Am I horrible?

[featured_spectre]

I just got called horrible by a parent who is out with their children because I did a trick for them rather than give them a treat (Trick or Treat...all in the saying), I did it and they said do we still get a treat, and I said sorry no treats...

 

And another one said it because I told them I do not believe in halloween as it is essentially children begging for food and money (in the space between 4:30 - 7:00 we have had over 30 people knocking)...and each time I either do a trick or say I do not do halloween (depending on the age of the children)

 

Am I horrible for this?

Edited October 31, 2011 by featured_spectre

[tech_guy]

I wouldn't worry about it. I've just wired my doorbell up to the mains for tonight....

 

[mjs_mjs]

na - don't worry about it. But wiring the door bell up via a relay to the door light would be kwl, especially if it flickers.

[Soulfish]

So far I've had 0 people call. Yay!

[6Foot2]

...Am I horrible for this?

 

I would say no. While my wife was away for the past to Halloweens I answered the door with the news that the was nobody at home who was interested in Halloween. After around 8:30 I pulled the curtain that sits behind the door and did not answer to callers again.

 

This year my son and wife are doing the Halloween bit.

 

My son did learn that not everyone can be trusted. Our first callers this evening scooped more than half the sweets in the large bowl that was offered to them.

[Arthur]

I did a trick for them rather than give them a treat

Have you had anything thrown at your house yet? We did a couple of years back for giving a kid an orange.

[featured_spectre]

No...Just for today only, I have my rifle out of the cabinet and leaning next to the door so its visible when the door is open... (If you are interested I have the Tikka T3 Light stainless steel with camo) and use it SOLELY for the rifle range Edited October 31, 2011 by featured_spectre

[AyatollahPies]

Not long since had "Eff You" shouted through the letterbox, for not answering the door.

 

Charming.

[jedmondson]

Im not going to answer the door any more because we are out of treats.

[localzuk]

Ah, Halloween, where children are taught they can something for nothing.

 

I've never really understood why parents allow their kids to take part.

 

No, you're not mean, you're a realist.

[plexer]

Nephilim to be honest if you're not wanting to take part don't answer the door it's just children having fun and I do hope you are joking about the gun as that is illegal.

 

Ben

[featured_spectre]

Nope, the gun is perfectly legal, I hold a shotgun, rifle and pistol licence . I had it sat there as I was actually giving it a clean for this Saturday as I am going to the range in the afternoon (firing pin and the bolt were taken out so it was inert and other than when I use it or when I am cleaning it, it is kept in the gun locker in my attic and I do not have any live ammo in the house), and it was by the door as that is where I have the best light in the house to do the cleaning/inspection of parts to check for wear etc.

 

As for not taking part, did that last year and my house got egged, this year I decided to answer the door as it was a case of I can answer the door or have people shouting through the letter box/ringing the bell several times and waking my daughter. No contest.

[plexer]

I didn't say holding the gun was illegal and fully expected a comeback from you as to why it was there however I'm still sure any firearms officer would take a dim view of leaving it there.

 

Ben

[featured_spectre]

My neighbour's mrs is a police officer, infact she is the person that checked the gun cabinet etc

 

However I see your point, but as I was cleaning it, I was not going to run and hide it, when I can lean it there and then carry on after

[plexer]

In that case I would suggest that you put a towel over it in future as you original post regarding it suggests that it was left there to intimidate people.

 

Ben

[featured_spectre]

Ahh that it was not intended to do, but it was there in plain sight. It is a good deterrent against people egging my house / car.

 

I think next year I might just dress up as a klingon from star trek...complete with bat'leth lol

[witch]

Whilst it wasnt children - originally the poor came around begging for food.

One way around your dilemma is to give the children things like raisins and apples or plain biscuits - they arent keen then but at least you have given them something

[GrumbleDook]

To some extent it is also about being part of a community as well. In some places you would only go to doors or family or friends ... and you make an effort too. I used to do it as a child and it was always only to house we knew would be ok to visit.

 

I know some friends who do it in the same way now, and it is a fun thing.

 

I know how you feel though ... nothing annoys me more at XMas than carol singers who comes round singing 2 lines of a pop tune that was once popular 30 years ago and then bang on the door. When you open it to them and they wave a bucket (a yellow builders bucket that still looks as if it has some dried up mortar in it) I ask them to finish the song ... the fact that the average age is 14 and there are more spots than watching 101 dalmatians ... and the reek of cheap beer ... usually means they can't finish even a basic carol or christmassy song.

[plexer]

We took the girls out with some friends and only went to houses with pumpkims or other halloween decorations.

 

Ben

[tom_newton]

Still got a bags of sweets left - only 3 this year, but we don't do decorations. Ah well, Smoothwall pre-sales tech team will be fat.

 

BTW, I thought it was the knocker that played the trick in the absence of treat - it was in my day. I vaguely lament the dearth of harmless tricks

[garethedmondson]

On a similar topic did anyone see this week's Modern Family which was halloween themed? One of the best episodes I've seen in this comedy series.

 

Gareth

[elsiegee40]

In my sister's village, the vicar (!) organises the trick-or-treating for the younger children. Residents get a pumpkin poster they can put up in the window if they don't mind being called on. It's followed up by a halloween party in the church hall!

[RingOfFlame]

Oh look another woe is me narcissistic post, look honey, nobody cares.

In answer to your question yes sounds like you are quite a horrible and angry individual. Do you really think leaving a gun by the door to frighten children who are spending time with their parents or friends going round their community, taking part in activities of an annual holiday is big and cleaver? Are you that bitter that you can’t hand out some candy? Shame on you! For someone who wants to work in education you have a very strange and unsettling attitude towards children.

Happy Halloween

[AyatollahPies]

Oh look another woe is me narcissistic post, look honey, nobody cares.

In answer to your question yes sounds like you are quite a horrible and angry individual. Do you really think leaving a gun by the door to frighten children who are spending time with their parents or friends going round their community, taking part in activities of an annual holiday is big and cleaver? Are you that bitter that you can’t hand out some candy? Shame on you! For someone who wants to work in education you have a very strange and unsettling attitude towards children.

Happy Halloween

 

Annual Holiday? Not on this side of the pond it isn't. Hollywood has a lot to answer for.

[dwhyte85]

Annual Holiday? Not on this side of the pond it isn't. Hollywood has a lot to answer for.

 

Yea, I can't sleep without checking for Michael Myers... hate halloween. Living in a scummy area like Slough you're likely to wake up to an egged car if your car hasn't already been taken - the 'kids' that come round for 'candy' are 15-16 year olds after money rather than sweets.