You are such a fundamentally decent human being. Thank you for all of your efforts. You played a big role in my early days of researching this stuff even before I was here on Stack.
I have thought about the deception of Santa, too. It was fun as a child, but I was devastated when my mother told me the truth. Not because I was sad about Santa not being real, but because she had lied to me. I felt betrayed. Trust was ruptured. It healed over quickly, of course, but encouraging parents to tell lies to children doesn't seem like a healthy practice for psychological and emotional development, especially considering that trust issues can run deep and impact relationships throughout your life.
If I could give this post a million ❤️’s, I would. I agree with an earlier poster that you are fundamentally such a decent human being and we are beyond blessed to have your stack this past year - your humility and integrity personally gave me hope and your data driven science, undeniable.- Thanks to you, I don’t feel beat up by MSM - I feel empowered. Merry Christmas, Igor!!💯👍🏻❤️🎄🇺🇸
Interesting. 😊 I love the "Santa" mythology and its resulting traditions. I like to think it's our modern way of carrying on doing good - and anonymously so that gift-giving and joy is given purely gratuitously with no expectations of thanks and credit.
And despite being a very skeptical person (passed up the experimental jab), I believed in Santa for a looking time because my parents were very good at it. We had Christmas in 3 homes (2 grandparents plus our home) in 2 distant cities. Presents were never there when we left the house or entered the house - nor were they anywhere to be seen among the luggage. It was such a fun "conspiracy ", but I'm sure my parents were relieved when we caught on! 😅
Merry Christmas to you and your family. This is an interesting topic. I was raised like this as everyone, but also as the true meaning of Christmas the birth of Christ. Best of both worlds you could say.
Once I deployed and was affected by PTSD I could no longer go along with narratives that exist in society as before. You see reality differently in war and can't unsee it and go back to the way you were before. This fact alone makes you different in others eyes. I understand it because I used to be there myself. There are many similarities with this and what you are talking about. My filter is gone in many situations. I think that is why our society is asleep to many realities because it is easier to believe in Santa than not.
When my daughter was 5 (she is now 6) she asked me if Santa was real. Rather than answering the question directly, I asked her what she thought. She would not answer. I couldn’t bring myself to lie to her, and I was trying to figure out a way to be truthful with her but also enjoy the fun aspect of Santa and Christmas gift giving. This year she asked me again. I once again asked her what she thought. She sadly said, I don’t think he’s real. With a year of contemplation, I answered back with the following. Hannah, Santa is real. I am Santa and Mommy is Santa too. Her eyes lit up so bright when she learned that Santa is us! We talked a little more. Now as it is Christmas Eve, she ran up to me and said, “I’m so glad you are Santa”! To me being truthful but also gentle to our children’s hearts is so important. I want my daughter to be a truth teller and also be sensitive to others in a way that builds people up! May the Lord bless you Igor😊
A few years ago, my youngest son comes home from school. I'm fairly sure it was Secondary school too, so he's maybe 12 or 13.. But anyway, we're chatting as to how was your day at school. He then tells us that he got in trouble during religion class. We ask why. Well he says, when the teacher asked him to comment on whatever the subject was, he said he couldn't, as he thought the "stories were a bit far fetched" from which, the teacher took issue.
I'm thinking to myself "well done son, have your own thoughts, and don't just lick it up. And what's more, fair dues for speaking up about it". 17 now, but still the same.
Dec 24, 2022·edited Dec 24, 2022Liked by Igor Chudov
The nice/good conspiracies are based on real things. Is Santa real? Well, the dutch introduced Santa Claus here, as Saint Nicolas, his holiday is Dec. 6 and is celebrated on the evening of Dec. 5th. In dutch tradition he is from Spain, in reality he is from Myra Turkey where he was a bishop looking after the poor especially kids. (Oh and it is celebrated here with Christmas, else it would be way to close to Thanksgiving)
Dec 24, 2022·edited Dec 25, 2022Liked by Igor Chudov
When my children would ask if Santa was real, I would smile at them and tell them I didn’t really know for sure because I hadn’t ever actually seen him. And then I would ask them what they think and then I would listen to them. If they were old enough to have doubts, they could tell I was confirming their doubts but letting them know that it was okay to keep pretending and having fun with it. I’ve never actually asked my grown up kids if it was a dramatic let down but I think they figured it out without much drama and then had fun playing along with younger kids.
I don’t know if it was the best way to deal with it but it seemed to be a happy medium between the cold hard truth and total fantasy with elaborate lies. I didn’t play it up and tell stories and things but I didn’t stop them from believing if they wanted to.
Thanks for all your work in exposing the truth of what’s going on through the pandemic response!
I can still hear the bell 🛎️!!Good sign.. don’t need a hearing aid yet ! ... Thank you Igor for all your in depth data analysis and being real and being you! Hope your ankle is feeling better ... Merry Christmas to you and yours ! 🤗🎄💥PS..miss a picture of your dog!
Interesting people never run out of things to talk about and this substack is full of them!! I just came home from the boringest family dinner in the history of the world. Want to know the secret to avoiding this issue? Ask fucking questions! Thank goodness Igor and the rest of you keep asking good questions. I would have much rather had Christmas dinner with any number of you! Happy holidays to everyone. Have a blessed and beautiful celebration!🌟
Merry Christmas, Igor!
You are such a fundamentally decent human being. Thank you for all of your efforts. You played a big role in my early days of researching this stuff even before I was here on Stack.
God Bless you and God Bless your family.
We will never run out of things to discuss 😹
I have thought about the deception of Santa, too. It was fun as a child, but I was devastated when my mother told me the truth. Not because I was sad about Santa not being real, but because she had lied to me. I felt betrayed. Trust was ruptured. It healed over quickly, of course, but encouraging parents to tell lies to children doesn't seem like a healthy practice for psychological and emotional development, especially considering that trust issues can run deep and impact relationships throughout your life.
Wait a minute, Santa isn't real?
If I could give this post a million ❤️’s, I would. I agree with an earlier poster that you are fundamentally such a decent human being and we are beyond blessed to have your stack this past year - your humility and integrity personally gave me hope and your data driven science, undeniable.- Thanks to you, I don’t feel beat up by MSM - I feel empowered. Merry Christmas, Igor!!💯👍🏻❤️🎄🇺🇸
Interesting. 😊 I love the "Santa" mythology and its resulting traditions. I like to think it's our modern way of carrying on doing good - and anonymously so that gift-giving and joy is given purely gratuitously with no expectations of thanks and credit.
And despite being a very skeptical person (passed up the experimental jab), I believed in Santa for a looking time because my parents were very good at it. We had Christmas in 3 homes (2 grandparents plus our home) in 2 distant cities. Presents were never there when we left the house or entered the house - nor were they anywhere to be seen among the luggage. It was such a fun "conspiracy ", but I'm sure my parents were relieved when we caught on! 😅
Merry Christmas to you and your family. This is an interesting topic. I was raised like this as everyone, but also as the true meaning of Christmas the birth of Christ. Best of both worlds you could say.
Once I deployed and was affected by PTSD I could no longer go along with narratives that exist in society as before. You see reality differently in war and can't unsee it and go back to the way you were before. This fact alone makes you different in others eyes. I understand it because I used to be there myself. There are many similarities with this and what you are talking about. My filter is gone in many situations. I think that is why our society is asleep to many realities because it is easier to believe in Santa than not.
When my daughter was 5 (she is now 6) she asked me if Santa was real. Rather than answering the question directly, I asked her what she thought. She would not answer. I couldn’t bring myself to lie to her, and I was trying to figure out a way to be truthful with her but also enjoy the fun aspect of Santa and Christmas gift giving. This year she asked me again. I once again asked her what she thought. She sadly said, I don’t think he’s real. With a year of contemplation, I answered back with the following. Hannah, Santa is real. I am Santa and Mommy is Santa too. Her eyes lit up so bright when she learned that Santa is us! We talked a little more. Now as it is Christmas Eve, she ran up to me and said, “I’m so glad you are Santa”! To me being truthful but also gentle to our children’s hearts is so important. I want my daughter to be a truth teller and also be sensitive to others in a way that builds people up! May the Lord bless you Igor😊
Kind of Santa related.........
A few years ago, my youngest son comes home from school. I'm fairly sure it was Secondary school too, so he's maybe 12 or 13.. But anyway, we're chatting as to how was your day at school. He then tells us that he got in trouble during religion class. We ask why. Well he says, when the teacher asked him to comment on whatever the subject was, he said he couldn't, as he thought the "stories were a bit far fetched" from which, the teacher took issue.
I'm thinking to myself "well done son, have your own thoughts, and don't just lick it up. And what's more, fair dues for speaking up about it". 17 now, but still the same.
"One year, I remember asking my older son quietly, “what do you know about Santa.” “Santa is fake,” was his answer. "
... he was in his early 50s at the time :P...
The nice/good conspiracies are based on real things. Is Santa real? Well, the dutch introduced Santa Claus here, as Saint Nicolas, his holiday is Dec. 6 and is celebrated on the evening of Dec. 5th. In dutch tradition he is from Spain, in reality he is from Myra Turkey where he was a bishop looking after the poor especially kids. (Oh and it is celebrated here with Christmas, else it would be way to close to Thanksgiving)
When my children would ask if Santa was real, I would smile at them and tell them I didn’t really know for sure because I hadn’t ever actually seen him. And then I would ask them what they think and then I would listen to them. If they were old enough to have doubts, they could tell I was confirming their doubts but letting them know that it was okay to keep pretending and having fun with it. I’ve never actually asked my grown up kids if it was a dramatic let down but I think they figured it out without much drama and then had fun playing along with younger kids.
I don’t know if it was the best way to deal with it but it seemed to be a happy medium between the cold hard truth and total fantasy with elaborate lies. I didn’t play it up and tell stories and things but I didn’t stop them from believing if they wanted to.
Thanks for all your work in exposing the truth of what’s going on through the pandemic response!
Those who don’t believe in Santa get underwear for Christmas.... (I’ve got this sign in my house:)
I can still hear the bell 🛎️!!Good sign.. don’t need a hearing aid yet ! ... Thank you Igor for all your in depth data analysis and being real and being you! Hope your ankle is feeling better ... Merry Christmas to you and yours ! 🤗🎄💥PS..miss a picture of your dog!
Interesting people never run out of things to talk about and this substack is full of them!! I just came home from the boringest family dinner in the history of the world. Want to know the secret to avoiding this issue? Ask fucking questions! Thank goodness Igor and the rest of you keep asking good questions. I would have much rather had Christmas dinner with any number of you! Happy holidays to everyone. Have a blessed and beautiful celebration!🌟
thanks for being such a great teacher, igor. your kids are so lucky to have you.
Santa Clause is the ultimate in consumerism and making the children believe in fantasy is the beginning of indoctrination.