Thursday 15 February 2018

#445 Thoughts on Valentine's Day

I'd never had a problem with the commercial cheesiness of 14th February. Admittedly that was because I'd almost always been on my lonesome at the time but that gave me a certain perspective.

Amidst the obligations, anticipations and cynicism surrounding the world's most or least romantic occasion, depending on how it was viewed, Valentines Day also had a number of seemingly noteworthy implications.

As a singleton free from preoccupation with the day's more predictable considerations, I saw myself as ideally positioned to comment on two more unusual aspects:

1. Increased pregnancies

This year, The Independent along with several other sources had latched on to some NHS data that pointed towards a 5% increase in conceptions on 14th February. I had no idea what the ordinary variation in conception rates were from day to day throughout the year or how the NHS accurately measured it but someone seemed to think they had.

More to the point, was a 5% increase remotely interesting? Had it been 50% or 30% you could imagine the entire traditions and image of the day taking on a very different meaning but 5%? A mere ripple in an already rippled pond of reproduction. The statistic had no implications for anything or anyone.

2. Gifts for pets

This one made me laugh. Apparently 3% of animal owners gave gifts to their pets on Valentine's Day. That's so cute. And tragically sad but then it probably did people good to enhance their bonds with their bulldogs.

Yes 3% was an even lower percentage than the pregnancy statistic but the whole Valentine's Day pet gifts idea was in whole different category of novelty so it was allowed to be more bonkers and less impactful than the bonkers.

So there you go. If you haven't got anyone to reproduce with, go buy your cat a chew toy.

Happy Valentine's Day for yesterday.

5 comments

Fizzfan said...

I’ve had a few stuffed pets for Valentines:) Does that count?

I actually forgot it was Valentines.

Profound Familiarity said...

Yes it came around quickly didn't it?

One minute we're scoffing pancakes, the next we're out hunting for heart-shaped litter trays for stuffed pets.

I... don't know whether to ask if it matters that you forgot. One hopes it wasn't an issue.


Fizzfan said...

It would have been an issue if only I’d have remembered! Damn!!!

I’m not very good at contrived occasions any more.
I can still summon up some enthusiasm for Christmas and birthdays but the rest of them are quite annoying to be honest.

God I used to go crazy for pancakes and I missed that too!

Profound Familiarity said...

We never mean to forget things. It just happens. Then we feel like it's our fault. It's like the most unfair thing in the world.

Fizzfan said...

I know!