Woah someone's over-thinking things a little... I believed in Santa as a child. My parents let me believe in him for the same reason they let me believe in fairies and Hogwarts... because it was fun to make-believe and there was nothing more exciting than running downstairs on christmas morning and seeing that Rudolph had eaten his carrot and Santa had left me my presents. It was nothing to do with making me 'behave' over the christmas period - I was a well-behaved kid anyway so there wasn't any need for shit like that. As for when I found out Santa wasn't real... it wasn't a big deal. I just learned that it was mum and dad I should be thanking for the presents and not some pretend guy with a beard. If you really think children are going to develop trust issues when they learn of Santa's non-existence, then I dread to think how much you think children need to be sheltered from other disappointments in life which actually matter. Stories are a great part of being a kid - sounds like you've forgotten how to be one.

#127 - I couldnt have said it better myself. I wish I could give you more than 1 thumbs up.

Couldn't have said it better. I found out Santa wasn't real because my friend told me when I was 11 that she had found her presents from "Santa". So I calmly asked my mam that night and she told me the truth. It didn't shake me to the core and I just knew that asking my mam would get me presents from then on instead of hoping a man from the North Pole would remember to come to my house

Couldn't have said it better. I found out Santa wasn't real because my friend told me when I was 11 that she had found her presents from "Santa". So I calmly asked my mam that night and she told me the truth. It didn't shake me to the core and I ended up just asking my mam for presents and not worrying about whether a man from the North Pole would remember to stop at my house.

Your anti-santa views are kind of extreme. I believed in Santa as a child and it was awesome and comforting, and I cherish the memories I had of Christmas when Santa was still real to me. Santa is a big part of the magic of childhood and for some kids, one of the best parts of childhood, period. No one's going to become a bitter bane to society just because they find out santa isn't real.

It's the magic and make believe behind it. We love make believe things when we're younger. I was fine with my behavior so I didn't have to worry about it. I loved coming downstairs to find the reindeer had eaten the carrots and Santa ate the cookies. I was in 4th or 5th grade when I stopped believing. It wasn't a big deal. I enjoyed the magic and make believe while it lasted. I appreciated the presents I got.

I don't believe it's just the Santa thing, that's just a sort of beginning. You can have fun with the whole Santa thing without actually believing he is a real magical person, as you who now know he is not know. So there is no point to lie about it. You say why not let them be naive and believe in pixies and magic while they can its because there is real 'magic' in life you do not need to be ignorant to be innocent, it is so the opposite and so many people get those confused. So I believe the opposite of what you were insinuating that children should be sheltered from harsh truths, I believe they should be informed and prepared and be knowledgable and in that way kept from the startling slap to the face when they realize it. I grew up around so many over sheltered kids who are now lost as adults, the ones that are even still living. Putting even a seed of ignorance and worse false I formation especially to your own child I see as reckless. And to be honest with yourselves parents do the whole Santa thing more for their own wanting to see their children as 'innocent' being ecstatic over something magical which does not really exist. it is also lying to yourself to think actually being ignorant if the truth of Christmas somehow increased your experience, as you have said you have just as much fun now knowing. And even though it may not have crushed you when you found out you instantly questioned fairies, Easter bunny, tooth fairy, and God, if you are a believer. So yes I believe it is damaging. I am not a Scrooge I don't hate Christmas or Santa and I have not lost my inner child nor my sense of there being magic in the world, what gets to me is the deception. teaching kids to believe in Santa is the same as teaching them to believe in nothing

Not everyone is rich enough to afford a car.

I rode the bus making $7.47 an hour and was too poor to keep a car. Not everyone can afford them. Granted, if you have kids a car really helps with all the errands that appear (and personally I think a car is just as essential as diapers and bottles! You wouldn't not diaper a baby, or feed them or provide transport), and I hate screaming kids.