CHRISTMAS REVOLUTION – THE DEBATE

This has been very interesting. At a rough estimate about two thirds of people who responded to my two posts on this subject on my local network, sent brief messages of heartfelt support.

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About a third of respondents said they disagreed and made points about how Network Cornwall is really a business-to-business network and businesses \’have\’ to get started early.

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A few of them got themselves into a terrible tizzy at the whole notion of someone daring to have a different opinion from them. One charming lady with a \”fireworks and tinsel\” event to publicise, threatened to put a pine cone up my ass (she\’s welcome to try…  Oh and by the way – isn\’t modern tinsel highly flammable? Just asking.) Another lady rather patronisingly diagnosed that I had a lot of anger issues and should rise above them and stop disagreeing with her.

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Personally speaking, I enjoy a good debate as a relief from the commercial grind. In a debate, it\’s normal for people to disagree. It\’s OK. Even honeybees do it when they\’re deciding where a swarm will live (see Thomas D Seeley\’s wonderful \”Honeybee Democracy\”). Debate is an antidote to groupthink and conformism. Properly conducted, it can be a good way to make decisions. Why, there are even people mad enough to create an entire political system based on free debate and voting, which they call democracy.

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The Christmas marathoners feel they have to start earlier and earlier, mainly for commercial reasons.

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Christmas sprinters (like me) would prefer Christmas to be a joyous but short end to the year.

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Christmas marathoners are welcome to slog as much as they like, but I will be doing my best to avoid all premature festivity. I invite those who agree with me to do the same. Nobody is boycotting or bullying anybody. It\’s still a free country. We can each freely choose our Christmas policy. That\’s all.
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Blessings (and pine cones in festive gold) to you all!