"Elf on the Shelf: festive fun or Santa's sinister spy?"

[alcina]

The title says it all.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/elf-on-the-shelf-festive-fun-or-santa-s-sinister-spy-1.2881386

But seriously (or not), I hate this little f***er. In addition to it being such a cynical twist on childhood and Chrismas, I've seen it used by many parents as a horrible little weapon.

I used to work in a mall, and this time of year, we'd hear Elf-on-the-Shelf threats nonstop. "Don't touch that ... Elf will know." "Elf told me you weren't good enough yesterday to get a treat today." "If I buy this for you, I'll have to check with Elf to make sure you can have. What do you think he'll say????" On more than one occasion, I saw young children break down and cry at the mere threat of the Elf, who I gleaned from their pleas was at one time considered a friend and ally.

Backstabbing little bastard.

Anyway, a few years back, I babysat the two young sons of a friend of a friend. Their mom was sweet, but she was always a little anxious and seemed to spend more time on her iPhone than she spent paying attention to her sons. In any case, the night I watched them, she told me that if I had any problems, just mention the Elf. I had no intention of doing that, but I did want to know what the boys thought of him.

The youngest one, who was about 3 at the time, simply said the Elf was mean and he didn't like him. The older one, though, told me a long story about the Elf -- where he'd come from, what his role in the family is, how he's really doing Santa's work, and even if he's mean, it's because he's just trying to make them better children. It was all very calm and thoughtful. The boy seemed to neither like nor dislike the Elf. The Elf was just part of life. Or so I thought. Just before he went to bed, the boy gave me a hug and whispered, "One day I'm going to kill the Elf.... Don't tell him I told you."

A few months later, I heard the boy was in counseling. Yeah, I know the Elf didn't cause it. But it sure didn't help.

[jakeXT]

1. Arrested for drunk driving ... Being with Bad Santa probably rubbed off on him

Police say an elf on the sauce is facing drunken driving charges in New Jersey.

Riverdale police tell NJ.com that 23-year-old Brian Chellis was found passed out in a car early Friday morning wearing an Elf on the Shelf costume.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11039766

[femmocrat]

2. Does anyone remember this elf from their childhood?

I first saw it a few years ago in the Hallmark store. I don't remember it as a "Christmas tradition".

[csziggy]

4. I never heard of it before this year

But I don't have kids, don't take care of kids, don't hang around with kids, and haven't been a kid myself for half a century.

What I've seen of Elf on the Shelf seems really creepy. If one had shown up in my house when I was a kid, it probably would have ended up in the alligator infested swamp nest to our house.