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Birthdays

Discussion in 'Whatnots' started by Gaear, Aug 8, 2012.

?

How do you feel about your birthday?

  1. My birthday is the single most important day of the year, bar none.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  2. I kind of like it when my birthday rolls around. Parties are fun.

    2 vote(s)
    10.0%
  3. I could go either way. If you want to celebrate, fine. If not, fine.

    7 vote(s)
    35.0%
  4. I would really rather not get involved in any birthday shenanigans.

    2 vote(s)
    10.0%
  5. I simply don't give a damn about my birthday.

    8 vote(s)
    40.0%
  6. This is a stupid poll.

    1 vote(s)
    5.0%
  1. Gaear

    Gaear ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful

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    Here's another poll thread to pass the time ...

    The Happy Birthday Thread and news of Ofelix's birthday got me thinking: how important are birthdays to you? There seems to be a fairly wide variation in this.

    Personally I'm willing to concede that birthdays for kids can be kind of important, both to them and in acknowledgement by others, simply because they haven't had that many of them and because kids kind of should celebrate things like birthdays. They're kids after all, let them worry about heavy stuff later. The other side of the coin is a fairly ugly and embarrassing one though - those older people who make a point of telling the entire office (or pick your social setting) that their birthday is coming in the desperate hope that they'll receive a cake and public accolades, and who seem to derive deep satisfaction from the experience, and who seem to feel horribly mistreated if the don't get their perceived due.

    I tend to barely even acknowledge my own birthdays, being as they seem to be abstractions to the extent that they are almost meaningless. (Roughly x number of cycles of the earth orbiting the sun have occurred since the day you were born, not counting leap years and the fact that there's some spare time left at the end of each year - so that estimate is very rough. And even if you do pin it down, so what? Did you change somehow, fundamentally? And the more years you tack on, the more they blur together anyway. It's also embarrassing to wear a pointed hat and have people mumble through the song for you after you're, say, 15 years old or so.)

    What do you think?
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2012
  2. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    I'm in your camp... I always found all the hoopla surrounding birthdays once you get past your childhood exceedingly pointless. Birthdays are next to meaningless to me but so many people seem convinced that if you don't throw a big party for each one and celebrate like it's the second coming that there must be something horribly wrong with you. Heh...

    I realize I'm in the minority though as practically no one I know shares my view on this. I get my validation of continued existence by waking up every morning, don't need to celebrate it in an anniversary of birth every year. :shake:
     
  3. Mesmero

    Mesmero How'd an old elf get the blues?

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    Birthdays are a good excuse to go out with some mates and have a beer, or throw a bbq. I never pay that much attention to the day itself tho, as most of the time I celebrate it in a weekend close to my actual birthday.

    As for cakes in the office: around here you're expected to bring your own cake on your birthday, to share with the people you work with.
     
  4. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    I care so little, sometimes I forget how old I am. If it ever comes up I have to do a quick mental calculation with my birth date :)
     
  5. Gaear

    Gaear ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful

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    I know the feeling. I'm aware of my birth date, but not always my age. :heh:
     
  6. Ofelix

    Ofelix The world changes, we do not, what irony!

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    I hate birthdays, I really do. All those relative making a fuss about this day... It's never about what I want (I'd seriously be happy playing Dawnguard, Skyrim's new DLC, and wait by the phone for news of my recent interviews) noooooooo, it's all about what others want to do for my birthday. So it's off to the movies and dinner with my aunt. I really don't want to, but hey it wouldn't be polite and stuff... So I got expelled out of a vagina 24 years ago, big ****ing deal.
     
  7. Aldeth the Foppish Idiot

    Aldeth the Foppish Idiot Armed with My Mallet O' Thinking Veteran

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    They grow less important the older you get. My son turns 5 next week - it's a big deal. I turned 38 this year - it was no big deal. I find my birthday an annual occassion in which I have the opportunity to redefine what I consider to be "old".
     
  8. dmc

    dmc Speak softly and carry a big briefcase Staff Member Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    Too true, AFI. Old is my current age plus 10 years.
     
  9. Splunge

    Splunge Bhaal’s financial advisor Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    dmc and I must being sharing some sort of cosmic mental ray these last couple of days, because that is how I look at "old" as well. When I was 30, 40 was old, and 50 might as well been on death's doorstep. I'm now 52, and I think of one of my co-workers who is 58 as still being young. The 61 year-old, OTOH, is a geezer. :p
     
  10. Paracelsi

    Paracelsi Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Same as Mesmero. It's like Thanksgiving (for the sales) or Christmas (if you're not religious) except with emphasis on "me". We sometimes even "celebrate" (bbq, fishing, beer fest, depends) someone's birthday one month in advance/late, so everyone has a chance to join. Nothing particularly elaborate though. Sometimes we just order pizza and play console games.

    All of us are 25-30, less than half are married.
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2012
  11. Dice

    Dice ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran

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    I didn't go out and celebrate my last birthday but it was significant for me because it was the first birthday I was happy in a long time. The important thing was that I was with people I care about :).
     
  12. reepnorp

    reepnorp Lim'n Lime Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    The reason I love my birthday is because it's the one time of year I can really get all my friends together. Unlike some people who have one really close-knit group I have many different friends who aren't really friends with the others. There's my friends from high school, friends from university, friends from my co-op jobs and friends from my current job. Usually that means that I tend to go long periods of time between seeing some of my friends but my birthday gives me a chance to put make sure I haven't missed anyone!

    And as far as old is concerned, my manager turned 28 in December and I still haven't stopped harping on her for being "so old". Then again there are times when I think to myself "Holy crap, as of next month I'll have been able to drink (legally) for five years" even though it seems like just yesterday that we had to get older friends to help us find liquor. I can't even begin to imagine how those memories will feel in 20 years time ;)
     
  13. Montresor

    Montresor Mostly Harmless Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder

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    Birthdays get less and less important over the years, I think.
     
  14. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    What a bunch of humbugs you all are!

    Sure, you can argue all day that a year isn't a cosmic time period (actually, it literally is, but never mind) but its great to have a day of the year that's special to you and to think a bit differently about. It's milestones like birthdays and anniversaries that remind us to get out of our rut of doing the same thing over and over every day. They become anchor points to look back on in life.

    Cheer up a bit you lot! And Happy Birthday!! :hbd: :hippy: :beer:
     
  15. henkie

    henkie Hammertime Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    Faded, I would imagine.

    To me, birthdays and stuff like new years is just like a complete non-issue. One day is much the same as the other and birthdays are no different. I've had it happen that I forgot about my birthday and only was reminded of it when someone else remembered it and congratulated me.

    Also forgetting how old I am happens a lot - I usually remember the year in which people were born so I can calculate it, including for myself.
     
  16. Spellbound

    Spellbound Fleur de Mystique Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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    Birthdays are fun to celebrate, but I've forgotton my own until some friend calls or visits to remind me. lol I kind of agree with Tal -- if I can open my eyes in the morning and see light....I know it's a good day. ;)
     
  17. joacqin

    joacqin Confused Jerk Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    I do think it is mandatory that close friends/relatives have some kind of ruckus when they turn even. Have a few rockin' 30-year parties to look forward to in the next few years.
     
  18. Troy's Owner Gems: 1/31
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    I love them, especially my kids birthdays
     
  19. Marceror

    Marceror Chaos Shall Be Sown In Their Footsteps Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    My birthday? I don't give a damn about that one. I don't see the point in jumping up and down every year just because the date happens to match that of the day I was born. Just why?
     
  20. Gehennis Gems: 1/31
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    I'm a Valentine baby- bah, humbug! :D
     
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