The Mid-Week Mumble: Valentine's Day — News — Off The Back — Daily Deals

The Mid-Week Mumble: Valentine's Day

Posted at Wed 10 Feb, at 08:00:00 in General By Tom A

In case you’d forgotten, this Sunday is Valentine’s Day – and time is running out to buy gifts and make plans for you and your loved one… (If I’ve reminded at least one person with this blog then it’s been a success!)

But when you think about it, it’s all a bit silly really. After all, it’s just a commercial invention designed to extract hard-earned dollars from us in the frugal month of February! It’s less about demonstrating to your partner/wife/girlfriend/crush how much you adore them, and more about your obligation to meet certain standards relating to gifts, dinner arrangements and activities.

And of course, most of these commodities unsurprisingly become more expensive in the build-up to and on Valentine’s Day…

Roses – what a rip off! OK, you may find the odd florist doing a semi-decent deal on this must-have Valentine’s accessory, but for the most part they’ll charge you the earth for something that gets given, then ahh’d at for a brief moment, plonked in a receptacle and left to wilt whilst you move on to the next thing which is…

…Your choice of Valentine’s Day romantic activity. A trip to the cinema or zoo is acceptable, as is going for a massage, punting or wine tasting. Paintballing for the more extreme couple or if you want to go all-out, a relaxing holiday. All of these things are overpriced, but Valentine’s Day isn’t Valentine’s Day without the obligatory activity. Ka-ching! And finally there’s the…

…Dinner! Just finding somewhere half decent that has availability is hard enough. Then, when you finally find somewhere with a table for two you’re told that it’s a special Valentine’s Day set menu. What a shame that your partner doesn’t like fish/is vegetarian/has a gluten allergy/doesn’t like this, that or the other! Strife!

And when all is said and done, your bank balance has taken a beating and maybe, just maybe you’ll strike lucky that night? What a con.

Yes, Valentine’s Day is a funny one. If you don’t fulfil your obligations then you risk being scorned, dumped or worse, straight to sleep that night! But why should romantic activities and displays of affection be confined to this one day a year? I don’t need to buy roses or chocolates and sit through a 2 hour chick-flick eating ice-cream. And I’m not the only guy who thinks this either – 91% of men said this was their least favourite holiday due to the expectations of topping what they did the previous year, and 94% said that any money spent on Valentine’s is wasted.

But am I going to be the one who takes a stand against this over-commercialised event, displeasing ‘she who is god’ in the process? No way!

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Comments

Every Day is Valentines day with my Love no need to be caught up in the claptrap of spending.

MEfr

Posted at 10 Feb 2010 01:34 PM

Here here!

Tom A

Posted at 10 Feb 2010 01:56 PM

Too right!

moffattm

Posted at 12 Feb 2010 09:16 AM

Ooh, I've always wanted to go paintballing!

Guinevere

Posted at 14 Feb 2010 04:52 PM

Agree with all of you *altho' I don't know about paintballing, lol!*

Valentines day (today) is our 9th wedding anniversay and to be honest we were quite happy with a few beers and takeaway fish and chips for dinner.

It's all about enjoying time together and if you have a good relationship, there is no need for the fancy commercial crap!

fairness

Posted at 14 Feb 2010 07:32 PM

I agree fairness and others, it’s just another money making racket,
if a relationship needs these things (reminders) to survive
then there is something seriously wrong.
Spontaneity, anywhere, anytime, anything,
surprise and communication is what it’s all about.

Dunes

Posted at 15 Feb 2010 10:15 AM

I think valentines day should be celebrated cause some just aint good at being romantic so need some assistance but it can be done in the couples own way, there is nothing wrong with keeping it simple and cheap and there is nothing wrong with going out to the most expensive restaurant in town if you can afford it. Each to their own I say!

nakiproud

Posted at 15 Feb 2010 02:15 PM