Why do people like balloons?

[SPLogan]

Walking through my workplace everyday, I notice clusters of colorful balloons hovering above people's desks. They typically indicate that the person sitting beneath them is celebrating a birthday.
Why the heck are balloons so appealing to people? :sarcastic

 

[Pussyfoot Mouse]

I guess it's for the same or similar reasons as flowers and other little gifts. They symbolize a term of endearment. It's just nice to make someone feel good. That and maybe they bring back that childhood feeling.

 

[jeffrey]

I hate balloons. When people rub them, that sound..... UGH! Makes my skin crawl just thinking about it! Kind of like someone scraping their nails across a chalk board.

 

[Jaymes]

Because they're colorful and float and make loud noises when you pop them.

 

[Bishka]

Because balloons are like nothing else. They are full of helium, rubbery and you can make things out of them.

 

[Dark_Waltz]

*walks in and starts singing*
You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one they were gone
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, something's out there
Floating in the summer sky
Ninety-nine red balloons go by

Ninety-nine red balloons
Floating in the summer sky
Panic bells, it's red alert
There's something here from somewhere else
The war machine springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky
As ninety-nine red balloons go by

Ninety-nine decisions treat
Ninety-nine ministers meet
To worry, worry, super scurry
Call out the troops now in a hurry
This is what we've waited for
This is it, boys, this is war
The President is on the line
As ninety-nine red balloons go by

Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen: Krieg und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht?
Daß es einmal so weit kommt
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Luftballons

Ninety-nine dreams I have had
And every one a red balloon
It's all over, and I'm standing pretty
In the dust that was a city
I could find a souvenir
Just to prove the world was here
Here it is, a red balloon
I think of you and let it go
How can you not love balloons after that song!!
See the balloons will be the end of us all!!!
*cough*

 

[Fluffy]

For some people it is a sex thing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looner