Radio DJ Tells Kids Santa Does Not Exist
 

Can you believe this guy? Listen, I support free speech and all, and he makes some good points, but it was not this DJ's place to ruin the innocence of children everywhere. And it's not like he just casually mentioned it during a broadcast....he drew the kids in, and then broke their hearts.

Fucker.

Two articles here:

Link 1

It’s the Naughty List for DJ

By Sumathi Reddy
Staff Writer

December 2, 2003, 10:19 PM EST

When it comes to politically incorrect jokes, the pot-bellied, white-bearded man who shoots down chimneys bearing gifts appears to be off-limits.

The Babylon radio station WBAB/ 102.3 FM is experiencing a backlash from some listeners after a Monday morning show promoted a big announcement to families for several days, then told children that Santa Claus ...

(stop reading this if you're under 10)

... does not exist.

At 7:20 a.m., John Parise of "Roger and JP in the morning" informed listeners Santa is none other than mom and dad.

The calls started pouring in instantly, including one from Christine Perillo, who had the radio tuned in as she and her two daughters -- ages 8 and 6 -- were eating breakfast. "We were thinking it was some kind of concert geared to kids," said Perillo, 36, of East Northport. "They were getting all excited. I was excited, too."

That is, until she heard JP telling children to search for their gifts at home and explaining the impossibility of one man delivering gifts across the world.

Perillo's daughter, Alexa, 8, turned to her and said, "I knew it was you." Desiree, 6, said "mommy" could buy gifts when they're at school. "Why would you want the kids at the radio to tell them that? It's just cruel," said Perillo.

John Parise did not return a call for comment. WBAB program director John Olsen said the station is holding a news conference today at 11 a.m.

Olsen said he reviews the content of all shows before they air. "We may not agree with everything," he said, "but we support their right to free speech ... even if it may cause some controversy."

Olsen said JP apologized on the air yesterday for urging children to tune in to Monday's program. He said it has not been decided if Parise will be punished.

Link 2

DJ on Santa Flap: I'm Sorry

By Lisa Sshiffman
Staff Writer

December 4, 2003


WBAB talk show host John Parise still doesn't believe in Santa Claus, and he's not sorry for saying so. But he apologized Wednesday for the way he broke the secret to children listening to his morning show Monday.

At a news conference in Mineola Wednesday, Parise defended his stance against the commercialization of Christmas but conceded he used bad judgment in advising parents to have their children join them in tuning in to hear his Monday remarks.

On that show Parise said that instead of Santa it was hard-working parents who buy expensive toys and gadgets for their children in a society that has forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. After the show the station received hundreds of phone calls and e-mails from angry parents.

"While we do not share his opinions and are concerned with his method, we support JP," Austin Vali, general manager of Cox Radio Long Island, said at the news conference. "This should not chill discussion on free ideas. For the past 30 years WBAB has been a forum for open discussion."

Austin said Parise had made an error in judgment. "JP is a great guy with a big heart and a lot of opinions," he said. "Folks are concerned who has better sales. Adults have to get up at 3 a.m. to get to the department store sales early instead of being a good neighbor," Parise said Wednesday.

Parise said he had decided to speak out after watching frenzied shoppers at a mall over Thanksgiving. "Is that what Christmas is all about? My message was directed at adults, to get people away from trampling people in stores," he said, referring to a woman shopping at a Florida WalMart who was trampled over a $29 DVD player Sunday.

"My comments were meant to get back to the original spirit of Christmas, giving and sharing with family and friends," Parise said. "I apologize to parents and mothers and fathers who didn't understand my message."

Parise said that to show his heart is in the right place, he was making a $1,000 contribution to The John Theissen Children's Foundation, a charitable organization in which he has been active for the past 10 years.

"I will continue to say that there is no guy in a red suit dropping presents under the tree," Parise said. Asked how he would address children on the existence of Santa, he replied, "Believe in the magic."

I'm personally of the opinion that all morning radiio DJs should be tortured brutally and burned at the stake, and this guy is no exception. For once I'd like to see a stupid lawsuit over this.

I've finally discoverd a justification for frivolous lawsuits!! Thanks, Holo!!!

Of course it's a publicity stunt, and the public apology was probably planned way ahead of time. What a son of a bitch.

That's a very low thing to do. Sounds like someone's going to get a lump of coal in their stocking. Hopefully not too many kids heard it.

Yeah seriously, how cold hearted do you have to be to actually say that and listen to kids cry about it and not feel bad?

BASTARD!!!!

my parents did it like this...

"cynthetiq, bring this down to the den and put it by the chimney, it's your sister's present from Santa."

that's it.. that's how it was broken to me.

Ouch...


yeah, this is pretty low.... I was never told that Santa didn't exist. I just sort of realized it one year. I don't know when it was, but I remember looking at the writing and realizing that it was the same as my Mom's. Then at my Grandparents house, the gifts from Santa had the same handwriting as the ones from my Grandparents...

Another reason why I only listen to "music-only" stations in the mornings.

The DJ's get full of themselves, and then they can rationalize anything,
more should be fired on a daily basis.

This DJ's "lump of coal" will be his pink slip

You know, I've thought about this for a while, but I think it's about time we gave the Santa thing a rest anyway. I'm not saying he shouldn't be a holiday icon, I just don't see why we should lie to our kids about his existence.

THERE'S NO SANTA?

What a bastard.

I have no problem with this. Tricking kids into believeing there is a fat white guy giving them presents is nto a good idea, since most kids wishes for things their parents can't afford and than the kids get disappointed at Christmas.

We don't have any special birthday-guy, so why should there be one for Christmas?

Why is it "about time?" What makes this point in time any different from any other point in time?

I don't really think of it as lying. I don't think it's that deceitful. I think it's great to give kids something hopeful and fantastical to believe in.

I don't remember when I figured out that Santa wasn't real. But I know that I must not have cared that much. I probably determined that he wasn't real but that wasn't going to stop me from believing in him. Still hasn't.

I hate it when morning show hosts and shock jocks pull this crap. He knew damn well long before he went on the air the effect it was going to have, and the backlash. I'm sure he had his usual canned statement apologizing and saying his comments were taken out of context, blah,blah,blah like all of them do. This is why I don't even listen to the radio anymore.

I was 11 or 12, when I discover there was no real Santa, I still get presents sign by Santa though. My niece, who is 5 was told by a 6 year that there was no Santa, wrecked her heart. My sister is pretty miff about it. Yet she convince my niece that there was a Santa. For a little kid, it is something special and magical.

He is right to an extent. We should get back to the real "Spirit of Christmas": Stuffing our faces with egg nog and Fruitcake, making out under the mistletoe, and getting as many lavish presents as you can!

It was cruel to let the children hear that though.....

I agree here.

Well, the parents shouldnt have let their kids listen to the radio if they were afraid of somebody breaking the news to them.

I think that this whole ordeal is really funny.

Well if the parents tuned into their kids rather than tuning into the radio in the morning there wouldn't be so many upset kids.

Anyways it's high time 6 and 8 year olds learn the routine of materialism straight up rather than through a mythical figure.

Incidentally the Santa I believe in is a 5'10'' brunette who doesn't mind the Christmas tree balls slapping against her ass.Longlive personal Santas

Ah, nobody told me that Santa wasn't real...

It was until on the way home from a Xmas party, I think I was about 10 at that time and it was Xmas eve. So, my brother and sister were excited about having Santa over that night and were planning on capturing him. So, Dad and Mom goes on and on about how he has to travel all over the world and shits like that. So, while I'm listening and I remember thinking "How is that possible? 1 fat hairy man for all 3 billion kids in the world" and they were talking about how Santa goes down the chimmey and I thought about how small our chimmey was and then that's when I slamed my fist on the car seat and I said "BULLSHIT!" My Dad was shocked at me swearing (swearing was uncommon for me back then...) So, when we all got home, that's when my Dad broke the news to me and I wasn't even shocked.

Sooner or later, kids are gonna know but damn, why the fuck did the DJ announced to the world? What right is it his to ruin the joyous xmas of childrens who are looking forward to capturing the "REAL" Santa clause as he's coming down the chimmey. Everybody knows that kids love doing that, even when they never actually capture him or end up falling asleep...

What a scrooge!

kind of cruel, kids are supposed to figure that stuff out by themselves, its part of growing up

Now isn't any different than any other time, it's just that it seems up until this point no one has made a stand. If no one has done it yet, then it's high time someone did.

It's great to have kids using their imaginations. They should know about Santa and Rudolf, but they shouldn't believe it's fact. I enjoy the movie Toy Story, but I know toys don't actually come to life when I leave the room. I don't want to get rid of the Santa legacy, just the way kids perceive it.

I don't see the problem. Around 6 I actually realised that Santa didn't exist (I found my future present in a closet, and was then miraculaously handed it back for New Years/Christmas, so I pressed my parents and they said "Well, what do you think ?", so yeh).

IMO the DJ just saved a lot of grief for the parents in the future, which they could have saved themselves by telling their children that there was no Santa in the first place. Seems cruel, but this method will save a lot of hysteria.

Oh, come on. Don't play that card. The parents were told that there would be a special announcement for the family to listen to. He purposely invited them in, and then did it. It's not like they were casually listening to the radio. That would be somewhat of a different story.

Haha, I found it pretty funny myself. That's what you get for lying to your kids lady!

Same here. I laughed my ass off.
The only reason parents get pissed is because they know they've been lying to their kids. Simple solution: Don't fucking lie to your kids!

I never believed in Santa, big surprise huh, and when I was in first grade I told all the kids in my class there was no such thing, and that their parents were lying to them. I damn near got my ass kicked by the entire class. They all thought I was the liar. I also told them their parents were lying to them about god..... They'll all realize one day that I'm right on that on too.

The only reason parents are pissed is because they want to be the ones to tell their kids that they've been lying to them for years. What idiots!

sure six, but there is something to the innocence of being a child. There's no tooth fairy, no this no that, blah blah blah... but there's something to say that there's some magic to being a child, and the imagination that some children have.

That said, it's those imaginations that have given us some of the most incredible books, movies, music, etc.

It's not about parents LYING to their kids, it's about a child's fantasy being taken away. Yeah, sure, the world is a rough place, but is it better to sit little Jonny down and tell him, "Alright, you're 6 now. Time to learn about the world. Bad things happen to good people for no reason whatsoever. No one is going to watch your back for you. Many people are going to dislike you just because they do. And finally, your life will reduced to routine and you struggling to make ends meet. Now go and get on the bus, you'll be late for school."

Kids need a little fantasy, something magical that they can believe in. There's nothing wrong in providing that to them through a magical man who gives you presents if you were good (and even if you're not) And for those of you who think the parents were wrong about lying to the kids and how you were sooo cool when you were little that you knew there wasn't a Santa. Great. Yippity do for you. You didn't get to experience great memories and be part of a tradition that is decades upon decades old, plus the fact that you're probably going to deny your children from experiencing all of this as well. So enjoy that truth, tastes real bitter huh?

Now, I know the perfect punishment for the DJ. A big burly guy should be dressed in a Santa suit and repeatedly buttfuck this guy screaming, "WHO'S PRETEND NOW, BITCH!"

I'd laugh.

They'd probably be better suited to deal with that when it comes time to, probably even better prepared. Sure wouldn't go "study abroad" in fucking Paris or some crap, they'll get a job at a steelmill to get through college and like it!

I told myself I wasn't going to open up this can of worms. But what the hell. :)

So those of you who think that parents should stop lying to their kids about the presence of a big fat guy with a white beard who makes dreams come true...

Is it somehow then okay that they teach their kids to believe in God? Someone that we can't tangibly prove the existence of? The disappointment they receive when they pray for something and don't receive it - is it any different than the disappointment when they ask for something from Santa and don't get it? Is it okay that we tell our kids they should pray each night for something good to happen when we have no way of ensuring that their prayers will be truly heard? Aren't we lying? We don't know for sure, do we? No. We go on our faith and our spirit to believe in something greater than us.

People - and not just kids - have faith in the idea and the spirit of Santa Claus. This isn't about bullshitting your kids. It's about giving them something greater than just black-or-white logic to believe in. It's that kind of thing that allows people to experience the wonder of life, whether they're 6 or 60. I feel bad for those who can't dream past what they see in front of their eyes.

Re: Radio DJ Tells Kids Santa Does Not Exist
 

Wow, a whole $1000. Ya that will make up for the hundred's of kids who's fantasy was taken away. :rolleyes:

And about lying to your kids...what's the damn harm? With all the shit that goes on in the world a little "magic" in a kid's life is priceless.

Thanks for your pity, I'll be sure to go cry in my closet later on tonight.

Six is an athiest, and I don't care unless someone starts crying about something they should have seen coming. We're realists. You can go ahead and do whatever you want, just make sure it's legal.

That's fine, don't bitch when someone introduces them to reality though.

I do think it's wrong to teach religion. I can't possibly put into words how much I dislike all forms of religion. I absolutely hate what it stands for. IMO, religion is a lie and parents/nobody should be teaching it.


No need to feel bad for me. I don't dream past what I can see. I never have ever since I was a child. There's something called reality! People need to realize it. I feel bad for people who can't get through life without making their own little bullshit fantasy land which shelters them from the truth/reality.

And I don't wanna hear: Well, how do we know what reality is? Maybe we're just a crumb in someone's refrigerator. That's bullshit! I laugh in peoples faces when they say dumb stuff like that. Reality is what you see with your eyes, not you mind.

You can't see air, so does that mean it doesn't exist?

ouch for the kids that heard.
My brother walked in on my parents wrapping presents when we were 6 and 4, respectively. i still laugh at my dad getting wide-eyed and yelling "WHAT? GET OUT OF HERE!!!!". strangely enough, they still put "from Santa" on some presents, even though i'm now almost 19...(shaking my head).

The irony is this guy wanted to deliver some kind of anti corporate, anti materialism message. But what did he do, really? He told a whole bunch of kids that their parents were "lying" to them while he, the "man on the radio", was telling the "truth". And then the parents have to admit to this "lie".

So what then; the kid goes on to trust the "man on the radio" more than thier own parents! I can see it now. I won't tidy my room, the President of Clear Channel says I don't have to. Rush Limbaugh says cleaning teeth is a silly thing to do.

Does the "man on the radio" always speak the truth? Kids have to figure out for themselves that there's no Santa, it develops their sense of skepticism and intuition. Way to subvert the learning process buddy.

The guy was a dick. Parents have the right to tease and manipulate their kids for their own pleasure. That is every parent's right. My dad told my sister when she was six that if you ate anchovies on pizza and drank kool-aid, they would come back to life and swim in your stomach. That is the fun parents get to have. Kids are made to be told stuff and to have fun with. It is not for other people to spoil your fun.

They just want the publicity... These guys will do anything to get their name out.

That is easily the most retarded question I've heard in a long time.
I can breathe it. It keeps me alive so obviously it exists. What keeps you alive in your fantasy?

It's the magic---don't destroy the magic for a young child just because you have become hard and self centered.....for many of these little children the magic and the hope is all they have......and sometimes we can sneak in there and make it all come true...or at least part of it...it's the magic...