# Is trick or treating a good idea this year ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771 "2001-10-22T01:06:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dragongirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@dragongirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragongirl)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/1 "2001-10-22T01:06:06Z")
As the mother of two rugrats, I’ve been going back and forth on this one. I haven’t really felt too good about it, but wasn’t sure, but just now I’ve made up my mind. My kids will not be going this year. I just read about something on snopes website about a middle eastern man buying $ 15,000 worth of candy in cash that is being investgated by the FBI. I’m sorry, I don’t know how to post a link. What does everyone else think ? ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/2 "2001-10-22T01:09:23Z")
I say escort your kids, explain in advance that they’ll take the stuff then dump it, and you have their favorite candies at the house. As a kid, just going through the costume experience, etc., was fun. But it all depends on the age of the kids and whether they enjoy Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/3 "2001-10-22T01:28:20Z")
My kids will be going to the the Halloween Carnival downtown again this year on the 30th. The 29th one of the dorms at OK State hosts a carnival every year and there’s trick or treating door to door in the dorms. We also have the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce’s Carnival that’s on Halloween night. I think my kids will have plenty of the Halloween experience. Check around, there are surely similiar events in your area. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/4 "2001-10-22T01:54:00Z")
Check your local indoor shopping malls. The ones in my area always have something going on. Its where I take my kids and they love it. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/5 "2001-10-22T02:30:09Z")
Why not have your kids do something like take around a UNICEF box (do they still make those) and ask for quarters and dimes instead of candy? We’ll only trick-or-treat in our neighborhood anyway (where we know people) and possibly drive to some houses of people we know. So I’m not at all worried. My son is also too young to eat candy, so I guess that minimizes his risk even further. My waistline is in serious danger, however. ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/6 "2001-10-22T02:56:28Z")
[Snopes has something to say about this.](http://www.snopes.com/rumors/candy.htm) They say it is unlikely that it’s a terrorist, so relax. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/7 "2001-10-22T22:48:48Z")
Either take them to a local mall that has trick-or-treating sponsored by the stores, or take them trick-or-treating to houses of people you know and trust. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/8 "2001-10-23T02:35:17Z")
There have got to be plenty of community events around. Many places do something at the zoo. Even so I would do it. (although IANAParent) I like **Violets** suggestion. The big question is what will not Trick or Treating teach your kids? I was watching the news and Arkansas was shutting down trick or treating because as the police man put it ‘We don’t have the resources to take every bag that has an open Pixie stick and checking it for anthrax which it won’t be.’ (or something like that) ---
**Author:** ![Searching\_For\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Searching\_For\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Searching_For_Truth)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/9 "2001-10-23T02:39:48Z")
Not only malls but local churches and elementary schools usually have terrific “Fall Festivals” and “OctoberFests” that provide candy, games and entertainment for kids and their families. I’ve been involved in several, and you can’t go wrong there. I for one, wouldn’t want to tell my kids they couldn’t go trick-or-treating…it would make me feel as if I was scaring them for no good reason. But that’s IMHO… ---
**Author:** ![Wild\_Card](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wild\_Card](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wild_Card)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/10 "2001-10-23T03:51:26Z")
I know it’s hard, but you have to look at the odds, which are unchanged. Every year, nearly all incidents reported are due to auto accidents, from drinking at parties and from kids wearing masks and flowing trip-robes. This year won’t be any different. So, drop the masks, use face paint. Insist on plenty of adults and flashlights. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/11 "2001-10-23T04:25:15Z")
I remember when I was a kid, Mom wouldn’t let me go trick or treating one year because of all the rumors of people putting needles into candy and that sort of thing. Turned out to be an enormous hoax. If FetalWhatsit were old enough (and, you know, born), I’d absolutely let him go trick or treating this year. I’d most likely inspect the candy and not allow him to eat any that was unwrapped, but that’s just standard operating procedure. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/12 "2001-10-23T23:41:27Z")
I’m real wishy-washy still about trick-or-treating this year. My daughter has never been trick-or-treating–she’s 4. This is the first year she’s been old enough. My stepson is living with us now. He’s 8, and he wants to go out. I just don’t know. There’s parties around here (at school, and I think the malls are having trick-or-treating), so neither kid is going to be hurting for the Halloween experience. It’s the door-to-door thing that I’m puzzling over. Things are just so _weird_ right now. ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/13 "2001-10-24T02:16:52Z")
Hell yes, it’s a good idea. We’re going no matter what, and dammit, we’re eating the candy. Except peanut butter kisses, 'cause they’re just nasty. I’m a bit twitchy about this issue - it appears I’m the freak because I think there’s no sane reason to call everything off because some guy in NJ bought a bunch of candy to sell at his dollar store. I was actually on the receiving end of an insinuation today that I don’t care about my child’s safety because I’m not calling off trick-or-treating. Of course I want to keep my son safe…that’s why he’ll be wearing reflective clothing and carrying a flashlight. The chances of getting run over by a car are far greater than getting poisoned by a tainted Twix bar. I’ll do the usual candy inspection, but all in all, I refuse to let this change our lifestyle. If I tell my son we can’t go trick or treating because someone might poison him, what do I tell him when he’s afraid to go to school because someone might bomb it? Where will the fear stop? If I die sneaking one of his Snickers, then so be it. At least I’ll die with a chocolate fix. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/14 "2001-10-25T02:16:47Z")
**If** the malls in your area are still doing trick o’ treating this year. At least one up here is citing 9/11 as the reason they canceled the event this year. I don’t know if the other 3 are going to have it or not…you better check with your local malls first before getting the kids’ hearts set on doing that instead. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/15 "2001-10-25T02:32:06Z")
opps, forgot the link [http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/news/local1001/trickortreat\_2001.shtml](http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/news/local1001/trickortreat%5F2001.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Searching\_For\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Searching\_For\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Searching_For_Truth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/16 "2001-10-25T02:50:16Z")
Excerpts from: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gundy \* > \*\*…it appears I’m the freak because I think there’s no sane reason to call everything off because some guy in NJ bought a bunch of candy to sell at his dollar store…Of course I want to keep my son safe…that’s why he’ll be wearing reflective clothing and carrying a flashlight. The chances of getting run over by a car are far greater than getting poisoned by a tainted Twix bar. ? > \*\* I have to agree here once again. What are the odds, people? It just seems cruel to me to keep your kids at home on such a fun night while others kids flock from door to door trick-or-treating. The whole “Stay-out-of-malls-on-Halloween” sheningan is a huge hoax. I really doubt that the rumor mentioned in the OP is anything but a silly urban legend spawned from the recent events. If you still decide against it, at least check your local paper for events going on in your local malls/churches. You’ve gotta give 'em something! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/17 "2001-10-25T14:27:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dragongirl \* > \*\*As the mother of two rugrats, I’ve been going back and forth on this one. I haven’t really felt too good about it, but wasn’t sure, but just now I’ve made up my mind. My kids will not be going this year. I just read about something on snopes website about a middle eastern man buying $ 15,000 worth of candy in cash that is being investgated by the FBI. I’m sorry, I don’t know how to post a link. What does everyone else think ? \*\* Turned out that the $15K worth of candy was bought by the owner of a candy store and has been making annual purchases like this for the past few years. OTOH, the mayor of San Antonio is discouraging trick-or-treating this year. And some DC area malls (e.g.: Landmark, Fair Oaks) say they will not be hosting any this year either. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/18 "2001-10-25T14:37:35Z")
They are still doing the Trick-or-Treat for Unicef, and that’s what we’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/19 "2001-10-25T14:45:12Z")
This is such horse poop. Nobody is going to Anthrax your kid with a freaking Pixie stick. DO you think anyone who had access to Anthax/ Smallpox/ Nuclear weapon in the form of Twix bar would risk exposing himself by handing it directly to a few kids? It’d be way to easy to track said person down. Are there sickos out there? Of course. Are the risks that much higher now then say 25 years ago? I don’t think so. As always, go around with your kids and go to houses you know. At the very least, inspect the goodies when they get home. Don’t let these jackasses ruin a wonderful holiday. ---
**Author:** ![Deiket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Deiket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deiket)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771/20 "2001-10-25T15:12:04Z")
I refuse to let this kill my Halloween enjoyment. Actually, it hadn’t even crossed my mind until now, but regardless, I’m going trick-or-trating… And I’m almost 18. Halloween happens to be my favorite holiday. For the past few years, a few of my friends and myself have been going around my neighborhood and the dorms near me and just having fun. The curfews were a bit icky, but we got over that, and we’ll get over this too. I’ll prolly not EAT the candy I get. I usually pop it all in our spare fridge in the basement. I think I have a Clark bar from '92 still down there… hmm… Happy All Hallows all! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trick-or-treating-a-good-idea-this-year/88771.md?page=2)