Now many of you are primed to ignore what I'm saying, because no one wants to feel like a puppet on a string. But if wages are stagnating while costs rise everywhere is that just how the economy goes...or is that a lot of market manipulation because rich people make money from suffering?

What on earth made you think they were talking about cis men? It's okay to admit you made a mistake instead of attacking.

You also can not separate the art from the artist if the artist REFUSES to let you separate it. This woman has said multiple times that every consumption of her creation is an endorsement of her views. No matter how loud you say you dislike her views, as long as you consume her art, you support her.

I think my mom was extra pissy about it because of two failed relationships with Christian guys. So we'd HAD a tree when I was 5 and then at 6 it was "no, none of that for us". I just wanted bright lights and festive meals.

There would be a gathering at my grandparents (maternal, dad & his side weren't in the picture) but that was always pretty fraught and opening presents isn't much fun when Grandma is harping on you to be careful so she can reuse the paper.

Yeah, when I was a kid my mother was solidly NO CHRISTMAS STUFF and didn't want fried stuff and generally was Done with Hanukkah by day 3 and I was just a sad lonely kid. Now I can fry my own latkes and make my own holiday fuss.

Nope. It's a fucking Christmas thing.

I love Hanukkah but in a "lighting candles in my living room and eating fried stuff" way, not in a "want the whole city to look like a Maccabee parade float for a month" way.

Thank you! I had wanted one for a while and got it on sale, and I am delighted to report that the cats do indeed sit in it sometimes.