# Halloween gripe: Should I do something about it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 30, 2000, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949 "2000-10-30T17:53:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Edlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8797f3/32.png) [@Edlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edlyn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/41 "2000-10-31T13:32:47Z")
Well Satan, you’re not going to give in to peer pressure I hope. It’s your door they’re knocking on. It’s your candy to hand out. You decide the terms. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/42 "2000-10-31T15:12:06Z")
I went out for Halloween until I was around 16, but by that point it was no longer to get candy, I just wanted to show off my costume! The last year I didn’t even bring a pillowcase. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/43 "2000-10-31T15:12:12Z")
May I suggest giving those without costumes Chick Tracts?😉 ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/44 "2000-10-31T15:18:59Z")
Hey, doc\_miller, we always used to go to the local dentist’s house on Halloween to get our toothbrush from him. It was part of the annual event. Think about how silly not dressing up is, and note that it’s usually done by teens. What they are apparently saying is, “I’m too cool to wear a costume; but I’m not too cool to go door-to-door and ask people for candy along with the 4- to 12-year-olds.” ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/45 "2000-10-31T17:34:27Z")
Here’s a list of suggestions… [Trick Or Treak Jokes](http://jokes.empstudios.com/jokes/trick_or_treet_pranks.html) ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/46 "2000-10-31T17:56:59Z")
My suggestion: Ask the non-costumed ones what they are supposed to be. If they don’t have an answer, they don’t get candy. If they have a smart-ass answer, toss a couple raisins in their bag and say “Since I’m supposed to pretend you are wearing a costume, you can pretend that this is candy.” ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/47 "2000-10-31T18:04:14Z")
Whoops, I forgot the rant part of that post. The no-costume trick or treaters PISS ME OFF more than anything else on Halloween. My wife and I spent days making the costumes for our kids. It’s part of the fun. Our kids love the dress-up part as much as the candy. I love to see all the little kiddies come to the door full of Halloween spirit. When I see some sullen teens with no costume, I want to turn the hose on them. I put a lot of effort into decorations, jack o lantern carving, costume making, and candy buying for this night, and if you think you can just show up on my porch and get free candy without any effort on your part, you can kiss my ass. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/48 "2000-10-31T19:32:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh, and condoms. Lotsa explainin’ to do to Mom and Dad! > > (As for taking pictures of the kids…in this day and age, not a good idea…) So taking pictures is bad, but giving grade-schoolers prophylactics is okay? Alrighty, just checking. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/49 "2000-10-31T19:46:51Z")
Hey, get an Emporer Scorpion and a black light, they look really cool that way, then just keep it in a cage and tell them that they can have THAT without a costume, but thell them they have to grab it themselves! actually I’m gonna do that since I have a scorpion! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Saint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a8b319/32.png) [@The\_Saint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Saint)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/50 "2000-10-31T19:51:05Z")
How much candy do you need for the un-costumed? If it’s under 25% of the total, don’t sweat it. They’re just out for a good time, like the others, and just have their own group’s expectations about how they should dress. Teens just need to fit in. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/51 "2000-10-31T20:13:36Z")
I have to say, I do worry about any little, _little_ kids with no costume. I do think (as was mentioned here before) that their costume-less state is more the fault of their parents, not them. So I’d hope that you would judge the _little_ kids on a case-by-case basis. That being said, I worked at a fabric store. A lot of poor families came in to get material to make constumes. A lot of rich families came in to make costumes. The one I remember vividly was some “biker” type guy, who didn’t look to rich, came in a few days before Halloween. He took a long time choosing out a costume pattern for his son, and picked out something rather complicated. And he said he was going to have to _sew it by hand._ I doubt he was able to pull it off, but to me it was a great testament of fatherly love and a great Halloween spirit. So I think there is still plenty of spirit left in the holiday, we just gotta encourage it! So, no candy for the bigger kids who can’t be bothered. Screw 'em! ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/52 "2000-10-31T20:38:26Z")
First let me say that I am happy that so many people feel the way I do about the angry, uncostumed ones. I hate when I get all excited to see some little M&M’s or (like a couple of years ago) a little tube of toothpaste asking for treats. I answer the door to find a couple of sullen sixteen year old girls shoving back packs in my face for candy. I agree that handing out “second tier” candy to these spoiled sports. I also have the advantage of having two large dogs. I keep a look-out for the good kids and ask the dogs to keep quiet. If it is a teenager that is heading up the walk I will tell the dogs to run for the door. I open the door and make a big show of trying to hold the dogs off these idiots while I throw a couple of dum-dums at them. Fun for the dogs, fright for the teenagers. I hate to think that I am bending to the fear of rebellious vandals, but I cannot see repairing damage that could have been avoided by messing with their heads. As for why some kids don’t dress up - I guess you mean little kids? I would assume that either their parents can’t afford it or the parents just aren’t very excited about it and pass that attitude onto their kids. Either that or they are the sullen teenagers in the making. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/53 "2000-10-31T21:54:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Oh, and condoms. Lotsa explainin’ to do to Mom and Dad! > > > > (As for taking pictures of the kids…in this day and age, not a good idea…) > > So taking pictures is bad, but giving grade-schoolers prophylactics is okay? Alrighty, just checking. 🙂 > \*\* NO, I meant give the condoms to the angry teens not wearing costumes. And by taking pictures of kids, I mean, think about it: in this day and age, with child molestors and all, you’re asking for trouble. If you KNOW the kids however, and are friendly with their parents, it might be okay…if you offer them the pics. (LIke my little cousins…they’re sooo cute!) ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/54 "2000-10-31T22:36:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ellykat \* > …I open the door and make a big show of trying to hold the dogs off these idiots while I throw a couple of **dum-dums** at them. Fun for the dogs, fright for the teenagers… When you run out of dum-dums, there’s always regular ammunition… ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/55 "2000-10-31T23:58:00Z")
I say, put a sign on the door that says “Prize for the best costume.” If you don’t want to put up the sign, you could just mention that you had planned to give out a cash prize for the best costume, and you’re sorry to see that so few kids were even competitors this year. Combine that with the lousy candy, or the bag without candy, and maybe you’ll make them wish they had put a little effort in. I stopped Trick-or-Treating when I was about 11. I have some friends that are going out trick-or-treating this year (they are all 20 or older) and they wanted me to go with them. They will be wearing costumes. They just want to do it to be unusual, and they don’t expect to get much candy. I refused to go with them. I don’t eat candy anyway, but it’s also a moral objection. Ever since I started handing out candy myself, it’s always depressed me to see teenagers coming around trick-or-treating. It would have been a disgrace when I was that age to go around grubbing for candy. I can’t think of anyone I know who trick-or-treated older than 12. Every year since my neice was born, instead of trick-or-treating, my sister and her daughter dress up (costumes always match/complement each other: sheep and Bo Peep, two fairies, etc.) and they bake cookies to give to all the neighbors, instead of getting candy. It’s fun for my neice, teaches her to be giving, and prevents a 3 year old from coming home with a huge bag of candy that she really shouldn’t eat. In a few years, when she’s old enough to want the candy she sees other kids getting, my sister will probably start taking her on actual trick-or-treating expeditions, but I think we’ll all miss the fun of seeing people’s faces when this adorable kid and her mom show up on their doorstep with treats for _them_. (I know not everyone eats their cookies. It’s the thought that counts). About handing out condoms to the sullen teenagers: you might be giving them something they’ll enjoy even more than they would their ill-gotten candy! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2000, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/56 "2000-11-01T00:32:25Z")
My last year of trick or treating was when I was fourteen and started to get comments like “They’re getting older every year.” I figured a share of candy was my due for taking my sister, who is ten years younger than me, around. Unfortunately, I was fully stacked by the time I was thirteen and looked much older than I was. I was mistaken for my sister’s mother more than once. I agree with the “no costume, no candy” rule. My mom and I work hard for the money we spend on the candy, the kids can earn our money by putting a little thought and effort into the costumes. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2000, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/57 "2000-11-01T00:55:48Z")
That’s why I thought of tampons-hehehe…for extra effect…get blood capsules… ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/58 "2000-11-06T21:07:37Z")
So, Satan…what did you end up doing? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/59 "2000-11-06T22:19:04Z")
Have a bag of good candy, and one with apples or really horrible candy. One good bag for the costumes. One bag of stuff that sucks for the uncostumed. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949/60 "2000-11-06T22:36:47Z")
I put out the sign. Not a soul knocked on my door - even though I heard plenty of knocks on the doors of the guy in the apartment right next to mine. I got a belly ache from eating all the extra candy. Mom was right… * * * Yer pal, [Satan](http://www.members.tripod.com/jmspoofe/sdmb/satan.jpg) \*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR: Six months, four weeks, 20 hours, 42 minutes and 5 seconds. 8474 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,059.31. Extra life with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 1 day, 10 hours, 10 minutes. **David B used me as a cite!** \* [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-gripe-should-i-do-something-about-it/38949.md?page=4)