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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:
expatinscotland · 31/10/2007 15:41

only read the OP.

now wonder the world is so miserable these days.

it's full of dour-faced saddos .

SueBarooooItslikeaWarzone · 31/10/2007 15:56

MB, yes, it was a bit, so I got my atheist father to tie it down and it didn't bother him.

Ripeberry · 31/10/2007 16:08

My parents used to love doing Halloween stuff. Mainly because through most of my childhood we were living in Switzerland and they did not do that kind of thing.
My dad always dresses up for the local kids as a count Dracula and he hires a cape and everything and even has a trick guillotine for fingers and each kid has to put their finger in to get a treat.
When he first used the guillotine he did almost cut some kid's finger off as he had forgotten to slide the switch over, lucky it leaves the factory on the "safe" position
Tonight i'm taking my two DDs trick or treating to some neighbours, my eldest will be a witch, reminds me got to make a broomstick in the next hour of so and my youngest will be a ghost, but will probably chicken out when she sees how dark it gets...our streetlights are out
AB

covenhope · 31/10/2007 16:36

To the OP YANBU.

TBH I think all cold calling should be illegal, from the T or Ts you've never seen before in your life (totally different if it is pre-arranged between friends) to the JWs, to the man selling dusters, to the man trying to convert you to a different energy supplier.

UnquietDad · 31/10/2007 16:42

Say "treat please!" and hold out your hand.

And then see the look of horror on their faces.

sparklygothkat · 31/10/2007 16:46

I don't do T or T, and have never taken my kids. They, of course, came out of school asking if we could go tonight, and I said no because I don't agree with begging and I don't allow them to knock on strangers doors any other time of the year so why should I allow them on one night??

madamez · 31/10/2007 18:03

You know it's not reasonable to ban things just because some people are frightened by them, or offended, or have their ickle feelingses hurted. Being a sniveller doesn;t give you extra rights over other people's behaviour. You;re not going to like everything other people do. Get over yourself.

Quadrophenia · 31/10/2007 18:20

just got back from trick or treating, had loads of fun, followed the pumpkin code and the children all said thank you. I live in not the greatest of areas, council estate, and we have no problems here. Been here nearly 7 years and not been egged or harassed once. I did just moan at a tenish year old though who didn't say thank you.

SmileyMylee · 31/10/2007 19:00

I'm disappointed that we've only had two Trick or Treaters despite hanging pumpkins and Trick or Treaters welcome signs all over the place.

My kids love them coming round. Earlier in the evening, they dress up and go to two pre-arranged houses. They then come back and we do bobbing for apples and 'scary' stories whilst waiting for the bell to ring. But very few tonight.

If I'm not careful I'll have a lot of fun sized Mars bars to eat!

SmileyMylee · 31/10/2007 19:02

spoke too soon,

just had 15 in one go. They were very cute though!

SueBarooooItslikeaWarzone · 31/10/2007 19:05

yeah, I agree that it shouldn't be banned, but the lady with dementia who was terrified by some ghouled-up teens egging her house and banging on the windows is not a sniveller.

StrawberryMartini · 31/10/2007 19:06

I have had my front door battered a few times already tonight - clearly not by cute little kids. And they don't knock once and leave, they knock 3 or 4 times and bang the letter box. I have turned the lights off and am sitting like a prisoner in my own home, feeling very threatened.

It's fucking stupid and I have never sworn before on MN!

YANBU!

StrawberryMartini · 31/10/2007 19:07

And to think they do this on old people's doors as well - it must be terrifying.

Original poster
Boogalooblue · 31/10/2007 19:11

Have just read through all todays posts (have been out scaring little trick or treaters)

Thanks for the hint Squiffy - best advice I have ever had and will use that in future years

What I cannot understand is how people can condone begging, which is what it is.

I asked my children this evening if they thought it was right to go to a strangers house, knock on door and shout 'trick or treat' as a way to get sweets.

They said they wouldn't want people coming to our house doing it as they don't know them.

Yes my kids would love to have the amount of sweets that children are given on this delightful evening, but even they can see that it is not the right way to go about it.

OP posts:
StrawberryMartini · 31/10/2007 19:18

Good post.

Will have to read back through thread now to find Squiffy's hint!

southeastastra · 31/10/2007 19:22

well if you'd had as much fun as my ds(6) and i did tonight, you wouldn't see it as begging. it's a great community get together. children were so happy to answer the door, even if my ds's costume was a bit thrown together and he even tried to walk off with an entire bucket of sweets.

PatsyCline · 31/10/2007 19:23

I was put off Trick or Treating a couple of year ago when I realised that some teenage boys I had given sweets to had then egged our big bedroom window. My DD2 had been seriously ill for months at that stage and the meanness of those boys really floored me - I cried my eyes out.

We've done apple bobbing and dressing up with the girls tonight and carved a melon lantern (don't ask!). That's kept them quite happy.

kittywitch · 31/10/2007 19:27

my kids love it. I think it's vile and common, like begging.
Yes it should be banned.

bookofthedeadmum · 31/10/2007 19:32

We've had about 3 sets of kids around tonight. Good chance to palm off sweets my dd doesn't like. Funnily the candy canes from last Christmas (expiry date about 2009, in case someone thinks I'm trying to poision the little darlings) have gone down particularly well. Talk about mixing your pagan festivals up though .

funnypeculiar · 31/10/2007 19:34

Not read much other than OP ... but took the dcs (3.5 & 20 mths ... so not awfully menacing ) up & down our street - planned to go only to people I know, but lots of people beckoned us in ... so we got to know some new neighbours - & there was a lovely firendly feel out there.

Of course manky tennagers spoil it very occassionally, but when done 'well' ...what's not to like?

ideamummy · 31/10/2007 19:34

I did the same, all the sweets that we'd got that haven't been eaten and a load of rocky road I made at the weekend which is going a bit gooey. Poor kids, they'll be disappointed when they get home and open up their little packages!

southeastastra · 31/10/2007 19:36

what is the harm though, if reponsible adults accompany their children and only go to houses that display welcoming pumpkins etc.

totally understand that some idiots are out to ruin it for everyone but lets not let them beat us. yes?

bookofthedeadmum · 31/10/2007 19:38

I think Trick or Treating should only be carried out on people you know. Not any old house with Hallowe'en decorations up. I used to take my dd to visit our neighbours dcs and in return they would pop around about an hour later. I wouldn't go up and down the street with her.

funnypeculiar · 31/10/2007 19:42

Isn't putting pumpkins etc up a sign that 'We're up for Trick & Treaters' though? Then only the people who don't mind are 'targeted'

ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 31/10/2007 19:46

I'm gutted that we've only had 2 sets. We have a lovely lime green flashing spider hanging from the doorbell as a sign we're Up For It (so to speak) and a fantastic black furry one that drops down on a cord when there's a noise. [sigh]