That time of year

[sobrique]

That time of year again approaches once more.
The one where the subtle forces of marketing of the florists, card shops and chocolatiers of the world exert a subtle pressure on all the adults of the world.
The message is a simple one. If you are a couple, and don't buy them lots of pink fluffy cutesy stuff, you don't really love them.
If you're single, then clearly you are a freak, and must desperately and urgently go and proposition someone by Feb 14th, or go and hide in the corner, with a bag over your head.

Tosh and piffle.

For those who do not wish to give into the subtle pressure of the marketing division of Clinton Cards, I propose a 'nothing to do with valentines day meal'. For those who are single, and revel in it. (Or who are single and not really revelling in it) Or those who are not, but don't need a marketing department to tell them how/when to be romantic.

Venue to be (in order of where I'll ring if they're full):
Monsoon Restaurant
Farmhouse
Pizza Hut
Wing Wah

(Other suggestions accepted).

So comment if you're interested. I'm expecting that they might be busy, so will be looking to be booking on Friday or so. Looking like a 7pm 'get there'. Possibly drinkies before/after, depending on proximity of appropriate drinking establishments.

Comments

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Erm. I was looking to get together some numbers first, just to avoid having to ring up with 'oh, and add a couple more please'.

I've not been to Etna. Wouldn't mind doing so, but it kind struck me as a place that would be busy on that particular day.

So, were you up for it?

[velvet-nothing.livejournal.com]

I'll probably come along. But I refuse to pretend I think Valentines is something I disapprove of or want to rebel against, because it's not. I think it's lovely that we have a day of the year devoted to celebrating love. After all, love is what keeps a lot of people going when nothing else would. I find that whenever I'm in a relationship and it's V Day, I *want* to do/buy/make things for the person I'm with. I certainly don't do it because of some kind of commercial pressure. And yeah, I'd be disappointed if my partner didn't feel they could make the effort for me, too. Someone gave me a lock of their hair once, which was sweet. I still have it... so now I can do voodoo spells on them!

Of course, I'll probably have to sit with that paper bag over my head and mope if I come out for the meal, as I'm not expecting floods of red roses this year. In fact, I will most likely be downright miserable. But company might help.

Let me know what arrangements are decided upon.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Why do you want to do these things on that particular day of the year though, as opposed to the _other_ 364?

[velvet-nothing.livejournal.com]

I always make the effort and I'm very into romantic gestures. It's not that I don't do these things the rest of the year; I just think it's nice that we've set a day aside to have... well, kind of a national celebration of something as important love. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Plus, it's an opportunity to tell someone you like them in a cheeky, not-too-serious way, when you might be too nervous to do it otherwise. It can be fun.

[mister-jack.livejournal.com]

How does that follow in the slightest?

"I like to do something nice on this day"
"Really? You unromantic cad! Why don't you do it on these other days?!?"
"Er... Did I say that?"

Doing romantic things on Valentines day doesn't mean you don't do them on the other days it just means you do do them on Valentines Day.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

It doesn't. The distinction is that on the other 364 days it's not like your mum nagging you to tidy your room.

[velvet-nothing.livejournal.com]

Oh, for fucks sake! Lets not have fireworks on November 5 then, or celebrate Christmas, Easter, Pancake Day, New Year or any other occasion that might just be enjoyable!

If we're getting silly about this, one could ask why you're organising a nothing-to-do-with-valentines event on valentines day. Why not have one on, say April 20th?

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Celebrating an event is no big deal either way.
Celebrating an event because you believe in it is commendable.
Celebrating an event because 'you feel you should' or because 'everyone else is' or because 'the industry says so' is contemptible.

[velvet-nothing.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but many people do celebrate it for the right reasons. Personally, I think it's a lovely idea.

If you were in a relationship, would you do anything to celebrate?

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Every day :)

However that not being the case, the anti-celebration will have to suffice.

[mister-jack.livejournal.com]

"Contemptible"? That's rather a strong term, don't you think?

Fact is, we humans are social creatures subject to the influence and effect of the culture and societies of which we are part and the people with whom we interact. We do [i]all sorts[/i] of things simply because "we feel we should" or because "everyone else is" and, you know what, that's how we manage to live together in relative harmony.

Sure, living your whole life according to what others think is pretty lame but the idea that you can live your life entirely seperate to that is absurd.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

How about "mildly contemptible" then?

I'm fairly sure I didn't say you can just ignore society as a whole. If I did, I didn't intend to. Following 'socially acceptable' in terms of antisocial behaviour is a fairly positive thing - in theory it's relatively subtle.

I don't think that taking up smoking because all your friends at school do is a good idea. I don't think that driving an SUV because all the other mums do is a good idea.

But I was talking about events. Festivals. Whatever. If you celebrate christmas, valentines day, or ... well a whole selection of events out of a sense of conformity, you are doing so for entirely the wrong reasons.

[mister-jack.livejournal.com]

If you get something out of it, it doesn't really matter why you did it in the first place, does it?

I mean if you hated Valentines Day and then did it anyway 'cos society said you should, that'd be contemptible.

[elrohana.livejournal.com]

I agree with Sobrique. And I would go with his original assessment of 'contemptible'. But then I don't watch TV and I hate the whole herd mentality, socially acceptable, sheep thing. I celebrate the festivals that mean something to me personally and if anyone tries to tell me otherwise, they are likely to be told politely that its none of their business. So I can totally understand someone wanting to do an 'anti-Valentines-Day' bit of socialising. And I haven't been single on Valentines Day since I was 13 (and I'm now 40) so my antipathy towards what Valentines Day has become nothing to do with not being in a relationship.