Am I the only one who thinks kids' birthday parties make zero sense?

I hate to be a party pooper, but I always cringe inside when one of my kids gets an invitation to a party or wants to throw one.
Of course I get celebrating birthdays with family around, a cake, a few balloons and a handful of gifts.
What I don't understand is 25 screaming kids, all the expense put into an elaborate party, the mess that is left over, etc. And does a kid really need 25+ gifts?
The worst part is that everyone can't be invited and someone will feel left out. I just don't think birthday parties are teaching kids the right things.
What do you think?

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Primnproper · 56-60, F

I think kids parties have almost become a competition on who can outdo who with the parents..it used to be jelly ice cream sandwiches and pass the parcel or pin the tail on the donkey, now it's gone to extremes..lol

Flenflyys · 31-35, F

Most of them are still like that. It's usually only a few of the double working parents who'd rather dish out a few hundred bucks to have the party in a party place rather than put the work into making a party. And making a party and having kids over is a lot more work. It's lazier now if what you say is true. @Primnproper:

Primnproper · 56-60, F

@Flenflyys: yes that's very much how it is here in the UK now..