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I reject the thesis of this article. Specifically that a shortage of helium, and therefore balloons, is hurting parties. Not even at a child's birthday party would I think, "Where are all the balloons? This party SUCKS!!!"

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A child might think that though, and if it's your child that is upset, it'd be natural to empathise, regardless of whether or not you think balloons are beneath you. Balloons generally aren't there for adults.

If your kid loves balloons so much why not fill them with air and tape them to the walls? That's what parents generally did when I was a kid.

But seeing something go up when everything else in the world goes down is just in another league.

When I was a kid, helium balloons were much less common than today (at least in my country) and I remember seeing them as objects of desire.

Better yet, fill party balloons with hydrogen gas and light 'em off at the end.

Filling party balloons with methane is pretty much standard in south asia from what I've seen; it carries risks, but it also gives the fun of getting rid of the balloons explosively.

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