[CHAT] Valentine's, Schmalentine's
With Valentine's Day coming up and the stores being filled with flowers and chocolates to sell, it's time to get a little romantic. Valentine's Day makes itself very apparent when it near arguably rivals Christmas even though it's celebrated by a lot less people.
"What if I don't have a special someone to celebrate it with?", some of you are surely thinking. Ever felt the pressure heighten particularly on this day or see it as a stark reminder of what you're missing? Well you've found the perfect discussion!
So how do you feel about Valentines Day and the pressure from Cupid? Just a meaningless holiday or a nice reminder to appreciate the people we love in our life? Share your thoughts by joining us here on Valentine's Day Eve at 8pm AEDT on Monday, February 13th to discuss what is truly important on Valentine's Day!
Interesting answers everyone, its time for our next question
What do you think are some positive and negative aspects of Valentines day?
What do you think are some positive and negative aspects of Valentines day?
+
- Like has been said, it gives people the chance to accent their appreciation for each other
- Cheap chocolate
- Can be an opportunity to spoil ones partner in a way that you might only be able to do every so often
- Bees
-
- Can make people feel left out or lonely
- Is one of those commercialised holidays (i feel like that's spelt wrong...)
- You should show appreciation for your partner every day, not just the 14th of feb
There are probably others, I just can't think of them rn 😛
What do you think are some positive and negative aspects of Valentines day?
Positives
- Its a great reason to remind your significant other or those in your life of how much you love and appreciate them
- I've found that in some communities it evokes a certain atmosphere of admiration and appreciation for one another
- Presents
- Chocolate
Negatives
- Someone said something about it accentuating gender roles in our society
- People feeling obliged to go to great lengths to express their love for someone when it could be as simple as telling them
- It can cause people who are insecure or sad about being single or having lost someone to be upset
- Dark chocolate
- Flowers die eventually
What do you think are some positive and negative aspects of Valentines day?
Positives
- oppurtunity to remind you or your significant other to how much you love and appreciate them
Negatives
- Can be upsetting for those with nobody
- Commercialised
- Can be competitive which is sad cause spending lots of money on someone doesnt neccesrily mean you love them
What do you think are some positive and negative aspects of Valentines day?
Pos - reminds us to show our friends some love.
Neg - people not in relationships can feel left out or there might be a bit of tension created in relationships.
What do you think are some positive and negative aspects of Valentines day?
Pos: having an opportunity to reinforce the love and gratitude you have for your partner/s. Having a good reason to get gifts and flowers for your loved one. You get to make pretty Valentine's Day cards. Chocolate. BEES!
Negs: Highly commercialised, makes a lot of profit for big businesses. Often perpetuates the assumption that everyone is straight and or wants a partner (so kind of erases aromantic and other queer people). We should care about people we love every day. Painful for people who have suffered loss or who are lonely. Suggests that romantic love is the best kind of love, like friendship and stuff are pretty great too.
I can see how people use valentines day as a special day to really accent how much they care about their partner. Because I don't have one (nor do I care about having one) it's never been a big deal for me, which is probably why I don't really care about the day.
How do you feel about Valentines Day
I'd rather take every day as an opportunity to show my boyfriend that I love him - but its a really good excuse to spoil someone, do something special and really emphasise how much you appreciate and admire someone in your life.
How do you feel about Valentine's Day?
It annoys me a bit tbh. It's very commercialised and I think that in a relationship there are more important things than chocolate and stuff, and the important stuff should happen everyday, not once a year. Although I know a lot of people like it and hey, stuffed animals are on sale 
@DruidChild it is definitely an opportunity for companies to get more sales 😛
How do you feel about Valentines day?
I think as a concept it's pretty neat, although I can see how for a lot of people it could be tough. It hasn't been a very significant day in my life so far 😛
I get the whole you should treat your partner nicely everyday but its nice for people who are in relationships and stuff. I haven't really paid much attention to it but chocolate is pretty cheap right now. I guess sometimes its good just have those days where you get to reminded of what you've got.
I think that's a good point, @j95 and I totally agree that it's great as a day to remind us of what we have. A few times I've had friends make me and other friends cards for Valentine's Day, and I feel enormously grateful for the connections that I have in my life, romantic or not
Like a sort of day of gratitude @j95? I like that idea.
Someone once told me that St Valentine was also the patron saint of bees, not sure if that's true though! Could be a fun holiday though.
@DruidChild It says on wikipedia that he's a patron of beekeepers?? HAHAAHHa idk how legit this information is...
