Santa banned from using Ho Ho Ho

[The_Mitch]

URL: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22738300-2,00.html

SANTAS working in shopping centres across Australia have been banned from bellowing "ho ho ho" because it might frighten children.

Recruitment firm Westaff, which supplies hundreds of Santas around the country, yesterday confirmed the edict.

Westaff national operations manager Glen Jansz said the company's Santas had been urged to tone down their use of the "ho, ho, ho" phrase.

"The reason behind that is we find that in some cases the little kids can get a little bit scared of the deep 'ho, ho, hos' and we ask them to be mindful of keeping their voices to a lower level," he said.

"And kids are probably more inclined to understand 'ha, ha, ha', than 'ho, ho, ho'."

Thirty trainees at a recent Santa course were instructed to replace the traditional Christmas greeting with "ha, ha, ha".

A Santa veteran of 11 years told the Sunday Herald Sun the instructions were clear: "No 'ho ho ho'."

"We were told to say 'ha ha ha Merry Christmas'," he said.

Two Santa hopefuls reportedly left the course after the edict.

Family Council of Victoria spokesman Bill Muehlenberg described the ban as "nonsensical".

"Potentially any big guy in a red suit with a white beard is scary but I don't think him saying 'ho ho ho' would damage a child's psyche.

"Let's just concentrate on the kids having a good time."

A survey of Melbourne children yesterday found universal support for Santa's "ho ho ho".

"It's silly, we love hearing Santa's laugh," said Briony, 8, of Mitcham.

"It doesn't frighten me at all. It's what Santa is supposed to say," said Byron, 9, of Melton.

Yesterday in the Bourke St Mall, Santas appeared to be ignoring orders to stop the 'ho ho hos'.

David Jones's bellowed to a delighted group of children and rival Myer's Santa also kept up the jolly tradition.

you have got to be kidding me. thats like taking easter eggs away from the easter bunny or taking the "trick or treat!" away from halloween. wtf are they thinking!?!

 

[Wii_Smurf]

Abit weird.
So what if the Santas are over hyped about being childish and shouting Ho Ho Ho. I say let them!

 

[Frogger]

I know a kid who is scared of that, it's really quite weird...

He's the jolly fat bloke, just how can you take this away!?

 

[mushroomedmario]

lol....man the world is too serious nowadays...

 

[bilzar]

Hahaha(or should I say HoHoHo?) that has to be one of the dumbest thing I've heard in a while, along with in the UK(I think) They are making Santa skinny now , so kids will try to more fit. What is the world coming to? You can't change Santa!

 

[Big_League_Slugger]

Did humans as a whole turn into a bunch of babies. We get offended by everything.

Like Dennis Leary says, " Life Sucks!, Get a F**king Helmet"

 

[CantGetAWii]

Thats pathetic.
I can see it now, mall santa's across the globe jobless/on strike.
Most of them are perv's anyways, at least when they are in the malls we know where they are :lol:

 

[Syntax]

you have got to be kidding me. thats like taking easter eggs away from the easter bunny or taking the "trick or treat!" away from halloween. wtf are they thinking!?!

I agree completely. This has got to be one of the dumbest things I've heard. Fortunately, I doubt that many people will follow these new set regulations. People are becoming way too overprotective these days.

 

[owlsgo]

yeah, we're a little weird like that...




maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate!

 

[surfinrach90]

Kids that get scared of that need a slap.

Next thing they'll ban the whole 'coming down the chimney' story.

 

[Frogger]

Kids that get scared of that need a slap.

Next thing they'll ban the whole 'coming down the chimney' story.

Don't try this at home kids.

Now I, uh... Have some business... To attend to.

 

[JerryC]

We were told to say 'ha ha ha Merry Christmas'," he said.

made my day

 

[owlsgo]

what a jolly time of year christmas is in australia, too. sweltering heat, flies trying to get up your nose and in your ears. semi-nude old men drinking beer and exposing innocent eyes to their hairy nippled man-boobs. my god... i hate summer in australia... it's coming... please... god no.

more like drip drip drip, merry christmas.

 

[zapasant]

are you serious! thats preaty much taking the whole santa thing away a replacing him with some random person, ho ho ho is what makes santa, santa

 

[Frogger]

Why don't we just tell them it's not real? Then they'll be happy.