About elf on the shelf balloons...

[Grapeexpectations]

As if the single use plastic issue wasn't bad enough, now I'm seeing Elf on the Shelf 'reveal' balloons being advertised on Facebook.
(If you haven't seen them it's a big balloon with the elf inside that you pop to reveal the elf, but decorated with lots of accessory balloons). What's wrong with hiding it in a cupboard with a note? Or in a box?

AIBU to think that balloons deserve the same treatment that plastic straws have had? I also feel the same way about the trend for balloon arches for what it's worth....thanks, Instagram.

(Aware that there are hundreds of examples of wasteful and unecessary plastic use but this is what's grinding my gears at the moment)

YABU: balloons bring people joy, let them get on with it.
YANBU: balloons are unecessary. There are plenty of other ways to reveal things and decorate arches.

Spend some time in a year 1 class in the run up to Christmas. The children became obsessed by it

And ... what!

I mean, you could say the same about Santa. But people don't tend to,

YABU
I can't get upset about balloons 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
I do like a balloon arch and easel. I've already ordered an elf balloon for dd.
My neighbours teenage dd makes balloons. I'm supporting a local business.

I have to say we have kids who absolutely love Elf on the Shelf. I've a few ideas already sorted

It's lighthearted and a bit of craic. Dh and I laugh just as much coming up with the silly ideas (we don't make it fuss and use stuff already in the house)

I agree about balloons in general. I don’t buy them now and haven’t got a few years. I feel very uneasy seeing friends get balloon arches for baby birthday parties etc (as if they care?).
Our leisure centre always has a balloon display advertising something or another and I really don’t like it.
They won’t ho anywhere until there is some kind of financial levy on them making them unfashionable like carrier bags.

Also dislike Elf on the Shelf in theory.. in practice, I don’t know anyone who does it so it’s not something I think too much about.

@Lalliella

Fucking hell, what new horror is this? As if elf on the shelf isn’t bad enough. And don’t get me started on Christmas Eve boxes. Thank God I had kids a few years ago before all this nonsense!

I have small children now and am quite happily having fuck all to do with elves on shelves or Christmas Eve boxes. It's still possible to ignore the ridiculousness!

Helium balloons are my pet peeve, if you must have a balloon, just fill it with normal air rather than waste another resource as well!
I don’t know who invented the elf on the shelf thing, but they could have given him a less evil face, creeps me out totally.

Ah kids love balloons though. Mine will play with a couple of balloons for days - balloon bopping was also the first game they played together. I won't take that off them to save a scrap of plastic smaller than the wrapping on a bag of carrots.