Follow-up: For those with children, do you continue the ruse with your own children, or simply tell them it’s you who gives the gifts? Why or why not?

  • andrewta@lemmy.world
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    9 days ago

    Same reason why we have the tooth fairy.

    Same reason why we create all sorts of other things for kids. To allow kids to be kids and have fun. To help them see the good in the world before we rip the rug out from under them, and show them the world just plain fucking sucks.

    • stinky@redlemmy.com
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      9 days ago

      I think lying to kids is how you hurt them.

      Kids can have fun without that lie: “Let’s make cookies together and eat them. Let’s hang up stockings and put surprises in them for each other. Let’s decorate a tree and make a fun video”.

          • andrewta@lemmy.world
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            9 days ago

            If that’s enough to cause them trauma, I kind of feel sorry for any kid with that thin of skin.

            • stinky@redlemmy.com
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              9 days ago

              Being lied to by your protector and guardian is enough to traumatize anyone at that age. You shouldn’t be shaming the people who get hurt by it, you should be shaming the people that do it.

              • andrewta@lemmy.world
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                9 days ago

                I’ve never met anyone who could honestly say they were traumatized by finding out Santa wasn’t real. I’m 50+ years old.

                Unhappy? Yeah.

                Sad… Yeah

                Traumatized? No

                • stinky@redlemmy.com
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                  8 days ago

                  Many people don’t “say” they’re traumatized, or even know it. The fact that you’ve never experienced it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

                  Have a day. 👋