I low key hate Christmas and everything it stands for

[u/thetreesknees_]

I hate the pressure and obligation of gift giving. This is not just the usual "it's too capitalist". I don't want things, and I don't want to be forced to give things. If I want things I'll get them myself. If someone wants to get me a gift, I want it to be something organic not just that it's that time of year again. Similarly, when I give gifts I want it to be something I made or came across naturally.

I hate that once November rolls around everything becomes about having to buy all this shit for everyone and if you miss someone and they get you something you just feel so guilty.

I hate that it's supposed to be about family and whatever but it just becomes this big thing full of obligations including giant gatherings and appearances and gift exchanges. It certainly doesn't help when you're not in a position to really contribute much other than your time, and you just feel like a giant drain on it all.

If it was just a time of the year to relax and spend time with your family that would be great. But Christmas is in no way relaxing. It sits in the middle of our culturally accepted holiday time off and uses up a big chunk of it with preparation and obligation. My birthday is also 2 days before Christmas and though my family has always been good about keeping them separate, trying to have a party is always an exercise in scheduling hell.

I dread it every year and wish I was part of a family/society that celebrated other holidays at this time of year.

[u/Mission_Grapefruit92]

That outcome wasn’t even on my mind

[u/Noxturnum2 → u/Mission_Grapefruit92]

Then what is the outcome in question that isn't totally imagined by the person himself?

[u/Mission_Grapefruit92 → u/Noxturnum2]

I would imagine it is the discontent of other people who he plans to celebrate the holiday with

[u/Noxturnum2 → u/Mission_Grapefruit92]

Boo hoo. You don't need to be such a people pleaser that you torture yourself and dread the fucking month of November every year just so you can avoid the minor discontent of the people he's celebrating Christmas with. And not only that, he doesn't even WANT to celebrate Christmas with them, actually not *at all*. People need to think for themselves more JFC

[u/Mission_Grapefruit92 → u/Noxturnum2]

Ok, so the discontent of people who’d like to celebrate with him. The point remains the same. The irony of indicating others don’t think…

Anyway, the point of the holiday is to please people

[u/Noxturnum2 → u/Mission_Grapefruit92]

My point also remains the same. The solution to this guy's stress is to:

1. Announce to friends and family that he does not want to celebrate Christmas anymore and why
2. Don't buy any presents for Christmas
3. Don't show up to any Christmas celebrations or gatherings

Boom! Profit.

Alternatively, if he does actually want to 'relax and spend time with family':

1. Announce to friends and family that he will no longer be reciprocating gifts (if that's really necessary and by the sounds of his post it seems so)
2. Don't buy any presents for Christmas

And it's all fixed up and the world has not ended and the sun has not even exploded.
It takes 3 seconds of not being a complete people pleaser and, I'm sorry to say this but it's the best term here, little bitch to think about these solutions to completely relieve himself of all the problems he's complaining about in this post.

[u/Mission_Grapefruit92 → u/Noxturnum2]

If the desire to fit in with your loved ones and share in the traditions that make them happy makes someone a little bitch in your opinion, you may be narcissistic.

I find it even more “bitchy” to express such resentment for an opposing point of view that don’t affect you.

And yeah, I suppose you provided a way to deal with his problem, but it doesn’t change his opinion of the holiday.

The point of his post was to express an unpopular opinion, and he very much employs his ability to “think for himself”

[u/Noxturnum2 → u/Mission_Grapefruit92]

"make them happy"? This entire argument falls apart when you realise that Christmas obviously does not in fact make him happy

[u/Mission_Grapefruit92 → u/Noxturnum2]

Just because it doesn’t make him happy doesn’t mean that’s not the point of the holiday. Lol. I can’t fathom how you saw a connection between his opinion and the point of holidays in general.