No, Vox. Ugly Christmas Sweaters are NOT a Form of “Cultural Elitism”

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: ambivalence is a beautiful thing. I think smart people are actually more likely to be ambivalent about a given topic, because they are rational enough to have examined both sides before leaping to an emotional conclusion.
 
Vox is one publisher I’m ambivalent about. On the one hand, they write great articles about political issues that touch on key points and provide background information for readers who aren’t already knowledgeable about this topic.
 
On the other hand, they also write biased, bizarre social justice crap that undermines their legitimate articles.
 
Take their recent masterpiece, ’Ugly sweater parties’ are a form of cultural elitism.

In it, author Libby Nelson claims that her aunt, who lives in Nebraska, thinks “ugly sweater parties” are offensive and insulting... and therefore, that opinion is a fact.
 
She claims that only coastal, educated elites attend ugly sweater parties, and they do it with scorn for the tasteless, tacky fools in flyover states. People in the flyover states wear their Christmas sweaters completely un-ironically.

First of all, Libby, tell your aunt to get over her victimhood complex. No, people in New York and California are not thinking about your aunt when they don their gay apparel. It’s incredibly unhealthy and self-focused to think that.
​

Let's just accept that the real victim here... is Harambe.Harambe loved Christmas. 

​
Second, who says people aren’t celebrating the festive tradition of Christmas sweaters in a harmless, silly, and joyful way? Seriously -- who is being harmed by this?

This tradition is all about joy and silliness. We spend so much of our lives being professional and trying to fit in. Christmas sweaters are a fun way to feel uninhibited as we celebrate.

Because adults these days love looking and dressing silly. Look how psyched adults get about Halloween now, as compared to adults of the 80s and 90s. Look how excited so many "burners" are to put on their Burning Man outfits -- or just to attend any sort of costume party. Look at the explosion of onesie sales. Even grown, bearded men love onesies now.

Adults love busting out of their normal routine and wearing something silly, sexy, or goofy.
 
Especially when it’s mixed in with a healthy dose of nostalgia. Many millennials grew up wearing goofy sweaters every December. We can never go back to our childhood wonder. We can never experience the “magic” of Christmas that way again.

Some of the people we used to celebrate with are dead now, and we will definitely never have another holiday with them.

RIP, Dad. :'(

But when we put on our ridiculous, adult-sized Christmas (and, now, they even make them in Hanukkah!) sweaters, we relive a hint of that childhood magic. We relieve moment of those cherished holiday memories. And, perhaps, we even honor those who are no longer with us, who used to work so hard to make Christmas special for us.

This​ is not elitist, scornful, or harmful:

It's actually realy cool and inclusive. I love watching a new tradition form and evolve, basically in real time. Especially as a play expert! I'm thrilled that adults are finding new ways to get into the holiday spirit, cut loose, and be silly. 

You know what is elitist, though? An article that claims people in the Midwest are too uncultured to enjoy an ugly Christmas party. As a psychologist, I’m pretty sure that constitutes benevolent classism.
 
Check your privilege, Libby, and Merry Christmas. ​

PS: Not that it matters, because I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, regardless of their race, gender, or socioeconomic status, but I grew up on a farm in Iowa, so don’t even.