Fictional Characters

[Schnell]

St. Nick was a real person.

Also: Where's the harm in lying if it's just a little white lie? I see no problem with this, as it's all in good fun.

St. Nick was very dissimilar from the modern Santa, who delivers presents to all the children in the world once a year and spends the rest of the year managing his magical toy factory.

Agree on the second part though.

 

[Arthad]

Oh c'mon, it's all in good fun.

Part of growing up is figuring out for yourself that those figures don't actually exist.

Haha, I absolutely agree with this. It's a part of growing up, I've never met somebody who said " I hate my parents because they lied to me about Santa." As far as setting an example about lying to our children, I don't think they are old enough to comprehend the fact that it is ok to lie. I found out at like age 4 that Santa wasn't real lol.

Let's deal with a bigger lie first: God.

Biggest lie ever told that millions of people believe in.

God is brought up because those other fictional characters mentioned are generally harmless. God, real or not, is far from harmless.

You are absolutely right, god is extremely harmful becuase millions of people have come to believe that some Fictional man will make their life better and garuntee them an afterlife if they live strictly to what a group of mortal men decided was his will and ways.

 

[Dark boy42]

I almost cried when my mom told me. I found it very distrustful and it hurt me D:

 

[K-3-V-1-N]

I think it's fine if it's in good fun. The difference between telling a lie like this, and say, telling the lie about a God.. is that you can't take God back.

Once you say 'it's moral to believe in this and if you don't, you're a bad person', there's no going back. However, there is coming back after a playful lie like this.

 

[tiger9110]

I think it's fine if it's in good fun. The difference between telling a lie like this, and say, telling the lie about a God.. is that you can't take God back.

Once you say 'it's moral to believe in this and if you don't, you're a bad person', there's no going back. However, there is coming back after a playful lie like this.

What? So your saying that, ok I don't get it. Why would be too late to take whatever it is back?

 

[claw bogy]

I guess in some cases its easier then explaining why everything really happens.

Child: Mum why do i get presents at christmass?

mother: Because some guy died and got crusified or something or rather.

Child: Whats crusified?

Mother : Being nailed to a cross.

etc, ignore spelling please :embar:

Im pretty sure most people know who the "some guy" is.

 

[K-3-V-1-N]

What? So your saying that, ok I don't get it. Why would be too late to take whatever it is back?

1) You tell your son that Santa brings him presents. He's good and jolly. You then later explain that Santa is not real, and that Santa does not exist. You explain how Santa is a fun fantasy for children, and it wasn't meant in any way to hurt the child. More than likely, the child is going to get through it fine.

2) You tell your son that God loves him. You tell him that his son died on a cross for everyone's sins. You tell him that he, in fact, is evil, and that he must be cleansed of original sin. You tell him that is moral to believe in this God, and if you do not, you're a bad person (or burn in a lake of fire..). Now, the parent comes to his senses and tells the child there is no God/Devils. What's going to happen?

- The Parent's Authority goes completely down the drain
- The child develops difficulties trusting anything or anyone
- The child's sense of morality goes completely down the crapper
- etc

In reality, no parent will ever tell their children that God doesn't exist, even when it comes becomes apparent to them. However, there is no problem in revealing that there is no Santa. Once you delve into morality, you can never take it back.

 

[tiger9110]

2) You tell your son that God loves him. You tell him that his son died on a cross for everyone's sins. You tell him that he, in fact, is evil, and that he must be cleansed of original sin. You tell him that is moral to believe in this God, and if you do not, you're a bad person (or burn in a lake of fire..). Now, the parent comes to his senses and tells the child there is no God/Devils. What's going to happen?

- The Parent's Authority goes completely down the drain
- The child develops difficulties trusting anything or anyone
- The child's sense of morality goes completely down the crapper
- etc

you view this so single sidedly, there's really nothing I can do debate wise because you just don't consider things from both sides, what kind of parent would tell his child this all at once? It's gradual knowledge that gently tells them this. And if a parent was religious, what makes you think this parent would have such a lack of faith as to tell their child this then get second thoughts.

Again, if the parent did do this he or she should not even be a parent.

Are you serious about the child loosing trust in anything? I find this really silly and hard to believe.

The childs sense of morality goes down the drain. This makes no sense, as all the "lies" the child was told about being evil are now false.

Oh ok, he WANTED to be evil.

In reality, no parent will ever tell their children that God doesn't exist, even when it comes becomes apparent to them. However, there is no problem in revealing that there is no Santa. Once you delve into morality, you can never take it back.

If your saying this would never happen than what does that say about your thesis? It wouldn't happen?

I agree with the Santa thing though

 

[K-3-V-1-N]

you view this so single sidedly, there's really nothing I can do debate wise because you just don't consider things from both sides, what kind of parent would tell his child this all at once? It's gradual knowledge that gently tells them this. And if a parent was religious, what makes you think this parent would have such a lack of faith as to tell their child this then get second thoughts.

Again, if the parent did do this he or she should not even be a parent.

Are you serious about the child loosing trust in anything? I find this really silly and hard to believe.

The childs sense of morality goes down the drain. This makes no sense, as all the "lies" the child was told about being evil are now false.

Oh ok, he WANTED to be evil.



If your saying this would never happen than what does that say about your thesis? It wouldn't happen?

I agree with the Santa thing though

Since you asked me to rephrase once, I think it's fine if I ask you to do the same. That post made little sense to me.

 

[Dr Lauftstein]

I also believe it is a rude awakening when a child finds out about these characters not existing. However, it is usually used as a replacement by a parent to explain some more complex or difficult concept for a child. In this way, parents can just hold off on the bad news until their child will understand why people give them free stuff on Christmas, and where babies really come from. In the case of the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny, it is simply to try to entertain and interest the child.

 

[tiger9110]

Since you asked me to rephrase once, I think it's fine if I ask you to do the same. That post made little sense to me.

I guess it made no sense because yours made no sense , want to leave it like that?

 

[K-3-V-1-N]

I guess it made no sense because yours made no sense , want to leave it like that?

No, not really. What problems do you have with what I said?

When you go into morality, it's extremely hard to take it back. Once you tell a child that it is immoral to not be a Christian (or whatever other Religion) then the effects caused by it will be horrible. And please don't tell me something like 'oh no, you see, that's only some Christians are like that, most of them wouldn't say something like that..'. By installing all the nonsense into fragile young minds, you're saying ALOT. You're basing morality entirely on lies.

I think that's why some new Atheists turn to Nihilism.

 

[tiger9110]

No, not really. What problems do you have with what I said?

</3

When you go into morality, it's extremely hard to take it back.

You speak of this as though it is something physical, and your concept of taking back morality is purely confusing.

Once you tell a child that it is immoral to not be a Christian (or whatever other Religion) then the effects caused by it will be horrible.

Alright, so parents tell kids that its immoral to not follow their religion, why can I not see this scenario happening? And the effects, they will detrimental to their health? Seeing as I have seen many people who have lost faith and lead fairly normal lives.

And please don't tell me something like 'oh no, you see, that's only some Christians are like that, most of them wouldn't say something like that..'.

Some Christians? So now other religions are excluded from your theory. And really, who in this day and age would go on saying things like that. Im speaking in terms of countries where children are treated well and such.

By installing all the nonsense into fragile young minds, you're saying ALOT. You're basing morality entirely on lies.

Again, there is really nothing I can do because your not willing to see it from a religious person point of perspective. Again, basing morality on lies? What does this statement mean?

I think that's why some new Atheists turn to Nihilism.

Oh right, because who needs morality when you don't believe in a heaven or hell.

 

[FreedomFight]

No, not really. What problems do you have with what I said?

lol, I know you're not asking me, but absolutely nothing's wrong.

You should post in the SFA more often, your perspective here is neither confusing nor hard to understand.

 

[Schnell]

I also believe it is a rude awakening when a child finds out about these characters not existing. However, it is usually used as a replacement by a parent to explain some more complex or difficult concept for a child. In this way, parents can just hold off on the bad news until their child will understand why people give them free stuff on Christmas, and where babies really come from. In the case of the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny, it is simply to try to entertain and interest the child.

How is it complex or difficult that people give free gifts? When I was a kid Santa gave me candy (nothing more than a funny gimmick really, now that I think about it), while the real presents were from my parents. I had no trouble accepting that.

 

[Metalwise4u]

There is actually a couple living in alaska that changed there names to mr and ms claus and they actually give presents to kids

 

[tiger9110]

There is actually a couple living in alaska that changed there names to mr and ms claus and they actually give presents to kids

What? This is totally irrelevant to what is being debated about, be sure to actually read what is going on before you post a reply?

 

[Acidman]

How do you feel about all of these fictional characters that parents make their children believe are real.

The Easter Bunny
Tooth Fairy
Santa
The Stork/Lying about where babies come from.

I personally believe that it's setting a bad example to children who are very impressionable and may feel that it's okay to lie as long as it's all fun and games.

My sister cried when she was told that santa isn't real. So my mom had to cover it up with another lie. That he used to live but he died and we do this to honor him.

It's these little lies that we pay no attention to that can corrupt a childs thinking

Santa Claus was not real; but Saint Nicholas was real.

But then again.. we celebrate him on December 6th.

_________

Tell it correctly to your children, take that as a lesson.

 

[Tropical]

True.. but what is there to belive in if we dont have theese charicters

 

[Panzy Wanzy]

It just helps build on your imagination as a child, you'll eventually just grow up and realise for yourself that these things are make-belief.
It's all just fun and games like leaving out food and drink for santa, it's just something that gets children excited.