for very online atheists/skeptics, the three worst things for children are lax gun regulations, Santa Claus, and YouTube videos gently mocking their hatred of Santa Claus while sharing interesting research on children's cognition (in reverse order) - ThreadSky

skepchick.org • 93 days ago

for very online atheists/skeptics, the three worst things for children are lax gun regulations, Santa Claus, and YouTube videos gently mocking their hatred of Santa Claus while sharing interesting research on children's cognition
(in reverse order)

Comments

darthyoshi.com•93 days ago

Loved the video and it's great to see Terry Pratchett once again vindicated by actual research. I mean, it's not exactly the same but I think it's probably the other side of the same coin.

velaethia.bsky.social•93 days ago

Even if you disagree with telling kids about Santa I wouldn't put it in a top 10 list of things that we do regularly that harm children.

darkexcalibur42.bsky.social•93 days ago

Santa's gotta start handing out lumps of coal for terrible youtube comments

benmffowler.bsky.social•93 days ago

Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

I think of that paradoxical line whenever someone tries to tell me is always right or wrong, good or bad. It's an extremely simplistic outlook that they think is super smart for how simple it is.

guanolad.bsky.social•93 days ago

I'd pick Satan as a major issue ahead of Santa on this issue. Religion is the truly insidious problem.

stinkyswampbeast.bsky.social•93 days ago

Wow what dipshits

jggreen13.bsky.social•93 days ago

I'm both an atheist and a skeptic, and I love the whole Santa Claus thing! Some atheists are so weird about their beliefs that they wrap back around dangerously into fundamentalist Christian territory. It's like both extremes meet, and generally touch tips.

berserkerpiglet.bsky.social•93 days ago

The big question is if learning about Santa teaches skepticism… what can teach whatever the word for not being very online is? Can we somehow rope the Easter bunny into it?

judgejudeau.bsky.social•93 days ago

Other than the whole critical thinking skills development thing lying to children about tons of mythical creatures just
makes life a little more fun when you're little

People calling it insidious is ✨ priceless ✨

erikgunderson.bsky.social•93 days ago

And they think the reason they aren't popular is anti-atheist bigotry.

genuinecharlie.bsky.social•93 days ago

I was in attendance for your Skepticon 3 talk and I thought it was great. More Pot-Licker content please!

https://youtu.be/wkXcbySuSvI?feature=shared

sonjadahl.bsky.social•93 days ago

If it weren't for the lies told about Santa, I don't know if I would have developed my critical thinking skills at such a young age (Santa, a pretty easy debunk if you're a smart kid). 😀

mr-ewe.bsky.social•93 days ago

I'm 38 and my dad (65) still talks to me like Santa is real, I play along because I don't want to break his poor old heart.

skepchick.org•93 days ago

yep same, that's how I feel! Santa is like the training part in the video game where they teach you the basic mechanics so you know how to fight real enemies later (Jesus)

hey-bobert.bsky.social•93 days ago

I follow an exvangelical creator on tiktok who was literally just talking about this bc Santa wasn't allowed in her house growing up for this exact reason.

sonjadahl.bsky.social•78 days ago

I just found this video and it's a nice summation of this thread: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuRbu_InM-M

daubhinb.bsky.social•93 days ago

FWIW, I’m with you: Guns are worse than Santa Claus! (Loved the video, BTW!)

antioccident.bsky.social•92 days ago

lmao these guys should just recognize their own childhood traumas and get into therapy about it instead of acting it out in comments

geoknowsbest.bsky.social•93 days ago

As an atheist for the past 29 years, I really don't have a problem with Santa Claus. I don't even have a problem with theism. It's the organizations and political/social influence they wield.

agomist.bsky.social•93 days ago

I mean, if we *really* wanted to get into "insidious lies" we tell children Santa Claus would be so far down on the list it wouldn't register.

(Obviously, in this scenario, ignoring the reality of what being horrifically honest with a child would do to their mental state/health)

cleon42.bsky.social•93 days ago

Not having kids OR being the Christmassy type, I don't really have a dog in this fight...But Santa is one of the most horrid things to worm its way into our culture? Really? Not, say, Trumpism? Or Kid Rock? Or circus peanuts?

cozyrae.bsky.social•93 days ago

I’m with you on the first two, but don’t come for my circus peanuts. 😂

skepchick.org•93 days ago

honestly how did circus peanuts even happen. I refuse to look this up but can we blame the Teapot Dome guy?

cleon42.bsky.social•93 days ago

I assumed it was Reagan's fault. That's usually a safe bet.

justcollier.bsky.social•93 days ago

COUNTERPOINT : Circus Peanuts have actual value. A) it's fun to wonder How The Fuck Did This Get Popular It Is So Nasty and also Why Is It Called Peanut & Is Peanut Shaped Yet Not Peanut Flavor, and B) like all marshmallow-type confections, they're hilarious to microwave. (Not as hilarious as Peeps)

the-greetest.bsky.social•93 days ago

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/skeptical

epigrammatickat.bsky.social•93 days ago

Wow. I can't help feeling like many of the people responding to this thread are operating on the same wavelength as people who claim bullying is somehow healthy because they survived it without major scars.

epigrammatickat.bsky.social•93 days ago

I'm also reminded of how many times I've been told that, because religious faith comforts some people and is otherwise not that of a big deal, it's just churlish when Satanic Temple is forming atheism groups in grade schools and atheists/secularists demand more representation in gov or the media.

epigrammatickat.bsky.social•93 days ago

Considering at least 4 documentaries have dropped in the last year, detailing how Christian supremacy and white nationalism movements have systematically taken control of our electorate, and the roll gun culture and the NRA have played in that process... It's all very 'the chicken or the egg'.

drgsallday.bsky.social•93 days ago

Remember when Dawkins said in The God Delusion that teaching children about hell was equivalent to sexual abuse? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

hottraktor.bsky.social•93 days ago

One is obvious, the other insignificant.

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