How did you feel when you learned Santa's not real?

[unicorn]

I started reading David Archuleta's book Devout: Losing my Faith to Find Myself in the ER, where I accompanied my husband, who'd injured his finger. At the start of the book, Archuleta finds similarity in abandoning his religious faith to figuring out Santa's not real. I asked my husband at what age he found out, and how he felt about it. My husband said that he was relieved to find out Santa was a myth at the age of 8, because he knew boys who were not as good as he was, yet who got better gifts. He'd always wondered why these boys got better and more gifts than he did. I have no idea what it felt like, since I never believed in Santa (obviously a preposterous notion). So were you relieved or disappointed to learn Santa wasn't real?

According to AI:
To visit every household in 24 hours, Santa would need to spend roughly 0.0003 to 0.0004 seconds (300-400 microseconds) at each house, assuming around 500 million to 1.6 billion homes. Including time zone advantages (32–34 hours), he must visit roughly 2,000 to 3,500 households every second. 

Key facts about Santa's workload:
Total Stops: Estimates suggest 385 million to 500 million homes (accounting for those celebrating) or over 1.6 billion (total homes).
Speed Required: Santa would have to travel at roughly 4.7 million to 7.5 million miles per hour (roughly 1% of the speed of light) to make all stops.

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, unicorn said:

 So were you relieved or disappointed to learn Santa wasn't real?

 

I remember that moment surprisingly well and to answer your question  , I think I was amused . I was before I went to school so I was probably 6

how it went ? Santa in our building  visited our apartment as last. Instead of distributing goodies to me and my sister and flying empty handed back  to North Pole he decided to sit down and have a chat with my parents. After we unwrapped our gifts I went to the room he was chatting  to say my thanks  again and noticed voice is very familiar and characteristic and said loudly " This is not Santa, this is Missis  Valeria !" , our next door neighbour - it's why she finished her task in our unit. 

[jimmie50]

I honestly don't recall how I felt.  I was probably 9 years old and the information was told to me by a classmate at school.  I do recall asking my parents about it that day after school.  I believe I was threatened with a good paddling if I dared to tell my sister, who is three years younger.  I don't recall when or how she actually found out Santa wasn't real, but do know it did not come from me.  

[caeron]

No recollection of it at all. 

I think I was just a greedy little shit. As long as the presents kept coming, fuck Santa.

[unicorn]

9 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

I honestly don't recall how I felt.  I was probably 9 years old and the information was told to me by a classmate at school.  I do recall asking my parents about it that day after school.  I believe I was threatened with a good paddling if I dared to tell my sister, who is three years younger.  I don't recall when or how she actually found out Santa wasn't real, but do know it did not come from me.  

 

4 hours ago, caeron said:

No recollection of it at all. 

I think I was just a greedy little shit. As long as the presents kept coming, fuck Santa.

I'm very interested by the lack of recollection of feelings. No one felt any upset with their parents' deceit? I certainly knew to keep my lips zipped at school (unless someone challenged me). 

[caeron]

 

I guess I was spoiled. I never doubted my parents' love. So if they made up Santa, I would have known they did it for me. Sort of more a story than a deceit.

I do remember actively lying to help sustain my younger brother's belief. Explaining away all the Santas around town as really Elves.

[unicorn]

1 hour ago, caeron said:

 

I guess I was spoiled. I never doubted my parents' love. So if they made up Santa, I would have known they did it for me. Sort of more a story than a deceit.

I do remember actively lying to help sustain my younger brother's belief. Explaining away all the Santas around town as really Elves.

My parents never said anything about Santa either way. My mother later told me "I would never lie to my children" (which she also told other parents who suggested she was depriving us of the "fun" of Santa), which for me helped me trust my parents all the more. 

[Latbear4blk]

I think I felt pretty much like when I realized that the entire humanity could not descend from Adam and Eve, or that the strippers I was tipping did not love me. 

[vinapu]

28 minutes ago, Latbear4blk said:

I think I felt pretty much like when I realized ........... that the strippers I was tipping did not love me. 

don't exaggerate, for short moment they at least like you a tiny bit because of that tip

[zoomomancs]

My older brother told me when I was about 7 so I went to ask my mother who confirmed this awful news. I felt deceived. Now are you telling me that go go men I take out don't love me?

[mauRICE]

1 hour ago, zoomomancs said:

Now are you telling me that go go men I take out don't love me?

Sorry to tell you this but they're only after your body for sex. 😏

[Latbear4blk]

58 minutes ago, zoomomancs said:

Now are you telling me that go go men I take out don't love me?

I feel cruel this morning.

[zoomomancs]

Tonight I took out 4 men from Good Boy, three for drinking and playing pool and one for bed. They seemed happyish at least. 

[Patanawet]

Have you not heard the term 'spoilers'?
Thanks a lot.😭