General

Re: Why Do We Lie to Our Kids About So Many Things? (Santa, Etc)

MadMiser — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:26:28 GMT

Kids aren't stupid; they understand make-believe. Knowing that they aren't real doesn't prevent them from enjoying and having their lives enriched by the likes of Spiderman and Barbie, so why trick them into believing things like Santa are real? Once they know how to read, the ideal thing would be to suggest them to Google it or research it in a book of some kind. Let them know the pleasure of knowing something their peers potentially don't, knowing something they discovered by their own effort; surely this would be a better way to raise critical thinkers than just lying to them about some crap to make them 'feel good'. Lead by example; if they see you acting under the notion of ignorance as bliss, ignorance above truth, whatever, then they'll be more likely to follow that notion themselves.

Furthermore, Santa Clause embodies an inherently statist ethic: financially rewarding people for compliance to some arbitrarily determined notions of 'good' or 'bad' that ar completely removed from any connection to the satisfaction of consumer preferences, much as the Government does. If it's okay for Santa to materially reward a kid for keeping their room tidy, why isn't it okay for the Governent to reward enterprise X for 'buying local'? If Santa can conjure presents out of thin air without facing any constraint of scarcity, why can't the Government do the same with welfare payments?

Re: Why Do We Lie to Our Kids About So Many Things? (Santa, Etc)

RothbardsDisciple — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 08:20:53 GMT

I agree with SM on this one, not sure what's the big deal?

Re: Why Do We Lie to Our Kids About So Many Things? (Santa, Etc)

cab21 — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 08:00:36 GMT

because god wants us to.

Re: Why Do We Lie to Our Kids About So Many Things? (Santa, Etc)

SkepticalMetal — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 04:35:10 GMT

It's good fun when you're young, I really don't see the big deal.

Re: Why Do We Lie to Our Kids About So Many Things? (Santa, Etc)

NonAntiAnarchist — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 04:01:16 GMT

I don't know if it is (a big deal), but I probably won't tell my kids lies just for the fuck of it.

Re: Why Do We Lie to Our Kids About So Many Things? (Santa, Etc)

John Ess — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 03:22:14 GMT

All those things are real. I don't know what you're talking about.

Re: Why Do We Lie to Our Kids About So Many Things? (Santa, Etc)

Anenome — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 02:17:16 GMT

No, I think this sort of thing should stop, tbh.

Re: Why Do We Lie to Our Kids About So Many Things? (Santa, Etc)

Groucho — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 01:06:51 GMT

It's good training for the real world where they will continue to be lied to about so many things (good government, etc.)

Why Do We Lie to Our Kids About So Many Things? (Santa, Etc)

limitgov — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 01:03:15 GMT

Santa, tooth fairy, Easter Bunny, Elf on the Shelf, etc.

It feels wrong. I don't like doing it. Is it just no big deal? Should I not worry about it?