Valentine's Day Asskisser (Massacre?)

Yeah, forget the title, today's treatise is about Valentine's day, particularly how it's celebrated in the United Kingdom. From the middle of January, there are adverts on TVs and papers, to buy stuff for Valentine's Day, right about now it is nearly universal, it is definitely unavoidable. However, it's getting earlier and earlier,  before the New Year, I saw an ad for a trip you can book which said 'Book now in time for Valentine's day.' It seems to have gotten more and more pervasive as the recession goes on. Most ads at least mention it, there are displays in most shops, and nearly every restaurant is now advertising a special Valentine's Day Special Meal (which is a set meal, a glass of champagne, and an extortionate price). The worst thing about this is that people, and by people I mean couples, really seem to have fallen for it, and I think that's sad.

For instance this happy, Stock-photo couple make me sick.

Valentine's day is supposed to be about single people, giving them a state-sanctioned excuse to pitch anonymous messages of woo to cheer themselves up. Instead, it is now is a day for couples to be overt in their affection. Idiot couples buy set meals in shitty restaurants not because of any feelings they have for each other, but because it's the done thing. They eat their meal, don't talk, and then go and have perfunctory, once-a-year sex when they get home. I really don't get it, don't just fuck on Valentine's day because some card company wants you to, do it all year round, love the one you're with.

Guys: don't buy a grown woman a teddy-bear holding a love heart, don't buy a dozen red balloons  for someone you barely talk to the rest of the year. Girls, don't go on about being spoiled, it's shameless at best, especially if you're neglected for the rest of the year. Most importantly, don't buy lingerie and use it once like it's been forced on you like the State (I read that Ann Summers does it's best business in the week running up to Valentine's day) Also, it smacks of a lack of originality, if you're going to get kinky, do it right!

This enforced affection between couples is bad for two reasons. First, special days which force you to be nice allow you to not be nice for the rest of the year. If your only romance in the year is n Valentine's day, you shouldn't be together. Similarly, you can't treat your mother like shit all year and then offset that with a mother's day breakfast in bed and a giving her a card at some Card Company's behest. Let's do better everyone.

Secondly, why should couples take over Valentine's day? They already get far too much attention: tax breaks, 2-for-1 deals, and have you ever tried to eat one of those Dine for £10 meals from Marks and Spencers on your own? It's difficult. Instead, let's put Valentine's Day back to what it was, a day for dorks and loners to get the glimpse of human kindness once a year.

Check out this loser, now that's better! [source] 

In conclusion: I know that this is the most Carrie Bradshaw-esque piece of nonsense I've written so far, please just nod your head and agree with the points I was making. On a positive note, if you do want to get your sweetheart flowers, you know the ads to the side will let you know how to get them, what a great system!