# Minor Holiday Rants that Don't Merit Their Own Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 17, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405 "2004-12-17T19:58:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/41 "2004-12-18T23:06:58Z")
Dear Whoever chooses the music in stores: You know, there are plenty of Christmas carols out there. Hundreds, even. Why is it, then, that whenever I enter a store I can count on hearing 600 different versions of _Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Silver Bells, Rudolph_ and something called _Everybody’s Waiting for the Man with the Bag_ which sounds like a reject from the Willy Wonka soundtrack. I can’t remember the last time I heard _O Holy Night, The Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night, I Saw Three Ships_ or _God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen_ – the music I grew up hearing. Are those songs just too old-fashioned and too difficult to tart up with synthesizers/drum sets/caterwauling vocals (as seems to be de rigueur these days)? Or are the lyrics too overtly Christian? ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/42 "2004-12-18T23:11:06Z")
> [@racinchikki](#): > > Friendly’s isn’t national. They’re regional. You get any further south than Pennsylvania and you’ll never see another one. Every time I go home I make it a point to go out to one with my parents. The ice cream is also not distributed nationally, but only in the region where one can find their restaurants. [Not quite true](http://www.friendlys.com/rest/). They’re as far south as Florida (I remember one in Orlando, which is why I posted this), but not exactly national either. The official list is: > [@](#): > > Connecticut > Delaware > Florida > Massachusetts > Maryland > Maine > New Hampshire > New Jersey > New York > North Carolina > Ohio > Pennsylvania > Rhode Island > South Carolina > Virginia > Vermont ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/43 "2004-12-19T00:09:37Z")
> [@](#): > > something called Everybody’s Waiting for the Man with the Bag which sounds like a reject from the Willy Wonka soundtrack I’m a man who’s got a bag. RIGHT HERE! ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/44 "2004-12-19T00:59:45Z")
> [@Bambi Hassenpfeffer](#): > > [Not quite true](http://www.friendlys.com/rest/). They’re as far south as Florida (I remember one in Orlando, which is why I posted this), but not exactly national either. The official list is: Well, paint me pink. Still, they’re probably at their highest concentration in Pennsylvania northward, as I’d certainly never _noticed_ one in any of the other East Coast states I’ve driven thrugh. They’re based in Springfield, Mass, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lathe_of_Heaven)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/45 "2004-12-19T05:21:47Z")
> [@PucksRaven](#): > > **Lathe** I suspected it might be to dry but by the time I realized there was nothing to be done. There was no milk in the recipe, thought, do you think water would do? My other cookies came out well and the “peppermint stick” cookies I made out of the messed up ones were a hit, so I’m not stressing too much. Well, if they were a hit, definitely don’t stress it. 🆒 Water should work just as well as milk. Consistency is the important thing: crumbly dough is so very rarely a good sign in the cookie world (shortbreads excepted). Most doughs for rolled cookies are very soft at room temperature and must be chilled in order to allow rolling; the fats are at room temperature during the mixing stage and harden in the fridge. Mmm… cookies. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/46 "2004-12-19T05:42:40Z")
I pit myself for waiting until this weekend to look for the Xbox I wanted to buy for my husband. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. I ended up having to order a premium package from [Sears.com](http://Sears.com) that comes with five games and costs $50 more, then pay an additional $50 to get it (hopefully) by Christmas. That’s a helluva stupidity tax. ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/47 "2004-12-19T06:09:37Z")
**Neidhart** , I feel your pain. I work retail. Just tonight, I heard two different versions of _It’s a Marshmallow World in the Winter_ in the span of ten minutes. That just ain’t right. It’s bad enough that Sears plays the crappiest Christmas music on the planet. Bing Crosby’s _Winter Wonderland_? Nope, how about the craptastic medley of Christmas songs belched forth by Destiny’s Child? Judy Garland’s _Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas_? Sorry, but we do have a pukescent version by the ever-hammy Christina Aguliera. They can’t even play the classic _Christmas Song_ performed by Nat King Cole. But there will certainly be a _Rock and Roll Christmas_. I don’t know who sings that song, but they should be ashamed of themselves. I have many, many other Christmas gripes I could vent, but I can’t. You see, after having closed at 11 p.m. tonight, I have to be in to work again at eight a.m. So I have to go to bed now if I’m to get any sleep. Bah, humbug. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/48 "2004-12-19T08:30:43Z")
> [@milroyj](#): > > How will you KNOW where your parents bought your gifts? Do you ask them??? > > I’m sorry, but if someone gives you a gift, the proper response is “Thank you,” not “Where did you buy this?” > > Kids these days, I tell ya, silly ungrateful twits. Coal and sticks for you. :wally Well, I won’t know for sure, that’s why I have to worry about it. And it’s not about gratitude, it’s about respecting my politics, which they don’t at all. Actually, I asked them not to buy me anything at all this year because there’s nothing I really need or want, but they wouldn’t do that. Said I’d just spend any money they gave me on food. Well, duh, I do need food. But I guess basic sustinence isn’t as important as useless CDs and DVDs I’ll listen to a handful of times then forget about. If your kid has some pretty strong political beliefs, wouldn’t the best gift of all be to respect those beliefs, and buy gifts accordingly, if you’re going to buy them at all? But I guess I should just sit down and shut up and like my slave-made Walmart goods, like a good girl should. After all everything stops for Xmas, even politics. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/49 "2004-12-19T11:23:10Z")
Fuck Christmas. Fuck gift exchanges. My family knows that I will not partcipate. Fuck commercials, especially the obligatory “12 days of Christmas” rip off jingles. Fuck the sit-com “It’s a wonderful life” and “A Christmas Carol” rip offs. Fuck holiday traffic. The only good thing about this season is South Park lampooning it. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/50 "2004-12-19T15:00:59Z")
> [@KCSuze](#): > > **Neidhart** , I feel your pain. I work retail. Just tonight, I heard two different versions of _It’s a Marshmallow World in the Winter_ in the span of ten minutes. That just ain’t right. . Now that one I haven’t heard – guess I’m lucky! > [@](#): > > It’s bad enough that Sears plays the crappiest Christmas music on the planet. Bing Crosby’s _Winter Wonderland_? Nope, how about the craptastic medley of Christmas songs belched forth by Destiny’s Child? Judy Garland’s _Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas_? Sorry, but we do have a pukescent version by the ever-hammy Christina Aguliera. Haven’t you heard: only old folks are supposed to like Bing Crosby. Young people today like Christmas music with the Top 40 sound. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/51 "2004-12-19T16:32:25Z")
> [@Neidhart](#): > > Dear Whoever chooses the music in stores: > > You know, there are plenty of Christmas carols out there. Hundreds, even. Why is it, then, that whenever I enter a store I can count on hearing 600 different versions of _Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Silver Bells, Rudolph_ and something called _Everybody’s Waiting for the Man with the Bag_ which sounds like a reject from the Willy Wonka soundtrack. I heard an execrable version of Rudolph in JoAnn’s Fabrics yesterday. You know those “extra” lines kids have been singing for the last 20 years or so: Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer (Reindeer!) Had a very shiny nose (Like a lightbulb!) And if you ever saw it (Saw it!) You would even say it glows. (Like a lightbulb!) etc. Well, this version had a chorus of kids singing those extra lines, with a Gene-Autry-sounding guy singing the standard verses. It was obnoxious. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/52 "2004-12-19T17:43:42Z")
I don’t want to go to my mother’s on New Year’s day. She and my brother are coming here for Christmas day, and I’m fine with that, but this New Year’s thing is going to be too much damn togetherness for one month (well, just over a month, but you know what I mean). I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. Usually I don’t see anyone on New Year’s, because usually it’s on a weekday and I prefer to work (I’ve never considered New Year’s to be much of a holiday or special occasion). But with it being on a Saturday I figured “Hey, it would make Mom really happy if I saw her on New Year’s this time” so I opened my big mouth last month without thinking things through. :smack: I’m too damn old to be feeling this petulant, but I _really_ don’t want to go. I am seriously considering coming down with a stomach bug that weekend. Oh yeah, and the guy I had two great dates with two weeks ago but who I haven’t heard from in over a week needs to _tell me WTF is going on_. Don’t make me go through the holidays wondering if I’m ever going to hear from you again! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/53 "2004-12-19T20:26:17Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I pit people who think the whole fucking world should be closed on Xmas. Some people don’t celebrate, and some of us need something to do on December 25th. I always take a bus to NYC where people are more civilized and recognize that need. The Times Square stores and restaurants are always open. That would be fine IF the only people forced to work on that day were the people who don’t celebrate ane need something to do on the 25th. Otherwise what’s happening is it’s keeping people away from their families and their traditional celebrations, which I think is unfair ---
**Author:** ![Gamaliel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gamaliel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gamaliel)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/54 "2004-12-19T21:40:49Z")
> [@Bambi Hassenpfeffer](#): > > [Not quite true](http://www.friendlys.com/rest/). They’re as far south as Florida (I remember one in Orlando, which is why I posted this), but not exactly national either. The official list is: Reasonable mistake though. I grew up in New Jersey and I was so shocked when I saw the Orlando Friendly’s I immediately pulled over and ate there. There isn’t one in Tampa yet, but I’ve seen several in Orlando and one in Ft. Myers ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/55 "2004-12-19T21:52:54Z")
> [@lizardling](#): > > Myself for being born 4 days before Christmas. Hell, let’s just say the entire month of December. :smack: My birthday is Dec. 23rd. I’ve been so busy this year that even I’ve started to forget about my birthday ☹ The one good thing about having a b-day so near giftmas is that you can ask for a lot of stuff, and sometimes if there is something expensive that you really want, someome will get it as a combo birthday-christmas present. The worst thing about it is that sometimes your birthday feels like an afterthough…like you know a lot of people ALMOST forgot your birthday. And you can’t even be really mad, because it’s such a busy time of year it’s not even really their fault. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/56 "2004-12-19T22:34:30Z")
I was born on January 5. I think I got once birthday party my entire childhood. You’d think it would be a good time because people could, like, get a birthday present at an after-Christmas sale, but what happens is everybody’s so relieved that the holidays are over that they completely ignore me. ---
**Author:** ![Time\_Like\_Tears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@Time\_Like\_Tears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Like_Tears)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/57 "2004-12-20T01:05:37Z")
I’ll pit my job, for scheduling me a whopping 2 shifts a week for the entire month of December. “Really? 8 hours a week?? You shouldn’t have!” Yeah, merry fucking Christmas. Couldn’t you guys have at least scheduled me to work Christmas Eve, when the customers typically give outrageous tips? And my boyfriend, who REFUSES to tell me anything he might like to get as a gift. Granted, because of the first complaint, he’d probably be happy to get the rent money…but surely he could try and think of something under $20 he might like to have…a category would be helpful, even. My parents. For deciding to split up now. Dad and stepmom, so it’ll be the second ugly divorce I will have lived through in 15 years. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/58 "2004-12-20T02:38:48Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > Well, I won’t know for sure, that’s why I have to worry about it. And it’s not about gratitude, it’s about respecting my politics, which they don’t at all. > > If your kid has some pretty strong political beliefs, wouldn’t the best gift of all be to respect those beliefs, and buy gifts accordingly, if you’re going to buy them at all? But I guess I should just sit down and shut up and like my slave-made Walmart goods, like a good girl should. No, but you should listen to your parents, because they happen to be right. You will grow out of this silliness. BTW, do you respect your parents’ politics? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/59 "2004-12-20T02:47:06Z")
> [@milroyj](#): > > No, but you should listen to your parents, because they happen to be right. You will grow out of this silliness. I’m 38. I’ll let you know if I grow out of it; I don’t see it happening. I won’t shop at WalMart. Having ethics isn’t “silliness.” ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405/60 "2004-12-20T02:48:43Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Fuck Christmas. Fuck gift exchanges. My family knows that I will not partcipate. Fuck commercials, especially the obligatory “12 days of Christmas” rip off jingles. Fuck the sit-com “It’s a wonderful life” and “A Christmas Carol” rip offs. Fuck holiday traffic. > > The only good thing about this season is South Park lampooning it. Perhaps you refer to A Woodland Critter Christmas. On again tonight at 11:00 Eastern on Comedy Central. I nearly peed myself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-holiday-rants-that-dont-merit-their-own-thread/280405.md?page=4)