• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!
  • Welcome to our archives. No new posts are allowed here.

Is It Unethical To Let Your Children Believe In Santa?

Geoist

Geoist

DP Veteran
Joined
Aug 14, 2012
Messages
35,082
Reaction score
26,925
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Libertarian - Left
There are a lot of traditions we hold close to our hearts that, when we seriously think about it, we realize are downright stupid. Perpetuating the lie of Santa Clause on children is certainly one of them. I would actually go one step further and say not only is it a stupid tradition, but it is unethical. There is no upside to setting children up for ridicule at school. As a teacher, I have seen it. I teach high school and we actually have had students coming in freshman year still believing in Santa.

My brothers and I were raised with the knowledge that our presents came not from magical elves but from parents who loved us and worked hard to provide the gifts we received. It did not make Christmas any less special. Some of my favorite memories are from those mornings.

And while I do think this preacher took things a little too far, I do think it is the moral duty of adults to encourage other adults to not promote this lie.
 
Geoist said:
There are a lot of traditions we hold close to our hearts that, when we seriously think about it, we realize are downright stupid. Perpetuating the lie of Santa Clause on children is certainly one of them. I would actually go one step further and say not only is it a stupid tradition, but it is unethical. There is no upside to setting children up for ridicule at school. As a teacher, I have seen it. I teach high school and we actually have had students coming in freshman year still believing in Santa.

My brothers and I were raised with the knowledge that our presents came not from magical elves but from parents who loved us and worked hard to provide the gifts we received. It did not make Christmas any less special. Some of my favorite memories are from those mornings.

And while I do think this preacher took things a little too far, I do think it is the moral duty of adults to encourage other adults to not promote this lie.
Click to expand...

He took it too far. It's not his placeto be Santa Cop to the World.

As to other parents, that's their business. Not yours. Not his. Not anyone else's. Theirs.
 
MaggieD said:
He took it too far. It's not his placeto be Santa Cop to the World.
Click to expand...

I agree. I'm sure he would have been none-too-pleased if someone walked into his church and started yelling about how Jesus is not the son of God.

As to other parents, that's their business. Not yours. Not his. Not anyone else's. Theirs.
Click to expand...

In the end it is certainly their choice. But there is nothing wrong with adults having conversations with other adults about how to best raise children.
 
Geoist said:
There are a lot of traditions we hold close to our hearts that, when we seriously think about it, we realize are downright stupid. Perpetuating the lie of Santa Clause on children is certainly one of them. I would actually go one step further and say not only is it a stupid tradition, but it is unethical. There is no upside to setting children up for ridicule at school. As a teacher, I have seen it. I teach high school and we actually have had students coming in freshman year still believing in Santa.

My brothers and I were raised with the knowledge that our presents came not from magical elves but from parents who loved us and worked hard to provide the gifts we received. It did not make Christmas any less special. Some of my favorite memories are from those mornings.

And while I do think this preacher took things a little too far, I do think it is the moral duty of adults to encourage other adults to not promote this lie.
Click to expand...

I, for one, think it's perfectly fine for kids to believe in Santa.
 
Is It Unethical To Let Your Children Believe In Santa?
Click to expand...

nah, it's a fun, cute tradition, IMO.

the podcast "Stuff You Missed in History Class" does a thorough outline of different countries and their Christmas folklore around this time each year. they just put out this year's version, and it's pretty good. here's a link to all three of their podcasts on this topic.

Krampus and friends | Stuff You Missed in History

also, i dig this show in general. two podcasts a week; always interesting. "Stuff You Should Know" is also awesome. i listen to pretty much every episode.
 
Helix said:
the podcast "Stuff You Missed in History Class" does a thorough outline of different countries and their Christmas folklore around this time each year. they just put out this year's version, and it's pretty good. here's a link to all three of their podcasts on this topic.

Krampus and friends | Stuff You Missed in History

also, i dig this show in general. two podcasts a week; always interesting. "Stuff You Should Know" is also awesome. i listen to pretty much every episode.
Click to expand...

Can't get enough of podcasts. Going to have to add this one to my folder.
 
Omg. There is nothing wrong with the Santa clause thing. Sigh. Kids who believed in Santa and the ones who don't turn out fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Geoist said:
Why is Santa okay but not dragons and unicorns?
Click to expand...

Around the same time my kids realize Santa isn't real...is around the same time they realize that dragons and unicorns aren't real.



I could just as easily make the argument that teaching your kids to believe in an all powerful invisible man in the sky who burns and floods entire civilizations for not following the rules.
 
blackjack50 said:
Omg. There is nothing wrong with the Santa clause thing. Sigh. Kids who believed in Santa and the ones who don't turn out fine.
Click to expand...

While the vast majority of children turn out fine when they realize Santa isn't real, there is far more benefit to teaching children the truth. I really do think many children trust their parents a bit less when they find out, whether consciously or subconsciously. I also believe children who know their presents come from their parents naturally appreciate family a bit more.
 
Geoist said:
Can't get enough of podcasts. Going to have to add this one to my folder.
Click to expand...

i dig podcasts because i walk and drive a lot, and i have some tasks at work that are conducive to listening to books and podcasts while i complete them.

always keep learning. the best students never graduate. that's one of the few bumper sticker slogans i've seen that actually rings true.
 
Believing in Santa in the 'hood:

NSFW LANGUAGE

 
KevinKohler said:
Around the same time my kids realize Santa isn't real...is around the same time they realize that dragons and unicorns aren't real.
Click to expand...

Why is it okay for children to believe all three are real? Would you let your children believe Spiderman is real? If so, what age is not okay and why?



I could just as easily make the argument that teaching your kids to believe in an all powerful invisible man in the sky who burns and floods entire civilizations for not following the rules.
Click to expand...

The difference being one party knows what they perpetuate is a lie but do it anyways. Can't really compare that to someone who perpetuates something they firmly believe.
 
"Well I know Santa is real because my mommy would never lie to me."
 
I honestly believe that the Santa myths, Easter Bunny myths, many religious myths make the targetted children easy prey to Mainstream Media myth making as adults. It is why "Imagery" seems so important to contemporary generations and why it is so effective. They buy the image instead of the reality.
 
I've never understood the desire some people have to force children to act like adults. Let them play and dream and imagine and enjoy make believe for as long as they can. Lighten up.
 
Moon said:
I've never understood the desire some people have to force children to act like adults. Let them play and dream and imagine and enjoy make believe for as long as they can. Lighten up.
Click to expand...

As kids, my brothers and I used to pretend we were WWF superstars, jedi knights and sailors on Captain Nemo's submarine. Never once did we think we were any of those things.
 
Why not steal all of their innocence and declare that all holidays and traditional are half-truths or frauds. Life is is as binary as you see it.

And, put a blindfold on "Elf on the Shelf". It's phony coercion that "Big Brother" is watching. Go ahead and misbehave, your parents will cough up the presents anyway!

Most children's fantasies are better than their realities if they could explain it to you. Fantasy is a gift. It's free, harmless , and fun.
 
chuckiechan said:
Why not steal all of their innocence and declare that all holidays and traditional are half-truths or frauds.
Click to expand...

When did I say holidays are frauds? I never said we should stop celebrating Christmas or any other holiday. You can celebrate without perpetuating a lie.


Go ahead and misbehave, your parents will cough up the presents anyway!
Click to expand...

If one needs to have their children believing in a fat man in a red suit to get them to behave then they have much bigger issues to fix.


Most children's fantasies are better than their realities if they could explain it to you. Fantasy is a gift.
Click to expand...

Fantasizing is part of growing up. There is nothing wrong with that. There is a difference between allowing children to fantasize and encouraging lies. If a child says they're a cowboy you encourage their fun, but you don't tell them they are literally a cowboy.

It's free, harmless , and fun.
Click to expand...

Most children are unharmed (at least noticeably), but some lose a bit of trust in their parents when they find out. Other children are set up for bullying and ridicule in school, especially the longer they believe in it. There is no harm in telling children the truth on this issue.
 
Geoist said:
Why is Santa okay but not dragons and unicorns?
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with them either. I'm sure it's very healthy for them to exercise their minds in that way. Besides, there are few things in life better than seeing your kid's excitement over Christmas, and watching them experience Christmas Day.
 
Anthony60 said:
Nothing wrong with them either.
Click to expand...

There is absolutely a lot wrong with encouraging children to believe fiction is reality. It could potentially stunt their intellectual development.

Children can fantasize without thinking the fantasy is real. As I told somebody else, you wouldn't tell your child they were actually a cowboy while they were playing pretend.


Besides, there are few things in life better than seeing your kid's excitement over Christmas, and watching them experience Christmas Day.
Click to expand...

As I said before, some of my best memories were of Christmas Day. Never once did I believe Santa was real.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom