Oh, and a promise.

[conuly]

I vow to never go up to you and call you a lying liar who lies just because you tell your kids about Santa or the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy and present these as fact (even though that *is* lying I understand that you probably have the best of intentions, anyway) so long as you promise not to say to my face that people who do otherwise are denying their kids a childhood, are joyless individuals, and clearly don't let their children pretend anything for any reason whatsoever. And I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from making pleas to "innocence" - that's a pretty word that's kinda hard to pin down, like a butterfly.

Because that's just annoying.

So, yeah. You refrain from telling me all the little judgments you make regarding my views and/or motivations; and I'll do likewise. (Truth is, I don't go around judging people for indulging in popular ritual lying. I actually don't *care* that much. I just get really annoyed when those same people I'm not judging get on my case (or the case of people who agree with me) for being "self-righteous" or for whatever other reason they can come up with. And then all bets are off - because, as I've said before, if I don't like lying to children I sure as heck have no compunction about being honest with you.)

Comments

[marveen.livejournal.com]

It was actually a similar remark, not identical....

Dad: "And Marveen put some jams and jellies in with your school clothes, too."
Son: "She DID?" [in horrified tone indicating he was visualizing a complete mess]
Dad: "Yeah, she just...dumped them into the box and stirred them around!" [in pseudo-sarcastic, joking tone of voice]

...son took him seriously. It kind of worried me.