Last year during Halloween, I was quite alarmed with the number of brats who showed up at my door without a costume.
When I was a kid, dressing up in some silly costume was half of the fun. And the way I see it, I spent my money and time to get candy, if you don’t put forth some effort, go fuck yourself!
There was a thread about this last Halloween (I refuse to look it up, but someone can find it if they want), so I know I am not the only person who feels this way.
Anyway, i plan on printing in big letters the following sign and posting it on my front door:
IF YOU ARE NOT WEARING A COSTUME, DON’T BOTHER KNOCKING.
Good idea or bad? Kill joy or justice seeker? I asl the Teeming Millions for their humble opinions…
*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Six months, three weeks, 15 hours, 58 minutes and 23 seconds.
8186 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,023.33.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 10 hours, 10 minutes.
THE YANKEES WIN! THAAAAAAH YANKEES WIN!
1996 · 1998 ··· WORLD CHAMPIONS ··· 1999 · 2000
26 Titles! The #1 Dynasty of all-time!
And most importantly… RULERS OF NYC!!*
I wholeheartedly agree. The purpose of trick or treating is to wear a costume, to enjoy a ghoulish good time, and indulge in a little fantasy. last year I had these 16-year- olds showing up, no costume, begging for candy. That just kills the fun for me. If you’re just going to reduce the fun and magic of Halloween to a pathetic scrounging for sugar, count me out.
Put your sign up, Satan.
How about a sign–discreet, formal, visible–saying No Soliciting. If you answer the door to a kid with no costume, just point to the sign and explain what that means (or do you not even want to bother explaining?). If it’s small & obvious enough, it shouldn’t turn away genuine Halloweeners, and it seems less likely to provoke a response than the sign you’ve suggested.
Nah… I don’t even want to deal with these cretins. And if they do see a big-ass sign which pretty much cannot be misconstrued and STILL have the audacity to knock, my response to point to it and close the door will not involve some elaborate explanations or further misunderstanding.
*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Six months, three weeks, 16 hours, 14 minutes and 22 seconds.
8187 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,023.38.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 10 hours, 15 minutes.
THE YANKEES WIN! THAAAAAAH YANKEES WIN!
1996 · 1998 ··· WORLD CHAMPIONS ··· 1999 · 2000
26 Titles! The #1 Dynasty of all-time!
And most importantly… RULERS OF NYC!!*
While I understand where you are coming from on this issue. There is propably one thing you didn’t consider.
VANDALS!
I mean you better hope you don’t get Soulfrost or someone like him (I read one of his post about what he did on Halloween to people that pissed him off over at the pizza parlor ) coming to your door. Otherwise the brick through your window will cost ya alot more money than giving some candy to the costume less kid at the door.
I would be slightly nervous that your sign would provoke the wrath of non-costumed kiddies who are just looking for reasons to get up to no good.
Did you think about making a sign of a more Halloweenie nature? Something about how costumed kids will get treats, and non-costumed kids should beware, they might get tricks instead?
This is probably awfully mean, but I buy better candy to give to kids with really good costumes, and tell them that they have such a fantastic costume that they are getting the really good candy. I harbor illusions that this positive reinforcement will keep them well-costumed in future years. Probably their poorly costumed friends just beat them up on the sidewalk in front of my house and they end up hating Halloween …
Wildest Bill: I rent, and I live in an apartment complex. As such, I am not that worried about any retaliation. If they do any “tricks,” well, the guy who does the maintenance of the complex lives one apartment over, and I’m sure he’ll be looking out as he always does on Halloween.
delphica: I can see that leading to a nightmare of non-costumed kids acting stupid and bothering me and still expecting candy. Nice idea, but if they already are not showing themselves to be in the Halloween spirit, why should I expect them to come through on that idea?
*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Six months, three weeks, 16 hours, 22 minutes and 3 seconds.
8187 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,023.41.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 10 hours, 15 minutes.
THE YANKEES WIN! THAAAAAAH YANKEES WIN!
1996 · 1998 ··· WORLD CHAMPIONS ··· 1999 · 2000
26 Titles! The #1 Dynasty of all-time!
And most importantly… RULERS OF NYC!!*
Child appears to be unable to afford costume : Give Candy.
Child appears to be unwilling to dress up : Throw boiled eggs at child.
Child appears to be 17, drunk, and not dressed up : smash pumpkin over head. If his/her head manages to fit inside the pumpkin, you get bonus points.
I’m with delphica. Give out crummy candy to the lazy ones. Chocolate for the costumed kiddies and Grandma Goosberry’s Olde-Fashioned Horehound Lozenges for the others.
Non-costumed kids should also be required to explain what they are supposed to be.
Yes. You should definitely refuse candy to kids without costumes. What kind of kids are they? But i wouldn’t put up a sign. That could be seen as hostile even to the kids REALLY celebrating the holiday. Better to greet the visitors and banish those who are not really Halloweening. It might help if you told them you’re Satan.
Personally I don’t think you should give out candy to any kid (well any kid over three) who comes before nightfall, as that to is out of the spirit of the holiday. But a lot of places are mandating ridiculously early trick-or-treating hour so I can’t blame the kids for that.
But it will come up at my next local election, let me tell you!
Satan, my experience is that this phenomena has been increasing in recent years. Or the kids do something completely half-assed for a costume. But I just figure tossing some candy their way is “overhead.” And I don’t want to give any jerk out there an excuse for tossing a rock through a window. The $ and time would far exceed any candy expense.
If you really want to do something, follow delphica’s suggestion. Get the cheapest hard candy available, and toss a couple of pieces in the uncostumed kids’ bags. Or if you wanna be a jerk (not suggesting that jerkiness would be inappropriate) you could just fill the bottom of your candy bowl with dried pinto beans, or small rocks. Chuck a couple discretely but forcefully into their bags, and they won’t know the difference until they get home!
I suggest, however, not sweating the assholes, and instead, getting all the fun you can out of the cute little kids. If it is nice out (here in Chi it is gonna be BEAUTIFUL!) sit out on your stoop with your candy, a book or a friend, and maybe a bottle of wine. When the cute little kids come up, ask them to tell you a joke or sing a song for a treat. Most of the kids will accomodate you. Makes for a cheap evening’s entertainment.
Well, this assumes that I can judge a person’s financial situation by “looks,” and I don’t think that is likely. (And let’s not talk of kids saying, “I’m dressed a a poor kid,” okay? :))
Besides, it does not cost much, if anything, to make a costume that is servicable. I grew up in Jamaica, Queens, an area not known for its wealthy families I assure you, and I never saw kids without costumes on.
*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Six months, three weeks, 16 hours, 38 minutes and 7 seconds.
8187 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,023.47.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 10 hours, 15 minutes.
THE YANKEES WIN! THAAAAAAH YANKEES WIN!
1996 · 1998 ··· WORLD CHAMPIONS ··· 1999 · 2000
26 Titles! The #1 Dynasty of all-time!
And most importantly… RULERS OF NYC!!*
I would make up a little plastic or paper baggie,(most kids get excited, grab bags and all that) and put some dried beans in for weight and a little note, No costume, no candy.
I subscribe to the good treats/bad treats school. And if you have some money to throw at the problem, and want to really make a statement, I suggest any of the following as “no costume” treats.
Toothbrushes (the historical smart aleck favorite)
I still like delphica’s suggestion. Something that would be clear to the non-costumed punks, yet not encourage them to remodel your windows. If you are not wearing a costume, you will not get candy, you will get eaten. Stand by the door with a meat cleaver and some ketchup. Have fun.
Of course, one of my favorite theoretical Halloween pranks could be put to good use - heat up some quarters in the oven, then sprinkle them on a cookie sheet with some unheated nickels and dimes. Teach the punks several lessons at once. Of course, that is not exactly avoiding confrontation… good luck either way
Dressing up is the best part! I would have been embarassed as a kid to walk around on Halloween asking for candy but not wearing a costume. Feh. Spoilsports.
I would ask the non-costumed kids what they are supposed to be. When they say they aren’t wearing a costume, I’d tell them they have to do something to get a treat, so they need to tell a joke or sing a song or something. Just to get my point across. And then I would give them five pennies or 1 piece of anise flavored hard candy. Or one of those peanut butter chewy things. Blecch.
I read recently in Ann Landers or some-such advice column what to do about teenagers trick-or-treating. The advice given was to get a really hot 20-something year old chick and have her say condescending things to the teens as she hands out candy. Like “Oh, aren’t you a sweet little thing? And what are you supposed to be? Did your mommy help you?” etc. to squash their egos.
