Is it just me????

[WitchyMama]

I find myself getting annoyed with teenagers who are upset because their parents tell them they can't trick or treat anymore and they say " Halloween is about free candy".

The age issue is relevant to the parent. I have my personal views on it but obviously parents feel differently and that is fine. It's just that statement of "Halloween is about free candy" that gets under my skin. It's like they are totally missing out on the whole realm of Halloween. You all get like that too?

[adrian]

i've never heard any one say it but i can definitley say i've had "those" teenagers come to my house without costumes and a wal mart plastic sack and just stand and look at me.......

they get the big wooden door to the face with as little as a "sorry guys, for the little ones"

hahaha oh well, i don't do hand outs for people who don't celebrate. now i dont' care about age but you better be in costume and celebrating.. not just begging

[Ghoul of the Graves]

Even when I was little, I'm talking like 7 when I wasn't allowed to go ToTing, I knew Halloween wasn't just about the sweets, or candy for Americans ;^), I loved the feel of Halloween. The buzz I got from answering the door to frightening creatures and happy faces. It irritates me when people think it's just about the candy/sweets.

I'm 15 and I'll be dressing up for sure this year.

[MacPhantom]

It's fine by me if they're all about the candy. I'm a lot about the candy, too. I give out full sized bars (BJ's has a good price on variety packs). But there's a reason for my generosity. Anyone who makes it to my front door has already demonstrated bravery, because my decor tends to be more on the "evil clown" side than the "smiley happy pumpkins" side. And teenagers without costumes get a special surprise. My brother, dressed up as Leatherface, comes at them with the chainsaw (chain blade removed, of course), and scares the bejabbers out of them. Even the ones who think they're too cool for school run like scared rabbits when a six-foot, two-hundred and sixty pound screaming maniac comes running at them with a roaring chainsaw. So they get their candy, sure, but they also get a little "Halloween spirit", whether they want it or not.

[adrian]

hahaha thats great!! speaking of in stilling spirit in people.. has anyone ever heard of "booing"? i've heard its a ton of fun

[MacPhantom]

"Booing", as it relates to Halloween? No, what is it?

[jadewik]

'Booing' is where you fill up a goodie bag and leave it on someone's doorstep, ring the bell or knock and run.

I've seen adults who think "Halloween is about free candy" as they plot to "test" the candy that I've just given their toddler. That annoys me because they could EASILY just dress up and GET THEIR OWN! ARGH!

I don't mind teens going out and ToTing for "free candy" so long as they're dressed up. In my mind, I'm providing a good (candy) for a service (to see awesome costumes and large grins on grateful faces).

That I mind less than people being BUSSED into neighborhoods they don't live in.... yeah, it's great to have a lot of kids show up at your door... but when people bring them to your house and the number grows exponentially from year-to-year it becomes a problem. Why aren't they going to their own neighborhoods? Generally, it's because parents don't want to share the burden of handing out all that "free candy"... and THAT makes me angry.

What annoys me also is getting a kid who doesn't speak English coming to my door at Halloween and not knowing to at least say 'trick-or-treat'. I require them to say 'Trick-or-Treat'-- it's part of the deal... part of the TRADITION! I don't read minds. I don't hear the words and I (pretend to) think you're at my doorstep to look at the awesome. I don't care if it's in SPANISH-- you WILL say something. I think I've traumatized several young, illegal immigrants with my stance on saying "trick-or-treat"... *head desk*

[adrian]

Jadewik got it. Booing is so much fun. After trick or treating this year we're going to try it then par tay!! this will be another tradition to add to the night

[WitchyMama]

I am totally cool with anyone dressing up and getting candy! When I worked at the mall, prior to my own children, I would hand candy out to anyone dressed up...including parents! My boss hated it but oh well. My husband now gives it to anyone dressed up. If he gets a snarky teen though he will deny it. And he is 6'3" and 395 lbs, no one will mess with him!

Bussing into neighborhoods can very well be because their neighborhood doesn't do it. We have two major neighborhoods here that go all out. Entire streets are decorated and one even does a theme each year. But the rest of the area it's hard to find people giving out candy. ALOT of our people go to the mall (I hate that). I think if it wasn't for me and my neighbor others wouldn't have started doing the candy bit in our own neighborhood. Since I started about 8 years ago we went from just my house to about 15 houses as of last year. So in the early years I did take my kids to other neighborhoods while hubs hung out waiting for kids. Now that we have built the demand we don't feel a need to. Hopefully we can get a few more houses to decorate AND give out candy lol!

[adrian]

thats great to hear!! its good that you kinda started to ToTing trend again in your area. if only others had your spirit

[PumpkinFunGirl]

..Ehehehe,....ummmm....I am 22 years old and I went trick or treating last year.... Ahahah...until everyone found me out.... .....so this year im going to dress up and just let my kids get the candy and have the fun,....I guess I never really did grow up,....I love Halloween too much,....so imbarrasing.....

[adrian]

..Ehehehe,....ummmm....I am 22 years old and I went trick or treating last year.... Ahahah...until everyone found me out.... .....so this year im going to dress up and just let my kids get the candy and have the fun,....I guess I never really did grow up,....I love Halloween too much,....so imbarrasing.....

i'm 22 too maybe you could kinda do reversed trick or treating. where you dress up and carry a huge bag full of candy and then walk around the ToTs handing them candy

[PumpkinFunGirl]

..What a fantastic idea Adrian,....I think I will try that......

[adrian]

if you like that idea you may like "Booing" as well

thats were you take bags or plastic pumpkins, fill them with halloween goodies and a note saying "you've just been Booed"

go around the nieghborhood that night. place a pumpkin or bag on their porch, ring the door bell, and run and hide (you can hide and watch them if you like, i do )

its a lot of fun. kind of a nice trick with a treat sort of thing