What Santa and His Elves Really Want

I just heard the beginning of the podcast where Laurette discusses a new product being marketed to the masses, the Elf on a Shelf. Laurette thinks this toy is disturbing on many levels but her main concern is that it helps promote the existence and acceptance of a surveillance society. I do not disagree.

However, there is one aspect of the whole phenomenon that actually gives me hope. The fact that this toy exists may be more proof that the light of truth is starting to show through the worn fabric of irrationality. Let me explain.

In its essence we can clearly see that Elf on a Shelf is not promoting anything new; it is merely an extension of the Santa threat – the idea the Santa is watching you so you better be “good.”

So I’m thinking that Elf on a Shelf may exist in part because the Santa fantasy, at least as a behavior control mechanism, is dying. Perhaps parents today are realizing that it’s just too nonsensical to say that Santa is watching every move a kid makes and they simply can’t look their kid in the eye and say so. Perhaps they know that it’s just too illogical to say that one old fat guy can be everywhere at once.

And yet, making huge leaps can be hard. Leaving old ideas sometimes requires baby steps. So what is the next step to the nonsensical Santa problem? The elves of course!

Think about it, it’s much more appealing as an explanation. People who want to control kids’ behavior through fantasies probably have an easier time using these elves instead of Santa. It’s one step easier to convince a child that elves are watching because in the Santa fantasy, the elves are unlimited in number. It’s not like Santa who is only supposed to be one person.

Also, the whole idea of having a unique individual elf for your family further solidifies the idea that there are lots and lot of elves available for snooping. To assist the parents even more, the elf toy provides something concrete, an actual physical object to “prove” that the myth is truth.

And this is where I notice a tiny bit of light. See, the desire to use a physical concrete object, even if the idea is still twisted, demonstrates at least a baby step towards empiricism and rationality. This is good because it shows we are evolving. It shows we are getting smarter and our natural healthy skepticism and questioning ability is pushing through the gunk.

I think Elf on a Shelf just might be a response, however small, to this evolution.

If I’m right, then maybe it won’t be long before more parents take another step and start using reason, logic and evidence to back up any requested behavior rather than relying on fear-based threats. Maybe it won’t be long before more parents truly respect and listen to their children when they ask questions and challenge ideas.

Finally, let me be clear that I don’t think it’s necessary to get rid of Santa and the elves. They can be what they should have been in the first place, imaginary characters as any other imaginary character the human mind has created. Characters families can enjoy together as pure fantasy, rather than being used to manipulate behavior through threats and fear.

This is what Santa and his elves would want – if they were real.

Share and Enjoy