unreasonable to my thinking. It forces perfectly decent people who could be building a damn community together to pick a side in the stupidest of stupid battles. And it gives control of our cultural agenda and discussion points over to the most self-centered and hateful among us.

Ceetar Nov 12 2015 08:53 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Edgy MD wrote: And it gives control of our cultural agenda and discussion points over to the most self-centered and hateful among us. You've heard about the republican debates right? I don't think there are just 6 of them, and i think you're downplaying the idea of just sharing anything that comes along their feed. It's tiny noise but it ultimately adds up. But this is half the internet these days, I don't know what the solution is but trying to ignore it all is tiresome. This isn't really much different than Michael Kay saying something stupid and there being endless debate back and forth, well beyond the initial incident, of "who's an elite QB" or whatever. Maybe it's just that since our society has reached a point where everyone has a voice, we haven't quite figured out how to filter out the noise, especially when everything's driven by clicks and pageviews. "Watch this vine of this idiot spouting nonsense about Starbucks on my ad-ridden page." "Here are the 10 best sarcastic names written on a Starbucks cup mocking the outrage on my ad-ridden page." I don't know what the answer is. I'm just not sure trying to ignore fringe hatred and ignorance doesn't just allow it to grow and be persist.

metsmarathon Nov 12 2015 09:00 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

Edgy MD wrote: It forces perfectly decent people who could be building a damn community together to pick a side in the stupidest of stupid battles. isn't that how we got here...? i mean, this forum?

Edgy MD Nov 12 2015 10:00 AM Re: War on Christmas!!!

I tend to think we can differ on reasonable questions and consign the stupid ones to the pile of "beneath contempt." Ceetar wrote: I don't think there are just 6 of them, and i think you're downplaying the idea of just sharing anything that comes along their feed. I haven't met a one. But I've got dozens upon dozens in my feed who use this non-issue to suggest that this is just a perfect X-ample of how Christians want to obsess over non-insults instead of being charitable. [fimg=400]https://metsinpeace.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/boycott.jpg?w=1036[/fimg] BOOM! Stupid missile fired in a stupid culture war with splash damage harming decent people across the spectrum. Boycott homelessness? What does that even mean? And I can't fight poverty AND opt against to patronizing a particular establishment? The reasoning is just terrible. Yet it's up and down my social media feeds. I hate myself just for giving them fee advertising in this post. #starbucksWINS

d'Kong76 Nov 12 2015 12:35 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

[fimg=600:ay8z6cqw]http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/SBUX_CUPS_XMAS.jpg[/fimg:ay8z6cqw] [fimg=600:ay8z6cqw]http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE1LzExLzEwLzhhL3N0YXJidWNrc19zLjIzNTMwLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTk1MHg1MzQjCmUJanBn/22a177c2/9bc/starbucks_satanic_travel_mug.jpg[/fimg:ay8z6cqw] [fimg=600:ay8z6cqw]http://tosh.cc.com/blog/files/2015/11/StarbucksCup.jpg[/fimg:ay8z6cqw] [fimg=600:ay8z6cqw]http://f12-distractify.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2Fwp-prod-02.distractify.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F11%2Fdgx31zr.jpg?crop=faces&w=750&ixlib=js-0.2.1&s=8df9e339cf731c00f632e394c5db2ac3[/fimg:ay8z6cqw] [fimg=600:ay8z6cqw]http://img.wonkette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/starbucks-coffee-xmas.jpg[/fimg:ay8z6cqw]

Farmer Ted Nov 12 2015 01:13 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

$6 for a coffee? We're bitching over a $6 cup of coffee? Elitists, all of you. Now stay away from my Christmas unicorn or there will be real trouble.

metsmarathon Nov 12 2015 01:41 PM Re: War on Christmas!!!

if i get the starbucks red cup christmas ornament, will my christmas tree implode?