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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that trick or treating should be made illegal?

183 replies

Boogalooblue · 29/10/2007 19:37

I am fed up with children coming round banging on front door, shouting 'trick or treat' and expecting vast quantities of sweets in return.

I really do not understand why parents think this is acceptable.

I would not send my dcs out begging either accompanied or on their own and cannot comprehend why other parents do.

Yes I have given up answering door after dark on Halloween.

If you feel you must take your little devils darlings out, could you please just go to houses where you are obviously welcome ie a pumpkin in window/on front doorstep.

Not where the curtains are all drawn and light out.

Thank you

OP posts:
eleusis · 29/10/2007 22:05

YABU

Halloween is so much fun when you are a kid. Can't you be arsed to answer the door all night just one night a year? And you don't have to do it all night. You could close shop say around 8:00.

Lazarou · 29/10/2007 22:07

Is this what youre afraid of www.youtube.com/watch?v=faAjFmlW10E

SueBarooooItslikeaWarzone · 29/10/2007 22:08

Hmm, I am thinking Miserable Bastard Week has some mileage...

unknownrebelbang · 29/10/2007 22:12

I'm just glad we're out Wednesday night.

Some little darlink threw an egg at our window last year because I politely said no to them.

I don't do it with my boys, but I don't really object to the little ones knocking (as long as there is a grown-up with them - there isn't always) but like others, I don't like teenagers doing it, where they've obviously made no effort and are obviously out for what they can get).

It might seem like innocent fun, and it usually is, but it can genuinely be terrifying for some folk.

nickigreen · 29/10/2007 22:20

I THINK ITS SWEET ALL THE KIDS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR ALL DRESSED UP I LOVE IT

MicrowaveOnly · 29/10/2007 22:29

YANBU Boogie babie.

They totally ignore the pumpkin idea, and knock anyway.The mums glare at you and you know they'll be bitching around the neighbourhood that your a miserable person for not having stocked up on plenty of sweeties for their cute DCs.

Anyone seen a good sign on the net we could use??

wannaBe · 29/10/2007 22:33

it is glorified begging.

And why have we suddenly become so obsessed with halloween - far too americanized IMO.

I wouldn't ban it but I certainly don't think that people who refuse to open the door should be deemed miserable bastards - why should people feel obliged to answer the door to hoards of kids demanding sweets/money with mennaces.

2shoescreepingthroughblood · 29/10/2007 22:40

it's ok to say oh if you don't like it don't do it............and get your house/car egged
it is blackmail

TheStepfordChav · 29/10/2007 22:42

I hate it too. Where we used to live I did feel terrified by gangs of teenagers in masks and balaclavas. We had 15 groups knock on our door one halloween - how many sweets are we supposed to get in? Most of them were teenagers, not little kids dressed up, and we dare not, of course, say 'trick'. I did have a notice on the door but they still knocked, and the street was awash with flour & broken eggs next day. I felt we were lucky there was no damage to the house. What's bad about banning that?

2shoescreepingthroughblood · 29/10/2007 22:44

mn makes me laugh. loads of threads about people not alowing their dc's sweets or to play out. but oh begging is ok

LyraSilvertongue · 29/10/2007 22:45

It's just one night (it's suposed to be anyway) and it's fun for the little ones. Why should that be banned? i do think, however, that it should be strictly for the little ones, not teenagers.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 29/10/2007 22:46

Still think you are mizogs

cat64 · 29/10/2007 22:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LyraSilvertongue · 29/10/2007 22:48

Demanding is wrong, asking is fine.

unknownrebelbang · 29/10/2007 22:49

Ach, I'm a mizog anyway.

Funny how having an egg thrown at the window makes me more of one, but heyho.

My boys were that shocked THEY went out and cleaned it up for me, so every cloud, lol.

2shoescreepingthroughblood · 29/10/2007 22:50

I hate it. I end up giving sweets and still get my car egged. so it should be banned.

FrightOwl · 29/10/2007 22:52

erm..my kids dont demand anything from anyone. they have been brought up better than that.

its a bit of fun as far as they are concerned, and the people we go to are happy with that.

Lazarou · 29/10/2007 22:54

"Ach, I'm a mizog anyway."

and you like crowded house! That definitely deserves an egging

VeniVidiVickiQV · 29/10/2007 22:56

Well, perhaps that is more indicative of where you live (and the other people that live there), rather than the 'tradition' itself?

We have lovely little trick or treaters come around. They never egg anything, they are just lovely.

The effort taken into their costumes etc is lovely. Worth a handful of sweets IMO.

FrightOwl · 29/10/2007 22:57

thinking about it...they haven't ever had a trick on them! if anyone said "trick" they would probably run off! .

cat64 · 29/10/2007 22:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

unknownrebelbang · 29/10/2007 23:00

pml lazarou! I like Crowded House, and I'm not ashamed to admit it!

Lazarou · 29/10/2007 23:01

Do kids still lob loo rolls as well?

FrightOwl · 29/10/2007 23:01

maybe VVVQV.

although we live in quite a rough area (by mn standards anyway) and have never had any problems with trick or treaters. most are taken around with parents present.

Lazarou · 29/10/2007 23:03

So for those that live in the hood, are you suggesting a halloween asbo?!