To think this is bloody cheeky (Facebook and Halloween related)

[CatThiefKeith]

Someone on our village FB page has posted this today:

I'm planning a Halloween party for my two year old and his two year old friends this year. We will be out and about trick or treating.... Can I just ask that only electric candles are used in your pumpkins please. You can buy these cheaply enough online and in Pound shops. Claudia Winkleman's daughter was badly hurt last year when her fancy dress costume caught light after the dress touched the candle in a pumpkin on a neighbours doorstep. Also, please remember that many children suffer with food allergies, so please, be careful when purchasing sweets and ensure that they don't contain nuts or dairy.

AIBU to think that you can't go round demanding an entire village uses electric candles and telling them what sweets they can and can't buy? My fingers are itching but dh has decreed I am not allowed to get into any more rows on that particular page!

It's not my NDN. I don't know who this woman is tbh. There is a new development at the other end of the village and I don't know many people there as it has only just been finished, maybe she's just moved in? (I ran the local toddler group for three years so know a lot of the local mums)

Why don't you reply that sadly you will be unable to receive her trick or treaters this year because you are entertaining a clan of child hungry cannibals this Halloween

I'd be temped to put a sign up saying that my pumpkins have real candles and my sweets are full of nuts.

I'd be pretty horrified at a child being alight whose ever 'fault' it was so couldn't really take offence to the first request. Agree the second one is OTT though.

Ooh, I like Optimist1's wording

One person has put 'What time are you going out and which roads so i can make sure I am out'

CatThiefKeith Thu 10-Sep-15 13:22:22
she should just ensure that the children are wearing costumes that meet nightwear safety standards instead of toy safety standards, which is what CW has been campaigning for

I really would reply along these lines!

Regarding allergies... she forgot gluten free sweets/ diabetics suitable candies, and please please stay away from red - kids could get traumatised by the blood colour!

Well I'd imagine most people would be horrified at a child being alight. However that doesn't mean people can't safely use candles in their pumpkins.

God that is so patronizing. "Look guys, I know these things so listen". You should write back that your child's costume is made of 100% organic cotton so far less likely to catch fire than a synthetic one .

That's seriously entitled! It would get a big "Fuck Off" from me!

I'd line my drive with electric candle-lit pumpkins and then get the scariest costume available and jump out when they came to the door shouting "TRICK - not treat, No Nuts here" or similar.

whilst I can see then urge to mock

mixing kids in highly flammable costumes and naked flames is not the best idea- and its a shame it took a horrible incident for people to realise that

I will learn from it that's for sure

she is BU to plan Halloween 2 months early tho, twat!

I am always tempted to reply to things like this by making ever more outrageous suggestions.
It would be good to remember that some children are diabetic. So perhaps instead of offering sweets, you could offer nuts instead. Also remember some children are timid, so please don't knock on doors too loudly. A soft knock would be fine.

This is a really bad idea for a party. Two year olds, running about at night, in the dark, jumped up on excitement? Tempted to come to your village to watch the carnage unfold. Given her judgement about what makes a good age-appropriate party is clearly missing, suffice to say the rest of the demands are all batshit.

if someone posted that around me, i'd be tempted to fill my garden with candles and only hand out milky bars and fruit&nut only.
I hate Halloween though, the whole trick-or-treating thing just bugs me. i find it so rude to knock on a strangers door and demand sweets. Fortunately, for the second year running, i have conveniently booked a holiday that week.

it's not ridiculous but probably a bit OTT. people where I live all buy nut-free as that what the big boxes of candy from the large manufactures do now.

squoosh of course I would, but its the tone of the post that has riled me, not the actual content. I haven't been able to help myself. I posted this......

"I think the article linked was putting the emphasis on costume safety rather than using electric candles in pumpkins. The following stores only stock costumes which meet BS5722 (children??s nightwear flammability requirements) Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsbury and Tesco. As it stands Argos, Asda, Mothercare, Toys R Us, John Lewis and BHS only test their costumes as toys, not clothing."

I really wanted to add: "As for the sweets, I think it is high time we made Halloween healthier - maybe we could all agree to only give children organic vegetables this year? So much better for their teeth."

Well I think you know that comment wouldn't have been very nice to say.

I don't think I would have been able to stop myself posting either. I'm impressed at the person who poested about being out though, that is good!

Yes I know it wouldn't, which is why I didn't add it.

Cat see that was a good response as it is sensible and educational. I think the info about who stocks safe clothing is incredibly important and not common knowledge at all.

I'd reply.

'I have a phobia of tiny human beings dressed as minions or Elsa from Frozen, please refrain from visiting my home with the expectation of confectionery reward for dressing as such. Tiny Lady Gagas or versions of Alan Partridge portraying a zombie will of course be welcomed'.

Thanks Cheesy. I hadn't given it much thought until CW's daughters accident, but it is important. I would rather see all costumes fire tested properly than see the pumpkin/candle tradition die out.

I'd have reply and link to some costumes that meet fire safety standards as well as advising that best way to avoid the whole allergy issue is to not give anything to trick or treaters at all.