No Ho for Santa

[Dingfod]

Santas working in shopping centers and malls in Australia are no longer allowed to bellow out the traditional Santa laugh, "Ho, ho, ho." Westaff, the recruitment company that supplies hundreds of Santas during the holiday season, confirmed that they have banned the greeting (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22738300-2,00.html), requesting a more subdued "Ha, ha, ha. Merry Christmas." instead. "Kids are probably more inclined to understand 'ha, ha, ha', than 'ho, ho, ho.'" Some Santas in training have left the program after hearing this edict. Some people have called the whole thing "nonsensical", acknowledging that a big guy in a red suit might be scary, a boisterous "Ho, ho, ho!" was unlikely to damage a child's psyche.

A survey of children in Melbourne 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. Santas in at least one mall have been ignoring the orders to stop saying the jolly greeting "Ho, ho, ho!"

[livius drusus]

Since when are Australian kids so delicate? Time to throw them all into the outback with nothing but their wits and a sharpened stick to protect them.

[viscousmemories]

This is clearly a liberal conspiracy. Expect all coverage of our foreign affairs to be superceded by this story for the next six months.

[godfry n. glad]

It sounds like someone doesn't like Santa hangin' out with all those hos.

[Dingfod]

Since when are Australian kids so delicate? Time to throw them all into the outback with nothing but their wits and a sharpened stick to protect them.Or one of those curved flat sticks.

[livius drusus]

Naw, that would never work.

[Deadlokd]

Right, that's it. Sorry kids, Christmas is cancelled. Santa can't say Ho any more.

[viscousmemories]

It does sound kinda sinister when you think about it. Not that I'd ever noticed.

[Angakuk]

What a dismal prospect for Australians. No hos from Santa this Christmas. Although, I suppose this is not a problem if what you asked for was a bike or something.

[Naruto]

The executives at that company ain't nuthin' but a bunch of bitches and hos.

[Dingfod]

Hidey ho, neighbor!

[Shelli]

good grief :facepalm:

[Brimshack]

Since when are Australian kids so delicate? Time to throw them all into the outback with nothing but their wits and a sharpened stick to protect them.

I've had enough of your and your liberal molly-coddling. They sharpen their own damn sticks of they die. That's all there is to it.[/Preschool Curriculum Planning Session]

[xyza]

It's as bad as the UK government saying we have to play down Christmas because we're now multi-cultural.

[Legs]

Bet they'll make a movie about this, like Miracle on 34th Street. Santa WILL get his Ho back.

[Brimshack]

Let's take donations.

Toys for tots? Hos for Santa!

[Ensign Steve]

Count me in.

[Brimshack]

*Brim quietly fills out an application to become a Santa.*

[California Tanker]

Hell, Christmas in Australia, when it's 40 degrees out and people are sunbathing on the beaches is a bit weird anyway.

NTM

[Deadlokd]

Hell, Christmas in Australia, when it's 40 degrees out and people are sunbathing on the beaches is a bit weird anyway.

NTM

Yeah, cold beer, cold prawns, beaches and bikinis. Christmas sure sucks in Oz :D

[Caligulette]

Is this overshadowing election news there? I know it would here....

[Deadlokd]

I don't know. I get my news from teh internets. Australian news is like plain oatmeal, bland and in dire need of some sugar by the end.

[Novowels]

How can you not love the news from a country where they let awesome fictional cats write columns in a major city newspaper (http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22062745-5001031,00.html)!

Considering it's a Murdoch rag, you're also probably getting better news from that one column than the rest of the paper, though...