To think that it is cruel not to allow your children to go trick or treating?

[treatortrick]

And mean not to open the door to trick or treaters?

Friend has told her children that they cannot go trick or treating as it is begging.

She has also said she will not be opening the door to anyone who comes calling.

Her children are missing out and IMO this is cruel.

ditto what teamedward said, couldn't have put it better myself.

cruel? FFS

can I just ask, those of you who don't answer your door on hallowe'en - do you put one of those notices up, you know the ones who say please don't knock.

We don't do Halloween, but if any trick or treaters did call I'd open the door and certainly give them something....

Cruel?? Lol You have no idea of the meaning of the word!

I dont let my children go trick or treating and I turn the alarm bell off and don't answer any knocks.

we are headed to my mums to avoid it..

cruel? i think not. there are plenty of ways for kids to have fun without pestering sweets out of strangers.

going to a halloween party is nice though

sulks because isn't going to one this year

Cruel? OK, I'm cruel then. ds1 this year announced that he's too old for halloween now. He's 12 and has never been trick or treating.

There are plenty of things which are 'normal' round here in this locality and amongst their mates. They are used to me saying no and meaning it.

That isn't cruel. You want to know what is cruel? We don't do Santa.

Don't get it at all. You let your child knock on a stranger's door and ask for sweets but tell them the rest of the year not to accept sweets from strangers?

Very dodgey. Different if you accompany them and agree with it with neighbours you know beforehand but not to total strangers.

In America (where else?) there was a story about someone who put razor blades in apples to give to trick or treaters.

YABU? Why do we have to adopt every American custom? Hallowe'en in this form is a manufactured, plastic, garish feast. It was never the tradition in most of England, certainly.

Actually Halloween originates from England.....

I dont mind giving treats to the young kids 12 and under, but i do get annoyed when the 16 year olds start knocking at 10pm.

I think some people are confusing British Halloween traditions and the American Trick or Treat (shudder) horror that is taking over.
I remember dressing up and apple bobbing and having fun without knocking on doors begging. In Scotland the tradition was Guising -just treats no tricks

Aah but we have adopted the nasty garish plastic halloween from America.

Hate it, don't let the kids do it (they have never really asked).

Have just disconnected the doorbell for a night of peace!

Also think it is begging.

Yabu - my son has been away this week (due back tonight) and I have not given a thought for trick and treating - the best they could get from me is a half eaten Galaxy bar which they would have to wrestle from my dead arms and a couple of on the way out bananas - unfortunately we tend to get the older after cash trick or treaters which is another aibu altogether (to be fair they didn't egg the car when I said I had no cash and gave them an apple each last year

I think trick or treating is rather odd - go and knock on the doors of people you don't know and ask for sweets

Also it's American so I am less than keen for that reason - I mean I am not from the US and so it's not part of my childhood I long to pass on.

I know a lot of people just go round to people they know - well fair enough But I'm still not keen on my DC doing it.

Not sure that they are missing out on much (some sweeties...). Anyway 2 of them are at a Cubs thing tonight and the other is at the footie so I'm good I think. or maybe

I look forward to giving out the sweets. I don't see it as begging as I buy them with the intention of distributing them.

I am rather hoping that we won't get many tonight as it means there'll be plenty of leftovers for me.

YABU - I can't bear bloody halloween. We don't do anything for it and my kids couldn't give a toss so I don't think I'm cruel!!!

Why would I want to walk around the streets knocking on people's doors asking for sweets!

And no - I don't answer the door to them either - what an old meanie I am.....

We don't do santa either!

yabu
trick or treating is fine if kids just go to friends houses,
but should I open my door in the dark? we have had our house egged and been harrased by the shits up the road for 3 years, doesn't make me want to do that>

ROFL at UQD

I have sent the quattrobrat and friends off trick or treating. Despite it being load of old commercial americanised tosh. This is because I want to have an hour to myself to cook dinner, read the Times and MN. A whole hour of me-time.

I've left a two sack things on the doorstep for other people's brats to help themselves so I don't get interrupted with my Very Important Work.

I am clearly cruel. Thanks for that, I can use it.

I object to Halloween as it has become - IMO - a celebration of the occult, ghastliness and cruelty.

I shall forthwith tell my DCs, that I am not letting them trick or treat because I am CRUEL (a nice lady on Mumsnet said so). They are welcome to celebrate my cruelty, and would they like to see any more?

(Won't even do halloween smileys)