# What's the best way to stick it to teenage "trick or treaters"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 31, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497 "2012-10-31T23:37:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/41 "2012-11-01T18:39:27Z")
I went trick-or-beering at the young age of 44. Brought home a dozen variety brews in my purse. Yes, I said purse. Daughter went as a princess and Daddy was in full on drag with a beard, blonde wig, and a stoogie. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/42 "2012-11-01T19:01:55Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Jeez, I’m exhausted just reading about all the holiday policing that people do. All I need is a chirpy voice saying trick or treat and they get candy. It’s one day a year. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/43 "2012-11-01T19:12:22Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Jeez, I’m exhausted just reading about all the holiday policing that people do. All I need is a chirpy voice saying trick or treat and they get candy. It’s one day a year. +2 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/44 "2012-11-01T19:15:59Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > By the time a kid hits high school, I expect him/her to TRY to act more like an adult than a child. This means not going out ToTing… Whynot? The “kids only” trick or treating thing is, as far as my research can tell, a post WWII era custom, less than 100 years old. Mummers, Soulers, Guy Fawkes and the other antecedents of current Halloween traditions were done by adults, or by everyone. They’re \*our \*customs, dammit. We can change them if we want to, and I’m all for increasing, not decreasing, joy that costs literally pennies a head. (Obligatory [xkcd link](http://xkcd.com/150/)) ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/45 "2012-11-01T19:41:21Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > (Obligatory [xkcd link](http://xkcd.com/150/)) If that’s not my favorite xkcd, it’s definitely in the top five, and I can’t think of what the other four would be. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/46 "2012-11-01T19:56:42Z")
Well here is what happens Chez Suze: Bunch of kids show up, some in costume, some not. They all get candy. The weirdest was a couple of years ago when three kids of approximate middle-school age showed up in excellent costumes. On October 28. They got no candy but I told 'em to come back on the right day. I think they were going to a party and thought, “Hey, why waste these excellent costumes?” ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/47 "2012-11-01T19:58:52Z")
Isn’t that what Tootsie Rolls were invented for? Nothing says passive aggressive like tootsie roll. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/48 "2012-11-01T20:01:56Z")
The only teens to show up with no sort of costume were escorting little kids. They got candy. I did have two teen girls who just passed by wearing their cheerleading warm up sweats (too cold and rainy for short skirts). The rest of the teens were in costume. We did have one kid, about 8 yrs old, with his parents who was not in any sort of costume. Who knows, maybe his parents would make/buy him one? I don’t know. He got candy anyway. I give them all candy anyway. It’s one night a year and if they can be bothered to grab a pillow case and go begging, I can be bothered to toss a piece of candy their way. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/49 "2012-11-01T20:16:07Z")
I fucking love tootsie rolls. I always ate them first. They are seriously the best penny candy out there. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/50 "2012-11-01T20:52:51Z")
I love Tootsie rolls too; they’re relatively low Cal for candy and last a long time. That chocolaty goodness lingers! ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/51 "2012-11-01T21:02:02Z")
You need a costume to get candy? I’m just glad to get rid of the candy. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/52 "2012-11-02T00:27:19Z")
Is this really a problematic thing for people? We had a few groups of teens last night amongst the hordes of tiny goblins, but they were all polite, said “trick or treat!,” had costumes on, and were polite and thanked me. Why is this not okay? It’s Halloween, for goodness’ sake - people should have fun regardless of age, IMHO. I don’t get ninety percent of what people bitch about on here anyway, so maybe this is just another one to chalk up to the general antisocial attitude of some people. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/53 "2012-11-02T18:31:53Z")
Pork rinds ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/54 "2012-11-02T19:21:42Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > We had a few groups of teens last night amongst the hordes of tiny goblins, but they were all polite, said “trick or treat!,” had costumes on, and were polite and thanked me. Why is this not okay? Who has indicated that that’s not okay? What you describe hasn’t been complained about a single time in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/55 "2012-11-02T20:11:11Z")
I had a house mate who stepped outside the house and said very aggressively “Trick”. The teenagers thought that he was mad and ran away. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/56 "2012-11-02T20:15:14Z")
I’m Japanese. I’d LOVE to get soy sauce! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/57 "2012-11-02T20:51:37Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Teens generally want to be treated as adults, except that some of them want to retain their childhood privileges. By the time a kid hits high school, I expect him/her to TRY to act more like an adult than a child. This means not going out ToTing, except as an escort for younger kids, and not sitting on Santa’s lap, and not expecting a visit from the Easter Bunny. > [@Munch](#): > > Who has indicated that that’s not okay? What you describe hasn’t been complained about a single time in this thread. Seems like **Lynn** did. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/58 "2012-11-02T21:36:50Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Who has indicated that that’s not okay? What you describe hasn’t been complained about a single time in this thread. The title of the thread is “What’s the best way to stick it to teenage ‘trick or treaters’”. Not “what’s the best way to deal with rude trick or treaters,” or “what’s the best way to deal with [whatever other behavior the poster doesn’t like].” The implication of the title itself is that there’s something wrong with a teenager trick-or-treating REGARDLESS of his or her behavior. That, and the responses from people who want to give teenagers shit candy or other junk just because they’re teenagers, indicate that the issue is the age of the person in question, and not his or her behavior. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/59 "2012-11-03T03:35:53Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Also, by giving them soy sauce packets, vegan propaganda literature or old underpants, it might well invite them to come back to your place later in the evening and give your house, car and/or yard furniture a nastee “Trick” that has to be washed off with a hose and plenty of bleach… > > (I should add that I am being serious—By pissing off the neighborhood teens over 15 cents worth of candy, you are practically begging to have them come back and mess with you or your stuff) Exactly. My answer to ‘What’s the best way to stick it to teenage “trick or treaters”?’ is “untraceably.” I was thinking about a well-lit sign saying “You must be shorter than this [arrow on sign] to receive treats”. Then again… ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/60 "2012-11-03T15:08:28Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Is this really a problematic thing for people? We had a few groups of teens last night amongst the hordes of tiny goblins, but they were all polite, said “trick or treat!,” had costumes on, and were polite and thanked me. Why is this not okay? It’s Halloween, for goodness’ sake - people should have fun regardless of age, IMHO. > > I don’t get ninety percent of what people bitch about on here anyway, so maybe this is just another one to chalk up to the general antisocial attitude of some people. It’s been an issue for us before. Middle-school and older kids with no costumes running around cutting across lawns, trampling the remains of the flower beds, and _shoving little kids out of their way._ Not that they pulled the shoving shit at our house more than once–I engaged in some blatant kid shaming and some not subtle threats about what would happen if I ever saw them behaving like that again. And then I a made a production of digging through the chocolate and such to find them each a single piece of Double Bubble. And half the kids we get of any age don’t say “trick or treat” or “thanks” or even “make the candy, bitch, I don’t have all night.” They just slump up to you, stick their bag in your face, look in disbelief at their couple pieces of candy, and slump off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497.md?page=4)