holiday hate

[jinian]

I hate hate hate hate hate fake Christmas presents. They are Tacky And Awful. They are in the lobby here at the lovely office building.

(Maybe I will limit myself to reviling one winter-holiday thing each year, to save myself time and effort.)

The office building situation is particularly annoying. A tree went up, a pretty tree sparkling in gold and dark red, a little gaudy but not bad; unfortunately, it was there the Monday before Thanksgiving. I don't remember what I said exactly, but I stated my disgust aloud before I could stop myself. (I do remember that it wasn't "fucksake", and no one snickered, so it was probably pretty mild.) The true irksomeness, though, was only revealed the Monday after Thanksgiving, when the presents arrived. Wrapped in slightly different ways, but uniformly gold and red, they sneered ridiculously from beneath and behind the tree. They look idiotic -- do I get a present from Big Brother Landlord, what? -- and the worst part is that if they'd left them off and kept the donation boxes, which are dorky but cheerful, it would have actually been good lobby decoration. Too much to ask, I know.

The potted tropical plants look dopey in the same room with the tree, but I know better than to try to get that fixed.

Comments

[torquemada.livejournal.com]

It has occurred to me that, as is so often the case, diligent application of fire can solve all of your problems at work.

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

4 years in florida exposed me to so many bizarre and contradictory xmas displays that I've come to sort of enjoy them in my own limited way. fake presents seem almost theologically wrong though (the xmas spirit is??). I've never worked any place TOO too into it, human services is always 'sensitive' to multi cultural issues in this weird 'no no it's not XMAS it's just SOME WINTER HOLIDAY A LOT LIKE IT' way that's sort of the next stage in development from the tropical plant/fake tree combos.

[elynne.livejournal.com]

I despise the "wrap empty cardboard boxes in wrapping paper to look like presents" tactic. Hate, hate, hate. So I'm right there with you.

"Merry Christmas! Santa brought you - a big box of NOTHING!" ;P

[torquemada.livejournal.com]

I don't know, there's something apt (and funny-though-not-very-haha, in a postmodern way) about a corporation putting up an expensive and gaudy tree, and then leaving empty presents for the employees underneath.

[elynne.livejournal.com]

I think it's a metaphor for employee's 401K plans. "Merry Christmas! Oh, by the way, WE OWZOR J00, CORPORATE SLAVES! HAHA!"

[coyotegirl.livejournal.com]

I'd be tempted to stage some geurilla performance art. Have a couple people dress up like kids, sit down around the tree, and eagerly tear into the presents.

"This one's for you, Billy!"

*ripriprip* "Hmm, it's empty! That's odd..."

"Here, try another one."

"AAA! This one's empty, too! What's going on?"

"Santa doesn't really hate us that much, does he?"

Then start crying and throwing temper tantrums.

[torquemada.livejournal.com]

If you got someone to wear something like a cross between a Santa suit and a three-piece suit who walked in, pointed, and laughed at the children, that would be the best Christmas play ever.

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

I hate it when stores and businesses decorate for Christmas using a row of stockings with all the employees' names on them. To me, stockings are for home . Are you telling me that your employees consider this copy shop / fast food restaurant their home?