So Trick or Treating is "harmless" fun for young children is it...................?

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

6ft 1 doesn't sound very much like a young child to me

We've never had any unpleasant trick-or-treaters (though pumpkins do get nicked round here). I can't see why politely scary teenagers shouldn't do it; I'm perfectly happy to give them shortbread fingers with fingernails and blood . I'm quite annoyed about the local ban on children buying flour and eggs over the Hallowe'en period - it's an infringement of the civil liberties of the law-abiding.

As for carol singers, we haven't seen any in at least a decade.

We had a lovely halloween

The kids didn't go trick or treating because DS was ill, but we got lots of visits from little children delighted to be dressed up and out late.

It was really nice.

One random story about a bunch of yobs who would be yobs with or without halloween, doesn't really prove anything imo.

We had a lovely Halloween too, 48 children oldest was about 10, last one at 6.50pm, DD2 got all excited every time the doorbell went and was loving handing out the sweets and they were all cooing over her.

QofQ the carollers abck home are the SAME ones at the teenage 'yobbo' trick or treaters! they go out, get semi pissed then think of ways to make a bit f cash- whether its hallowween or their wierd version of 'extended' Chrsitmas doesnt amtter!.

I ahev never ever experienced any retaliatory behaviour from any visitors though, so bar the threatening- looing- teen scenario ahve little experience of that side of it.

here where we live npw, the police etc have oput a lot of work into publicising that you don't go to houses without pumpkins, etc etc etc- seems to have worked. And very well, too.

Its so sad that we are blaming trick or treating rather than b;aming the way that the kids have been brought up

My oldest child who is 7 loves going trick or treating. We only go to out 5 close neighbours(we live out in the sticks so there only is 6 neighbours)

We are the only people with children young enough to want to trick or treat.
We go together, she knocks politely and then sings a hallpweeny song and they give her some sweets.
One couple who live next door to us even answer the door to her in full costume of witch and wizard.
She loves it, our neighbours have enjoyed making us happy.
I would never go into town and knock on strangers doors

She would never dream of vandalising things.

OH everything custy said. Trick or treating isnt the problem, per say.

Menaces will be menaces - whatever the "occasion". It's shortsighted to blame a cultural event for it.

I was more appalled on Halloween this year, by the man who drove, drunk, on the dual carriageway nearby us, smashed his car up, left the scene, staggered across to our quiet cul-de-sac and collapsed on the floor blind drunk, frightening the shit out of both parents and children who were going around trick or treating.

I know which I'd rather see a clampdown on.

A list of things to ban (in no particular order) because it causes/creates violent behaviour:

Football
Alcohol
Trick or Treating
Religion
Television
Video Games
Gangsta Rap
Bad Parenting

hang on though- if you add religion you also hit some of the worlds most epaceable pacifist movements (buddhism, jainism etc)

And then youa dd atheism because in some nations it is the fight against religion that causes issues in many peoples eyes (eg Turkey)

and perhaps anyone who drinks as that is linked to violence....

hmm, you'd have to ban EVERYTHING nigh on!

Penalise those who offend, not legislate against those who do not.

oh I agree with custardo. We spent ages making DD's witch's hat and DH took her and her friend (4) trick or treating. They got a bucket full of sweets and DH said everyone was really friendly. The students down the road were particularly generous and had made an effort to put out a pumpkin and plastic bat etc. So in an area where families are often moaning about noise from students it was good to feel everyone is part of the same community for an evening! While they were out I got loads of very polite young trick or treaters-lots of groups of young girls going 'aaah look at the baby' when I opened the door holding DS.

nice post custy - about the time and effort the family has put in. I was in the US once, staying with friends, for halloween and it was lovely - like you say, lots of effort and excitement, older siblings looking after little ones, teenagers joining in but largley to impart the excitement to younger ones, and - this was the best bit - one group of parents who'd put a little trestle table up on the street serving hot chocolate to both kids and parents.

Having seen lots of pumpkins out this year I am going to let my go next year (this year they just went to the neighbours) - but only to houses that have a pumpkin - which I think is a visible sign that the owners are joining in.

• just read qofq's link - that has nothing to do with trick or treating - that's a bunch of scumbags attacking someone. the fact that they did it on halloween doesn't say anything about halloween - if they had that kind of behaviour in them they had it in them.

Trick or Treating is "harmless" fun for young children.

I dislike trick or treating, as I've said elsewhere, but this incident isn't about trick or treating, this is about yobs using any excuse.

Peachy that was kinda my point

It's not the thing - its the people.