# Resolved: People who are offended by Halloween are officially idiots. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 31, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849 "2009-10-31T15:00:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/41 "2009-11-01T03:15:38Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Candy prayed over by witches? No wonder those damned peanut butter cups are so freaking addicting! you too? yes! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/42 "2009-11-01T03:23:52Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > …ominous Latin chanting starts in the background. Fake Orff. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/43 "2009-11-01T03:42:02Z")
_Sigh_…I’m afraid that someday soon kids won’t get to have a “real” Halloween at all. All they’ll have is old boomers’ tales about acquiring pillowcases full of candy from friendly neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/44 "2009-11-01T03:46:52Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > _Sigh_…I’m afraid that someday soon kids won’t get to have a “real” Halloween at all. All they’ll have is old boomers’ tales about acquiring pillowcases full of candy from friendly neighbors. All I got was a rock. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/45 "2009-11-01T03:50:59Z")
Not to worry. In a couple of months, you’ll get a matching lump of coal. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/46 "2009-11-01T03:51:53Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Halloween has become more popular over here in recent years, although there’s no trick-or-treating. It’s mostly adult parties and theme nights in the bars. But still, we’re getting more letters to the editor in the Bangkok newspapers from fundie Americans decrying the Satan worship. :rolleyes: You have fundie Americans in Bangkok? What the fuck are they doing there? Someone needs to fuck their heads off. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/47 "2009-11-01T03:52:31Z")
The only problem I have with Halloween is that I always vastly underestimate the number of trick or treaters I’m going to get, and I end up with a lot of candy that I’m forced to eat myself. _he says, taking yet another peanut butter cup out of the bowl_ ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/48 "2009-11-01T04:18:28Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Not to worry. In a couple of months, you’ll get a matching lump of coal. 😃 St. Nicholas does not come to the Rhymer house any more. After 2004’s ack-ack incident, he gives my airspace a wide berth. Not that that will save him. Sooner or later I’m bringing that fat bastard down, and his little deer too. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/49 "2009-11-01T04:21:14Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > The only problem I have with Halloween is that I always vastly underestimate the number of trick or treaters I’m going to get, and I end up with a lot of candy that I’m forced to eat myself. > > _he says, taking yet another peanut butter cup out of the bowl_ this is a problem? _Piper leaves for the kitchen for another beer and load of peanut butter cups…_ ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/50 "2009-11-01T04:25:12Z")
> [@PatriotGrrrl](#): > > What if I think it should be called Samhain? Then you should go full Celtic and [celebrate with bonfires, divination, and a full tilt end of harvest feast complete with spit-roasted sides of beef and pork](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain). ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/51 "2009-11-01T04:30:17Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > …The danger of Halloween is not in the scary things we see but in the secret, wicked, cruel activities that go on behind the scenes. These activities include: > > · Sex with demons > · Orgies between animals and humans > · Animal and human sacrifices > · Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood… The hell? And yet, despite being a real-life homosexual polytheistic Samhain-observing Pagan, I didn’t even manage to get _laid_! And after all the work I put into my costume, too. No justice, I tells ya. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/52 "2009-11-01T04:39:02Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > this is a problem? > > _Piper leaves for the kitchen for another beer and load of peanut butter cups…_ Only because I’m trying to lose weight, and having a bowl of peanut butter cups in arm’s reach isn’t helping. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/53 "2009-11-01T06:10:35Z")
> [@Scheidt-Hoch](#): > > The difference being…? It’s the equivalent of an atheist refusing to acknowledge that December 25th is Christmas Day. “I don’t care for it; therefore, it does not exist.” ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/54 "2009-11-01T06:22:50Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > …The danger of Halloween is not in the scary things we see but in the secret, wicked, cruel activities that go on behind the scenes. These activities include: > > · Sex with demons > · Orgies between animals and humans > · Animal and human sacrifices > · Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood… Oh, for Pete’s sake, I only sacrificed _one_ baby tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/55 "2009-11-01T06:32:28Z")
Dammit, and here I went to all the trouble of getting a costume and taking my kid trick-or-treating for candy over which satanic incantations have been uttered, and the stupid demons won’t even give me the time of day, let alone have sex with me. It’s not fair, I tell you. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/56 "2009-11-01T07:27:28Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Halloween has become more popular over here in recent years, although there’s no trick-or-treating. It’s mostly adult parties and theme nights in the bars. If that’s all it was here in Australia I’d have no issues at all with halloween. But the “trick-or-treat” aspect of it has been imported (largely by American TV shows and movies, I think- there’s not an especially large American ex-pat community here) and that’s something I do have a few issues with. Not so much the “American” aspect of it, mind you, but the "Kids going door to door demanding things from their neighbours, especially as part of an ‘observance’ (for want of a better term) that most people aren’t participating in. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/57 "2009-11-01T07:52:40Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > If that’s all it was here in Australia I’d have no issues at all with halloween. > > But the “trick-or-treat” aspect of it has been imported (largely by American TV shows and movies, I think- there’s not an especially large American ex-pat community here) and that’s something I do have a few issues with. Not so much the “American” aspect of it, mind you, but the "Kids going door to door demanding things from their neighbours, especially as part of an ‘observance’ (for want of a better term) that most people aren’t participating in. Well, they aren’t doing it right then ( or at least, they aren’t doing it like they do here in northern California ). If someone is interested in handing out goodies, they leave a light on and have a pumpkin or at least some kind of Halloween symbols out front. You don’t just knock on any random door. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/58 "2009-11-01T08:05:36Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > **ominous Latin chanting starts in the background** Dude, I’m curious. Is there any other kind of Latin chanting besides ominous? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/59 "2009-11-01T08:15:21Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Well, they aren’t doing it right then ( or at least, they aren’t doing it like they do here in northern California ). If someone is interested in handing out goodies, they leave a light on and have a pumpkin or at least some kind of Halloween symbols out front. You don’t just knock on any random door. That’s the problem with halloween here- it’s being copied from what people see on TV, and so nuances like that are lost. Trick or treaters here _do_ just seem to go knocking on random doors and hoping for lollies, not realising that most (or a sizeable number of) people aren’t participating. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849/60 "2009-11-01T09:21:45Z")
I have no problem with people who don’t want to celebrate Halloween. I understand that the history of it makes some people wary. And that certain concepts, if carried too far, could be bad. I mean, _"Trick_ or treat" seems to imply that you’d better participate or we’ll do something to make you sorry. And you can go too far in trying to scare people. I do, however, have a problem with people who go out of their way to make others feel bad about celebrating. Especially those who go out and celebrate Mardi Gras, which is the same thing, only not modified for children. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-people-who-are-offended-by-halloween-are-officially-idiots/515849.md?page=4)