# Shove your Christmas Letter right up your chimney **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 17, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084 "2005-12-17T19:20:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/121 "2005-12-23T02:58:49Z")
Crap, I spoke too soon…I just got two blasted letters today. Both full of the usual self-absorbed yammering. ---
**Author:** ![Jurhael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@Jurhael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurhael)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/122 "2005-12-23T05:40:05Z")
My parents just got one from their friends, but they kind of acted dismissive and said, “Yea, they’re a good family, together, etc…” Indeed, but I can tell that it was laced with general indifference. Course the letter senders tend to cheer others for whatever they’ve accomplished, so it’s really not so bad. That being said, bragging irritates me, not because it makes me feel bad about myself, but because it implies that you’re supposed to really care or be motivated to emulate them. That may not be the intent, but that’s how it comes across. Color me calloused, but the accomplishments of others mean nothing to me. Nothing. Unless you’re me or very close to me. Don’t like such letters? Toss them. Be irritated? Fine, but do not let it get your worked up, because I think it shows a kind of weakness when such things get to you. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/123 "2005-12-23T06:19:34Z")
> [@furthur](#): > > :eek: > > No. freaking. way. > > You’re joking, right? THEY GAVE A KID AWAY?!? > > This is bullshit, right? You’re parodying? Jesting? > > If not, this is f\*\*\*ing evil behavior on the part of the parents. I hope the kid went to a good home – at least, one hopes they’d make sure of that, though obviously church-going is no guarantee – jeez. I mean, THE PARENTS go to church, and look what THEY did. This is so messed up, the mind boggles. No. no. no. > > Please, tell me you’re joking. I will happily be called credulous. > > Mrs. Furthur As Joey Lawrence would say, Wo. Its almost as bad as something I read a bit ago, where a woman (Amy something) found she was pregnant with 3, and having 3 would complicate her life of too much, so she had a dr. kill 2 of them in the womb! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/124 "2005-12-23T07:05:32Z")
Just jumping in to say that I love fruitcake, any kind, especially with a nice cuppa. And I love reading Christmas letters. I don’t send any, but I love catching up on what’s happening. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/125 "2005-12-23T13:09:32Z")
1. I like brag letters. Sue me. 2. I also like trying to read between the lies of it all to get to the root of the real problems that exist in the family. 3. Three people on this board like fruit cake? 4. How is it the Fruitcake manufactorers/bakers of the World stay in business with so many people hating their product? Are they secretly used as Weapons of Mass Destruction? 5. As for the Down’s Triplet that was given away…there is an organization out there Something Angels that has a huge waiting list for parents who know they are having a down’s baby and cannot abort but don’t want to raise said child. I cannot fault the parents on that level at all and it is great to know that things like that exist. I also knew a lady that had triplet sisters. The youngest was a Down’s and never progressed beyond a 2 year old. I can’t imagine trying to have a life with the other children when so much energy and effort has to go into that one. ---
**Author:** ![sethness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@sethness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethness)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/126 "2009-10-06T08:45:34Z")
I wouldn’t object to the Christmas letter on the grounds of its bragging/news update. These almost-formulaic cards may be sent to relatives and distant friends who otherwise don’t hear much about how that family’s doing. On the other hand, I would STRONGLY object to anyone sending me a “Christmas” card rather than a “season’s greetings” card. Let people keep their religion, but keep quiet about it around me. DO NOT waste my time and patience with it!!! I’m a thoughtful, well-informed agnostic. People selling their faith as though faith is somehow a virtue BUG ME-- they’re like manure salesmen who never remove the closepin from their own noses. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/127 "2009-10-06T09:45:38Z")
**sethness** , you have replied to several random 4 year old threads in the last hour or so. Do you live [here](http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/P/ProximaCen.html)? ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/128 "2009-10-06T09:50:26Z")
Sweet Zombie Jesus! ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/129 "2009-10-06T10:08:07Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > **sethness** , you have replied to several random 4 year old threads in the last hour or so. > > Do you live [here](http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/P/ProximaCen.html)? He’s got more than than that by now, I’ve been watching him raise the dead for most of my evening. Check his posting history, he doesn’t even seem to be clued in by the presence of dates in the thread title (eg: [The 2006 Rat’s Ass Award](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=401797)). ETA - Now that I’ve clicked your link, Sentient Meat: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BaconAndEggs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@BaconAndEggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaconAndEggs)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/130 "2009-10-06T10:10:45Z")
Zombie thread! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/131 "2009-10-06T10:18:08Z")
> [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](#): > > He’s got more than than that by now, I’ve been watching him raise the dead for most of my evening. Check his posting history, he doesn’t even seem to be clued in by the presence of dates in the thread title (eg: [The 2006 Rat’s Ass Award](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=401797)). > ETA - Now that I’ve clicked your link, Sentient Meat: 😃 On at least two occasions I’ve seen, he’s accused long time members of shilling([Astroturfing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing)) for online games simply because they started a thread about a game they like. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/132 "2009-10-06T10:45:49Z")
My christmas cactus is blooming but I thought it was a little early for xmas rants! How about an up-date from the OP re: brag letters these last 4 years? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/133 "2009-10-06T10:55:14Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > On at least two occasions I’ve seen, he’s accused long time members of shilling([Astroturfing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing)) for online games simply because they started a thread about a game they like. And over Flo the Progressive Insurance gal! (I work for a hospital, not Progressive, so shoo, **sethness**.) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/134 "2009-10-06T12:12:45Z")
Closing this zombie while I try to figure out what the raiser of the dead is up to here. twickster, moderator ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084/135 "2009-10-06T12:26:18Z")
Thanks, **Twickster**. **sethness** please DO NOT post in very old threads. We like to let sleeping zombies lie. **Gfactor** Pit Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shove-your-christmas-letter-right-up-your-chimney/336084.md?page=6)