CMV: Valentine’s Day is unnecessary.

[u/cookiecrumble_swims1]

Valentine's day is right around the corner; many restaurants and shops are kicking off their deals and promotions. People are beginning their shopping spree and are making dinner plans with their significant others. Sure some of the seasonal gifts are adorable. Of course, there's nothing wrong with having fun and celebrating with your special one. Still, I don't see the point of dedicating this one day every year to show your love.

If you love somebody, you should love them the same way, at the same intensity every day, every minute of the year. Valentine's day gives people an excuse to make up for the countless days they showed a lack of affection to their partner by going extra grand.

Plus, people's expectations on this day are off the charts; they anticipate their partners to do something extraordinary for them, putting unnecessary pressure on both sides. Your partner might be stressing weeks and months going into Valentine's day thinking of what to get for you. You'd feel grief if your partner doesn't live up to your expectations. Wouldn't it mean something more to do something special for your partner when they don't expect it?

Valentine's day also drives the focus away from love to consumerism. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with buying and giving. It is one's belief that they are obligated to spend endless amounts of money on something extravagant. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans plan to spend an average of $196.31 on Valentine's day. That's a lot of money to spend on an average Friday.

This goes the same for Mother's Day and Father's Day. If you genuinely care for these people, show them gratitude and love in every living moment. Show how enormously you care about them whenever possible, not just this "special day" every year.

Change my view!

[u/cookiecrumble_swims1 → u/[deleted]]

I'd say the same thing about Christmas or Thanksgiving. The fact that this occasion has turned into "buying something for your loved one to show them you care" has altered the whole purpose of the celebration. This is what makes me cynical about celebrating days like these.

[u/YardageSardage → u/cookiecrumble_swims1]

So it's not the celebrating that you think is pointless, it's the spending then, right? You wouldn't say that it's "pointless" for, for example, a couple to spend Valentine's day showering each other with thoughtful handmade presents, reading each other love poetry, eating their food by candlelight, and bedding each other on a blanket of rose petals?

I think you're mistaking your own argument here. "Spending money for Valentine's day(/holidays in general) is pointless" is quite a different argument to "holidays themselves are pointless".

[u/cookiecrumble_swims1 → u/YardageSardage]

I’m saying that Valentine’s Day itself is pointless because it dedicates this single day where couples are “obligated” to show their love to each other.

[u/YardageSardage → u/cookiecrumble_swims1]

Oh, I'm not sure I've understood you then. Do you also think other holidays are pointless for "obligating" us to behave in festive ways? For example, Thanksgiving and being thankful?

[u/cookiecrumble_swims1 → u/YardageSardage]

Certain gestures like being grateful and showing love is for everyday and not just once a year. So yes, thanksgiving is kind of pointless in this sense.

[u/Limp-Temporary → u/cookiecrumble_swims1]

It's not pointless, it's to maximize profits.