Can we cancel Christmas already? I feel guilty about participating because its senselessly wasteful vapid consumerism and feel guilty not participating because of the group shame projected at me for being a pessimistic grinch.

I think its the disingenuousness of the whole experience is what makes me so annoyed. Like all the store muzak switches to Christmas hits, not because they want to, but because that's what you're supposed to do because that's what all the other stores do. So the wage slave employees experience this Chinese water torture on top of having no health insurance and being berated by selfish customers. Its almost cruel.

Its like the pieces of flair scene from Office Space. The whole act of forced participation ruins the holiday. In high school we would do pep rallies/spirit week, which I hated, but at least they gave you the option to opt out. Its a very strange ritual to me that I wanted no part of-- I'd much rather spend an hour in the school library with the goths and burnouts than painting class colors on my face to prove somehow the junior class was superior to the sophomore class because they could collectively scream louder when prompted.

But there is no opt-out for Christmas. Nevermind if you aren't relgious, Xmas Fundamentals will argue its vague ties to family togetherness, which is why you need a $200 nine-foot inflatable reindeer in the front yard. Nevermind if you have a different religion or set of beliefs-- you are in the minority here and how dare you ruin Christmas for your wacky non-Santa ideas.

If you don't go along with the corporate-mandated Christmas spirit, you'll be labeled a pessimistic asshole. Everyone kind of goes through the motions, because that's what you're supposed to do I guess, and that's what everyone else is doing.

How can one opt-out of Christmas without looking like nihilistic doomer??

Also, Chapo thoughts on Dolly Parton? It seems she's always trying to do good but honestly I don't know much about her.