The Complaint Thread

[joshsquash729]

So, this is a very "first world" complaint, but can I just take a moment to bitch about how seriously SICK of Christmas crap I am when it is only early November? Seeing holiday stuff in stores in early October, as well as ads on TV, and now hearing the songs being played in stores the day after Halloween? Lawd, I miss the days when the Christmas Season began the day after Thanksgiving. I mean, I head up a local Krampus group, so it's not like I actually hate Christmas...I just hate the early launch of everything. When I took my niece trick-or-treating there was a house in my sister's neighborhood that had full lights, wreath, etc. all lit up...ON HALLOWEEN! I've never been so tempted to commit arson in my life.

Oh, and I really want to see Mariah Carey meet Art the Clown. I'd pay good money to see a psychotic clown saw that smug, annoying woman in half. Who elected her "Queen of Christmas" anyway? I loathe her in a most irrational way...she just triggers a rage in me whenever I see her face or hear her voice.

I'm of two minds about it this year. Halloween and Christmas are my two favorite holidays- I'm very much that guy. Most years, I'm very much the "let's get decorations up for both holidays as soon as possible!" guy and I do everything I can to capture the spirit of both holidays and reclaim some of that dwindling nostalgia.

Halloween just didn't feel like Halloween this year for whatever reason. I didn't really watch many spooky things, I didn't see a lot of decorations around (though, to be fair, I never really do here in NY- people don't decorate like they do in the suburbs). Some of my local stores didn't even finish putting their Halloween stuff up until around a week or so before, and my local Target started clearancing their stuff out a couple days before Halloween this year to put up Christmas stuff. I think people are just finding it hard to celebrate anything right now, especially the darker things.

I feel like Christmas is generally a bit easier to feel the spirit of, just because it's kinda inescapable- there's decorations, music, food, weather, etc. Being at the end of the year, it's kind of a naturally nostalgic/reflective time, though it feels more and more bittersweet every year.

But with everything going on in the world nowadays, and how hopeless a lot of things can feel, I don't necessarily mind if Christmas starts rearing its head a bit early. If that's what helps people escape and feel a little hope, then by all means. I have a feeling, with all the rising costs and cut assistance, it might be a very sad Christmas for a lot of folks, or at least one that reminds people that the real joy comes in the small things and the time we spend with loved ones. Do I love the corporatization of the holiday? Not at all, but it does feel like, for the most part, people still come together for the right reasons this time of year, and I do notice at least a slight uptick in kindness and generosity (at least until the day after Christmas). So I say bring it on- find those bits of joy however you can, even if it's manufactured.

But I also say that as someone who's pretty constantly chasing that childhood magic and wonder and realizing that it just doesn't exist anymore. Or, like Trix being for kids, it's just something that increasingly jaded adults like myself can't feel. So I get the pessimism and hesitancy all the same. I don't think anyone should be forced to be merry and bright, but I enjoy having the option if the occasion strikes me.


But I agree regarding Mariah. I do admittedly enjoy that song, but I could take or leave her as a person. Ever since I saw someone mention that she looks like the Michael Myers mask, I can't unsee it.

 

[TheGillMan]

I'm of two minds about it this year. Halloween and Christmas are my two favorite holidays- I'm very much that guy. Most years, I'm very much the "let's get decorations up for both holidays as soon as possible!" guy and I do everything I can to capture the spirit of both holidays and reclaim some of that dwindling nostalgia.

Oh, I VERY much enjoy both holidays. Halloween is my absolute favorite, but there are many things I enjoy about the Yule season. My Krampus group starts having events Thanksgiving weekend, so I get fully immersed. I just wish that there was some time for the two holidays to breath...I want to enjoy the spooky season without being assaulted by Christmas stuff in freakin' October! I appreciate the Christmas stuff so much more if it's not in my face year 'round.

Halloween just didn't feel like Halloween this year for whatever reason. I didn't really watch many spooky things, I didn't see a lot of decorations around (though, to be fair, I never really do here in NY- people don't decorate like they do in the suburbs). Some of my local stores didn't even finish putting their Halloween stuff up until around a week or so before, and my local Target started clearancing their stuff out a couple days before Halloween this year to put up Christmas stuff. I think people are just finding it hard to celebrate anything right now, especially the darker things.

Yeah, it really didn't feel like Spooky Season at all this year. Some of it was the incredibly warm weather we had down here (most of October it was in the mid-to-high 90s), but I think much of it is just the absolute shitshow that is constantly unfolding around us. It's just an exhausting, depressing time for our entire world, and I do think that took some of the fun out of things.

I feel like Christmas is generally a bit easier to feel the spirit of, just because it's kinda inescapable- there's decorations, music, food, weather, etc. Being at the end of the year, it's kind of a naturally nostalgic/reflective time, though it feels more and more bittersweet every year.

But with everything going on in the world nowadays, and how hopeless a lot of things can feel, I don't necessarily mind if Christmas starts rearing its head a bit early. If that's what helps people escape and feel a little hope, then by all means. I have a feeling, with all the rising costs and cut assistance, it might be a very sad Christmas for a lot of folks, or at least one that reminds people that the real joy comes in the small things and the time we spend with loved ones. Do I love the corporatization of the holiday? Not at all, but it does feel like, for the most part, people still come together for the right reasons this time of year, and I do notice at least a slight uptick in kindness and generosity (at least until the day after Christmas). So I say bring it on- find those bits of joy however you can, even if it's manufactured.

But I also say that as someone who's pretty constantly chasing that childhood magic and wonder and realizing that it just doesn't exist anymore. Or, like Trix being for kids, it's just something that increasingly jaded adults like myself can't feel. So I get the pessimism and hesitancy all the same. I don't think anyone should be forced to be merry and bright, but I enjoy having the option if the occasion strikes me.

I do have to wonder if this year will really have the magic that it usually does. With most people in economic distress, and with lots of folks worried about the state of pretty much everything, I can see that casting a dark cloud over the Holidays.

But I agree regarding Mariah. I do admittedly enjoy that song, but I could take or leave her as a person. Ever since I saw someone mention that she looks like the Michael Myers mask, I can't unsee it.

I've heard from a couple of folks who have dealt with her professionally that she is an awful person, all the way around. "Arrogant" and "entitled" seem to be the terms used the most about her. I've never liked her music, but most of the time I don't pay much attention to artists who don't do anything for me. In her case though, even without hearing stories about her, I get that impression of phoniness from every interview I've ever seen with her (I feel the same about Ariana Grande).

As for that damned song, if I could Thanos-Snap it out of existence I would! I wish I could erase it from reality as we know it!