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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Elf on the Shelf creepy AF?

43 replies

shinynewusername · 03/12/2016 11:43

I know this is a seasonal regular but WTF IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE ELF ON THE SHELF?

Who wants their DC living under a regime of continuous silent monitoring? AIBU to think Santa's little Kim Il Sung must be a government conspiracy to desensitise the next generation to living in a surveillance society?

OP posts:
TiredBefuddledRose · 04/12/2016 19:01

Have you seen the little fake cctv camera things you can put up now for the 'magic of Christmas' / to scare the cr*p out of your kids?
Better be good kids because some fat old guy is watching you on cctv 24/7.

TheSparrowhawk · 04/12/2016 19:03

I really hate it when parents use Santa as s threat. It says a lot about your parenting of a fictional character has more authority than you!

Champagneformyrealfriends · 04/12/2016 19:05

The Elf is creepy. Yanbu.

ghostyslovesheets · 04/12/2016 19:05

oh it's as creepy as fuck and screams trying too hard!

Original poster
shinynewusername · 04/12/2016 19:13

I really hate it when parents use Santa as a threat. It says a lot about your parenting of a fictional character has more authority than you!

Ditto the non-fictional alternative: their class teacher - unless it's about homework or something else the teacher is actually responsible for.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 04/12/2016 19:15

It is a bit creepy. I honestly thought it just sat on the shelf monitoring behaviour and grassing the children up to Santa. However it appears that the Elf has to do naughty stuff in the house. Confused

OddBoots · 04/12/2016 19:17

It's not my thing but at least it is better than when parents use the police as some kind of threat to their small children for bad behaviour.

Northernlurker · 04/12/2016 19:17

I think the elf is creepy and way too much like hard work. All that planning. Exhausting!

ButtonBoo · 04/12/2016 19:17

One thing worse than Elf on the Shelf. And that's the daily updates of Elf on a Shelf and his antics on FB. EVERY day Xmas Hmm

haveacupoftea · 04/12/2016 19:21

Yeah it is weird, and also agree annoying on Facebook Xmas Hmm

ginsparkles · 04/12/2016 19:21

I have an elf for my dd. But not one of the plastic ones (they look odd to me!) but a cuddly one, he doesnt monitor her at all, he is just there for some added Christmas fun and games.

tabulahrasa · 04/12/2016 19:25

I think the whole them doing stuff overnight could be quite good fun...

But the monitoring and the actual look of the dolls are well creepy.

Scooby20 · 04/12/2016 19:26

I don't know anyone who uses their elf as a behaviour monitor. For most it's a bit of fun.

Quite frankly it's not as creep as man sneaking into your house on Christmas Eve. One that you leave food for. [Grin]

Original poster
shinynewusername · 04/12/2016 19:26

I am only anti-the Shelf Elf, gin. I feel peace and goodwill to all other elves Smile

OP posts:
Scooby20 · 04/12/2016 19:28

What planning is involved? Picking it up and move it somewhere else doesn't take a lot of planning.

Maybe I am doing it wrong? It's just a Christmas decoration that takes 20 seconds to live on a night.

veryveryVERYdarkblue · 04/12/2016 19:30

Having first dismissed it as total bollocks, we are cutting out the surveillance thing and just doing crazy hide and seek. That is less bollocks. Our elf is too naughty and cheeky to waste time grassing up dd. Dd is quite a regimented routine fan (my fault) so doing something daft is a good thing. IMHO.

Sparklingbrook · 04/12/2016 19:32

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2793546-Elf-on-the-shelf-whats-your-elf-up-to-tonight?msgid=65285677

Seems just moving it about isn't the done thing. Grin

veryveryVERYdarkblue · 04/12/2016 20:09

Not giving much of a shit if I'm not doing it right.

LaurieMarlow · 04/12/2016 20:11

Most people don't do the surveillance thing in my experience, they concentrate on the naughty antics at night.

The 'try hard' comment is mean. If parents want to put effort into this kind of thing then hats off to them. Any kids I know with an elf get a lot out of it.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/12/2016 20:12

Yanbu. My kids are screwed up enough without being spied on by a creepy wee fucker.

They have their father and me who sees all for that Wink

LaurieMarlow · 04/12/2016 20:14

The notion offing it 'right' is bullshit. The whole point of these customs are to tailor to your family.

We have lots of family specific rules for monopoly, that make a mockery of the actual game. I love our version, wouldn't be Christmas without it.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/12/2016 20:16

Yes it is creepy but so is FC imo.

Sparklingbrook · 04/12/2016 20:18

It must be weird in Primary school classrooms when the children talk about it. Some of the DCs' parents not doing it at all, some doing the naughty antics and some just plonking it on the shelf to spy for santa. Confusing.

SingaSong12 · 04/12/2016 20:24

I don't have children but curious what happens after Christmas- How do you encourage good behaviour when the elf or santa himself won't be watching? Or are children prone to be especially naughty before Christmas and calm down afterwards?

Shellym13 · 04/12/2016 20:26

I love them lol. Esp seeing everyone putting their daily updates up. Unfortunately the only kid I have is 35 so it's wasted in our house. Would love one though .