What is the point of Valentines day?

[Harmony Blue]

Aren't we supposed to love, be friendly, and treat everyone fairly everyday? Why dedicate a day to do this?

[Paulie]

1. There is money to be made!

[ChisolmTrailDem]

2. Hallmark holiday. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

65. ..and candy company, stuff animal, flower, jewelry maker holiday

[bemildred]

3. Selling greeting cards, mostly.

But I always get a little chocolate.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

7. I bet Hallmark and Hershey's were in on it. nt

[aikoaiko]

4. Depends on the definition of friendly, if you know what I mean.

boom, chicka, bow wow.

[Scuba]

5. You can run around yelling "Happy VD, Happy VD".

[get the red out]

6. Selling shit

That's the point of most everything.

[hlthe2b]

8. To make De Beers more $$ from the 1% (and Hallmark & various chocolatiers $$ from the rest of us)

[HappyMe]

9. One kinda romantic day a year

won't kill people.

[lastlib]

58. yeah, but I prefer.......

.
http://steakandbjday.com/



. . .

[longship]

10. Big Flower, Big Candy. Big Hallmark!

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

[jsr]

11. Intercourse

[Solly Mack]

12. Truffles

and getting a little something special helps people to feel good. Even if only for that day.

Also, the money....it's a huge moneymaker for makers of candies/cards/flowers/jewelry, etc.

But mostly it is the truffles....for me anyway.

(it's the only time I indulge)

[LanternWaste]

13. Seems to beg the question-- why not dedicate a day to this?

"Why dedicate a day to do this?"

Seems to beg the question-- why not dedicate a day to this?

What negative cultural or social consequences arise from it? If nothing, then the day is, at worst, merely benign-- as showcasing a day to celebrate or ennoble X does not in any way, imply that X should only be recognized on that day?

Seems no more, nor no less sinister than using Halloween as an excuse to have a party with friends-- which also in no way implies that parties with friends should be denied on any other day...


"Aren't we supposed to love, be friendly, and treat everyone fairly everyday?"
Who specifically is telling you otherwise? If no one, then you may see the answer to that query among the obvious.

[redqueen]

20. Thank you.

Romantic gestures need not cost anything. Why so many get so bent out of shape over this holiday is beyond me.

[flamin lib]

14. To be a foil for

Steak and a blowjob day. A holiday I've been trying to establish for a long time . . .

[liberal N proud]

15. Sell flowers and cards

It was created by the greeting card industry.

That is the conspiracy theory anyway.

[Blue_Tires]

16. to atone...next year, of course

[MoonRiver]

17. Hey, I like my roses!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. Sales.

[City Lights]

19. Selling jewelry, flowers, candy and cards. nt

[Neoma]

21. It's Valentines day?

I honestly don't keep up with holidays until it's stuffed in my face.

[Jefferson23]

25. Nope, this Friday. n/t

[panader0]

22. I took roses to Jeannies' office today.

She said it irks the guys who work there (mostly sales staff) that I deliver in person. So this year, I took them early, just to piss them off.

[Jefferson23]

23. Yea, but we don't..not all of us anyway. Buy a Valentine card, buy yummy chocolate, give it to

someone you care for...it's a nice day.

[Mojorabbit]

24. It will be a sad one for me this year

My husband passed in Dec. I am starting a new tradition and sending flowers to all my single and /or widowed friends and family this year.

[Jefferson23]

26. So sorry..that has to be painful. I bet those you send flowers to will appreciate it..I hope

they send some for you too.

[yeoman6987]

28. Sorry to hear that

I hope that your new tradition will help to make the day a bit special.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

33. I'm so sorry, but so glad you've started a nice tradition hopefully. nt

[hfojvt]

38. flower shops get all the breaks

Dang, why can't you send them BOOKS on Valentine's day?

p.s. I used to have a bookstore next to a flower shop. And it seems to me like they had it made. What with Valentine's Day, mother's day, graduation, Easter, weddings, funerals. People drop $20, $30, or $40 on flowers that will be dead in three days. But oh how they howl about a book that costs $6.99.

Although the flower store later went out of business, and were replaced by - another bookstore (I had closed my own three years earlier, sold the building to a stockbroker). It was a bookstore that also sold wine, but at least the drug habit was suppporting some books.

[liberal_at_heart]

50. That is such a sweet thing to do. I am sorry for you loss.

[L0oniX]

27. To get a free steak dinner at the Texas Cattle Company!

[Vashta Nerada]

29. It's to remind single people like me how pathetic we are.

[hfojvt]

36. I could hug you for that

[Vashta Nerada]

62. Please do.

[JustAnotherGen]

45. Do you have any single girlfriends?

We all used to get together and go out for VDay. I'm thinking of throwing an impromptu cocktail party this Friday (all of the housewarming liquor gifts make this easy) for our single friends. For us V Day is cheap little goofy gifts and a dessert so it's not a 'sacred day' for us - we are loving every day.


Maybe you could reach out to people and do a little appie and wine thing for a few hours on Friday night?

I'm not being flippant - but I was single for 36 years and I kind of enjoyed it. I know that seems odd in this day and age but marriage is not the be all and end all. Just a step on the journey IF one so choose.

You are NOT pathetic. I'd say for every 'happily married and/or coupled' couple -there are 5 couples in absolute utter loveless hell with one another. Better to be single and living a grand life than a smug married and well - sorry. Don't let the smug marrieds and smug coupled get you down!

[Vashta Nerada]

61. I like your attitude.

Thanks for the pick-me-up.



And I see I got a heart! Thank you anonymous donor!

[JustAnotherGen]

63. Your welcome!

And thanks a lot - I sometimes miss those crazy nights and days in St Tropez.

[Boomerproud]

49. YUP

Loser...that's me.

[el_bryanto]

30. Because people need reminders - it's human nature

So you have holidays to celebrate values and rededicate yourself too them. Also the greeting card companies like money.

Bryant

[Shivering Jemmy]

31. No day has any point

People give them meaning. A large group of people have assigned valentines day a particular meeting.

Obviously you are not bound to accept this meaning.

[Bluenorthwest]

32. It's a fun way to bully elementary school kids into approved gender roles!

While making money for Hallmark and Hershey's.

[Paper Roses]

34. Hallmark et al. Brainwashed populace! Love one another, never mind the cards.

I have told my children for years that I do not want them to send cards on any holiday except my birthday. I strongly feel that we have been conditioned to believe that cards are a must...or we do not care.

Save your money, call or send an email to loved one. Let them know that Hallmark and the rest of the card people should not have their hard earned dollars.

Maybe I'm just an old grouch but I'd rather friends and family buy food or pay a bill than spend real dollars on a card.

[hfojvt]

35. according to Charlie Brown - the point is to gloat

Charlie Brown - "I already know that nobody likes me. Why does there have to be a Valentine's day to rub it in?"


And on Valentine's day, you are not, in the imagery of Mr. Rosewater, supposed to stand on a street corner handing out pieces of toilet paper that say "I love you" on them.

You are supposed to do something special for the ONE or TWO people that you love.

I would have said just ONE, but I keep getting Valentine cards from my mom. And I keep telling her "the prom was a long time ago, get over it already."

[NuclearDem]

37. To buy hearts for NuclearDem!

[LadyHawkAZ]

39. For-profit commercialization of a mating ritual

Personally I prefer to cut out the middlemen.

[Rex]

40. Commercialism.

Same as every 'holiday'.

[Nye Bevan]

41. It's a tool that the patriarchy uses to maintain control.

Buying roses for a lady is the ultimate in "benevolent sexism".

[malthaussen]

42. Roughly the same as Christmas, shall we say?

Another holiday where we are supposed to love, be friendly, etc...

-- Mal

[eissa]

43. An excuse for the hubby and I to go out to dinner

No cards, no flowers (I love them, but they're a waste of money.) When you got kids, any excuse to get that rare date night out is one I'll take! Not about gloating, not about supporting business (aside from the locally-owned restaurant I've made reservations at.) Pretty simple.

[liberal_at_heart]

55. I completely understand where you are coming from.

We used to do the same thing when our kids were small.

[JustAnotherGen]

44. Because it's fun

It doesn't mean anything more than St. Patricks day or Halloween.

It's just for fun. No one holds a gun to peoples' heads and forces them to participate.

My birthday is February 13th - so ask me how I REALLY felt about Valentines Day as a kid when teachers always made me bring in the heart shaped shit . . . the day after my birthday!

But - I married a man of troubadours and romance and heart space and if he likes us finding goofy shit (limit no more than $15) to give each other on V Day because it is FUN offends anyone -

They can just be glad they aren't married to him!

I signed up for it and have to play along and it's not hurting anyone in the long run so why not? It's fun.

And this year he's getting handcuffs so it will be LOTS and LOTS of fun!


ETA - and nope we don't have to do those things to others every day of the year - JUST our love interest. I'm not for 'universal' love and I believe in romantic/eros love - I'm sorry.


I love my husband more than any other person and no one is equal to him in my heart.

[Quantess]

46. Capitalism found its angle. This is how we recognize St Valentines Day,

because we are fed daily advertising that we need to spend and buy in order to get love.

[liberal_at_heart]

47. My husband and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day. There's just no need to.

We show each other how much we love one another every single day. Last night we spontaneously decided we needed a date night, so we had our 19 yr old cook dinner for the household and we went out and I won't mention what we did this morning. This weekend we probably won't do anything. In fact we'll probably watch a family movie on Netflix that we can all watch together, and that will be it. No jewelry, no candy, no flowers, no candle light dinners, no special day. Don't need them.

[hrmjustin]

48. There is money to be made.

[Siwsan]

51. I think it is a centuries old plot make me depressed

But, perhaps I'm taking it a little too personal???

[arthritisR_US]

52. The purpose is...

to screw up my blood sugar levels with chocolate

[Warren DeMontague]

53. What's the point of anything?

Serious question.

[tabbycat31]

54. smack singles across the face

[Agnosticsherbet]

56. It is a bonifide Consumerist holiday, designed to iprove Corporate profits. Cha-Ching, baby.

This is from 2006, but it gives you the scope of what Valentines is really about.

Valentine’s Day – A Business Perspective
There are four major holidays in the shopping calendar: Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter and Halloween. Valentine’s Day is celebrated by 84% of Canadians and of those, 60.9% spent an average of $100.89 per person on a gift for their significant other in 2006. In 2007 this is expected to go down to $97.27. 43% of those celebrating will buy a gift for other family and friends. The average Canadian male will spend $135.67, while females will spend only $68.64.

[MerryBlooms]

57. My husband and I will stay home.

A little wine, candles... I'll make a nice dinner (he asked for meatloaf and chocolate pie) and we'll set the table with his parents' wedding china. Nothing extravagant or expensive, but we're looking forward to it. The last few months have been kind of wild, so it'll be nice just concentrating on us for a change.

[longship]

59. It is so DUers can spread the love around by giving out hearts.

That alone is worth it.

[Raine1967]

60. We are supposed to love, be friendly, and treat everyone fairly everyday -- but

many don't. This is a good reminder for those that forget.

Besides, why not have a special day?

[Joe Shlabotnik]

64. Nylon sales

[IMG][/IMG]

And overcoats. And maybe Manziers, or are they called Bro's?

[opiate69]

66. ... Blame the Church.. and Chaucer.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day