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!

 

[puckace]

I'd sure like to be able to enjoy Thanksgiving before the Christmas commercialization onslaught.

TheGillMan, your comments about Mariah are cracking me up after a long day at work. Appreciate the humor and 100% agree that her song is just the worst.

 

[TheSameIdiot]

They can put up the Halloween decor after July 4 for all I care. I don't want to see Santee Claws until after Thanksgiving, though.

Halloween just didn't feel like Halloween this year for whatever reason. I didn't really watch many spooky things

Skill issue.

I'd sure like to be able to enjoy Thanksgiving before the Christmas commercialization onslaught.

Thanksgiving is tragically underrated. "I don't like Thanksgiving foods." Again, skill issue. I'm making mac & cheese on Thanksgiving because I like it. Cook what you like.

 

[Damien]

I don't know if I'd call it underrated. It's basically a celebration of how Europeans tricked First Nations' peoples into sharing food and then systematically wiped them out and oppressed the survivors. Also, turkey sucks.

Don't mind me, though. I'm a self-professed 'not a holiday guy' guy.

 

[TheGillMan]

I'd sure like to be able to enjoy Thanksgiving before the Christmas commercialization onslaught.

YES!!! THIS!

TheGillMan, your comments about Mariah are cracking me up after a long day at work. Appreciate the humor and 100% agree that her song is just the worst.

I'm very happy to hear my comments brought you a laugh or two!

And yeah...it's the WORST. I'd rather listen to the Chipmunk Christmas song on a loop for 24 hours straight than have to listen to that gawddammed Mariah song once!

They can put up the Halloween decor after July 4 for all I care. I don't want to see Santee Claws until after Thanksgiving, though.

Same. There is something just WRONG about seeing Santa and all that before freakin' Halloween.

Thanksgiving is tragically underrated. "I don't like Thanksgiving foods." Again, skill issue. I'm making mac & cheese on Thanksgiving because I like it. Cook what you like.

PREACH! I've had a few Thanksgivings where the foods were non-traditional, and they were fantastic! I still vividly remember having crab legs for dinner one year...so freakin' great!

 

[joshsquash729]

Wonder if it's a regional thing? Growing up, Thanksgiving and Christmas were always kinda tied together. Not on the same day, obviously, but there was never a Thanksgiving at any family or friend's house that didn't incorporate Christmas somehow- decorations, music, food, etc. Thanksgiving without something Christmas-y still just doesn't feel right to me.

And yeah...it's the WORST. I'd rather listen to the Chipmunk Christmas song on a loop for 24 hours straight than have to listen to that gawddammed Mariah song once!

That's where you lose me, I'm afraid. I'd rather perform emergency surgery on myself without anesthesia than listen to any Chipmunk Song. I'd sooner just pull a Picasso and cut my own ear(s) off.

That reminds me of another godawful Christmas thing I had growing up. My grandma had this CD of famous Christmas songs performed by dogs and cats- just taking various barks and meows and pitching them up and down to fit with the song. I'm pretty sure most methods of torture are more humane and palatable than this frickin' CD. It drove me crazy- I'm talkin' full Nicolas Cage in The Wicker Man levels. It's truly my villain origin story.

 

[Ru1977]

It's basically a celebration of how Europeans tricked First Nations' peoples into sharing food and then systematically wiped them out and oppressed the survivors. Also, turkey sucks.

Don't mind me, though. I'm a self-professed 'not a holiday guy' guy.

I don't consider myself 'not a holiday guy' guy, but I'm definitely not enthusiastic on decorating day. That said, I've been anti-Thanksgiving for many years for exactly why you stated. Bah, I'll see the same people in a month anyway (though I'm also trying to get in the way of us driving down to San Diego every December too). Maybe I am anti-holiday...

I don't mind Mariah though. Hate Chipmunks. Secretly enjoy the Jonas Brothers Christmas song...

 

[joshsquash729]

I'd say it's more Black Friday that I hate than Thanksgiving itself. I'm glad most places started giving their workers Thanksgiving off to spend with the family, but it feels like everyone just forgets all the gratitude of Thanksgiving the next day as they shove Grandma to the floor to save $10 on a toaster. Nowhere near as bad as it used to be, granted, especially with all the month-long deals a lot of places have now, but it's still hilariously and frustratingly antithetical to the message of the holiday itself (while simultaneously being oddly on-point history-wise).

 

[Ru1977]

Yeah that whole mess is another aspect for sure. The last time we went into a physical store on Black Friday it was 3am to wade through the warzone to get a deal on a little plastic slide when my son was two, so it's been a long damn time now. Online is nice and trample-free, then I can go right back to that conversation I didn't want to have.

 

[DarthDre758]

As of last weekend. It makes my wife happy, so that's all that counts.

 

[Ru1977]

I think we're gonna put shit up soon too. It's like during the pandemic, we set up early and took down way late just to feign joy.

 

[TheGillMan]

Wonder if it's a regional thing? Growing up, Thanksgiving and Christmas were always kinda tied together. Not on the same day, obviously, but there was never a Thanksgiving at any family or friend's house that didn't incorporate Christmas somehow- decorations, music, food, etc. Thanksgiving without something Christmas-y still just doesn't feel right to me.

For my family, Thanksgiving was the start of the Christmas season. We usually put up the tree and decorated the house that night. When I had kids, this was (sorta) how we did it. We'd put the tree up, but decorating would usually take the whole weekend.

That's where you lose me, I'm afraid. I'd rather perform emergency surgery on myself without anesthesia than listen to any Chipmunk Song. I'd sooner just pull a Picasso and cut my own ear(s) off.

Oh, I completely understand...and why I used that example. Most adults seem to be at the very least annoyed by the Chipmunks...this just illustrates how much I detest that damned Mariah song...and Mariah herself. I want to find some sort of spell book so I can permanently send her back to Hell where she belongs. I'm convinced she was summoned forth by some evil incantation at some point, and has been polluting the planet with her presence ever since.

That reminds me of another godawful Christmas thing I had growing up. My grandma had this CD of famous Christmas songs performed by dogs and cats- just taking various barks and meows and pitching them up and down to fit with the song. I'm pretty sure most methods of torture are more humane and palatable than this frickin' CD. It drove me crazy- I'm talkin' full Nicolas Cage in The Wicker Man levels. It's truly my villain origin story.

I'm DYING! I had a girlfriend in my early 20's who had that disc gifted to her. It truly is an abomination...though we did have a lot of fun playing it and watching her dog try to find out why there were dogs and cats in the speakers. She was SO confused, and kept looking at us like "you're hearing this shit, right? There's fucking cats and dogs in this gawddammed wooden box"!

 

[TheSameIdiot]

I don't know if I'd call it underrated. It's basically a celebration of how Europeans tricked First Nations' peoples into sharing food and then systematically wiped them out and oppressed the survivors. Also, turkey sucks.

Don't mind me, though. I'm a self-professed 'not a holiday guy' guy.

I get that. In my house, holidays are totally divorced from their original meaning. The only ones we really bother to celebrate are Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Easter is an excuse to celebrate Thanksgiving twice a year. We cook our typical Thanksgiving meal and buy too much chocolate.

Thanksgiving is about the autumn harvest. My wife and I have celebrated it alone for almost 15 years now. We decline invites every year to spend the day together. It's one of two days a year that you'll find my wife (who hates to cook) and me in the kitchen constructing a meal together.

Like many people these days, we treat Christmas as a pagan-ish celebration of the winter solstice. We exchange gifts and do a Christmas tree, but it's not about Jesus's birthday.

As of last weekend. It makes my wife happy, so that's all that counts.

Is that a real tree? I like our local tree farm a lot, but I'm not sure our tree would last eight or nine weeks.

 

[TheGillMan]

I'd say it's more Black Friday that I hate than Thanksgiving itself. I'm glad most places started giving their workers Thanksgiving off to spend with the family, but it feels like everyone just forgets all the gratitude of Thanksgiving the next day as they shove Grandma to the floor to save $10 on a toaster. Nowhere near as bad as it used to be, granted, especially with all the month-long deals a lot of places have now, but it's still hilariously and frustratingly antithetical to the message of the holiday itself (while simultaneously being oddly on-point history-wise).

A BIG part of why I always set our first Krampus themed event on Black Friday is for this very reason. I want to give folks who hate the whole consumerism thing a place to go.

Yeah that whole mess is another aspect for sure. The last time we went into a physical store on Black Friday it was 3am to wade through the warzone to get a deal on a little plastic slide when my son was two, so it's been a long damn time now. Online is nice and trample-free, then I can go right back to that conversation I didn't want to have.

My ex wife was so incredibly gung-ho about "deals" she would send us all forth on Black Friday to different stores to score the sales. I hated EVERY second of it, every year. I have no interest in participating in the annual Big Box Retail Hunger Games so I can get a couple dollars off a freakin' blender.

As of last weekend. It makes my wife happy, so that's all that counts.

Happy spouse and all that. My s/o fortunately agrees with me on holding off until Thanksgiving weekend. Of course, she is also cool with my black Christmas tree that is decorated with ornaments featuring Krampus, Jack Skellington, Michael Myers, etc., so I'm pretty fortunate.

I think we're gonna put shit up soon too. It's like during the pandemic, we set up early and took down way late just to feign joy.

The pandemic was certainly an interesting time for all of that. Feigning joy is a perfect way to describe it.