Halloween Poll

[JcDenton]

This post has nothing to do with hottubs, but I was hoping to poll the frequent posters on this site with a question regarding the upcoming event.

Halloween, for myself, was always a magical time when I was kid. It ranked right up there with Christmas (almost). The chance to be something else for the night was so exciting, not to mention, carried a terrific payoff!


As an adult, I can't help but feel that perhaps, to some extent, this event has slowly evolved into something that it was never intended to be. Let me explain - over the past several years we have noticed that many kids coming to our door are too old, they aren't dressed in anything, as well as its much too late in the hour!

Regardless, we still have some candy to give away. But what about those who do not want candy? More and more children are knocking at the door, asking for money, food and/or donations to some charity. All the while, Mom and/or Dad is standing right behind them.

Is this Halloween? Should I have a bowl of loonies (Canadian dollar coin) as well as candy to hand out? Are these kids really canvassing for themselves? My point, is that while many of these charities are very worthwhile, I cannot help but feel that there is a time and place for canvassing, and Halloween shouldn't be one of them. This creates an uncomfortable situation for us - how do you tell Snow White that you can't help the starving children? Is this fun for the child? Is this right? I can't help but feel a little sabotaged. Here I only bought candy to hand out. :-/

I expect some to respond that my comfort level is the least of your concerns. That is why (in part) I am asking the question. I want to hear who thinks what and why. Knowing how difficult it is to raise money for any charity, I can see why Halloween presents a unique opportunity.

My question then to those who are interested: How do you see Halloween? Do you agree or disagree with me and why?

I look forward to any thoughts!


Jc

[East_TX_Spa]

I'll be happy to throw my 2 cents worth of opinion into the pot!

I'm like you in so much as I loved Halloween as a kid.  I live in a small community of about 3000 people outside of a larger 80,000 pop. town.  I haven't had to deal with people collecting for charity so much as I notice there are 14 and 15 year old kids going around trick-or-treating.  Maybe I'm just old and crotchety, but I think once you get into junior high you should find other more interesting pursuits than going door-to-door with your hand out.  Most of them aren't even wearing a costume.

What's the point of that?

If a kid shows up at my house without a costume, I won't give them anything.  I consider them to be nothing but a panhandler.  If someone came up asking for money, I'd close the door in their face.  I have zero tolerance for someone that comes onto my property and tries to sell me something or solicit from me.  The only exceptions are school fundraisers or Girl Scout cookies.  (Love those GS cookies!)

BTW, I always answer my door armed.  Heck, I'm always armed anyway (CH License).

I guess my point is, don't allow these dirtbag parents (that's who I blame) to prey upon your sense of good by sending their kids to do their panhandling.  Reward the ones you feel like deserve it and don't think twice about the ones who are obviously panhandling.  Maybe if enough people tell them to get lost, they'll be jolted into following a brighter path.

Happy Halloween....

Terminator

[Brookenstein]

The way I see it costume=candy, better costume=more candy, 1/2 @ss costume= 1 piece of candy, no costume=no candy.  I don't care if you are 5 or 50 trick or treating, but you better be in a  costume.  I see no real difference from a 16 yr old in a cool costume than a 1 year old... the one year old won't be (at least in most cases) eating the candy.  If the 16 year old is still into the spirit and wants to be trick or treating instead of stealing cars or getting high, so be it.  

I go trick or treating every year with my kidsin costume (last year I was a desperate housewife, lol... usually I'm Eeyore) and that way I don't feel guilty for eating my kids' candy.  

BTW, a good costume at my house usually gets 2-3 hndfuls of candy.  My candy budget is ~$250.  I love Halloween. Even the animals get dressed up. My dog is gonna be Darth Vadar this year and the 3 legged cat is a princess.

Oh and I've never been asked for anythig, but candy and I would have hard time not cussing them out if they asked for it.

[Spatech_tuo]

I haven't run across kids asking for money but I think I can come up with an answer if they ask. Certainly we have some of the older kids but if they're in costume it's al right with me. In fact I have a 13 and 14 yr old that will be out but they are in costume but if they weren't I'd put them in a headlock if they went asking for candy in their street clothes.

What we do is simple. We give out the snack size candy bars. The big kids get 1, maybe 2. The cute little kids and the kids with excellent costumes get 3 or 4. The really hot looking moms get 6.

[Brewman]

BTW, I always answer my door armed.  Heck, I'm always armed anyway (CH License).

Terminator

That's a good idea!  I'll be out on patrol Monday evening, so I won't be answering the door.  But going forward, it would be interesting to greet unsolicited sales people with my .40 S&W on my hip.  

We don't get much but small children in costume, and nobody asking for money or anything.  We get the occasional kid who's too old to be out, but if they come to the door at a reasonable hour, we give them whatever we've handing out.  But once we turn off the lites for the night, we stop answering the door.  
 One year we refused to answer the doorbell, it was almost 10:00, and the creeps took our pumpkins and smashed them into the street.  But that only happened that one time, and it was maybe 10 years ago.  

[East_TX_Spa]

Now don't get me wrong, I don't throw the door open and draw down on them.  And I'm not as grouchy as I probably sound.  It definitely depends on the kid and their attitudes.  There are a few hoodlums down the street from us and I've had to correct them once or twice (funny, I never see any parents around), but most of the kids are out trying to have a good time.  I hope they do and will try to do my part to help them stay safe.

That's great that you'll be out patrolling Brewman.  Take care!

Terminator

[Spatech_tuo]

Now don't get me wrong, I don't throw the door open and draw down on them.
Terminator

Do you hand out flyers or brochures to the parents?

[East_TX_Spa]

Do you hand out flyers or brochures to the parents?

Now that ain't a bad idea!

Mom: "What did you get in your bag, sweetie?"

Kid: "A hot tub catalog and a credit application from American General for no payments, no interest until 2007."

Mom: "That spa-peddling SOB is at it again!"

Terminator

[Brewman]

That's great that you'll be out patrolling Brewman.  Take care!

Terminator

Thanks.
This one is mainly a PR thing.  We get several off duty squad cars out in the neighborhoods and interact with the kids, hand out sheriff's office logo stuff like pencils, crayon packs, color books, stickers, DARE stuff, etc.)  Kind of like an extention of national night out.  We'd be around for backup if needed, but the primary objective is a presence to keep the mischief to a minimum.  The younger kids get a kick out of getting up close to the patrol cars with their lights on, getting to hear the siren blips, stuff like that.  And the older kids get to see us, which may just keep a few of them in line.
Should be fun, actually.

[JcDenton]

Good responses! It's interesting to see how a little geography makes a big difference! (i.e. gun liscence(s)).

One of the main charities, I believe, is UNICEF, who has kids wearing an orange donation box around their necks. Creates a little cognitive dissonance for me - not sure what to do.

Jc

[East_TX_Spa]

Good responses! It's interesting to see how a little geography makes a big difference! (i.e. gun liscence(s)).

One of the main charities, I believe, is UNICEF, who has kids wearing an orange donation box around their necks. Creates a little cognitive dissonance for me - not sure what to do.
Jc

Put an NRA (National Rifle Association) membership application in their box!

Terminator

[Brewman]

Would someone from Canada be allowed to join the NRA?  I've never thought that one out before.  

Any similar groups in Canada?

This thread reminds me a little of an old Coneheads SNL episode.  They were handing out fried eggs and six packs of beer to the kids for Halloween treats.

[Spatech_tuo]

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/77/77dconeheads.phtml

[wmccall]

I agree with all the sentiments about Halloween.  In my neighborhood its gone down in popularity 20 years ago we got more than 100 kids, the last two years we have had less than 20. Perhaps its not a popular holiday in Somalia or Mexico.  Though our Mexican nieghbors hung some black garbage bags in their trees. I don't know if that is a holiday thing or they missed trash day.

[wmccall]

Make sure your tubs are locked when kids come to trick or treat.

There, this thread is now legitimate within the guidelines of this section.