Annual "news stories" that are dubious at best!

 

It is the time of year when all of the UK gutter press begin their annual sensationalist fear mongering. Over what you may ask, well, there are a few classics they go for each and every autumn/ winter;

1) Christmas is going to cancelled/banned. 

This is a solid favourite of theirs, blaming other cultures, "political correctness has gawn mad!", the weather, turkey and toy shortages or just plain idle gossip. My thoughts are that if a worldwide plague didn't stop christmas, not a lot else will! For the record - nobody, (other than perhaps Oliver Cromwell back in the day), has tried to ban christmas celebrations, it is simply just a way to whip folks up into a frenzy by suggesting they won't be allowed to stuff their gobs with sprouts and turkeys as it may offend...nobody cares what people do on December the 25th. 

2) Snowmageddon!

That's right, the annual prediction that snow is going to overwhelm us all, traffic will come to a complete halt and life as we know it will be changed irreversibly because a snow storm of epic proportions is en route!! Except, it never does, yes we get snow, sometimes a lot of snow. Sometimes, drivers do have to drive carefully and slower but will it destroy everything? Nope. 

3) Look at this disgusting parent spending thousands of pounds on their kids! 

Yes, it's the seasonal tale of a parent spending thousands of pounds on their kids, maybe even benefits money, oh the horror!! This one is probably at least based in truth; there probably is a parent somewhere going gung-ho on their christmas for their kids...but, it's up to them, whether it's their hard-earned cash or benefit money they have been given, it is still their choice, leave them to it, it literally doesn't affect anyone else whatsoever. Benefits money is there to help out, so it is therefore helping them out. It certainly isn't newsworthy.

4) Toy shortages!!!

This one is also a solid classic yuletide tale, the one where your dear little child won't be getting that one toy they want with all of their heart because of a factory having a shortage of staff/drivers/stock so you had all best go fighting each other for that last one on the shelf! I'm sure this happened a lot back in the day, (I never did get that Tracey Island I so dearly wanted), but nowadays, with Amazon and the like, it is fairly unlikely that scarcity will occur for most items, I know as parents we all all want to give our kids what they want for Christmas, but if we can't, it's ok, there are always the January sales, calm down folks. 

5) Father Christmas is now female/gender neutral!

We all know this one, it is now classed as offensive to call him "Father" as that may offend...somebody allegedly, or instead of Saint Nick it is now Saint Nicola. Except...no, this is yet again outrage generated by the media to whip folks into a frenzy of hate against whomever they seem fit to that year. 

There are probably more that I've forgotten, but just like christmas trees, these stories appear but once a year, are in your face for a month until they die off and are then forgotten about until the following year. So, I guess what I'm saying is that if you read in the next few months that your festivities are going to be cancelled, just remember - it is unlikely to be true. Get yourself a mince pie, pour yourself a snowball or bucks fizz and watch "Christmas in a day" on YouTube, (honestly, it is one of the most festive documentaries in existence), it will all be fine!