Why, sinjin? Because I don’t sweat it when preteens give me attitude? Because I don’t think the astounding generosity of handing out free candy on Free Candy Day entitles anyone to be treated like the Emperor of Candy? Yeah, must be something wrong with me.
Lotta daylight between “Trick-or-treat & thank you” and “All hail the Emporer of Candy.”
Even more between “Gimme” and “Trick-or-Treat & thanks.”
Look, it’s not that I think some kids aren’t rude. It’s that I think getting one’s underpants topologically distorted over it signifies a level of self-absorption and pride which…I mean, people are actually cheering each other on for getting one over on a bunch of kids. It’s just gross, like – like that high school football game where the coach was trying for a record while humiliating the other team there was a thread about recently. Bragging about how you sure showed those little snotnosed kids who’s the boss of candy is just pathetic and low.
I dont think I’m entitled to have a neighborhood full of kids who make Halloween a fun holiday for everyone. I dont think I’m entitled to cute little costumes and lil girls who shout “I’m a Pumpkin!!”
But obviously Halloween would have been much nicer if those things were present. There’s nothing wrong with making those statements in general griping conversation among peers–regardless of how petty.
The topic does not have to be so profound like US Soldiers getting sniped in the head on video in Iraq or genocide in Africa or nukes in North Korea. There are particular forums for those kinds of threads, and there are particular forums for petty gripes. Starting or contributing to either doesn’t make a person any more or less stable or egotistical.
Okay, maybe I missed something. Could you please redirect me to the post you’re referring to?
He might have trouble spotting it from so far above the rest of us on that exceedingly high horse.
Halloween is a play. It’s irritating when an actor doesn’t play their role properly.
End of the world? No. Worth commenting about to your friends or on a message board. Sure.
BINGO!
Give that man a cellophane pouch of candy corn!
But worth mustering up a sense of righteous indignation and acting like they’ve committed a crime against decency? No, and more importantly, doing so is a sign of assholishness. Anyone who gives a gift and then bitches about the reception is being, at least a little bit, an asshole. They’re indicating that they were giving to get something in return, not out of sheer kindness. Some people think that’s fine, I know. I don’t think every last person who’s ever complained about rude kids on Halloween is a joy-hater, but anyone who acts like they’ve actually been insulted in some way is just petty.
It’s not the complaining I’m objecting to, it’s what’s being complained about. There are many minor complaints I think fully worthy of putting voice to. This is not one of them.
Oh c’mon. The deal is the kids “threaten” you with a trick if you don’t give them a treat. It’s a contract. No threat of a trick, no treat.
It’s not free candy day. You’re supposed to earn that shit through intimidation and extortion. THOSE are the values we’re supposed to be instilling in our children. Not this new age commie “free candy” stuff.
Actually, I think the threatening teens are more in line with the history of “trick or treat” than the little “fairy girlies” politely asking for treats. I believe it was kind of an extortion thingy historically (no cite, not GD).
Not that this has anything to do with the current discussion. Do we older people like Halloween? Yes. Do we like the polite little kiddies that are cutsie and say pweese and thank you? Yes. Are we appalled by rude kids and their equally rude parents? Yes. Is this the end of the world? No.
Hmmm, looks like Ensign’s gonna keep this alive for another day or two, so I’ll go ahead and late-post my story.
Now that we have kids, the problem is who’s gonna stay home to hand out treats? It so happened MIL was here to visit Tuesday, so we set her up on the driveway. Our front walkway is “under construction” - who knew that putting in flagstone would be so tricky? Those stupid rocks are sagging every which way. And my solar lights? Kids’ sneakers are more illuminating!
Anyway, MIL looked kinda cool next to our garage. She was backlit, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and lap blankets as she sat on the computer chair dh dragged outside – looked like Darth Something-or-other, especially since she’s menacing anyway.
Our twins (not yet 3) (dressed as bumblebees) didn’t quite get it and demanded to go home after four houses. But they did say something approaching “TOT”, and definitely “thank you - Happy Halloween”.
We’re out in the boonies so I wasn’t surprised nobody came while we were gone. We let MIL back in (it was freezing out) but left the porch light on just in case.
Wouldn’t you know, half an hour later someone knocked (we don’t have a doorbell, either) so I gave an 8-yr-old half of what was left. And I cautioned him and his mother, “Be careful, those rocks are tricky.”
Kid fell.
Ensign Edison is one of the greatest posters I have ever had the pleasure of reading. He is roxxer***
***EE is that good enough? I’m new at this sucking up stuff, but I figure it’s well worth it for the $.20, a stale Reeses’s peanut butter cup, a wire nut, 3 tootsie rolls, and a coupon for a free fountain drink with a deluxe car wash.
Hey, one of those Tootsie Rolls was fruity flavored, man. You could have at least mentioned how handsome I am.
Ensign Edison, he is hawt! Yeah baby, hawt!****
****Yes, I am a fruity tootsie roll slut, sue me.
Dang! I moved from a slightly lower, lower middle class area to a somewhat well to do area near a couple of schools and a nice shopping area.
I used to get a scant handfull of kids, so I was hoping for a decent showing this year, I put on my balcony light and a little pumpkin candle on the balcony.
Not a single kid. I had to take three pounds of mini-skittles and starburts to work.
One of the geologists finished off the skittles the first couple of hours that first morning! But, as much as I would have liked to have had at least a few little trick or treaters, I’d not like the type that Mooch got!
Are those the strawberry tootsie rolls? I love those things!
I think kids not upholding their end of the social contract that is Halloween IS worth griping about. It’s not a matter of lording our power (or control of candy) over them. There’s a ritual, and the kinds of kids being bitched about here aren’t playing by the rules. If someone invites you to their house for Thanksgiving, do you walk in the front door and say “Gimme the turkey, bitch!”? On gift-giving ocassions like birthdays/Christmas/Chanukah do you ignore all of the niceties and just say “Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. Just give me my gifts”? Expecting a “please” and a “thank you” is not assholish. It’s the glue that holds society together.