Is it shallow to like something just because it's tradition?

No,it’s exhausting.

Among other things.

I don’t understand the correlation of being shallow by doing something traditional. ?

I don’t think it’s shallow, I think it’s respectful.

I’m not sure if the word ‘shallow’ is appropriate… I wouldn’t say that it’s deep to not like them.

Don’t not celebrate something because you think it’s too old fashioned or “traditional”. Do whatever you want to do. I like traditional things, others don’t. It’s not a big deal.

It’s neither here nor there. Humans are funny little things. I try not to delve to deeply into their quirks if they’re harmless.

But I do think comparing the avoidance of sidewalk cracks and large traditional weddings is a bit much.

I like traditions, and I like that the US melds traditions from other cultures into its own. Like the fact that salsa is the #1 selling condiment in the US. You don’t have to be Hispanic to enjoy salsa. You don’t have to be Irish to drink green beer. And you don’t have to be Christian to put up a tree and put Santa decorations out.

Maybe it can be considered shallow. But if it brings you joy, who cares?

Yes, but if you follow that reasoning too far you spiral into a realization that really nothing has tangible meaning, except food, shelter and water.

But if you like human company, “meaningless” gestures give us subjects in common to discuss and reasons to gather together.

So church, holidays, rituals – pretty much just an excuse for getting together and a framework to build a civilized community.

Hm, I would say these things are Okay, so long as you understand the history of the tradition you’re celebrating, and so long as you don’t claim to be a true supporter of it. Either way, it would seem shallow for some one to JUDGE another person for wanting to celebrate something just because it is enjoyable. If it doesn’t involve hurting other people, it shouldn’t be wrong. But regardless, this seems to be a mostly american thing anyway, so I am sure it is widely accepted. I do it too!

I think if the only reason you are doing something is because it’s tradition, then, yes, it is shallow. If, however, you genuinely like it, even if that like stems only from it being a tradition, then I think it’s perfectly wonderful to like it.

I think you can have traditions and enjoy them and not be shallow.

As far as I’m concerned, doing something because it’s traditional is what starts me doing it. I celebrate Christmas because my parents celebrate it and they did because their parents did and so and so forth. But I love Christmas. I love everything about it. I don’t just celebrate it for the sake of celebrating it; I celebrate it because I truly love it. I wouldn’t continue to do something like that unless I enjoyed it. That is not shallow in my opinion.

Everyone assigns their own meaning to things they do. No one can tell you what you do is “meaningless”.

I think it’s meaningless, not shallow.

Just because they aren’t your traditions, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them.

I enjoy partaking in other peoples tradition purely for the experience of it. It doesn’t mean it is meaningless or shallow. It can be meaningful to someone that doesn’t believe the religion or come from the culture that it is rooted in – it is just a different meaning. If it held no meaning for you, you wouldn’t partake.

If you genuinly like something then I don’t believe it is shallow. You can’t help how something makes you feel and so, providing that you aren’t just jumping on a bandwagon (ie: liking or disliking something just because everyone else does) then I don’t think it can be shallow. If you spend the majority of the year going on about how much you hate religion, don’t believe in God and think all religious are brainwashed but still expect presents on Christmas day, that is shallow!

Traditions no matter whose fault it is are awesome! It get’s you off the couch and out of the house where you can go to the pub and hope to hell someone else will flip the laundry!! Yee Haw!!

@lilikoi GA!

@asmonet : I’m not comparing them, I’m giving examples of traditions, big and small. The range of importance was intentional. I asked about doing anything traditional…

There are many reasons for doing things, and tradition is one of them. I think we do most things for more than one reason. Tradition alone might be rather hollow (though I would not say shallow), but continuity and a bond to the past can also give meaning to something that it would not have otherwise.

I think it is fine to celebrate whatever you want for whatever reason you want. Christmas, because you love the tree; Halloween, because you love to dress up; Easter, because you like the chocolate and painting the eggs, or for all of the religious reasons. Traditions are a great excuse to get together with family, help form family memories (memories file away better if it is a familiar routine done over and over again), and routine is also another reason for traditions, it gives us a process to the year, similar to seasons.

Traditions are sometimes what holds a culture together, I come from a Japanese heritage, and many traditions meanings are lost to antiquity, but everybody recognizes and respects the continuation of them. Here in America, we are a very young country made from other peoples who brought their traditions with them. Which I believe is why some people value some and not others.

I don’t think so. I think you asking this question makes you NOT shallow, so do what pleases you.

Always question tradition.

It is perfectly excusable as a human to enjoy something without having any profound, pragmatic reason for doing so.

Just as long as it’s not something hurtful, I guess.

Not deep enough you need a boat, but not shallow enough that you can wade over.

@wundayatta Nice.

@Captain_Fantasy If you’re not doing something for the meaning behind the tradition, but more because you like it (or making it your own tradition with your own meaning) then it doesn’t matter the origin.

Along with manners and temperate speech, tradition is one of the things which binds a disparate people together. Sadly, there seems to be less and less of all three as time goes on. That said, it is always wise to reassess tradition periodically to ensure it’s still useful, and not a drag on social interaction. The idea is to figure out what is worth keeping and what isn’t and act accordingly. Not an easy task.

Who cares. Just do it.

define “Shallow”

I can’t agree with the idea that it’s “shallow”, that description doesn’t seem to fit to me.
But I do hate traditions.

There’s a quote in my profile, and that I’ve used many places for quite a few years, that I feel fits within this question. “We should try to be the parents of our future rather than the offspring of our past.”

Traditions made sense when they were created. But the atmosphere in which many traditions were made, generations ago, is COMPLETELY different from the atmosphere in which we live today.
We need to constantly reassess our actions and beliefs to see if they fit our knowledge and needs today, not if they fit our knowledge and needs yesterday. Yesterday is there to learn from, not necessarily to repeat.

Since there’s some confusion, I meant “shallow,” as in, not thinking about the deeper meaning behind a tradition. Doing something because that’s just what is done, rather than valuing the purpose and intent of the original ritual. Shallow… not looking deep. Superficial. Petty.

Fluther’s 10K celebrations are not shallow. I like this tradition.