to think that Trick or Treating is wrong - full stop

[curlyaqa]

I intensely dislike the new(ish) custom, it is American is it not?
I wouldn't let my dc do it and I confess I ignore the doorbell on the night ().
It wouldn't be so bad if they just wanted sweets, but it's also money they're after, I believe.
Isn't it essentially begging too? It frightens some of the old folks and where I live they can get free signs to place on their doors to say they are not partcipating (or something along similar lines).
So aibu do you think?

Stewiesmom, "When the UK gets around to running parties on Guy Fawkes nite to prevent stupid kids setting off fireworks and setting fire to everything" - um - excuse me? Where does this happen?

But there are organised fireworks displays everywhere in the UK, & it's not supposed to be possible for under-18s to buy fireworks.

Just another example of UK society breaking down then

Another 'horrid' American checking in. You all are a right bunch of miserable old sods! How could you possibly be angry at a bunch of kids who took the trouble to dress up and are probably really excited to be out after dark? Who cares if it's something for nothing? I love seeing the costumes and I love giving out candy. We don't generally get any vandalism or menacing groups of teenagers.

WendyWeber, the Guy Fawkes thing happens in my neighborhood, usually for about 2 weeks either side of GF day. Have had spent fireworks landing in my garden and my kid woken up every night for a month, but never trouble on Halloween.

Well I always buy a shed load of haribo (evil) and noone seems to come to my door

ShyBaby, you have to put a jack-o-lantern out! But if noone comes then at least you get to eat the Haribo.

I do. We have three. One for me, ds, dd but still they dont come. Their loss (said with bitterness)

Mebbe they all got fed up with being rejected

They can look up this year, im doing carrott sticks.....

I am having a few "ishoos" with those of you who seem to think that, just because you have no experience of the downside of t-or-t'ing (vandals, cash-grabby kids/ teens), it shouldn't be a factor and that those of us who HAVE had these problems should just "get a grip" or stop being miserable.

I don't know about you, but I can't see who comes to my front door until I open it. So I don't know in advance if it is a nice sweet group of supervised kiddies having the most exciting time, or a bunch of older thugs demanding stuff "or we'll egg yer" (my parents have had the latter experience).

Hallowe'en is fab but there are some downsides to the t-or-t'ing in the UK.

I agree thumbwitch, but its a shame that some have to spoil it for the kids who are just wanting to dress up and have a little bit of fun.

By that I mean the kids who abuse it and use it as an excuse to be horrible.

When I was a child Halloween was ignored except for the odd ducking for apple party, bonfire night was the big excitement.
It gets worse every year and unfortunately is now big business for shops, so won't die.
It caused no end of problems when my DSs were younger because there is no way I would let them disturb the neighbourhood.
I am grateful for this thread reminding me and we have now arranged to go away for the night so we can miss it! Fun for some shouldn't cause misery for others. They should only knock on the doors of people they know.

YANBU. It's glorifying a whole load of dark stuff that should really be kept away from IMHO.

Sm - as I pointed out, I have no problem with Hallowe'en or parties. Just answering the door to unknown quantities. DS is a tad young as yet anyway.

It's not American but they tend to take holidays and actually HAVE FUN with it. Why is that so bad???? All this American bashing just because people are too cheap to swing for a box of chos on valentines day or a handful of sweets at Halloween - ridiculous. Children really enjoy Halloween when they're little. Obviously the bigger they get the more they see it as an excuse to cause trouble. I had a very unpleasant experience when I held a small halloween party - all the kids dressed up fabuolous and they wanted to go trick or treating - I eventually caved in and went down our street with the youngest being 2 and dressed as a cute pumpkin - most houses didn't bother to open their doors and the one that did shouted "We don't do it!" and slammed the door in the face of the 2 year old at the front. I don't feel comfortable trailing around peoples' houses as I feel personally like I'm begging but the kids enjoy it so much and I think if there is an adult there supervising then that's fine. I always have a big bowl of sweets ready. I can see from the older kids they want money but tough - I hand out sweets only and usually we don't get enough callers to use them all up so my kids feast on them until they're sick! The only rules I would want is an adult with every group and no callers after say 8pm. Other than that just buy some sweets and make some child's day!

Of course those who get the big kids every year causing trouble it isn't pleasant and it does happen. In those particular areas then the schools or youth clubs should arrange special parties or something to keep the older kids off the streets and perhaps the police should be abit more involved because although having a few eggs thrown isn't life threatening it is still an unpleasant mess to clear up and I do agree that the elderly/single people suffer plus I'm sure it can get alot worse than just egg throwing. All parents should just keep their kicds at home if they think they're going to cause trouble.

round here lots of activities have been planned and all police leave has been cancelled. But i do feel that the minority shouldn't spoil it for the majority.

It's great living out in the sticks at the end of October - no-one bothers to come out this far and our neighbours don't allow their DDs to go trick or treating either.