# What are you scared of? Halloween/October Mini-rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 1, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099 "2019-10-01T14:38:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/121 "2019-10-17T12:29:32Z")
> [@The\_Vorlon](#): > > Ummm, think kidneys. This. Are you seeing a nephrologist? ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/122 "2019-10-17T13:53:17Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’m sorry, **Seanette**. What kind of bird was it? Norwegian Blue Sorry, **Nettie** ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/123 "2019-10-17T14:42:56Z")
> [@The\_Vorlon](#): > > Ummm, think kidneys. > [@panache45](#): > > This. Are you seeing a nephrologist? Kidneys haven’t even come up. This has only been going on since July (when I got my first bad CBC), so I just saw a hematologist for the first time. I’ve been flipping out about possible leukemia. Hm. My B-12 numbers came back today, and they’re good, at least. More research. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/124 "2019-10-17T16:08:57Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Norwegian Blue Unnnnggggh\*… well played. \*This is what it sounds like, when doves cry. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/125 "2019-10-17T17:46:02Z")
just got a call from Social Security to let me know that there has been fraudulent activity with my number… they couldn’t even bother to use a real person to rip me off, it was a robocall. this is the new way to rip off old folks I guess, between the “IRS” threatening to “call the cops” on me and people who want to buy my house it is really tiresome. I try to block all of the calss but apparently blocking calls only means my phone doesn’t ring, the messages still get through. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/126 "2019-10-17T18:09:03Z")
I’ve gotten that same call except I got a live person. I fucked with him for about 10 minutes, asking what the fraudulent charges were (oh, we can’t tell you that for privacy reasons!), where it happened (Texas), give me your number cuzI need my lawyer and I’ll call you back. Asshat finally hung up. It was a ploy to get my SSN. Do people really fall for these phony calls? ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/127 "2019-10-17T19:01:49Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > …Do people really fall for these phony calls? It’s one of my biggest fears about getting older. Will I one day fall for some scam because I quit keeping up with technology and didn’t hear about the latest? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/128 "2019-10-17T21:23:37Z")
> [@Kelevra](#): > > It’s one of my biggest fears about getting older. Will I one day fall for some scam because I quit keeping up with technology and didn’t hear about the latest? “That ‘IRS agent’ who pinged your sub-cutaneous neural net? The call is _coming from within your head!_ Get out NOW!” ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/129 "2019-10-17T23:28:19Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > I’ve gotten that same call except I got a live person. I fucked with him for about 10 minutes, asking what the fraudulent charges were (oh, we can’t tell you that for privacy reasons!), where it happened (Texas), give me your number cuzI need my lawyer and I’ll call you back. Asshat finally hung up. It was a ploy to get my SSN. Do people really fall for these phony calls? An older friend got one of these, and actually responded but when they asked for her SSN she balked saying you should have it if you are from SS. Then she said she’d forgotten it and would have to ask her kids. It escalated from there to them telling her NOT to return to her home because officers were waiting there to pick her up for failure to comply. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/130 "2019-10-17T23:54:16Z")
Dear Nest thermostat, I was serious when I set the HVAC unit to off. It’s because I wanted it fucking off while I was changing the filter. I don’t give a shit if I was sidetracked and didn’t get around to it for two hours, your job is to keep the system off. Fuck you for thinking that I wasn’t serious and turn the system back on. Next time I’ll flip the breaker, but fuck Nest all the same. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/131 "2019-10-18T01:22:57Z")
heard the newest Halloween stupidity … Instead of needles and other such things now you’re supposed to be watching for pot “edibles” in your kid’s candy bags… i mean know they make lookalikes of real stuff but yeesh … ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/132 "2019-10-18T02:20:20Z")
I’m so tired of the “blue pumpkins for autism” myth. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/133 "2019-10-18T03:13:55Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Norwegian Blue > > Sorry, **Nettie** No worries, I found that amusing. Yes, I have a strange sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/134 "2019-10-18T05:15:40Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > heard the newest Halloween stupidity … Instead of needles and other such things now you’re supposed to be watching for pot “edibles” in your kid’s candy bags… i mean know they make lookalikes of real stuff but yeesh … At least it inspired a [Something\*Positive](https://somethingpositive.net/sp10162019.shtml) strip. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/135 "2019-10-18T05:29:59Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > heard the newest Halloween stupidity … Instead of needles and other such things now you’re supposed to be watching for pot “edibles” in your kid’s candy bags… i mean know they make lookalikes of real stuff but yeesh … Yeah, like any stoner is going to hand out his (expensive !) stash. And even _if_ it were true… omg, Kevin got dosed with some of The Pot ! He was happy and stoned for a couple hours and is absolutely fine ! The horror, the horror. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/136 "2019-10-18T12:00:54Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Yeah, like any stoner is going to hand out his (expensive !) stash. > And even _if_ it were true… omg, Kevin got dosed with some of The Pot ! He was happy and stoned for a couple hours and is absolutely fine ! The horror, the horror. Yeah, but he’d eat all of his candy, leaving none for his parents to poach. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/137 "2019-10-18T12:53:31Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m so tired of the “blue pumpkins for autism” myth. Blue pumpkins? I haven’t heard this one. The only pumpkin color thing I’ve heard of is teal pumpkins for allergy-free treats. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/138 "2019-10-18T13:54:38Z")
Teal pumpkins are a real and useful custom, for allergies. Blue pumpkins are a thing invented once, for one person. Well-meaning but ignorant people keep sharing posts about “blue pumpkins for autism.” Autistic people themselves worry that it could single out autistic people for bullying. Snopes article on the issue: [Does Carrying a Blue Halloween Bucket Signify That a Trick-or-Treater Has Autism?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/blue-halloween-buckets-autism/) A viral Facebook post created the misleading impression that carrying blue pumpkin buckets on Halloween is a recognized signifier for autism. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/139 "2019-10-18T13:56:17Z")
The current POTUS - indeed, Republicans in general - winning another term in the W.H. Nothing in my life is scarier than that right now. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/140 "2019-10-18T13:59:00Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > It escalated from there to them telling her NOT to return to her home because officers were waiting there to pick her up for failure to comply. So a supposed government official is telling her not to return home because the government is supposedly there to arrest her? :dubious: Isn’t the caller not only obstructing justice but defeating the purpose of bringing her in for her supposed ‘crimes’ by telling her to run & hide? :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099.md?page=8)