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 .

We've unplugged the doorbell as I'm fed up with having the LO distrubed during bedtime routine. One night would be ok, but when it started on Friday evening.....and why fireworks last night and tonight? Jeez.....we have next weekend to be up all night with the DCs, give us some peace please!!

My DSs get a lot of fun when I take on carol singers! I stop them on 'we wish you a merry christmas' and say theat I want a carol-before they have time to draw breath I say and NOT Jingle Bells. They sometimes manage the first verse of 'Away in a Manger'but I insist on 3 verses. I suggest, politely, that it might be a good idea to learn some carols before they go out!

you meany

Used to love carol singing when I was little. We went out with a group from the church on Christmas Eve. It was really special. I don't beleive now and I don't go to church. I miss that.

Police have just had to be called. They have put a brick through an elderly neighbour's window. :( fucking idoits. Same fucking idoits who always cause trouble round. We thought we might be ok this year now the troublesome house had been evicted. Nice posh area? Hah fucking hah.

they are starting early round here its not even 8pm yet

Thats awful, batbrains. [hsad]

The sad thing is, as you say, they cause trouble at other times too, as is often the way. Its such a shame that Halloween gets the blame for these people's behavoiur.

For a lot of us older people, trick-or-treating is a foreign import. It's not part of our culture, and didn't happen when our (now adult) children were young. The most that happened was a Halloween party.

Of course we get cold callers/religious proselytisers ringing our doorbell, but that's during the day. It's very different when someone rings our doorbell at night in the dark. It could well be that 99% of trick-or-treaters are lovely young people, but there's little way of knowing whether you're going to be dealing with the 1% who have bought into the idea of entitlement.

Please don't berate those of us who get anxious on this particular night.

been out T&T-ing with my kids round the estate. 30 houses with decorations up and smiley people loving the costumes. All the others no decorations - and have been left well and truly alone. And by 7.30pm, thje streets were clear and quiet again.
DH was at home with the sweetie bowl and has had around 50 children, all dressed up, including some young/mid teens who were all wowing at our home-made spiders in the tree and pumpkin family.
We live in the so-called rough end of town :)
It is prob the one night of the year I actually get to meet and talk to my neighbours, which is sad....

i don't berate people who get anxious at all but i do get offended when people say my child is 'begging' quite frankly.

fair enough if you don't like it but don't hate us that do just to justify yourselves.

btw i went trick or treating in 1978

Well I am bah humbug about the arse that is now setting off fireworks. I hate fireworks with a passion. Don't get me started on fireworks......

Yeah, a bit shaken but ok. Thankfully next door were delivering her shopping at the time. They have secured her property. I think she is going to stay with one of her kids for the night.

Well I am 45 and have never been trick or treating - we had bonfire night which involved fireworks,sparklers,sausages in rolls and hot soup .
My DC are teenagers and until about 5 years or so ago we didnt have all the Halloween tat in the shops . It just wasnt something we did at all.
I hate it and think it is tacky - Not sure what it is meant to be "celebrating"
Consumerism perhaps ?

Im not answering the door as I have a lovely little newborn so a) dont want to let the cold in every 5 mins and b) have not done any shopping yet so have no sweets!!

I've turned off the lights and so far a grand total of one person has knocked the door.

Like quite a few people here, I'm more annoyed by the fireworks that have been going off at all hours for the last month...

I don't like it. My ds is 3 and autistic. i am on my own with him and it really throws him having strangers knock the door. Our house has no hall and door opens straight on to the lounge. I put a sign up and only had 2 knock one of whom I felt I should open to as DS opened the letter box.
I don't like people turning up unannounced at the best of times least of all when I am in the middle of DS bedtime routine, it's cold and dark and I want to enjoy a rare hour or two of peace.

DH hollowed out a pumpkin for dd, she's almost three so the first year she was able to help.

I bought a cheap bag of sweets from the £1 shop which was a double bonus for her, she got to answer the door and see the costumes and also sneak a treat now and then - she has never had sweets like that before.

Took the pumpkin down about 10 mins ago as the sweets have run out and dd is fast asleep in bed,I would hope no one knocks now there are no decorations up.

I agree that if lights are off or no decorations then the people inside should be left alone. Not everyone wants to be involved.

The fireworks are far more annoying though IMHO.

Although low crime in the area, AIBU to feel a little nervous opening the door tonight when my poor lovely neighbours had a brick thrown through their front window last night? I find the large groups of unaccompanied kids that come calling quite intimidating.

I dont mind getting t&ters but have had none this yr and havent taken DD, although in previous yrs have only gone to pre arranged friends houses. We have also never had any trouble.

I can understand why some people are scared and respect they wouldnt want to open their doors at all, it is up to them but feel [hsad] that society has come to this and few have ruined it for many.

The man that beat up the boy is wrong, no matter what the boy did, but he will get into trouble for it with the police and will come to regret his reaction.

The poor neighbour that had their window broken i hope they are ok and whoever did it gets caught and punished accordingly. Probably not though which just makes me because if they did it may stop then and others from doing the same thing next yr.

I love Hallowe'en, and have been preparing for ages, decorating etc, we had a lovely little party/ TorT welcome for a few hours.

And for the last hour and a half, a gang of kids have been lobbing fireworks next to my house. And at my house. And when I asked them not to, I was told to fuck off, because it's only fireworks (being fired horizontally at trees and cars and gardens) and I should get over it.

The police are not interested. I am , this is not how I wanted the kids to experience Hallowe'en.