What? No Valentine's Day Pitting?

[RogueRacer]

As a friend said to me last night, "Valentine's Day is just another made up day for a guy to screw things up with his girlfriend."

Personally, I don't have much vitriol towards it this year. RogueGF made it clear that she expected me to remember. I played it off this morning by saying that I need to go to Walmart tonight (nothing says classy like Walmart) to get something I forgot. As long as UPS doesn't fuck things up, there should be a nice gift waiting for her when she gets home. I might not have hit it out of the park, but I should at least be safely on second with a RBI.

Anyway, maybe your significant other forgot? Maybe you forgot? Maybe you just don't feel like fueling FTD's coffers? Maybe you're unwillingly single? Whatever the issue, here's your chance to give Valentine's Day a big FU.

[Gala Matrix Fire]

How about a big "What? Are people still celebrating that?"

[pravnik]

It's Valentine's Day already?!?! Oh, shit!

[jsgoddess]

The original plan was that we would go to a movie and out to dinner.

The current plan is that we hide in the house whimpering and hoping the electricity doesn't go out again. Damned weather!

In any case, I didn't get my husband anything. He got me something. He's definitely the bigger romantic in this relationship.

[Anaamika]

I'm not going to swear at it, but it is a silly holiday. I told my bf I didn't need a thing - I got flowers. Just because. Which is fine, because they're carnations and so not expensive and it's nice to see flowers with the two feet of snow that's coming down outside. But it's a toally pointless holiday and I'm sorry to see how many girls fall for it.

[RogueRacer]

Originally Posted by bluethree

How about a big "What? Are people still celebrating that?"

According to this article American's will spend up to 16.9 billion on Valentine's Day this year.

Originally Posted by Anaamika

But it's a toally pointless holiday and I'm sorry to see how many girls fall for it.

RogueGF is actually pretty good about it. She wants me to think of her, but spending piles of cash isn't required. One year she bought us two pairs of oversized boxing gloves for Valentine's.

[Anaamika]

How romantic.

[tdn]

Meh. I like it. I get presents.

What makes it tolerable is GF and I never celebrate things when they happen, we celebrate on the following weekend. Which means I can get her a dozen roses without having to sell a kidney to pay for them. And GF doesn't play the "If you really loved me you'd spend $5,736,485 on me while standing in the snow naked" bullshit headgames.

[tdn]

Originally Posted by RogueRacer

One year she bought us two pairs of oversized boxing gloves for Valentine's.

Nothing says love like domestic abuse.

[Elza B]

Originally Posted by tdn

Meh. I like it. I get presents.

What makes it tolerable is GF and I never celebrate things when they happen, we celebrate on the following weekend. Which means I can get her a dozen roses without having to sell a kidney to pay for them. And GF doesn't play the "If you really loved me you'd spend $5,736,485 on me while standing in the snow naked" bullshit headgames.

Both ElzaHub and I are home today due to the snow, so I just said "You didn't send me flowers today, did you?".

He said "No."

I just looked at him and said "That's one of those 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' questions, isn't it?"



We don't usually celebrate Valentine's Day. I may cook a special meal or something, but that's about the extent of it. Oh, yeah, last year, he gave me a teddy bear...holding a heart. (SNL did a fake commercial last year about them...it was a running joke between us, so he thought he'd get me one.). I don't get the hype about it, I don't get why people are upset over it, I don't get why a woman's life ends if she doesn't get a dozen overpriced roses on V-Day.

I have a friend whose husband always sends her a dozen roses on V-Day. My husband has never sent my flowers on V-Day. But unlike them, we've never been on the verge of divorce, he doesn't verbally abuse me, and I haven't threatened to leave my husband over the past year. I'll take that over flowers any day.

E.

[SpaceDog]

Meh, I considered pitting it but it hasn't seemed to be a big thing here this year (although the adverts and store displays started way earlier than I remember).

In any case this comic pretty much sums up my feelings.

[Squink]

I asked my wife to be my Valentine two weeks ago.
She consented, and asked me to be hers.
I agreed.
That takes care of Valentines day for another year. What's the big deal?

[Guinastasia]

I always liked the day after Valentine's Day-candy's on sale!

[DoctorJ]

But it's only a month until Steak and Blowjob Day! (NSFW, obviously.)

[Selkie]

I loathe Valentine's Day with a firey passion, regardless of my relationship status. This year, my singledom enabled me to do something I've wanted to for years: host a Love Sucks party. Way more fun than a traditional Valentin's Day celebration!

[nashiitashii]

I dislike Valentine's Day partially out of spite, and partially because I spent a good bit of my childhood with people who'd ignore my birthday (exactly a week ago) in favor of griping or squeeing about Valentine's day, then insist that I make a huge deal out of their birthday. Uh, yeah. What?

Besides, most of the crap associated with the holiday tastes worse because it's Valentine's Day themed. Candy hearts? Blech. Hallmark cards? Why waste the money? Flowers? Most of them smell nasty. ::shrugs::

[ArrMatey!]

This is the first year that being alone on the day doesn't bother me. Dunno why it doesn't, it just doesn't. It's a good thing.

But I can still hate the holiday for being worse than xmas in the respect that it's a RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY (Uhm... SAINT Valentine's day, please. A catholic saint's day) that has been twisted and refigured (see how many people still add the 'saint' part to it) for commercial purposes. On the way home today, I heard the word 'valentine' mentioned 38 times on the radio (I counted). 31 of those were in advertisements.

If ya don't spend money, you don't love 'em.

Whatever.

Hrm... Although it does make me wonder, in a hijack-y way, what other minor religious holiday we could kidnap and turn into a commercial feeding frenzy....

[Litoris]

Me, I'd like to pit all the self-centered psycho-bitches who piss and moan about the "lame" gifts they get for Valentine's Day, and trash talk their spouse/bf/gf/so for not getting them expensive crap but when asked what they gave, have no answer.
Since my bday is the 7th, I have always gotten bday/Valentine's day combo gifts. Never been a big deal to me. Hubby is out of town until Friday, so I sent him a card and some naughty pictures, he sent me a card -- we don't make a big deal out of it. Just my 2 cents' worth.

[jsgoddess]

Originally Posted by ArrMatey!

Hrm... Although it does make me wonder, in a hijack-y way, what other minor religious holiday we could kidnap and turn into a commercial feeding frenzy....

How about the Feast of the Annunciation? There could be an Annunciation Angel named Gabriel Cottonwings and he could fly around giving Beanie Babies to everyone.

We're gonna be RICH.

[mrklutz]

I must be a mutant. I'm a guy who actually enjoys Valentine's Day. I don't buy flowers, but it is a nice excuse to go out and have a nice dinner together. Granted, I could do that any day, but I don't mind having an evening set aside on the calendar to spend time with my sweetie.

[villa]

At this present time, two dozen red roses are sitting on my sweetheart's doorstep, slowly dying, because she had to suddenly fly out of town last Friday and the delivery people said they could not cancel it when I called first thing Monday morning.

[Uncommon Sense]

If I hear one more person call it Valentime's Day I'm going to pop.

Actually it's only one person I've heard call it this, but if I hear that person call it that one more time....

[Litoris]

Originally Posted by nashiitashii

I dislike Valentine's Day partially out of spite, and partially because I spent a good bit of my childhood with people who'd ignore my birthday (exactly a week ago) in favor of griping or squeeing about Valentine's day, then insist that I make a huge deal out of their birthday. Uh, yeah. What?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
**Also a Feb 7th birthday**

[RogueRacer]

Originally Posted by mrklutz

I don't buy flowers, but it is a nice excuse to go out and have a nice dinner together.

The problem is that Valentine's Day is a terrible day to go out to dinner. Most restaurants are packed and the service and food suffers. RogueGF and I go out to dinner all the time, but tonight won't be one of those times.

I've noticed that there really isn't much fire in any of these pittings. Pity. It seems like everyone not enjoying it is approaching it with resignation more than anything else. Sigh.

[Selkie]

Originally Posted by ArrMatey!

But I can still hate the holiday for being worse than xmas in the respect that it's a RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY (Uhm... SAINT Valentine's day, please. A catholic saint's day) that has been twisted and refigured (see how many people still add the 'saint' part to it) for commercial purposes.

Restore Lupercalia!

[mrklutz]

Originally Posted by RogueRacer

The problem is that Valentine's Day is a terrible day to go out to dinner. Most restaurants are packed and the service and food suffers. RogueGF and I go out to dinner all the time, but tonight won't be one of those times.

I've had pretty good luck in that regard. But then, we're going out to a nice place downtown, where I know I can count on them to staff up appropriately. It's a place that doesn't feel too crowded even when all the tables are full. Still, I know what you mean. If you're not going high-end, it can be a dicey night to go out.

[Squink]

Originally Posted by ArrMatey!

I can still hate the holiday for being worse than xmas in the respect that it's a RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY

To be as bad as Xmas, we'd have to call it VDay. To be worse, it'd be shortened to just VD.

[romansperson]

Originally Posted by RogueRacer

I've noticed that there really isn't much fire in any of these pittings. Pity. It seems like everyone not enjoying it is approaching it with resignation more than anything else. Sigh.

Better?

[Lord Ashtar]

I'm glad I'm single again this year, so as to not have a repeat of last year.

[nashiitashii]

Originally Posted by Litoris

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
**Also a Feb 7th birthday**

Why thank you! Happy birthday to you as well.
_{Strangely enough, the only other Feb. 7th birthday person I've known is the guy I lost my virginity to. And I didn't find out until later. Weird.}

[villa]

I'm another February 7th birthday. And I don't think I have met nashiitashii at any stage of my life.

[RogueRacer]

Originally Posted by Lord Ashtar

I'm glad I'm single again this year, so as to not have a repeat of last year.

Wow! So much more angst from the SMDB community last year. Maybe we'll get more of that tomorrow or maybe I just posted this in the wrong forum? Btw, Lord Ashtar, I think you should have went and had Chinese after you dropped her off.

[tdn]

Originally Posted by Litoris

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
**Also a Feb 7th birthday**

Oh yeah, I almost forgot.

Happy birthday, Teller!

I have no idea when Eric Mumpower's birthday is.

[anamnesis]

You want angst?

Valentine's Day: a reason for self-absorbed women (with the kind of looks men go for) to piss and moan if they don't get to take-take-take without giving in return, whilst the women with no self-esteem curse the holiday's existence and wax indifference about receiving anything special from anyone. You can have a cute girlfriend where it's gimme-gimme-gimme or you can have a less sizzling girlfriend who will be happy with table scraps of affection. I don't find the latter to be particularly exciting because they have a similarly indifferent approach to other things in life and, in general, show more passion towards events and opportunities which afford them the chance to be emotionally introverted recluses.

Am I generalizing a bit? Yeah, but it's mostly one extreme or the other, and basically a no-win scenario for all single men regardless of the type of woman they're with. Where are the attractive, confident women who'll give something in return besides some special attention in the bedroom? I maintain that no such animal exists. Sorry ladies, but until men get a similarly over-commercialized day dedicated to them (Steak & Blowjob Day sounds like a great idea, DoctorJ), then I say fuck Valentine's Day and all the women who expect something out of it.

Yeah, and I don't mean for this to come across quite the way it sounds, but fuck the married couples who chime in on "not doing anything special" as well. Really, I'm happy that you're happy that you're under no obligation to waste money on one another to prove your mutual love and it's a wonderful state of affairs to be in. Such a surprise since, y'know, you're married and all. It's not a shock to anyone that Valentine's Day is as significant to those engaged in holy matrimony as Labor Day is for the unemployed. No hatred against married people at all, but seriously, gimme a break. You have so many other opportunities throughout the year to show your undying love for one another, so why is your opinion of Feb. 14th at all important, particularly if you take it for granted and/or don't do anything special for it? It's not really your day to worry about. It's a day for flower/candy/card companies to fatten their bottom lines, single people to question their sanity, and people in "relationships" to nurture their increasingly complicated dysfunctions with one another even further.

[Litoris]

Originally Posted by anamnesis

You want angst?

<snip>

Am I generalizing a bit? Yeah, but it's mostly one extreme or the other, and basically a no-win scenario for all single men regardless of the type of woman they're with. Where are the attractive, confident women who'll give something in return besides some special attention in the bedroom? I maintain that no such animal exists. Sorry ladies, but until men get a similarly over-commercialized day dedicated to them (Steak & Blowjob Day sounds like a great idea, DoctorJ), then I say fuck Valentine's Day and all the women who expect something out of it.

</snip>

Well, as I pretty much agree with what you said in general (see my personal rant earlier), we are on the same page until you said this. I have always given for Valentine's Day. Donno, I like giving people things. Not to toot my own horn, but I do think I am pretty darned attractive (heck, I have 20-somethings hitting on me pretty regularly -- I am 35) and pretty confident. Granted this year, I could only get my husband a card and some naughty pictures of me, but that's because he is 200 miles away. I tend to be pretty indifferent to most of these "gimme gimme gimme" days, even at Xmas, I tend to give more than I get. I am very hard to shop for and I know it, so it's easier to be indifferent than pissy because someone bought me a yellow(because I look so amazing in yellow) anything, when I really loathe the colour. Bah....but I feel ya elsewise. Oh, and yeh, we do normally celebrate March 14th (I get the steak, he gets the BJ) -- probably won't this year, since we will be driving to Disney that day!

[anamnesis]

That's cool, Litoris ... you're in the minority, though. Most any woman I know (or have known) won't invest diddly squat in their relationships because it's a one way street. They're thrilled when they find a guy who they can take advantage of and/or doesn't call them on their double-standard bullshit because he's afraid of the consequences.

I liked your post and would've chimed in to agree with it, but I thought this was all about unbridled angst.

[jakeline]

Originally Posted by anamnesis

Where are the attractive, confident women who'll give something in return besides some special attention in the bedroom?

I've kidnapped them all and I'm keeping them in my basement until Valentine's day is over.

You might be a nice guy, but this rant makes you sound like a bit of a tool. Women who avoid VDay celebrations are not all insecure little mice and hot women aren't all greedy and manipulative bitches. These types of people obvoiusly exist, but attractive, confident women who are giving and kind exist as well. Sorry to hear you haven't met one, but they're out there. Have you thought that maybe you're just attracted to the crazy ones?

[Quiddity Glomfuster]

Originally Posted by villa

I'm another February 7th birthday. And I don't think I have met nashiitashii at any stage of my life.

Me, too. And me, neither.

My mom used to make this great heart-shaped cake (Betty Crocker Cherry Chip cake mix) all decorated in pink icing, maraschino cherries, and ballerinas. Sounds vile but it was divine. I also got chocolates. And then we got more chocolates on VDay.

Me, I think it's mean-spirited to pit a day which is an Offical Chocolate Gift Day! I don't want or need presents - just some chockies do me fine
(Forgot to add - everybody gave everybody chocolates on VDay - me to my mum and she to me, me to my friends and they to me, etc. Wheee!)

[Litoris]

Originally Posted by Quiddity Glomfuster

Me, too. And me, neither.

My mom used to make this great heart-shaped cake (Betty Crocker Cherry Chip cake mix) all decorated in pink icing, maraschino cherries, and ballerinas. Sounds vile but it was divine. I also got chocolates. And then we got more chocolates on VDay.

Me, I think it's mean-spirited to pit a day which is an Offical Chocolate Gift Day! I don't want or need presents - just some chockies do me fine
(Forgot to add - everybody gave everybody chocolates on VDay - me to my mum and she to me, me to my friends and they to me, etc. Wheee!)

How odd that there are so many Feb 7 birthdays. I have only known one other person with the same birthday. She was basically a waste of oxygen, but it was even odder that we also shared the same first name (different spellings, and not a very common name).

I hate hate hate hate hate strawberry cakes, simply because my mother insisted that I should always have one (I guess seasonal?) and any pink cake sends me into a tiny fit of rage.

[anamnesis]

Jakeline, I won't deny it, I probably am a bit of a tool ... but I despise the double standard that I see in most relationships, or whatever passes for relationships amongst my peers. A lot of guys I know walk around like emasculated puppies when the woman is around, only to completely change when they're not around. This is nothing unusual, but I will do no such thing, and that seems to make me a bigger dickhead to women than their two-faced boyfriends. I don't blame the guys though, I blame the women for making them two-faced.

I don't deny being attracted to the crazy ones, either. That's undoubtedly the root of my frustration, but so far as my "lumping all women into greedy bitch and little mouse categories", it's just as easy to lump men into the same categories (obnoxious jerk and timid doormat), but I quote myself in the first post:

Originally Posted by anamnesis

Am I generalizing a bit? Yeah ...

I mean really, how can anyone rant effectively without the use of abstract stereotypes?

[olivesmarch4th]

Huh. I've never understood why people hate Valentine's Day so much. When I was single, I didn't sweat not having a partner, I just gave stuff to my friends or something. I like celebrating holidays, Valentine's is a Holiday, so why not?

I don't get people hating it and I also don't get people expecting it to be the best most romantic day in the world.

Mr. Olives and I are going out to dinner. Our Valentine's Gift to each other was Season 7 of the Simpsons on DVD. I have a terrible cold. So we're going to eat some fancy dinner and then watch DVDs. I love and appreciate him every day--the only real difference between today and other days is we can sort of justify eating at a fancy restaurant, which is fun to do. That's what I think holidays are for--enjoying time with people you already love and cherish on a daily basis, and getting away with as much as you possibly can on the grounds that "it's a holiday."

Seriously, people--chill out.
(not really directed at anyone in particular in this thread or the OP--just wondering why people freak out about V day so often. I just don't get it.)

[Zebra]

so lonely

[XJETGIRLX]

Originally Posted by anamnesis

I don't blame the guys though, I blame the women for making them two-faced.

Oh wah fucking wah. "Making them two-faced"? Both men and women can be plenty manipulative and two-faced, but it's not because someone made them act that way. Grownups seem to have no problems getting that way all on their own. Grow the fuck up.

[jsgoddess]

Originally Posted by Zebra

so lonely

It sucks that so many holidays just seem to bring more stress and unhappy reminders to many of us instead of joy.

Except maybe St. Patrick's Day. There doesn't seem to be much angst associated with that.

[anamnesis]

Uh oh! Somebody didn't get a Valentine. I couldn't wait for the personal attacks to start. Now I'm all disappointed because the anticipation is over. Thanks a lot for ruining it, Jetgirl. Will you be my Valentine if I grow the fuck up? I promise to be yours if you read all the way to the end of my post to see that I admit my use of stereotypes as gender jabs is wrong, and stuff. Especially on a day like today, or something.

So, hey baby, what's your stereotype?

[Quiddity Glomfuster]

Originally Posted by Zebra

so lonely

Aw


(((HUGS)))

[badkittypriestess]

Happy Valentine's Day Zebra!

[Kilvert's Pagan]

Originally Posted by RogueRacer

The problem is that Valentine's Day is a terrible day to go out to dinner. Most restaurants are packed and the service and food suffers. RogueGF and I go out to dinner all the time, but tonight won't be one of those times.

Mrs. Pagan and I solved this years ago... we celebrate Groundhog's Day instead. Really. We have no problem getting seats at a nice restaurant, I have my choice of flowers and no problems getting delivery, etc...

[Monty]

One of my favorite Married...With Children episodes is the one where Al and Jefferson are duking it out with all the other hubbies for the last minute Valentine's gifts.

Ah, I'm glad I'm in Korea now. The female gives gifts to the males on Valentine's Day. That gives me a whole month to reciprocate on White Day (March 14th), so named because the traditional gift is white chocolate.

[Nancarrow]

Originally Posted by Zebra

so lonely

Er, why? Was something going on yesterday?

Actually my female cow-orkers did seem a bit chattier than usual. Hmm.



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