Anyone Else Feels Christmas.. And Pretty Much Everything Else Is Just Pure Capitalism?

Before I state my opinion on this, there are two things I need to make clear.

1) I wasn't sure of where to post this, heh, so if it is misplaced, I will appreciate it if a mod moves it to the right place.
2) I don't take sides with either capitalism, communism and/or socialism, or anything, but this just got me wondering.

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When I was 15, I stopped watching TV altogether. No real reason, I just came to the conclusion there was nothing interesting, no interesting shows, or anything. I started watching TV again, but just a very little this year (I'm 18 now, just saying to highlight the fact I haven't watched TV in like 2 and a half years). In those years I spent without TV, I was more interested in other things. I discovered ATS last year, and read a lot of topics, read some philosophical texts, read a little bit about politics and all... And I realized, with all the TV ads, that EVERYTHING is capitalism!

I believe Christmas is a strong example. You see Christmas ads everywhere. On the TV, on the internet, on the streets. "Special discount for Christmas", "Only available during Christmas days" items, Christmas-themed products like candles, lights, cookies, candy, other kind of food, other kinds of decorations, painting books for Children, music... All of them, in one way or another, just lure people to spend money on products for their homes and relatives. It's unbelievable how many people fall for it when they say "make your Christmas special with X product". Christmas is just another capitalist holiday, another machine to produce money, and that's terrible.

Another example of everything is the World Cup. I am not saying because because I really dislike sports, but more because of what I have noticed. When the World Cup was taking place, you could see everything soccer-themed. From the simple products as plushies of the Africa mascot, to soccer-themed credit cards and "special offers" related to credit cards and banks! With the same "The World Cup can be great for you if you are with X company or X bank". It's pretty terrible, because something that can bring genuine smiles to people is always abused by someone else to make more products and therefore money.

What are your thoughts on this?

I couldn't agree more. Capitalism has become so entrenched in our lives, that it's hard to imagine whether the economy and society at large could exist without it.

Christmas has become such a vacuous and silly celebration. You start to see people stomping around the shopping centres with that 'crazy' look in their eyes, elbowing their way through crowded store aisles with complete disregard for others around them. Some people wander in circles, vacantly staring into space, with arms laden with gifts yet muttering to themselves that they haven't bought enough.

My family has collectively decided not to give presents to each other this Christmas (although we will still buy a few small gifts for my sisters kids who are both under 10 yrs old). Christmas this year will be about spending time together as a family. Christmas should be about more than the pursuit of material gain for the individual and profits for big business.

Couldn't agree more, Christmas has become more about buying, spending and utilizing the plastic credit card more so than anything else. Christmas specials, Christmas "themed" things, decorations (which is nice here and there), but some people seem to go out of their way of decorating their houses saying it's the Christmas spirit. Seems like the Christmas spirit is now about spending money rather than spending time with family. So I would have to say Christmas and especially Christmas eve is quite simply Black Friday 2.

reply to post by Cricious


frankly capitalism pollutes everything and reduces all human expereince to money. If you don't have any you are made to feel bad because of it. Even the most sacred church in London has cash registers.Caching baby!

Then look at the coming finincail crisis in the football leagues....

Why cant you just enjoy the Birthday of Santa Clause like the rest of us, its a time when coca cola tastes that little bit better, its the magic contained in every advertisement, it's a great time to buy stuff, we can buy so much stuff its a wonderful time. Stuff shops open especially for this magical time so we never run out of our magical christmas stuff.
But dont forget the greatest part of Christmas, the Boxing Day sale, If you que outside the store from 4am, you can get some real bargains.

Being 21, i can honestly say i HATE this time of year. I work in retail and this is the time of year when people get that little bit snappier and impaitent with retail staff like myself who are just doing out minimum wage jobs. I'd enjoy christmas more if it started in DECEMBER. If the music chart wasnt HIJACKED by Simon Cowell out to make a quick buck and if i wasnt constantly badgerd to not only sell products to every single customer, but also to, buy # when i'm out and about or just watching abit of tv.
Theres the fact that i dont believe in christianity either, so why should i celebrate it?
Even if you miss this years chirstmas, they'll always be next years, and the year after and the year after that etc. Cant understand how people buy into it.

I can't stand this time of year - I have refused to participate other than dinner with my family for the past 20 years. My son died on Christmas eve when he was 12 - so of course that gives me another reason to dread this time of year. With that said I see friends and family go in debt every year to buy presents when their presence of love is all that is needed.