Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: The Verge

Valentine's Day may be a time when love is in the air, but some people have little love for the holiday.

In some people's eyes, the holiday places unfair pressure to act romantically, while others dislike the commercialism attached.

"It was created by Hallmark," said Jenny Sparr, a junior psychology major.

Sparr said that the holiday is mainly for couples and isn't sure why others should care about it.

In response to the disdain for the holiday, groups have created both products and events that look at Valentine's Day in a different light.

On the darkly humorous side of things lies the "Bittersweets." Created by the company Despair, Inc., the treats taste the same as regular candy hearts, but replace lovey-dovey sayings with ones more appropriate for feeling down.

The three sets come in the themes of "Dejected" and "Dumped" for romance-related despair as well as "Dysfunctional" for any kind of relationship.

Instead of "I Luv U" they have sayings like "Settle 4 Less" and "Parole is Up!" There are a total of 111 unique sayings.

The candies follow the general theme of the company, which sells items that have a more cynical outlook on life. Their main products are spoof motivational posters and assorted items like the Pessimist's Mug, which helpfully notes the point at which it is half-empty.

E.L. Kersten, co-founder of Despair, Inc., said that the candies sold out in previous years, adding that there are probably more people not in relationships than are.

He thinks that the candies provide a way to have fun and its humorous pessimism may cheer people up.

"If you don't have (a significant other), are you not supposed to be part of the celebration?" asks Kersten, who is also the chief operating officer of the 4-person company.

Despair, Inc. isn't the only seller working with the theme.

Online retailer of user-created products Cafepress.com has 58,000 products listed as anti-Valentines Day.

Hallmark itself has some anti-Valentine's Day products, including a card that says "Cupid is stupid."

Some who don't care for Valentine's Day prefer a more upbeat outlook.

That includes those in the "Quirkyalone" movement, proponents of which don't believe people should be pressured into relationships.

"It's incredibly common to be single, and you should be proud of yourself for not settling, and you should hold out for what you want," said Sasha Cagen, publisher of To-Do List magazine and author of "Quirkyalone: A Manifesto of Uncompromising Romantics."

Quirkyalone members, who Cagen estimates at being around 5 percent of the population, are not against relationships, just dating for the sake of being in a relationship.

Feb. 14 is Quirkyalone Day, which has been celebrated around the world from Louisiana to Scotland.

"At the core, it's about celebrating all kinds of love," Cagen said.

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