61 replies to this topic

[l0rd]

Originally contrived as a way to celebrate the success of the Plymouth Plantation in the colonies by means of exploitation of the indigenous, Thanksgiving has since transformed into something much more ambiguous. Interpreted by some as the time of the year where thanks are given to something, I guess the world, the Universe, or to one's respective God for food, technology, their life, family, etc.

As an atheist, a skeptic, and someone who doesn't care about holidays, I find myself slightly sickened by this holiday every year it comes around.

Not to say that I don't find myself lucky in my current situation, living in a decent home in America, well fed, insured, having a good education and so on. But why should we give thanks? In a civilization that indirectly pushes down the unfortunate and allows for greater opportunity those who were born in such situations, I find the whole thing a bit selfish. It just seems a bit oxymoronic to me that those who lead fortunate lives to celebrate their luck/success/fortune in a traditionally gluttonous way.

From this, I've concluded that I am not thankful for anything, aside from favors directly given to me by other people. And in fact giving thanks in the context of my beliefs would be nothing less than arrogance.

I am not thankful for our medical technology, but rather the people who advanced it. It is a fact that the desire for humans to live longer, healthy lives and thanking the world or our species for bringing about our advancement is the same as thanking any other scientific fact. I wouldn't thank the "universe" for giving me gravity.
I am not thankful for being alive. Out of all the possible outcomes of my mother and biological father of procreating, I just happened to be the product. Thousands of other people could have existed, it is nothing but chance. That would be like thanking the government for letting you winning the lottery.

And so on...

More onto the belief side of things, I think the whole concept of giving thanks to be a bit dumb. Why must we give thanks to non-living world or universe? Possibly the issue lies within the insecurities within the human psyche, thinking that if we give thanks, we feel a little less bad about letting half the world rot in their own poo (figuratively speaking), or in the case of the founders of this holiday, having a cleaner conscience about committing genocide against the Native American population.

Anyways, I didn't make this thread solely so we can discuss my views on this holiday.
What does Thanksgiving mean to you? I'm curious as to why people (specifically people who don't think they are talking to a deity who can hear them) feel the need to give thanks, and what this holiday means to you.

[The_Gabe]

What Thanksgiving Means to You

Nothing.

[Orpheus]

All I really care about is the food. Otherwise it's just another normal day.

nomnomnom

[champion]

Saying thanks for what we have, getting together with family and friends, and eating food.

[Maxingmck]

the party for pilgrims 99 sailing

[1230abcz]

No school. Thank you pilgrims for killing off a couple thousand native americans and giving us a week off. I luv j00 <33333333

[Nadril]

It's a time for families to get together and have a great meal. I don't see any issue with that. You're really overlooking this entire thing, you don't need to over-examine and scrutinize every single holiday. I mean just enjoy them for what they are, a time to get around , have some fun and eat all you can. And then the morning after you can act like the good little American you are and go shopping .

[nerdboyxxx]

Thanksgiving... Hmmm, well Idk really. Hang on.. a fly...

*death stares*

Alright, well I dont'even know the point of thanksgiving so its completely lost to me...

[1230abcz]

Thanksgiving... Hmmm, well Idk really. Hang on.. a fly...

*death stares*

Alright, well I dont'even know the point of thanksgiving so its completely lost to me...

To celebrate farming. Farming and genocide.

[Star_Fox]

basically, you spend the whole day thinking about something you're thankful for.

and a big feast.

[tripsis]

To me Thanksgiving is a day to spend with extended family.. and eat a lot

[firestrike]

Stupid Americans tryong to shove everything they have down every other countries throats.
Thanksgiving to me is a shocking rs update, and a load of boring american movies with no relvance to me.

[Saru Inc]

Stupid Americans tryong to shove everything they have down every other countries throats.
Thanksgiving to me is a shocking rs update, and a load of boring american movies with no relvance to me.

What someone's got a chip on their shoulder.


I'm thankful that I'm alive. Everyday I hear stories of people getting in fatal car crashes while "just running a quick errand." etc. But besides being alive, I'm not grateful.

[nerdboyxxx]

I like farming .

[firestrike]

I am just annoyed that as someone who doesnt celebrate / ever will have anything to do with thanksgiving it is forced down my throut by jagex, and is given an update over a decent quest update.
Americans think they are the only important people alive, however they will barely be world superpowers for too much longer. Have terrible health care, a huge debt to China, and are to egocentric
to act on Carbon emmissions. Why do we celebrate the holiday only celbrated in ONE country it is ridiculous and the Americans need to take a step back and realise they are merely a blip on the
world map like everyone else.

[nerdboyxxx]

I am just annoyed that as someone who doesnt celebrate / ever will have anything to do with thanksgiving it is forced down my throut by jagex, and is given an update over a decent quest update.
Americans think they are the only important people alive, however they will barely be world superpowers for too much longer. Have terrible health care, a huge debt to China, and are to egocentric
to act on Carbon emmissions. Why do we celebrate the holiday only celbrated in ONE country it is ridiculous and the Americans need to take a step back and realise they are merely a blip on the
world map like everyone else.

I'm afraid that the blip you are talking about also contains Nuclear Missiles and one of the best military forces in the world .

I like farming!

[1230abcz]

I like farming!

[Toki_Hakurei]

I am just annoyed that as someone who doesnt celebrate / ever will have anything to do with thanksgiving it is forced down my throut by jagex, and is given an update over a decent quest update.
Americans think they are the only important people alive, however they will barely be world superpowers for too much longer. Have terrible health care, a huge debt to China, and are to egocentric
to act on Carbon emmissions. Why do we celebrate the holiday only celbrated in ONE country it is ridiculous and the Americans need to take a step back and realise they are merely a blip on the
world map like everyone else.

Being biased against people based on where they live is just plain pitiful. It's like saying people from the countryside should be shot when they enter a major city because they live in an area with little technology, but with stronger family ties.

On Topic: I am thankful for my loving mother and caring father.

[Zierro]

I just see holidays as an excuse to party. I don't care about the meaning behind them.

[Saru Inc]

I am just annoyed that as someone who doesnt celebrate / ever will have anything to do with thanksgiving it is forced down my throut by jagex, and is given an update over a decent quest update.
Americans think they are the only important people alive, however they will barely be world superpowers for too much longer. Have terrible health care, a huge debt to China, and are to egocentric
to act on Carbon emmissions. Why do we celebrate the holiday only celbrated in ONE country it is ridiculous and the Americans need to take a step back and realise they are merely a blip on the
world map like everyone else.

What someone's got a chip on their shoulder. A whole [cabbage] load of chips. Were you punished on Thanksgiving? I mean damn I don't believe in Christmas (Jesus was born in April I believe) I still don't [bleep] about dumb [wagon] xmas events like skating on ice. You don't have to do it, [wagon]. And leave Runescape outta OT. Thank you.


Btw, I'll bet you 50 USD that we have better healthcare than you do. [developmentally delayed].