$15 000 Birthday parties for 5 year olds
Ummmmmmmm, brothers and sisters, is it weird that in NZ 5 year olds are getting $15 000 birthday parties? Isn’t there something a little obscene about that? As we examine our consumer culture and realize our consumption isn’t sustainable and is having a suicidal effect on our planets environment while also negatively impacting our mental health with Affluenza, does it strike anyone that acceptance of $15 000 parties for 5 year olds might be part of the problem?
Birthday guests are pint-sized but the bill's not
Children's birthday parties used to be low-key events - a game of pass the parcel, then cake, jelly and balloons. But today's generation of parents is spending up to $15,000 on lavish parties for their youngsters' birthdays to meet ever-growing expectations. With catering, costumed staff and performers, the events have all the trappings of lavish corporate parties. Only the guests are pint-sized, and it's mum and dad picking up the bill. Fifth birthday celebrations are particularly opulent, with the occasion seen as a coming-of-age. Auckland-based Kids Party Company owner Stu Robertson says birthday celebrations are increasingly big-budget affairs.
posted by Bomber @ 9:38 am
10 comments
10 Comments:
might be obscene,
but telling people how they can and can't spend their own earned money is a bit gay ain't it?
It's all just excuses for get-togethers for the elite. Kiddies play in that corner while mummies and daddys share the Moet. But I agree, if that's how they want to spend their money, so be it. When money circulates the economy grows, and it creates work and wealth for everyone. You need chefs, servers, delivery people- jobs for the average/poor, and students.
Tried hiring chefs lately? they cost a damn fortune...well thats freedom of the market place and the law of supply and demand...good for them I guess...The real crime is paying nurses triple time on public holidays...are they three times as productive...one would highly doubt it...
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Wow listen to the rampant consumerisim defence here folks- Trickle down theory from Bubbles and Deano, the 'Bomber is jealous' comeback from a very brave anaonymous poster (just not that brave to put a name to their post though) and 'telling people how to spend their money is communisim' from another brave anonymous poster - wow guys what a great trip down affluenza lane there, you are one and all, intellectual giants from the sacred Adam Smith University of invisable hands, but it does miss the wider issues of sustainability, not that I'm surprised, you guys didn't think Global Warming was happening (due because of unsustainable consumerisim) until the Stern report told you.
Is there any truth to the theory that humans produce only 3% of the world's carbon emissions when one takes into account volcanic eruptions, bushfires etc? Is it also true that the forests of South Westland produce far more thanv the acceptable limits of methane from decomposing vegetation?
Actually I do believe global warming is happening. But like Bubbles said, I am not sure how much humanity has contributed to it. We should reduce our emissions though, to be on the safe side. My parents' houses are on the beach, too!
Then you will know what itfeels to be like from Tuvalu!
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No Bubbles - it doesn't work like that, it's just one of those bullshit things Exxon-Mobile and talkback radio convince themselves of, kinda took you for a climate denier though. Glad to see you edging closer to reality Deano but again we jump tracks here, the second I pin you both for the sustainability thing, off you both go skipping away to try and waste more time on deciding whether or not Global Warming is happening - wow, I've heard it all now.
Why does every post have to turn into a debate about climate change deniers or 655000000000 dead in Iraq OMG!!!
I dont see how other people spending their money affects you at all. For example these birthday parties, if you dont think they are right, then dont throw one for your kids... But you can't deny the good that comes from such an occasion. Employment for the people who work at and supply the party and precious memories for those who attended.
What spending limit would you put on kids birthday parties bomber? I suppose only homemade presents and cards, and only fairy bread (very cheap to make) and budget cola to drink. And no more kids parties at McDonalds either because they're an evil corporation maaaan....
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Why does every post have to turn into a debate about climate change deniers or 655000000000 dead in Iraq OMG!!! I dont see how other people spending their money affects you at all. For example these birthday parties, if you dont think they are right, then dont throw one for your kids... But you can't deny the good that comes from such an occasion. Employment for the people who work at and supply the party and precious memories for those who attended. What spending limit would you put on kids birthday parties bomber? I suppose only homemade presents and cards, and only fairy bread (very cheap to make) and budget cola to drink. And no more kids parties at McDonalds either because they're an evil corporation maaaan....
ANON HAVE YOU NOT BE READING? Yes what others spend impacts us all – BECAUSE the current destruction of the environment has been brought about by our insatiable consumer culture! So yes what you consume effects us all, and every debate ends at those large global issues BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS INTERCONNECTED! How you behave here effects people everywhere – we are responsible. I’m not talking about a spending limit clown, I’m saying spending $15 000 is an obscene amount and it is a symptom of the very consumer culture which is destroying our home planet – your inability to understand this concept staggers me – are you really that irresponsibly selfish?
From the blind middle class to the bitter working class, let’s see what our chip on both shoulder chap has to say…
Obscene spending to me is seeing 'the poor' (especially when I lived in South Auckland) at the supermarket checkout asking for a carton of fags. I couldn’t stand it and had to stop shopping in Mangere and drive to Newmarket instead. I find many ways the ‘rich’ spend money odd or obscene but I find the ways many poor people spend money even odder and even more obscene, but then who am I to tell other people how they should spend their money, I will leave that to the self appointed guardians of all that is right.
…hmm, yes well – that’s all dreadfully twisted of you there Anon, let’s just hope the milk of human kindness just skips a generation in your family. I don’t really think you can argue that the massive environmental destruction of the planet funded by corporations should be blamed on the poor, but I’m guessing that’s just another example of me being, how do you put it, “self appointed guardians of all that is right’, Dude it’s called ‘education’, it’s nothing to be frightened of.
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