To not give "a penny for the guy"

[jacksgrannie]

AIBU or not. Feel torn now.

Five minutes ago there was a ring on the door bell.
Outside was a young girl (aged about 11 I would say) with another younger child. The younger child's face was covered up with her coat put on the wrong way round and pulled over her head.

The elder child said asked for "a penny for the guy".
I replied "You haven't got a guy" and then the younger child removed her coat.

Very taken aback, I came into the house to get my purse, and then had second thoughts. I returned to the door and asked the girl where she came from (as I did not recognise her and it was dark and rainy outside). She mentioned an area about two miles away and told me her parents were outside. I looked out and sure enough there was a car in the road outside our house.

I then said I didn't think it was right to go to people's doors asking for money and they left.

Now I am not sure. WWYD. I think this is really just begging, and I won't want to encourage it. Or am I being miserable?

[LoveBeingAMummy]

I wouldn't have either

[HecateQueenOfWitches]

I agree with you. I think that's awful. No guy? Talk about missing the bloody point!

[readywithwellies]

I would have only given them money (a small amount, say 20p-50p) if they had actually made an effort and made a guy.

[TattyDevine]

I would have given them a Penny.

[mumdrivenmad]

I think these kids who dress up their younger siblings up as a 'Guy' should have been told that the tradition is to actually make a 'Guy' and to then burn it.

[southeastastra]

agree with tatty

i'd have said 1/10 for effort frankly

usually they have a soggy old human shape thing in a trolley outside tesco

[Mammie81]

I wont give money unless the kid can explain the reason we celebrate Bonfire Night, guy or no guy!

YANBU!

[southeastastra]

do you get them to write an essay

[cookielove]

You have seriously lost me on this one, why would you hand out a penny for a guy, i was actually thinking a man???

[ilovesooty]

YANBU. It's begging.

[Mammie81]

No but they should know the reasons why they do things, surely. I would also accept a brief explanation of the religious conflicts which lead to the event, a short outline of the most widely believed conspiracy theories, or just the rhyme.

[southeastastra]

\link{http://willesdenherald.blogspot.com/images/pennyforsaddam.jpg\look here} they made an effort

cookielove have you not ever heard of it?

[southeastastra]

actually surprised they're aren't many david cameron guys about, maybe next year

[2rebecca]

I'd give money to a proper penny for a guy, but they didn't have one so were just begging.

[cookielove]

erm nope never heard of that one

[usualsuspect]

I think the 'its begging' debate was done to death last week ...

we used to make brilliant guys back in the day

[Mammie81]

I was born in the 80's. Let me tell you, a leaf stuffed shell suit does not burn nicely!!!

[usualsuspect]

our guys were more 70s stylie all flares and big collars

[southeastastra]

we had a massive bonfire in the street and the older children made guys, blimey just wouldn't be allowed now would it!

[usualsuspect]

we had big bonfires on the local reccy ..everyone took their fireworks there ..was bloody lethal lol

[southeastastra]

did you all chant like pagans

[methsdrinker]

Madam Deathstar - Utterly brilliant -

My older friend dragged me off dressed as a guy to the shops when I was tiddley. My mum was mortified when she found us. She went on and on about begging. I didn't understand her horror until this Haloween and going round with my 2DD trick or treating. Its just begging for sweets really.

Although we did make a fortune out of that guy thing

[jacksgrannie]

Glad to see I am not so much out of touch then.

Back in the Dark Ages, my older brother and his friends used to make a guy from straw and old clothes and put it on a big bonfire on the local waste ground. There was great excitement when the bonfire was lit, we had a party and all took our boxes of fireworks along.

Can't see Health and Safety allowing that sort of thing now though!