# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/81 "2012-11-05T02:17:29Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Teens generally want to be treated as adults, except that some of them want to retain their childhood privileges. yes, how dare kids want to participate in an activity for kids. they should spend the night inside learning how to file their taxes. i’m with the “just give them the candy” crowd. if they’re still in school, it’s fair, they can decide for themselves when they want to opt out. i think the last year i went out was 9th grade. i’ve never really experienced the packs of uncostumed teens running around, but things do vary by neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![Orange13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e57/32.png) [@Orange13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange13)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/82 "2012-11-05T10:36:35Z")
I live in a small, very safe town. Anyone not wearing a costume was required to sing Justin Bieber’s “Baby” before receiving treats (yes, that includes mothers carrying infants… grrr). It was an effective strategy, and will definitely make a nice YouTube video next year. I’m sure that is not a solution in most neighborhoods, but it might be entertaining to some. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/83 "2012-11-05T12:55:22Z")
Last night was our delayed Trick or Treat night, and two women came to my door, in costume. One was at least 60, the other in her thirties. I thought the older one was helping a small child up the stairs, but there were no children. And it wasn’t a mask/makeup making her look old…she was genuinely older than me! At least they had some attempt at a costume on! And not a pillowcase…a 13-gallon white kitchen garbage can bag with a drawstring! That is the oldest person I’ve ever had come to the door! And we had maybe only three teens last night, and they were on the lower end of the age spectrum, and in costume. I give everybody candy…you go out on a cold rainy night and be polite, you get three snack-size treats. I should have given more…I had candy leftover. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/84 "2012-11-05T15:43:50Z")
+1 I wouldn’t make enemies over a few miniature candy bars. > [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Yeah, I don’t see an upside to this. Teens trick or treating is toolish and tawdry, but it suggests an immaturity and potential malevolence that could be sparked if they’re provoked. Roll your eyes and give 'em candy, or expect some retribution. > > I mean, candy corn will generate rolled eyes. Smartassed prank treats will get you a brick through a window. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/85 "2012-11-05T19:14:17Z")
I just give them my best “really?” look and whatever we’re handing out that year. I have no emotional investment in this thing. The only kid I had an issue with last year looked at what he was given and said “Clif Bars? Lame!” I said, “Oh, wait a second. . .”, reached into his bag and took it back. This year was candy, so no complaints. A few years ago, we had a lone adult woman come to the door; no costume, just a bag, no kids with her. It’s the only time I’ve said no. ---
**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 5, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/86 "2012-11-05T19:48:33Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Seems like **Lynn** did. Where in that quote does it indicate that Lynn had a problem with polite teens dressed up in costume? > [@Kolga](#): > > 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. Uh - except for the fact that the OP is more than a subject line, and the very first sentence of the OP is “which is the best bogus treat to give teenagers who come to the door looking for candy even though they don’t even have a damn costume on?” Teens without a costume has nothing to do with teens with a costume on. Right? That’s the way the word “don’t” still works, right? > [@](#): > > 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. Again, I don’t see any posts up to that point that indicate people wanting to give teens shitty candy just for being teens. What I DO see is people wanting to give _teens who don’t dress up_ shitty candy. ---
**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 7, 2012, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/87 "2012-11-07T12:44:05Z")
Well, if you have no problem with teens coming without costumes, I can understand giving them candy. But if you do have a problem with it, not doing anything about it is stupid. And isn’t the trick part of Halloween entirely vestigial? I’ve only heard about that stuff in books. Down here, at least, you might get shot at. ---
**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 7, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/88 "2012-11-07T14:23:18Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Where in that quote does it indicate that Lynn had a problem with polite teens dressed up in costume? The part where she says Teens should leave childhood activities behind and only go out if escorting younger kids? See bolded text. > [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/89 "2012-11-07T15:18:02Z")
I keep a bunch of dollar-store masks for the kids with no costume. A fifteen-year-old with no costume, to whom candy is valuable enough to still go door-to-door asking for it? This is a kid with problems that won’t get fixed by a few old farts expressing disapproval. So I give 'em a choice of mask, and then a handful of candy. Don’t make their lives any harder, OK? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/90 "2012-11-07T16:55:51Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > The part where she says Teens should leave childhood activities behind and only go out if escorting younger kids? See bolded text. Lynn is not the OP. She is **not** the one asking “_What’s the best way to stick it to teenage "trick or treaters_"? “ or “\*which is the best bogus treat to give teenagers who come to the door looking for candy even though they don’t even have a damn costume on?" \* She simply stated that High School kids should start weaning themselves from the trappings of little-kid-dom. And, she’s right. ---
**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 7, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/91 "2012-11-07T19:41:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Lynn is not the OP. She is **not** the one asking “_What’s the best way to stick it to teenage "trick or treaters_"? “ or “\*which is the best bogus treat to give teenagers who come to the door looking for candy even though they don’t even have a damn costume on?" \* > > She simply stated that High School kids should start weaning themselves from the trappings of little-kid-dom. And, she’s right. If you trace the quote back you’ll see I was responding to someone who said “did anyone in this thread think it’s wrong for teens to T or T”. And I said yes: Lynn did. I don’t think you need to White Knight her for me accurately reporting her position in response to a direct question. Whether she’s right or not is irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@The\_Dord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dord)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/92 "2012-11-09T19:52:53Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Oh. So we should screw the little kids, instead? I might as well done this, there was ONE kid this year and I kept my lights on until 10pm. More candy for my family! It’s sad. I rather enjoy halloween, especially as an adult I can’t go out ToT’ing but I can see the costumes 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/93 "2012-11-10T10:43:18Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Tell them “you look old enough to have candy from the _special_ bowl!” Then come back with a bowl that stays suspiciously at crotch level and invite them to reach in all the way to the bottom. (Whether you actually stick your penis in the bowl depends on how much you like being featured on websites that people check before buying a house in your neighborhood.) This should discourage all but the most candy-hungry teenagers. And the teens who aren’t discouraged can be very … interesting … to meet! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/94 "2012-11-10T10:50:24Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Condoms. I’ve done that. Seriously. (Actually, a choice between that & candy.) And been happy enough to give them the candy, too. After all, there’s a fair chance that my tax money is likely to pay for the results of a teen not using a condom. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/95 "2012-11-10T13:44:12Z")
I love Halloween, even the no-costumed teenagers. I give out gobs of candy to all trick or treaters. And if they tell me my dog is cute, they get another handful. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/96 "2012-11-10T16:43:30Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I love Halloween, even the no-costumed teenagers. I give out gobs of candy to all trick or treaters. And if they tell me my dog is cute, they get another handful. Your dog is cute. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/97 "2012-11-10T23:46:42Z")
_To bake a cake quite fine and fill each layer in between with icing mixed with poison till it turns a tempting green…_ Nah. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497/98 "2012-11-11T00:53:40Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I keep a bunch of dollar-store masks for the kids with no costume. A fifteen-year-old with no costume, to whom candy is valuable enough to still go door-to-door asking for it? This is a kid with problems that won’t get fixed by a few old farts expressing disapproval. you know this how? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497.md?page=4)