# My nephew is not allowed to go trick-or-treating **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 8, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214 "2004-10-08T16:11:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/21 "2004-10-08T17:12:33Z")
I can’t talk to her about it. I tried to talk to her about Mel Gibson’s _The Passion_, which had the nails driven through the palms, which is physically impossible if you want to keep the body up. Her response was, “That’s how it is in the Bible,” and that was that. I guess physics and the laws of nature don’t matter as long as you _believe_. Is this your husband’s sister or your brother’s wife? How does her husband feel about the situation? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/22 "2004-10-08T17:13:26Z")
Oftentimes, places like malls and shopping centers will have trick or treat events where little’uns go with their parents and go store to store. It’s a much safer environment and probably better all around for a three-year-old. Maybe your sister-in-law could look into events like that in her area. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/23 "2004-10-08T17:25:01Z")
> [@Johnny Bravo](#): > > Oftentimes, places like malls and shopping centers will have trick or treat events where little’uns go with their parents and go store to store. It’s a much safer environment and probably better all around for a three-year-old. Maybe your sister-in-law could look into events like that in her area. Phht. Wusses. Half of the fun was walking around in the dark. The pumpkins get their evil powers after dark. And that old lady in the big house might just eat children. Getting through the night bravely was a real accomplishment! ---
**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 8, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/24 "2004-10-08T17:25:44Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > The people who do that probably wouldn’t be mollified to learn that it isn’t a Satanist holiday–it’s a _shudder_ CATHOLIC holiday. If they’re anything like my SO, they can’t be bothered to listen long enough to learn anything. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/25 "2004-10-08T17:29:16Z")
> [@aaslatten](#): > > I can think of some better reasons to not let my child go trick-or-treating, such as (1) it’s a pretty stupid tradition that fosters greed and gluttony and (2) the candy is terrible for them. > > Maybe your sister-in-law is being overprotective, but I don’t see how the kid is any worse off. Greed is bad. Mkay. That means Christmas and presents need to to too. Gluttony is bad. Mkay. Cancel Thanksgiving. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/26 "2004-10-08T17:33:13Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I can’t talk to her about it. I tried to talk to her about Mel Gibson’s _The Passion_, which had the nails driven through the palms, which is physically impossible if you want to keep the body up. > > Her response was, “That’s how it is in the Bible,” and that was that. I guess physics and the laws of nature don’t matter as long as you _believe_. Actually, I don’t think the Bible says either way. ---
**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 8, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/27 "2004-10-08T17:34:23Z")
Well, what does the kid’s father (I’m assuming either your brother, or your hubby’s brother-in-law?) have to say about it? Also…is there a possibility SIL is Obsessive-Compulsive, or something? Because this sounds like something MORE than simple overprotectiveness. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/28 "2004-10-08T17:34:32Z")
> [@aaslatten](#): > > I can think of some better reasons to not let my child go trick-or-treating, such as (1) it’s a pretty stupid tradition that fosters greed and gluttony and (2) the candy is terrible for them. > > Maybe your sister-in-law is being overprotective, but I don’t see how the kid is any worse off. That seems a little harsh. Do you give your kids presents and cake on their birthdays? Or do you abstain from that too because of the greed/gluttony? That cake can’t be good for them, you know… ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/29 "2004-10-08T17:36:35Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Actually, I don’t think the Bible says either way. It doesn’t say. Also, there are plenty of statues that show the spikes driven through the bones of the wrists, where they would hold. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/30 "2004-10-08T17:37:11Z")
So have her hold a Halloween party at home. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/31 "2004-10-08T17:41:25Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > So have her hold a Halloween party at home. 🙂 Good answer. Simple, direct, makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![presidebt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c37758/32.png) [@presidebt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/presidebt)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/32 "2004-10-08T17:43:06Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > The people who do that probably wouldn’t be mollified to learn that it isn’t a Satanist holiday–it’s a _shudder_ CATHOLIC holiday. Actually, it [predates](http://www.celticspirit.org/samhain.htm) Catholicism. ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/33 "2004-10-08T17:53:57Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > That seems a little harsh. Do you give your kids presents and cake on their birthdays? Or do you abstain from that too because of the greed/gluttony? That cake can’t be good for them, you know… I don’t have kids (I know, big surprise), but no, I don’t think birthday cake once a year is nearly as bad as the sugar orgy that is Halloween. I remember having to throw great gobs of candy away because I couldn’t eat through it in a reasonable amount of time. As for Christmas, if I had kids I don’t think I’d go nearly as overboard as most parents in America do. It does seem to bring out the worst in kids. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/34 "2004-10-08T18:01:00Z")
> [@aaslatten](#): > > I can think of some better reasons to not let my child go trick-or-treating, such as (1) it’s a pretty stupid tradition that fosters greed and gluttony and (2) the candy is terrible for them. > > Maybe your sister-in-law is being overprotective, but I don’t see how the kid is any worse off. When do you get to the other five when recreating your happier, friendlier Se7en style version of the world? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/35 "2004-10-08T18:10:59Z")
> [@presidebt](#): > > Actually, it [predates](http://www.celticspirit.org/samhain.htm) Catholicism. Yeah! Don’t go giving those Catholics all the credit for hard-earned holidays created by pagans when God was still in diapers. I want Easter and Christmas back too, dammit! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/36 "2004-10-08T18:18:14Z")
The kid is only 3, so he’s really only able to handle a block or two anyway. Doesn’t she know most of her neighbors, at least a little? Can’t she just pick a few known houses within a couple of blocks to visit? It’s awfully sad to keep your kid in because you’re so afraid of your neighbors; one of the reasons I love Halloween is because it’s so neighborly and cheerful and stuff. Last year DangerGirl was 3 and was so excited about going out that when, unbeknownst to us, she took off her shoes just before going out, she didn’t even notice that her feet were cold and damp. She was wearing a long dress and it took us nearly 2 blocks to realize. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/37 "2004-10-08T18:50:24Z")
> [@presidebt](#): > > Actually, it [predates](http://www.celticspirit.org/samhain.htm) Catholicism. [Probably not.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=93656) ---
**Author:** ![Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dazzling_White_Diamonds)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/38 "2004-10-08T18:55:02Z")
Do you have a local mall that might be sponsoring a safe Trick or Treat environment? This is a good way for the little ones to enjoy trick-or-treating… the goodies aren’t always candy (stickers, coloring books, etc), the weather is perfect (because it’s inside!), and you don’t have to constantly worry about the vehicle traffic (except when you go to and from the parking lot). We did this with our grandson, and it was a complete hit! ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/39 "2004-10-08T19:02:07Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Is this your husband’s sister or your brother’s wife? How does her husband feel about the situation? She’s my husband’s sister. Her Husband is a “yes dear” sort of guy, and really doesn’t get any say in the situation. If he tries to voice his opinion on things that conflict her opinion, she always ends up winning. She’s a good person and I do like her, but she can be a bit overbearing sometimes. She also totally buys into the fear that the media imposes on us regarding germs, illnesses, crazy psycho killers, etc. - in other words, anything she reads, she’ll believe. If someone was to tell her that house dust caused cancer, she’d have air filters coming out the wazoo, and would probably make everybody wear masks to boot. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214/40 "2004-10-08T19:10:09Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > She’s a good person and I do like her, but she can be a bit overbearing sometimes. She also totally buys into the fear that the media imposes on us regarding germs, illnesses, crazy psycho killers, etc. - in other words, anything she reads, she’ll believe. If someone was to tell her that house dust caused cancer, she’d have air filters coming out the wazoo, and would probably make everybody wear masks to boot. Oh. One of _those_. Well, make sure you have [snopes.com](http://snopes.com) on your Favorites list so you can debunk all those e-mails she sends you about cancer-causing agents in deodorant. > [@](#): > > Actually, I don’t think the Bible says either way. I’ll take your word for it, as that particular tome is not on my reading list. However, my sister seems to think the Bible says so, and that’s that. Final, end of discussion. My nephew isn’t going to learn about the Tooth Fairy either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nephew-is-not-allowed-to-go-trick-or-treating/268214.md?page=3)