# No Halloween costumes at work **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 29, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482 "2007-10-29T18:52:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/21 "2007-10-29T20:04:21Z")
[QUOTE=hajario] That bitch nurse at the hospital where I was born presented me to my Mom in a little stocking instead of the traditional little blanket. That’s where it started. [/QUOTE] Tell me the nurse said “look what Santa slid down your chimney!” For the love of _G-d_, tell me she said that! ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/22 "2007-10-29T20:10:03Z")
[QUOTE=hajario] That’s nice. **Otto** showed a picture of _his_ costume from last year… We are having a costume and a pumpkin carving contest as well as snacks in the break room or something. I’m not exactly sure because my Outlook auto-deletes mail that comes from the gal who sends out the party announcements. Last year maybe 10% of the place dressed up. Also last year, the place where my ex-wife works made it mandatory for the executive staff to wear costumes. Guess who got promoted to executive staff about a month earlier? She hates work dress up as much as me. I gave her no end of shit about that issue. For some reason, she never sent me the pictures… [/QUOTE] I think she should wear a black, short-sleeved mock turtle neck shirt from the Gap with a nice, long black skirt – go as Sharon Stone. It’s a win-win. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/23 "2007-10-29T20:14:56Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] my [fairy princess costume](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcmarbles/1372713005/in/set-72157601996522903?edited=1) [/QUOTE] Kid: Who are you? Otto: I’m the tooth fairy. Kid: But… I didn’t lose a tooth. Otto: Not yet, but I gotta quota to meet. Open wide. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/24 "2007-10-29T20:39:37Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Tell me the nurse said “look what Santa slid down your chimney!” For the love of _G-d_, tell me she said that! [/QUOTE] Seeing as how it was at St. John’s and all of the nurses were nuns, I highly doubt it. That would have made it all worthwhile though. I’ll have to remember to tell that one to Mom. She’ll appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/25 "2007-10-29T20:45:18Z")
We are not only encouraged to wear costumes, we are going to have actual trick-or-treaters from the on-site daycare. Also a potluck tostada lunch. Any excuse for a party around here. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/26 "2007-10-29T21:01:17Z")
I’ll be sporting my “Guy In Underwear” costume. \ Some office events are simply lost on us telecommuters. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/27 "2007-10-29T21:17:21Z")
I can’t imagine wearing a costume to work. I guess I’m just old fashioned, but I’ve never viewed work as a place to dress up in Halloween costumes. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/28 "2007-10-29T21:24:40Z")
[QUOTE=Martin Hyde] I can’t imagine wearing a costume to work. I guess I’m just old fashioned, but I’ve never viewed work as a place to dress up in Halloween costumes. [/QUOTE] you = wet blanket ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/29 "2007-10-29T21:26:12Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] you = wet blanket [/QUOTE] this is news to you? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/30 "2007-10-29T21:41:56Z")
[QUOTE=Martin Hyde] I can’t imagine wearing a costume to work. I guess I’m just old fashioned, but I’ve never viewed work as a place to dress up in Halloween costumes. [/QUOTE] Ditto. It reminds me of that guy in _Office Space_ who loves to show off all his Flair. Dress up for a party? Fine. Throw on a costume to take the kids out to TorT? Sure. But at your job? Where you’re surrounded by nothing but adults? There’s something kinda skeevy about it to me (though I’ll make mild concessions if you’re in a family-friendly/kiddie-oriented retail/CS position). ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/31 "2007-10-29T21:47:34Z")
[QUOTE=Martin Hyde] I can’t imagine wearing a costume to work. I guess I’m just old fashioned, but I’ve never viewed work as a place to dress up in Halloween costumes. [/QUOTE] I don’t care if others want to, but I don’t and won’t. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/32 "2007-10-29T22:02:18Z")
We don’t even get to have “Halloween,” because presumably we have someone who is religiously offended by it. We have stupid office activities – but no costumes (FSM forbid someone dress up as something demonic) – and it’s called Fall Festival Day or some shit like that. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/33 "2007-10-29T22:13:32Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] Kid: Who are you? Otto: I’m the tooth fairy. Kid: But… I didn’t lose a tooth. Otto: Not yet, but I gotta quota to meet. Open wide. [/QUOTE] You’ve captured what I love about **Otto** ’s expression in that picture perfectly. It’s such a great combination of whimsy and straight-faced indifference. “Yeah, I’m a fairy. So what? You want some pixie dust, motherfucker?” ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/34 "2007-10-29T22:16:29Z")
Our current principal banned costumes at school. I can’t say I mind a whole lot one way or the other, because it’s his choice in the end, and there’s no real **reason** to wear costumes at school. I just wish he’d be up front about it - he claims it’s a safety issue because we wouldn’t be able to tell who is behind a mask which is only half the story. The truth is, they really can be a distraction at school…especially when the girls start wearing the utterly inappropriate attire. Eh, we’re allowed to dress up for Homecoming week (Cowboy Day! Patriot Day!), but costumes on Halloween are out because of the 16 year old hoochies. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/35 "2007-10-29T22:39:34Z")
Adults and costumes means guys look like idiots, and women look like sluts. It works. > **[Forget the candy, grab the fishnets](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-26-oe-stein26-story.html)** > > Holidays are for children and conservatives. > [@](#): > > It makes sense that once a year I get to peek into your psyche and find out whether you think of yourself as a whore nurse, a whore pirate, a whore angel or a whore whore. > > That’s fine. But not on the kids’ favorite day. It’s transforming formerly child-friendly costume shops from fun-creepy into Chris Hansen-creepy. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/36 "2007-10-29T22:44:39Z")
I love your costume; and I think it’s a shame that it will not see the light of day this year. I get to dress up this year. I’m a nurse–guess what I get to wear? Scrubs. This is the first Halloween I haven’t been off for 6 years. I’ll miss all the little trick or treaters (my favorite kind), but I’ll be helping sick people. There is no way we would be allowed to wear any kind of a costume to work. Time was we could get away with a Santa’s elf hat on Christmas Day, but now we work for holiday Nazi’s (aka new administration). **Martin Hyde** wears his Halloween costume all year long. I’m surprised none of you noticed. Short of a court appearance or performing surgery or voting on legislation, what profession can’t wear a costume once a year? Put a little fun in your life! Go mildly crazy once a year…sheesh. Joel Stein looks like Harry Potter. Just sayin’. I don’t agree re Slut Day at all. I’ve been an ace of spades, Alice in Wonderland, a Renaissance queen, a witch, a prairie lady (never mind, long story)–none of which involved me dressing as a Playboy bunny. Where’s his head at? ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/37 "2007-10-29T22:56:43Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] I love your costume; and I think it’s a shame that it will not see the light of day this year. I get to dress up this year. I’m a nurse–guess what I get to wear? Scrubs. This is the first Halloween I haven’t been off for 6 years. I’ll miss all the little trick or treaters (my favorite kind), but I’ll be helping sick people. There is no way we would be allowed to wear any kind of a costume to work. Time was we could get away with a Santa’s elf hat on Christmas Day, but now we work for holiday Nazi’s (aka new administration). **Martin Hyde** wears his Halloween costume all year long. I’m surprised none of you noticed. Short of a court appearance or performing surgery or voting on legislation, what profession can’t wear a costume once a year? Put a little fun in your life! Go mildly crazy once a year…sheesh. Joel Stein looks like Harry Potter. Just sayin’. I don’t agree re Slut Day at all. I’ve been an ace of spades, Alice in Wonderland, a Renaissance queen, a witch, a prairie lady (never mind, long story)–none of which involved me dressing as a Playboy bunny. Where’s his head at? [/QUOTE] No, but when I took my kids to the costume shop ALL of the women’s costumes seemed to be designed to show the woman in the most sexual way possible. Not that there is anything bad with that, but it did lead me to need to move the kids out of certain aisles. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/38 "2007-10-30T00:29:00Z")
I made a suggestion to another poster, then decided to wear it myself. I’m going as Miss Swan. “He - a - look like a man”. I just bought a short wig and a housedress. I’m the receptionist for an architectural firm and we celebrate most holidays. Our clients seem to enjoy the fun and I don’t think we’ve lost business because of our celebrations. To **Otto** re The Fairy Princess photo: Oooooh, what a pwetty pwincess. You look so sweet, pwetty man. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/39 "2007-10-30T00:39:30Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] Short of a court appearance or performing surgery or voting on legislation, what profession can’t wear a costume once a year? [/QUOTE] Caregiver in a mental hospital. > [@](#): > > Put a little fun in your life! Go mildly crazy once a year…sheesh. We have trouble with the “mildly” and “once a year” parts… ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482/40 "2007-10-30T00:52:26Z")
You know, I’d feel bad for the Op. Except, my place of employment scheduled me to be out of town for a month of training on the day before Halloween. No taking my oldest around one of his last times. No taking my youngest around to try to teach him the ropes. No happy neighbor banter as groups of kids run together in front and we parents BS behind them. Nothing. Hell, I don’t even get to hand out candy to the young kids. Oh, wait. I forgot. I get the absolute astounding honor of getting to drive 10 hours with out-of-state plates to the city I’m training in…all in Mischief Night/Devil’s Night/Asshole’s Night. Yeah, for Halloween I get to dodge eggs, frozen paintballs, and worse. The best I can do is skip the E-Z Pass lanes & yell “Trick or Reciept!” to the toll booth collectors, and like me tell you: They are Not Amused. Yeah, I feel bad that you can’t dress up at your cubicle. “What’d YOU get Charlie Brown…?” “I got a rock.” Brought to you by Allstate. The good hands people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-halloween-costumes-at-work/424482.md?page=3)