Elmo’s Big Question: How a cute doll asked how everyone was doing – and opened the gates of hell
Name: Elmo.
Age: Three and a half. His birthday is on February 3.
Eh? That is not true, datum it is the end of January. Moreover, he was born in 1980.
OK, That Certainly does not work. Elmo is also hairy and red, has a squeaky voice…
Understood! Elmo from Sesame Street, the Muppet sample … Muppet Monster became a therapist.
Serious? Rather. Elmo posted on X –
Elmo on X? Of course, along with Big Bird, Grover and the rest. Anyway, he made a seemingly innocent post: “Elmo just checking in!”
Ohhe refers to himself in the third person. How annoying. Together with Donald Trump, among others.
By the way, what are Elmo’s politics? Not important, even though Big Bird had an internet feud with US Senator Ted Cruz a while ago – over Covid vaccines – but that’s also besides the point. Anyway, Elmo’s tweet. He asked, “How is everyone doing?”
Seems completely in character; What’s the problem? Well, some of his half a million followers told him how they were doing. Actually quite a lot. At the time of writing, Elmo’s question has received 12,000 replies and 172 million reads.
And How is everybody doing? Not good.
Oh dear! Would they like to expand? “Elmo, I just got firedsaid one. “Elmo, I’m depressed and broke” said another. There was concern about it the presidential electionsdeceased spouses and disrespectful offspring. Journalist Kassy Dillon’s dog just rolled in chicken poop: “Thanks for asking, Elmo.”
ThatIt’s hardly the end of the world. Then I give you: “The world around us is on fire, Elmo,” complete with an Elmo-in-flames gif. And: “Elmo every day the abyss into which we stare grows into a unique horror. One that was previously inscrutable in nature.”
Poetic! By a poet, as it happens: Hanif Abdurraqib. He continued: “Our inevitable demise, which once accelerated in years or months, is now accelerating in hours, even minutes.”
Oh my God, Elmo turned on a tap and the darkness fell out. Darkness, fear, emotional fatigue, isolation…
Maybe that’s one reflection of today’s world. Some hope there? A small dot, from Abdurraqib: “But I had a good grapefruit earlier, thanks for asking.”
Thank God for grapefruit. How did Elmo respond to the tsunami of despair? “Wow! Elmo is glad he asked! Elmo has learned that it is important to ask a friend how they are doing.”
Hmm, so maybe don’t throw it away shrink some more. Well, you say that, but one person replied: “Somehow this actually makes me feel better.”
Say: ‘Hey buddy, how are you? you doing?”
Don’t say: “I know your X account is actually managed by the Sesame Workshop social media team.”