Two Slashes

You might not want to click some of the links in this post if you’re at work.  While they’re not NSFW per-se, one or two might get you an odd look or two if your speakers are cranked up and/or you can read your screen from across the room.

For some people, today holds great meaning.  Perhaps today marks their first date, their first kiss, their first…well, there’s a bunch of firsts when it comes to romance.  Or, it’s just a day designed to be used as an excuse to show affection towards others.  (Not that a specific day should be necessary for that, as there are 364 other days that need to be filled in in the meantime, but that’s a rant for another day.)

For most of the Internet (the parts I frequent, at least), today seems to be a day laced with venom of the most dreadful variety.  Justin, for example, did some quick research and decided that the best use of a DeLorean would be to get some revenge for the single people in the world.  Maddie (from 20SB) managed to get in four snipes at the holiday and everything that it stands for, all in the past week.  And I just used a fitting Matchbox Twenty song title (one I have memorized to the word, no less) as the title of my post (live version here in case you’re interested in hearing it, and there’s a creepy guy mouthing the album version from Mad Season here).

I understand all of the flak and disgust.  In fact, I side with it (hence the post title?), and I agree that Valentine’s Day is a lame excuse for a celebrated holiday.  (Of course, coming from the person who all but eliminated their birthday from the Internet just to see what people would do, I probably lack the credibility required to make this claim.)  To me, there’s no reason the special meaning given to today couldn’t be given to any other day of the year without having to make it an international fiasco.  I blame commercialism and that fact that people need an excuse for everything they do.

But, despite all of the outcry about today, perhaps there comes a time when it’s better to shove a gym sock in your mouth and let it pass.  Think about it.  I’ve never heard of Jewish people calling for an end to Christmas or anyone complaining about St. Patrick’s Day, the world’s excuse for getting drunk and wearing green.  Is there any reason someone can’t have their fun (provided it doesn’t harass you, of course)?  (I would suggest the gym sock to everyone celebrating Valentine’s Day too, but they’ve already got their mouths full, so it would be a waste of time and breath.)

Go.  Enjoy your Valentine’s Day, your Singles Awareness Day, your February 14th.  It doesn’t bother me.  Don’t expect me to pay too much attention to you, though; I’m too busy leading a toy peacock around to look your way.

The title for this post as of the beginning of this week was Happy S.A.D. (notice the contradicting emotions?) until I realized what song was playing while I actually wrote it up.