# People don't do Elfie for their kids. They do it to impress friends on Facebook. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 16, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182 "2012-12-16T14:12:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/1 "2012-12-16T14:12:20Z")
This Elfie phenomenon has over taken Facebook and it’s annoying as fuck. What started as some sort of cute thing to do for your kid has turned into daily updates from about 100 different people on the latest clever/cute/tricky/quirky place they have put Elfie for “the kids”. All of it clearly so that they can get praise or props from fellow FB’ers on how clever they are and how smart they are and how great parents they are etc… Look, if you’re doing it for your kid that fine and dandy but once you start a daily photo blog on Facebook to show all of your adult friends how clever you were last night when you put Elfie in on the ceiling fan with a bag of marhmallows and cup of cocoa it starts looking like it’s all about you looking for ego stroke. Fuck your Elfie! ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/2 "2012-12-16T14:14:38Z")
Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/3 "2012-12-16T14:20:46Z")
Can you please help those of us who have no fucking clue what you’re talking about? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/4 "2012-12-16T14:24:39Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Can you please help those of us who have no fucking clue what you’re talking about? > > Thanks. Agreed. Google isn’t helping me here. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/5 "2012-12-16T14:28:00Z")
He’s talking about Elf on the Shelf. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/6 "2012-12-16T14:48:33Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > He’s talking about Elf on the Shelf. Still in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/7 "2012-12-16T14:54:43Z")
Color me clueless. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/8 "2012-12-16T14:57:36Z")
It’s strange: I _have_ a Facebook account, and yet the first place I hear about all of these worn-out Facebook fads and memes that everybody’s sick of always seems to be here. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/9 "2012-12-16T14:59:55Z")
I had never heard if it either which is no surprise given that I’m Jewish and don’ t have kids. From a quick search, it seems that it’s a book that comes with a small elf doll and is a Xmas thing. Every day, the parents are supposed to hide the doll somewhere in plain site and the kids are supposed to find it. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/10 "2012-12-16T15:16:54Z")
It is Elf on a Shelf. Sorry, I only know it as Elfie the Annoying Facebook photo blog! If you don’t have friends posting their daily pics on your news feed count yourself as one of the lucky ones. And no, it’s not annoying enough for me to start blocking people, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t annoying enough to bitch about it in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/11 "2012-12-16T15:21:39Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > It’s strange: I _have_ a Facebook account, and yet the first place I hear about all of these worn-out Facebook fads and memes that everybody’s sick of always seems to be here. Ditto. Makes me appreciate my friends. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/12 "2012-12-16T15:55:41Z")
Ditto[sup]2[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/13 "2012-12-16T16:10:36Z")
_sigh_ For those good folks who are still clueless and don’t want to google: From the Elf on the Shelf [website](http://www.elfontheshelf.com/en-us/aboutus.aspx): > [@](#): > > The Elf Tradition > Have you ever wondered how Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice? The Elf on the Shelf®: A Christmas Tradition is the very special tool that helps Santa know who to put on the Naughty and Nice list. This interactive holiday hide-and-seek tradition is perfect for children and families of all ages. > > The tradition begins when Santa sends his scout elves out to Elf Adoption Centers. Waiting for their families to bring them home, these patient elves hibernate until their family reads The Elf on the Shelf, gives their elf a very special name, and registers their adoption online. Once named, each scout elf will receive its Christmas magic and become a part of the family’s Christmas each and every year. > > Excellent listeners and even better observers, these scout elves are the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Although they cannot be touched, or else they may lose their magic, the elf will always listen and relay messages back to Santa. Taking in all the day-to-day activities around the house, no good deed goes unnoticed; these scout elves take their job seriously. > > Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses his magical Christmas powers to fly back to the North Pole. Once there, the elf will make his or her daily report to Santa and visit with elf friends where they will tell stories about their beloved families, play with the reindeer, and of course, sneak some of Mrs. Claus’ cookies! > > Before the family awakes each morning, their special scout elf will fly back to their home from the North Pole. However, since these elves like to play games, don’t expect to find them in the same spot! While some like to hide in the freezer (probably because it reminds them of the North Pole) and others prefer to sit on the fireplace mantle or hang from the chandelier, these elves love to play hide-and-seek with their families. > > On Christmas Eve, the scout elf will listen for Santa’s bell and then fly back to the North Pole until the next season, wishing every girl and each boy a Christmas of peace and a year full of joy. Join the tradition and adopt your own Elf on the Shelf now! I still don’t know how the hell this relates to Facebook, though. I am kind of irritated by the OP’s lack of forthcoming-ness. I’d like to get my hate on without having to do my own research. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/14 "2012-12-16T16:20:03Z")
Goddammit, they keep making Christmas worse and worse. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/15 "2012-12-16T16:22:23Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > _sigh_ > > For those good folks who are still clueless and don’t want to google: > > From the Elf on the Shelf [website](http://www.elfontheshelf.com/en-us/aboutus.aspx): > > I still don’t know how the hell this relates to Facebook, though. > > I am kind of irritated by the OP’s lack of forthcoming-ness. I’d like to get my hate on without having to do my own research. Well, the FB part is what the OP said- the Facebook part is posting photos of the oh-so-clever places they hid the Elf. Supposedly they’re bing clever for the kids, but really they want praise for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/16 "2012-12-16T16:33:08Z")
I have 4 kids and I’m proud to say that this is the first I’ve heard of Elf on the Shelf. It appears to be something pretty new, that hasn’t yet taken over the Christmas season. It amazes me how they come up with new ‘traditions’ that are anything but. More work in this busy season? No thanks. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/17 "2012-12-16T16:37:08Z")
When I was growing up 35 or so years ago in California, we had a christmas-season tradition that sounds basically identical… but the elf was a little wooden cone with an elf face painted on it that my parents got at a craft fair or something. But that’s at least some evidence that it’s a “real” tradition. But as others have said, I haven’ seen a single picture of this on FB, and I do have some FB friends who will post photos of things at the least provocation. And if a bunch of people are all doing this and are all FB friends, the charitable interpretation is that they’re posting photos to give each other inspiration on clever places to hide the elf. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/18 "2012-12-16T16:44:25Z")
Speak of the devil! [http://www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2012/11/30/elf-shelf-ideas?hpt=hp\_bn15](http://www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2012/11/30/elf-shelf-ideas?hpt=hp_bn15) I knew it wasn’t just on me and my wifes Facebook feeds. ETA: I didn’t search for this BTW. It was on [CNN.com](http://CNN.com) front page just now. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/19 "2012-12-16T16:47:18Z")
OMG… after going to the web site, this is so lame! It is basically a commercial product packaged up with a bunch of spin (and called a “Tradition”) to enable the parent to use it to try to get their kids to behave during the Christmas season. By the time today’s toddlers grow up, the idea of “Big Brother” will be absolutely expected and accepted and they’ll wonder why we old folks ever whined about privacy rights. Any parent who buys this crap deserves the warehouse their kid will place them into when they get old… They’ll be cubes outfitted with skype enabled recliners and that will constitute a ‘full life’ for the elderly. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182/20 "2012-12-16T16:59:10Z")
It also sounds like a good way to make your kids paranoid. Bad enough they have to worry about God seeing everything they do. Now they have a menacing, tattle-tale elf always snooping around. And the whole “not touching” thing? I suppose it’s a way to protect the elf from being kidnapped (hehehe)–which would be the logical solution to the whole problem–but it just bumps up the creepy factor. But I honestly can’t work up too much froth. Sounds like grown-ups just trying to have some fun during Christmas time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-dont-do-elfie-for-their-kids-they-do-it-to-impress-friends-on-facebook/644182.md?page=2)