Grown men trick or treating and terrifying my children

[chandellina]

Aggressive knock on the door, open it to no one there, DS peaks out, two blokes in scary masks jump out making noises and threatening moves. My DD runs screaming away from the door. Then the two men ask for chocolate.
WTAF

They were probably teenagers.I am a bit sickened at the number of people on MN who are 'terrified' of 14 yr old boys trick ot treating.

I actually like teenagers coming, I think it's a bit of fun for them and I generally think people are too fearful of groups of teens when they're hanging out.

This was something with a very strange edge to it, definitely not 14 year olds.

If you're big and tall enough to be mistaken for a grown man, you're big and tall enough to be taught that grown men knocking on strangers' doors and asking for stuff will intimidate and frighten people.

Yep, I take my youngest DS out with friends as he is 6. Teen DS does stuff with his friends but wouldn't dream of trick or treating and made this decision by himself, fully understanding that some people would be suspicious of a group of teenagers, and even frightened, especially in our area.

I thought that too, eyespy. DS loves the night and enjoys being out and about, but is used to women regarding teenage boys with suspicion and sometimes fear, even if they are merely walking on the pavement.
Let alone dressed up and being happy and loud.
So no, he'd never have gone ToT once he was in double figures. They had a spontaneous party round a mate's house instead.

Perhaps there ought to be another social convention added to the 'No pumpkin, no knocking' rule.
No ToT unless you are in costume and under the age of 10.

If your SIL had already warned you it was happening why did you let your four year old answer the door?

And if your children were terrified and your four year old ran away screaming, why did you then give them some sweets?

Well I hope your handcrafted ghost lollypops had first been dipped down the loo or licked by the dog!

I agree with others, trick or treat is for children not teenagers or adults.

Alice she didn't say her 4 year old answered the door. SHE did and her child then peeked out.

Yes, ignore me, I'm reading two different threads, Facebook, having a text conversation and being probed by a colour changing light sabre, and the dog is mooing for her dinner. My focus isn't really on it tonight.

I'd still like to know why they got sweets instead of a bollocking though. It's not even halloween any more.

Yanbu. I've not heard of a tradition anywhere else for adults to trick or treat. They should not be doing it, they're old enough to buy their own sweets.

So the consensus is that if you are a short 13/14 yo T or T is ok.But if you are a tall 14 yo boy you are intimidating.
How the heck is anyone with a pumpkin out intimidated by trick or treaters calling.And if they had masks on what makes you think they were 'men' not tall children?

It's not even halloween any more.

Did you look at the time stamp of the OP?

Keep some chocolate flavoured ex lax in for next year then!!

'It's not even halloween any more.

The Op is posted at 1am on the 1st November about something that had happened earlier that night ie halloween

My 6.3, 14 year old DS went out with a group of friends. Why on earth shouldn't teenagers be allowed. He knows to follow the rules, only knock at houses with a pumpkin, be polite. We don't say Trick or Treat though, my younger ones just knock on the door and say "Happy Halloween" and get their sweets. No tricking here .
Op, I don't get why you gave them sweets, they would have got a telling off from me.

If it was grown men it's bloody weird and stupid.