# Damn, but those inflatable Christmas decorations are tacky! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 7, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232 "2015-01-07T16:28:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/21 "2015-01-07T22:27:43Z")
The problem is people putting either too many of them up at once, or putting a huge one up when they have a small yard. I’ve seen a few I liked – there was a snowglobe that had Charlie Brown and Snoopy in it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/22 "2015-01-07T22:38:43Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Santa and his car sag forward onto the elf crew. The resulting effect is that the loyal elves are helplessly trapped under the car, while Santa still waves gayly to the kiddies, unconcerned about maiming his underlings. And teela brown wins the thread! 🙂 We need a pic of Santa and his road kill elves. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/23 "2015-01-07T23:02:06Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > And teela brown wins the thread! > 🙂 Seconded! I don’t mind 'em, in general. The folks up the street with the postage stamp yard with various inflatables packed wall-to-wall (or fence-to-fence) all year long, well, OK, that’s a bit much. My beef is the snowglobe variety that wind up with moisture in them that fogs up the plastic. I’ve seen folks keep them going even though you can barely see what’s inside. Maybe it’s their statement of being proud to live in the Puget Sound area, where we see more fog than snow. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/24 "2015-01-07T23:55:15Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > And what the hell do penguins have to do with Christmas? Penguins are from the Southern hemisphere. Well, we actually have Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere, too, you know. And I’ve seen penguins on or around Christmas Day (can’t remember exact date). There’s a whole reverse culture developed around the Southern Hemisphere Santa - surfing, Rudolph’s red nose is caused by sunburn, Aussie carols (‘Dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden ute’). ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/25 "2015-01-08T01:21:27Z")
When I first moved into the neighborhood, the wooden cutout reindeer were IT; then wire frame reindeer; then the inflatables. Now it’s back to white or blue lights, except for one guy that, in a 20" by 40" front yard, must have every 1955ish blow molded polyethylene creation ever made. It makes me happy in a retro sort of way. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/26 "2015-01-08T01:33:51Z")
Looking down on them in the early morning as we fly by reminds me of [Flat Stanley](http://www.kid-at-art.com/htdoc/lesson71.html). There’s _always_ a red pancake so I call 'em Flat Santas. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/27 "2015-01-08T01:45:51Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > Well, we actually have Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere, too, you know. And I’ve seen penguins on or around Christmas Day (can’t remember exact date). > > There’s a whole reverse culture developed around the Southern Hemisphere Santa - surfing, Rudolph’s red nose is caused by sunburn, Aussie carols (‘Dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden ute’). Yes, but they are associated here with Santa at the North pole. My Father roomed with an Australian family, the Grevilles, during WWII, and they sent my Grandmother Christmas cards with Spring scenes on them for many years. I was briefly in contact with the son of the family, but he thought I was my Father of the same name, who has died, and I did not have the heart to correct him and explain. But I digress. Back to the OP: I just wish the damn things were filled with hydrogen. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/28 "2015-01-08T02:42:13Z")
Penguins are awesome. That’s why. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/29 "2015-01-08T02:53:30Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Looking down on them in the early morning as we fly by reminds me of [Flat Stanley](http://www.kid-at-art.com/htdoc/lesson71.html). There’s _always_ a red pancake so I call 'em Flat Santas. I always call them Dead Santas. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/30 "2015-01-08T03:04:49Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Penguins are awesome. That’s why. A hydrogen filled penguin would be awesome. “Oh my God, the hu…penguinity!” ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/31 "2015-01-08T03:32:08Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I always call them Dead Santas. but you can’t slide dead bodies under the garage door. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/32 "2015-01-08T03:41:48Z")
I haven’t seen one in person, yet, but can there be anything worse than[Mariachi Santa](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/6104FTDMqjL.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/33 "2015-01-08T04:09:09Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > but you can’t slide dead bodies under the garage door. If they were filled with hydrogen, you could set them afire, and it would be glorious! ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/34 "2015-01-08T05:24:25Z")
Somebody on this board once compared a deflated Christmas decoration to a discarded yeti condom. I’ve never been able to get that out of my head. A house near my workplace deployed over half a dozen of these inflatables alongside their house for Christmas, sort of like a windbreak. Since that side of the house faces an empty lot, the effect was actually nice. Does anyone remember when pine tree branch reindeer were **the** thing? (Or was that just a Southern thing?) ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/35 "2015-01-08T06:45:09Z")
I pass a restaurant every workday that has inflatables for all seasons. Often two. This place is on a slope near an intersection with car lots and a busy street. It is a family restaurant big with the old folks and dear to the heart of many Austinites. But due to the wind or apathy, they cannot keep the stupid things properly inflated. They invariably flip forward. Either one is doing something very grown up that you’d be hard pressed to explain to the kiddies, or you’d be eating your burger while being mooned by a giant rubber elf. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/36 "2015-01-08T07:12:38Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > I saw an outhouse inflatable this year. Wtf? Those are meant to be used by any and all holiday passersby. Give it a go! ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/37 "2015-01-08T07:19:29Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I always call them Dead Santas. [This one](http://s22.postimg.org/5omhk4uc1/2103637065_33dc2b5bc7_o.jpg) is being eaten by the reindeer. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/38 "2015-01-08T07:22:40Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > And what the hell do penguins have to do with Christmas? Penguins are from the Southern hemisphere. Well, I believe Santa died on the cross to bring Christmas to _all_ the animals. And if someone had tried a _little_ harder back before we got so squeamish about invasive species, we wouldn’t have these problems. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/39 "2015-01-08T17:59:39Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I haven’t seen one in person, yet, but can there be anything worse than[Mariachi Santa](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/6104FTDMqjL.jpg)? 😕 I don’t get this. Mexicans celebrate Christmas too. Are you saying they shouldn’t? That’s not very culturally sensitive, especially for a doper. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232/40 "2015-01-08T18:10:23Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I joked about taking a BB gun to some, and was reminded by a poster here that it would distress children. > Sigh. > 🙂 > > There are inflatable football figures that I would like to place in obscene positions, however. I wonder if that would traumatize children as well. > > And what the hell do penguins have to do with Christmas? Penguins are from the Southern hemisphere. How about a flamethrower or firebomb? Kids like fire most times. My neighbor had one I thought crossed the line - Spiderman holding a present and coming out of a snow covered chimney. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-those-inflatable-christmas-decorations-are-tacky/709232.md?page=3)