Don't yuck someone's yum
From Barbie to Nickelback, just let people enjoy simple pleasures.
“I own nary a stitch of pink clothing, so I had to throw on this bandana,” I joked to my sister’s friend as we waited in line to take a photo in the Barbie box at Alamo Drafthouse.
Yours truly was among the hoards of people who delighted in dressing up to see the Barbie movie last weekend. Would I have gone on opening weekend without my sister’s invite? Probably not, but I’m glad I did. It was a bubble gum pink delight to walk around Brooklyn with a herd of women dressed in pink and have other women ask, “oh, are you on your way to see Barbie?” or just randomly yell, “Happy Barbie Day” or “Hi, Barbie!”.
At risk of any spoilers, I won’t discuss plot, but the trailer really doesn’t do the movie justice. It’s a smart social commentary on how women are treated, specifically in the United States. It brings in nostalgia for those who played with Barbie on occasion to the die-hard enthusiasts.
Of course, social media was quickly awash in hot takes about the Barbie phenomenon and it just kept making me think, “don’t yuck someone’s yum.”
Naturally, I’ve disregarded this advice and yucked other people’s yums before (here’s looking at football season and lots of wedding traditions), but it’s something on which I’m actively working. People are allowed to take pleasure in activities, events, and hobbies to which you don’t relate or would never engage. Your dismissal doesn’t make it any less valid and they probably don’t need your opinion.
Yes, this can be a far more nuanced conversation because there are activities and hobbies in which some delight but that actively cause physical and emotional harm to others. That’s not the vibe of this discussion. For the sake of this short newsletter, I mean things like Disney adults or Scandoval or reading romance novels or wearing matching bachelorette party t-shirts or watching sports or liking Nickelback.
Don’t roll your eyes if you see a group of people dressed up in pink saying “Hi, Barbie!” Life is hard enough and just be glad these folks are finding a few hours of delight in their week.
P.S. Definitely don’t roll your eyes if you haven’t seen the movie.
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Can’t wait to go see this movie with one of my adult daughters.
Erin, thank you for writing this. As a self described "recovering jaded smartass" from the 90's, you are absolutely right. The world needs to let people have fun as long as it truly is harmless. I may have not been a Barbie fan when I was little but I do appreciate the happiness that this new movie and the doll is bringing to people of all ages. Thank you for reminding us all that sometimes a doll is just a doll, a movie is just a movie, and we all need our own little pockets of sunshine.