Billboard (Poster) Disputes The Myth Of Santa

[arwalden]

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2005/05/27/poster_in_scotland_disputes_myth_of_santa/

Poster in Scotland disputes myth of Santa
May 27, 2005

GLASGOW, Scotland -- A month after it ignited controversy, a billboard that questions the existence of Santa Claus went on display on a street corner Friday.

Artist Darren Cullen found an alternative site for the 20-foot-by-10-foot work after Maiden Outdoor, which owns the billboard, refused to show it four weeks ago following media attention.

Critics say the piece -- which carries the slogans "Stop Lying To Your Children About Santa Claus" and "Santa Gives More To Rich Kids Than Poor Kids" -- is an attempt to ruin the magic of Christmas.

Cullen insists it is his way of highlighting the dangers of consumerism.

...SNIP...

Cullen said Santa Claus is a lie which teaches children that products will make them happy.

"If you try and tell kids the truth about how they're being manipulated, you're the bad guy crushing their dreams," he said.

Cullen's portfolio also includes a drawing of Santa saying "I killed Jesus."

[Kolesar]

1. I love Cullen's quotes

"Their job (the billboard company) is to promote consumerism and Santa's a hero of their industry, so I can see why."

[asthmaticeog]

2. Found an image...

Good stuff.

[trotsky]

3. I wholeheartedly agree with this.

It's so wrong to tell kids that some magical entity just bestows things on them simply for asking. Maybe I am a mean old scrooge but I have always made it clear to my kids WHO their gifts are from. I've let them enjoy the Santa myth, but I didn't for a moment let them think he really brought those presents under the tree.

(They seem to have been growing up quite nicely despite me crushing their little fantasies, too!)

[grumpy old fart]

4. But what did you do about the God myth, Virgin Birth, Noah, etc.....?

just curious.

[trotsky]

5. They're still rather young

(4 and 6) so that hasn't been as big of a deal yet. But when it's come up, I've explained it as being a story that some people believe is true. Much like Santa.

[catbert836]

6. I certainly agree that "Santa" gives more to rich kids

However, we have to think here about whether the whole Santa myth is really an evil thing. It's not, it's just part of the magic of Christmas/ the Winter Season. Whether parents tell their children about the fallacy of Santa's existence or not, it doesn;t really matter in the long run.

[trotsky]

7. Doesn't matter, eh?

Take two kids, typical Santa-believing ages. Say 6. One's from a rich family, one's from a poor one. The first day back at school after Xmas break, the rich kid goes on and on about what she got from Santa. The poor kid got a book and a sweater. What do you think that does to a little 6-year-old's mind and self-esteem? Especially if what he sees of the rich kid's behavior is decidedly "bad" and he's pretty "good"?

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. As one of those poor kids.

I don't recall caring much. Still do Santa for our kids and do it on a really tight budget even though we could afford to give them more.

The Santa Myth isn't the problem. It's how parents carry it out that determines the message. Santa was the spirit of giving and creativity in my family. It never had anything to do with "naughty" or "nice."

[trotsky]

9. If you are teaching your kids that Santa is just "the spirit of giving"

then you're not participating in the Santa myth in the way the subject of the original post refers to.

[catbert836]

10. I've never seen or heard of anything like that.

And I think the poor kid will know that he/she was good, Santa presents notwithstanding. And i can't imagine the poor kid's parents would not do something about the self-esteem problem you mentioned.
Bottom line, parents should be allowed whether to tell their kids about the matter of the existence of Santa Claus at any age necessary. If the parents don't do it, they'll find out themselves.
And I know this is anecdotal evidence, but I was told at age 8 that there was no Santa Claus by a couple of rich, spoiled brats bragging about their Xmas presents. I don't really think most rich kids at that age correlate their number of presents to their relative virtue.

[trotsky]

11. Well, if you've never seen or heard of it...

then I guess it never happens. End of discussion.

[catbert836]

12. You must not have read all of my post.

Rich kids at the Santa-believing age do not behave like you have suggested towards poor kids. More likely, they will use their non-belief in Santa as a moral sledgehammer over the poor kids, rather than using the fact they got more presents.
Also, poor kids will not behave in the way you suggested either, if this situation were to happen.
So, have you heard of anything like that situation happening, Trotsky? I'm eager to learn.