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Original poster

Why the hate for Elf and lights and all things Christmassy?

99 replies

funkylittlegoldfinch · 02/12/2020 10:31

Seen a couple threads re this and the utter bile directed at these subjects is just beyond! You don't want Xmas lights all over your house?? Fine! Don't do it! You don't like Elf on a shelf? Don't do it!! Your don't wanna put your Christmas tree early? Don't! It really is just that simple! Why the outrage? Not your electric bill not your monkeys! Who gives a fuck?

OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 02/12/2020 14:59

Why not be a rebel and say no to the commercialism?

I bought a soft elf toy that was less than a fiver.

I haven’t spent a penny more.

If you’re going take issue with consumerism, there must be better targets.

I don’t put any Elf stuff on SM, but if people irritate you on SM for ANY reason it’s the easiest thing in the world to mute them

Oooohbehave · 02/12/2020 15:07

Because some people think they’re above it all and love to look their nose down on others who enjoy it (only really on MN I’ve found). Yeah I have an Elf, tacky Christmas decorations and have spent a bit too much on my kids and DH this year but I bloody love it and don’t give a hoot if that makes me ‘chavvy’ or materialistic in the eyes of total strangers I undoubtedly wouldn’t give the time of day to in real life.

Dustballs · 02/12/2020 15:09

No one I know - or anyone I know even slightly or on facebook etc does Elf on a Shelf.

What is it?

SecretWitch · 02/12/2020 15:13

@phoenixrosehere

I don’t like it because I see it as the US culture of waste, individualism and consumerism creeping into the UK. I also think it’s paired with the dumbing down of society where ignorance is celebrated.

I wish some posters would stop blaming US culture for everything they don’t like that is also done in the other U.K. countries. I also find it interesting such posters moan about US culture creeping yet forget their own historical past. Why is there 54 Commonwealth countries again?

Anti Americanism is always tolerated on MN

Honestly, I think EOTS is an English thing. I live in the US and know of no family who participates in this.

farawayplanet · 02/12/2020 15:15

I associate these things with the hard of thinking, ultra commercialist loving hun types who do it to keep up with their peers. It adds to the plastic waste of Xmas in general and is twee and annoying.

myhobbyisouting · 02/12/2020 15:20

"No one I know - or anyone I know even slightly or on facebook etc does Elf on a Shelf.

What is it?"

Yawn 🥱🥱🥱🥱

TheKeatingFive · 02/12/2020 15:20

I associate these things with the hard of thinking, ultra commercialist loving hun types who do it to keep up with their peers. It adds to the plastic waste of Xmas in general and is twee and annoying.

Or, y’know, people having a bit of innocent fun with their kids.

Either / or

Londonmummy66 · 02/12/2020 15:20

I've never been a fan of elf on the shelf but I can live with it. It is really irritating though that it becomes yet another bit of plastic tat to buy from Poundland - together with its own pjs, Christmas jumper etc to go with the owners' Christmas pjs and Christmas jumpers and lights for the garden as well as inside etc etc etc. It just seems odd that a festival about a couple who have their baby in a stable to avoid being on the streets is so very commercialised and that people seem happy to go overboard buying more and more stuff for it.

phoenixrosehere · 02/12/2020 15:23

Honestly, I think EOTS is an English thing. I live in the US and know of no family who participates in this.

Me either. Same with Christmas Eve Boxes. Didn’t know that was a thing either.

ViciousJackdaw · 02/12/2020 15:25

@myhobbyisouting

"No one I know - or anyone I know even slightly or on facebook etc does Elf on a Shelf.

What is it?"

Yawn 🥱🥱🥱🥱

No seriously, I don't know what it is for certain. I pay little attention to social media and have no children.

What I think you do is that you have a elf figure and put him in a different place each day and the DC have to find it. Is that right?

TheKeatingFive · 02/12/2020 15:28

What I think you do is that you have a elf figure and put him in a different place each day and the DC have to find it.

Yup

You wouldn’t think that was terribly controversial, but you’d be wrong Grin

YoniAndGuy · 02/12/2020 15:29

it's just the elves and their smackable little faces that I hate, everything else is great.

lazylinguist · 02/12/2020 15:31

People are allowed to have an opinion on things they don't own. In fact, pretty much everyone has strong likes and dislikes about all kinds of things that they are able to choose not to buy or use. It's perfectly normal. It would be boring if we all had the same taste and opinions. The S&B board is full of pretty robust opinions on clothes, make-up etc which nobody has to buy either.

I don't like the elf because I think it's a horrible-looking thing and I don't like the way people use it as a kind of creepy discipline tool. I love Christmas and lots of lights though.

Sparklingbrook · 02/12/2020 15:33

@TheKeatingFive

What I think you do is that you have a elf figure and put him in a different place each day and the DC have to find it.

Yup

You wouldn’t think that was terribly controversial, but you’d be wrong Grin

But doesn't the Elf have to do naughty things? like making a mess etc? That's what I don't get.
TheKeatingFive · 02/12/2020 15:33

I don't like the way people use it as a kind of creepy discipline tool.

This is always mentioned, but of all the people I know who do the elf, none of them use it for surveillance.

PizzaForOne · 02/12/2020 15:34

It's just not very classy is it. We like naice things here like Jo Malone and real parquet flooring (none of that Karndean rubbish)

dementedpixie · 02/12/2020 15:35

We used to tell the kids Santa was watching them via the smoke detectors Xmas Grin

NerrSnerr · 02/12/2020 15:35

@farawayplanet

I associate these things with the hard of thinking, ultra commercialist loving hun types who do it to keep up with their peers. It adds to the plastic waste of Xmas in general and is twee and annoying.
I'm glad you've let us all know how superior you are. How would we have known otherwise?
TheKeatingFive · 02/12/2020 15:35

But doesn't the Elf have to do naughty things? like making a mess etc? That's what I don't get.

Depends on your elf I guess. Ours does fairly lame things like hide in the washing machine.

AlternativePerspective · 02/12/2020 15:36

Those elves are creepy as fuck.

Seriously it’s as if Santa has taken naughty to the extreme and recruited Chucky.

LadyR77 · 02/12/2020 15:36

Totally agree with you, OP. I have to bite my tongue frequently as one of my friends, who is otherwise lovely, posts almost daily updates/comments on Facebook criticising people who do EOTS etc. Totally fine if it's not for you, then don't do it (I'm in the can't be bothered camp myself!) But there really is no need to be so rude about those who do enjoy doing it.

TheSmallAssassin · 02/12/2020 15:36

I think the elf on the shelf thing is horrible, because it's Yet Another Thing for, let's face it, mostly mothers to do when they have plenty of other things to sort out and also I think the idea of something in your house spying on you is just nasty. The rest of the Christmassy stuff, fill your boots, if you've got the time, money or inclination. There's no right way or wrong way to do Christmas.

swansongs · 02/12/2020 15:38

Elf is common. And creepy. And consumerist crap of the worst kind.

swansongs · 02/12/2020 15:38

@AlternativePerspective

Those elves are creepy as fuck.

Seriously it’s as if Santa has taken naughty to the extreme and recruited Chucky.

Hilarious.
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