Valentine's Day!

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[quote name='Shinmaru']I don't know why, but that reminded me of some bizarre heart-shaped candies that a friend gave to me a couple of years ago. They were regular heart-shaped candies, except they had messages like "Let's Read!" and some other stuff that you wouldn't expect to find on a candy heart lol. I might have made a myOtaku post about it, but that would've been ages ago, and I don't feel like digging it up.[/quote]

[color=darkviolet]I've never gotten hearts like those...thank Goddess.

I've gotten the other dumb message hearts though... you know the ones that say things like: 'page me' and 'lover boy'.

They sell pillows like that at Target. I got my husband one that says 'I'm Yours'. It's bright orange. I don't know why they had it in bright orange, but oh well.

I'm not too big of a fan of Valentine's Day because one of my ex's cheated on me on Valentine's Day. Then he lied about it and gave me a wilted rose. WHat a dork. I hit him.[/color]

[Brasil]

[quote name='Charles]That's a [i]terrible[/i], short-sighted view I wouldn't have expected you to take. I'm taken aback. You're ignoring the primary criticism of over-commercializing the holiday. The point is that it's silly to promote the idea that people should lavish their loved ones with gifts on a designated day. Aisles of sweets and balloons aren't the focus of intelligent criticism's attributed to Valentine's Day. They don't detract from the holiday. On the contrary,[i] the holiday itself [/i]is transparent and silly. [b]If you love someone and cherish their companionship, you should show them on a daily basis.[/b'] Placing importance on one day out of the year where people must put a price tag on their love is more of a hindrance in my opinion. It's obvious that Valentine's Day is a very superficial holiday, make no mistake about it.[/quote]I've bolded the statement, Charles, and I [b]do[/b]. But people in this very thread are condemning V-Day based on Consumerism/Capitalism/Dollar-Sign Eyes. I can quote the posts if you'd like. They're condemning V-Day because they see rows and rows of pink and white, of boxes of chocolates.

I'm not defending the Capitalist price-gouging. Why would I? It's consumer extortion.

Am I going to ***** and moan about the price-gouging, though? No, I'm not. Why would I? Okay, so we live in a Capitalist society. Big fricking deal. I don't worry about it. The system isn't a huge concern for me; and even though I do make a point to pay attention to it and plan my life accordingly...I don't let it bother me.

So it's one day out of 365 where people tell you to treat your loved one extra-special. What's the big deal with that?

If you're inconsiderate 364 days per year, then I can see how that's a problem, because you feel you're being coerced into doing something you never do anyway (i.e., act in a loving manner). But quite frankly, if one needs V-Day to get them to get all nicey-nicey, then they're not worth the space they take up.

But if you are lovey-dovey most of the time to begin with, why would V-Day bother you? It becomes a non-issue.

How is complaining about it going to help, anyway? Complaining doesn't do anything. Doing does something.

I haven't sold-out to the system, as it were, but I do understand the value of working [i]around[/i] the system. Look at (most of) the people who hate V-Day. They only hate it because they fight it; they only fight it because they're miserable; and they're miserable because they hate the fact that they're alone...and the trick there is to just not worry about it. You're single, okay, so you're single. Who cares?

I'd compare it to my Philosophy of Religion course. Okay, so you're having a tough time "getting" how the prof teaches. Who cares? Don't whine; don't complain. Take it and run with it. Have fun, and I think that really can be applied here, as well.

Just have fun with the idea of V-Day. Just have fun with it. If you're involved with someone, great, enjoy it. If you're single, goof off. Have a party, whatever.

The issue isn't V-Day. The issue isn't the vapid, superficial excuse of a day that is Feb 14th. The issue isn't CVS' aisles of teddy bears.

The issue here is people just don't want to take control of their lives and do something pro-active instead of whining about it.

[quote]Valentine's Day can be positive in that it can help people establish new relationships. I'm not completely against it; I just don't think it should be used to celebrate existing ones since, like Christmas, it becomes more about the gifts themselves than loved ones spending time together. If anything, it detracts from happiness between a couple because people are being forced to buy gifts, there's no surprise or consideration involved. It just seems hollow to me.[/QUOTE][quote name='Siren']As long as you're not just buying crap randomly, stuff that you know people wouldn't appreciate, and wouldn't enjoy on any real level, what's the problem there? I mean, honestly. I can understand getting annoyed with those who do just grab whatever and giftwrap it, but to condemn the holiday because of that? That's just asinine, quite frankly.[/quote]I already had hit that point about the shallowness of gifts. Gifts are only shallow when you let them be shallow, Charles.

For V-Day, Melissa and I are going rock/wall climbing on Sunday. We're both really excited about it, because it's something fun and goofy, and "fun and goofy" means a lot to the both of us, because we're both fun and goofy people. Next Friday I'm taking her to dinner at Red, Hot, and Blue, a terrific BBQ place in Cherry Hill that we both really dig.

Just illustrates my point that gifts are only shallow when you let them be shallow. If you really think about what you're getting someone, and know that they'll either enjoy it or appreciate it...then there is no issue at all. The only issue about V-Day is in your head, in your approach.

[James]

[color=#334366]I don't think Valentine's Day is a serious issue really. I think that even if you're in a loving relationship, you can just use the day to do something extra fun and goofy.

Or you can just do what you'd normally do. It's no biggie.

I didn't think I'd have anyone to spend this year's Valentine's Day with, though now I apparently do. But either way, I don't think it has much impact on me. If I'm with someone, V-Day is just a good excuse to be extra silly or something.[/color]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson]I'm a romanticist at heart [I blame my mother ;) ]. Valentine's Day is something I haven't properly experienced. What I mean is that I haven't had a proper loved one to spend that day with, haha. I don't really feel like wallowing in the fact I haven't experienced it with someone yet, heh. I focus on the "yet" part of that sentence. Eventually, I'll have a nice stereotypical Valentine's Day with [hopefully] a lovely girl, yeah? Just gotta go with the flow.

I don't see any problems with the holiday itself. To me it's not just one day to show your love- it's a celebration of all the love you have shown and will show. To your significant other, to your friends, your family, etc. Of course, I don't really know all that much about the actual history of this holiday. Heck, I've never even celebrated it properly, right? But, that is what it would mean to me if I observed it, methinks.

As for commercialization, well yeah. That seems hard to avoid in a capitalist country. It only detracts value from the holiday if you let it, I think. But, that's my opinion.

Oh well. Whomever you are and however you feel about it I hope you have a fine day this Feb the 14th.[/color]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[color=darkviolet]I'm a bit of a romantic too, but unlike Deathknight I don't blame my mom. Actually I could blame my mom because I was born a Leo and Leo's are very romantic people.

Today I'm going to spread the love with whichever horse I ride during my lesson. Probably Rosie, pregnant Rosie with an attitude to rival anyone else horse or human. But still, I'm going to share love with Rosie because she's a good horse.

Tomorrow I'm going to call my daughter's pediatrician because Abby won't stop scratching herself and her exema isn't getting batter.THen I'm going to try and find a dentist. I'm also going to watch the 2nd half of Ayashi no Ceres and maybe SailorMoon. Yeah, feel the love.

Tuesday I'm paying my car payment, my student loan and getting an oil change and my tires rotated, then I'm going to buy a box of discounted candy. Because February 15th is where all the love really is![/color]

[Yume Tenshi]

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone who cares sorry about whatever i said i was reall pissed and stuff so i like to say i love each and everyone at otakuboards and mostly to me and to the people there who spend this holiday alone .

[Roxas]

I also am sorry for what i said. I was pissed too. But now im fine. this is the first v-day that ive ever had a girl friend for (which happens to be my first) YAY! HAPPY V-DAY!