Modern Halloween - Whats the point?
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Last year I was almost threatened with a knife by a fourteen year old and his friends for not giving any candy (I had none to give). I say almost, because for once my just-try-it-prick attitude played in my favour. The police did nothing, even though I was not the only person who reported them and other people had known who they were (names and addresses). If I was faced with your situation I would have shut the door in his face when he first opened his mouth. At least the local maffia are polite when they collect their intimidation money. Maybe it is the minority ruining it for the majority, but then that is always the case.
David Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Everybody is entitled to my opinion
Its a pretty benign holiday here in the states. I've never encountered any kind of real vandalism or violence associated with it.
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Allen Anderson wrote: All these calls of commercialism and mischief are rediculous Every major supermarket I've visited for the last few weeks has had an aisle full of Halloween goods, from plastic masks to full costumes. From specially branded sweets to plastic pumpkin decorations. In the UK, the commercialization is in full swing. I'm surprised to hear, that it is different in the US. As for the "mischief" - maybe that is a cultural thing. It probably does vary from area to area, my street isn't exactly a high-class or even middle class area. Michael CP Blog [^]
commercialization - the great evil of our age :rolleyes:
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reading all the comments from people who don't live in the US it's amazing how different your views are from reality here. Halloween mischief is very rare. What Halloween has been here since my childhood was where children get dressed up and go trick or treating (being a kid doing this when I was young was something we looked forward to every year). It's also a chance to get dressed up and have a party. All these calls of commercialism and mischief are rediculous. People don't get presents for Halloween. Maybe the candy makers make some money, but beyond that it has little commercial value. If you were never 6 years old with a bad dracula costume dancing around with excitement as you get ready to go trick or treating, then it's hard for you to trully understand the fun of it.
Maybe mischief is rare over in the US, but here in Norway(atleast where I live) mischief is common. Not everyone knows about this custom(or wants to give away something). Especially Senior Citizens have no clue at all on whats this all about. So all of a sudden, kids dressed up as monsters show up at your door, demanding candy. There are mostly teens aged 12+ who do the trick or treating and when someone refuses or doesn't have any few of them walks away. Egged cars, windows, mailboxes, garden furniture etc. is all too common. So does the woman next door well in her eighties deserve to get her windows egged because she wouldn't give away, or even dind't have any candy to give away to these little bastards? All this has given me a negative opinion about Halloween as it is performed here in Norway. It's all right with new customs as long as they aren't so destructive and tiresome. St. Valentine's day for example.
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Michael P Butler wrote: Trick or treat by ten year olds is annoying enough Yes you are being a Scrooge. Why are they annoying? Were you not allowed to have fun when you were younger at this age? Michael P Butler wrote: 16 year olds with bags full of eggs is hardly in the spirit of things. Correct and as such the evening should not be equated to them. They are just vandals and should get a record to destroy their lives. Michael P Butler wrote: something to keep the shops ticking over till the Christmas season? Sorry, but I saw lights going up at a mall 3 weeks ago and my wifes place of employment has begun staying open to midnight. The commercial season is here, with or without Halloween. I do not mind getting old. It beats all the other options that can think of.
Michael A. Barnhart wrote: Yes you are being a Scrooge. Why are they annoying? Were you not allowed to have fun when you were younger at this age? Outside of the USA halloween is a non-event. Other than American movies I never heard of halloween as a kid. It is only in the past couple of years that people have started trick or treating. I sent everyone away yesterday telling them this isn't America we don't do halloween over here. Strangely enough it is almost exclusively asian and wog kids doing it. Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So i had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
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Michael A. Barnhart wrote: Yes you are being a Scrooge. Why are they annoying? Were you not allowed to have fun when you were younger at this age? Outside of the USA halloween is a non-event. Other than American movies I never heard of halloween as a kid. It is only in the past couple of years that people have started trick or treating. I sent everyone away yesterday telling them this isn't America we don't do halloween over here. Strangely enough it is almost exclusively asian and wog kids doing it. Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So i had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
I live in penrith, which I don't think is too far from where you are and... I THINK THEY ARE GETTING THE POINT!!! last year we had about 3 kids turn up on the door with very empty bags (obviously my house isn't the only one being stingy with the lollies), this year there was just one... always turned away with the "this isn't the USA" line. We can only hope this trend continues next year, as you say Halloween is an American thing, no excuse for any other country to be forced into doing it. Chris.
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Its a pretty benign holiday here in the states. I've never encountered any kind of real vandalism or violence associated with it.
When I was a kid it was all "Penny for the Guy" - We used to make an effigy of Guy Fawkes (he tried to blow up the parliament in Westminster because he didn't agree with who was elected - personally I don't agree with who's elected but I don't go around trying to blow up buildings in order to voice my displeasure... I digress) - or dress up and do a little routine (sing a song, tell a few jokes, and so on). Now, since it all got Americanised, they arrive at the door and say "Trick or Treat" and expect sweets or cash! And if you have a selection of sweets and say something like "take your pick" they take everything.
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I live in penrith, which I don't think is too far from where you are and... I THINK THEY ARE GETTING THE POINT!!! last year we had about 3 kids turn up on the door with very empty bags (obviously my house isn't the only one being stingy with the lollies), this year there was just one... always turned away with the "this isn't the USA" line. We can only hope this trend continues next year, as you say Halloween is an American thing, no excuse for any other country to be forced into doing it. Chris.
Chris Ormerod wrote: I live in penrith, which I don't think is too far from where you are and... Your right, I'm in Mount Druitt, less than 20 minutes away. So why haven't we caught up for a beer? Chris Ormerod wrote: I THINK THEY ARE GETTING THE POINT!!! last year we had about 3 kids turn up on the door with very empty bags (obviously my house isn't the only one being stingy with the lollies), this year there was just one... always turned away with the "this isn't the USA" line. We can only hope this trend continues next year, as you say Halloween is an American thing, no excuse for any other country to be forced into doing it. I hope it continues to diminish with no one banging down my door at night. Monday next year, I wonder how many parents here in Oz will be willing to go out and about hen they have to work the next day? Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So i had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
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Halloween, is it just another commercial exercise, something to keep the shops ticking over till the Christmas season? Is it just an excuse for the anti-social behaviour element, to make peoples lives a misery without having to worry about the police taking it seriously? Trick or treat by ten year olds is annoying enough, but 16 year olds with bags full of eggs is hardly in the spirit of things. So vote now, 5 for Halloween should be consigned to the history books. Vote 1 if I'm being the Halloween equivalent of Scrooge. Michael CP Blog [^]
When I was a student in Sheffield (UK) many years ago, I lived in an attic room three floors up (with steep stairs). One night (Hallowe'en) I was lying in bed with a bad headache when the doorbell went. I got up and walked all the way down to find no-one there. After that, the door-bell rang again and again, until I got so sick of it that I filled a bucket wth ice-cold water, and the very next time someone rang, I tipped the whole lot from the window. I imagine being hit with 2 gallons of ice-cold water from a height of 25 feet dampens the spirits somewhat :D "Oh, I'm sick of doing Japanese stuff! In jail we had to be in this dumb kabuki play about the 47 Ronin, and I wanted to be Oshi, but they made me Ori!"
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Halloween, is it just another commercial exercise, something to keep the shops ticking over till the Christmas season? Is it just an excuse for the anti-social behaviour element, to make peoples lives a misery without having to worry about the police taking it seriously? Trick or treat by ten year olds is annoying enough, but 16 year olds with bags full of eggs is hardly in the spirit of things. So vote now, 5 for Halloween should be consigned to the history books. Vote 1 if I'm being the Halloween equivalent of Scrooge. Michael CP Blog [^]
I think Halloween is fun. I was greeting many neighbours and saying hi to kids for two hours last night. Next year, I think we are going to set up a coffe pot and give out coffee to parents along with the treats to the kids. I guess it really depends upon your community and neighbourhood and how much fun you want to make it. We have so many people milling and wandering about that there is little or no malicious pranks going on. Just a bit lucky perhaps. :) Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] Gently arching his fishing rod back he moves the tip forward in a gentle arch releasing the line.... kersplunk [Doug Goulden]
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Halloween, is it just another commercial exercise, something to keep the shops ticking over till the Christmas season? Is it just an excuse for the anti-social behaviour element, to make peoples lives a misery without having to worry about the police taking it seriously? Trick or treat by ten year olds is annoying enough, but 16 year olds with bags full of eggs is hardly in the spirit of things. So vote now, 5 for Halloween should be consigned to the history books. Vote 1 if I'm being the Halloween equivalent of Scrooge. Michael CP Blog [^]
I've never understood how christans can allow their children to celebrate strange gods once a year. Halloween is a religious celebration of evil, for some pagan religion. I want nothing to do with it for religious reasons. I agree with freedom of religion, so I will allow you to celebrate whatever it is you want. I'd recomend my religion of course, but you have to find it for yourself.