I'll tell you what's ****, ****ing relatives sending

[Monty92]

I think you'll find that kids' have a rather more fluid concept of reality than you imagine. Most of the time, they are almost alarmingly materialistic. When they're not, it's usually because they choose not to be.

My daughter 'believed' in Santa Claus to the extent that she got a stocking full of gewgaws once a year. She obviously ceased to believe in him at some point because she's not a retard, but continued with the pretence because she a/ realised it pleased her parents as much as it did her and b/ because she was worried that if she admitted she didn't believe in him, she wouldn't still get the stocking.

Essentially, what you seem to be scared of is that your child will be too thick to work shït out for himself. That's pointless because he almost certainly isn't and, if he is, telling him Santa isn't real won't save him.

No, I'm not scared of that at all. I'm scared that along with being formally introduced to the concepts of religion and faith (which he will be as soon as he enters education), it will help inculcate a general credulousness that will be harder to shrug off as he grows older.

Given that much of human psychology is determined in the early years, and given how prevalent credulousness is among otherwise intelligent adults, I see this as a genuine risk.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

I've heard they eat fish for Christmas dinner. Can that be true?

The julbord is full of all different kinds of fish. I end up having a plate of boiled potatoes and ham because i wont touch any of the other filth.

[Luis Anaconda]

All perfectly normal. I knew a chap who wedged an Action Man's head up his brother's arse in the bath

Myself, I just contented myself with showing my penîs to any of my sisters' friends who came to the house.

And at what age did this stop?

[Sir C]

It is perfectly foul. As you know, I find the whole dried fruit and suet thing that's associated with Christmas utterly baffling.

I've got to cook three seperate christmas dinner this year. Three! That's taking the piss. One shall be goosey, one turkey ( ) and the other, perhaps, beefribby.

[Burney]

No, I'm not scared of that at all. I'm scared that along with being formally introduced to the concepts of religion and faith (which he will be as soon as he enters education), it will inculcate a credulousness that will be harder to shrug off.

Given that much of human psychology is determined in the early years, and given how prevalent credulousness is in otherwise intelligent adults, I see this as a genuine risk.

However, it's equally prevalent for people who believed in Santa and the tooth fairy as children and were surrounded by religion to grow up without the merest smidgeon of religious faith. I managed it, as did you and - I presume - your good lady, so why do you think your son won't be able to do the same?

Also, if you really want to avoid the whole religion thing, oughtn't you logically to be banning Christmas altogether?

[Burney]

I've got to cook three seperate christmas dinner this year. Three! That's taking the piss. One shall be goosey, one turkey ( ) and the other, perhaps, beefribby.

The actual Christmas Day dinner is supposed to be being cooked by my daughter, nieces and nephews. However, since I have no desire to spend Christmas night and Boxing day shïtting myself inside out, I will have to muscle in at some point.

[Burney]

And at what age did this stop?

Stop? Sorry, I don't follow you.

[Luis Anaconda]

Stop? Sorry, I don't follow you.

No wonder your Christmas will be fun

[Monty92]

However, it's equally prevalent for people who believed in Santa and the tooth fairy as children and were surrounded by religion to grow up without the merest smidgeon of religious faith. I managed it, as did you and - I presume - your good lady, so why do you think your son won't be able to do the same?

Also, if you really want to avoid the whole religion thing, oughtn't you logically to be banning Christmas altogether?

It's not just about religion. I think credulousness is essentially a bug in our human hardware that can mestastasise if you don't catch it early. I know I risk sounding a bit fanatical, but it's really about nothing more than wanting my kids to fulfill their intellectual potential (something I personally feel short-changed about).

Regarding Christmas, I have no problem with traditions and customs deriving from religion that have taken on secular forms. There is no conceit to Christmas.

[Pokster]

And at what age did this stop?

You assume he's stopped