to wonder where people who are too scared to answer the door to trick or treaters have got the idea that they are going to be mugged on their own doorstep?

[GoreRenewed]

I live in a quite gentle little town. It's not perfect and entirely crime-free, but it's not exactly Murder Central either. But I have spoken to several people this weekend who tell me that they won't open their door to trick or treaters because it's too risky. Asking for trouble. But none of them have been assaulted or robbed, and neither did they know people who had been.

DS2 and I walked up our road to see whether there were any potential trick or treatees. We have just moved in and we don't know the drill round here. No pumpkins and lots of 'bugger off TorTer' signs. And shadowy figures hovering in darkened rooms peering out at us presumably to see if we were dangerous It was like the eve of some terrible battle, not some silly festival for kids.

I have no problem with people not wanting to give to trick or treaters, it's entirely up to them and I can see it could be a pita. ANd yes, if you are elderly and frail and living alone, it could seem alarming.

But where did this automatic suspicion of strangers come from? When the evidence of most people's own experience is that strangers aren't scary and dangerous. Particularly when they are 3 ft tall and dressed as a pumpkin .

No. I was specifically talking about people round here who have no reason to expect dreadful things happening. But still do.

people know that some teenagers can be anti-social, but that doesn't mean everyone should stop just for a few louts does it?

I feel sad that we didn't get my gran some decorations to put out...it didn't even occur to me to put some out at mine! She loves trick or treaters and was just speaking to my mum who has load and it occurred to us that they wouldn't go to hers. She loves it but she is nearly 90 so anyone who knows her is likely to be considerate and not go. However she loves having the children come and knock.

Anyway that doesn't answer your question. I do think there is a lot of hysteria. However I feel that probably some people aren't lucky enough to live into nice areas so have to be vigilant. I expect the majority just CBA with it though. I think that's a shame but only because I like Halloween!

And I want to know why that is the case.

We moved into our house on Halloween last year and had no T&Ts. This year, we haven't bought any sweets and won't be answering the door but so far we haven't been bothered. I don't really see the point of Halloween myself and nobody we know celebrates it in any way now that our goth friends have left the country (they used to have BRILLIANT parties for Halloween).

FWIW, when I was at school me and my best friend were waiting at a bus stop and a little bastard boy lobbed a firework from the top of a bus and it exploded at our feet, giving my friend acid burns on her legs. I don't blame anyone for being concerned about how these kinds of events can be used to do harm...

YABU. We've lived in a variety of areas, inner city to rural. And, flour-type-glue is the best I hope for. The lights at the fornt have been out since it went dark. And ealry nights with lights off and letter bow sealed. I've experience the alternative.

Lucky you - plural - to live in areas where it isn't like this. Please don't judge us for trying to survive in areas where it is.

well I will tell you why I am scared.
I used to happily do T & T I opened my door and gave out sweets with a smile.
but having been subjected to 4 years of harassment by a delightful family, who delightful kids groom other kids to do their dirty work, I now turn the door bell off(we had it fitted by the HA so I could turn it of rather than dd being woken in the middle of the night by the local little darlings) and all curtains are shut.
so hopefully no eggs this year.

if you want to take your kid out begging T &T fine, but please except a lot of people have bloody good reason not to want to join in the "fun"

At the risk of being taken the wrong way... emptyshell- you don't have children, and you don't like children?... may I ask why you frequent a parenting website?

We don't do trick or treating, we don't celebrate Hallowe'en in any way- I was brought up to think it wasn't something to 'celebrate'. Despite this being a rough inner city vibrant urban neighbourhood people here are very respectful- if you don't have a pumpkin/sign out they don't knock, which is as it should be.

Don't know if there'll be any hi-jinks later from the older yoof contingent... but there hasn't been for the past 5 years.

do you ever contact the police for advice before sealing yourselves in the house?

We live on a tiny estate and know every single person on it, so the kids know where to go and where not to.
We still get older teenagers coming round but they are always polite and one of them always comes round for more and tries to change his voice

I've just given some sweets to neighbours' kids that I know, all very cheery. In a previous house we had teenagers swearing at us through the letterbox for not opening the door. Nice.

and another begging comment, really fgs

poor teenagers always get a rough deal on MN

I live on a council estate ..all seems ok here tonight [hgrin]

Thing is that if everyone else's children are automatically thugs then society becomes massively fractured. Everyone lives in isolation and while you might not get any hassle, there's no one to help you when you need it either

StewieGriffinsMom I was explaining why some people are scared.
your right there are lots of lovely kids and teens out their, but sadly the few spoil it.

but that is why some people don't want to answer their door to random kids.....
if you have had crap like that(see Riv's thread too) why would you. the Op did say

"But where did this automatic suspicion of strangers come from? When the evidence of most people's own experience is that strangers aren't scary and dangerous. Particularly when they are 3 ft tall and dressed as a pumpkin"

I was giving an answer.

oh and it isn't just teens(I like teens) the girl started harrasing us when she was 9

Aren't you more likely to get egged if you don't answer the door than if you do? And really it's not so bad having an egg thrown on your car or window. It's not exactly criminal damage