Well it's that time of year again and the door knob takes a hammering with the youngsters asking trick or treat.
I dont want to come across as a spoilsport but in these dangerous times shoul'd we not stop this tradition as I have noticed young children come to the door without adults to look after them and I worry that some sicko might do something bad to one of them.
I know some may say it's up to to the parents to come with them but this isn't what happens all the time so maybe it's time to stop it.
What do other people think.?

This should be made illegal unless young ones are accompanied by a responsible adult for the very reasons Roy states.

my lil girl (11) out with mates with adults

I'm sorry to hear that you knob has taken a hammering from all those youngsters. You must be exhausted mate! :o

In what way are the streets any more unsafe than 20 years ago?
We are just made to feel they are unsafe.
And its mostly the kids that have rebeled against overprotective parents going around causing trouble.

Thanks for that mate ,yes it has been very busy tonight with the door knob endlesly going.
I have to say I like the tradition but do worry about the little ones,besides iv'e run out of treats now so I fear the worst lol:hihi:

Originally posted by royjames

I have to say I like the tradition

For how long has it been a 'tradition' ?

Ten years...perhaps less ?

Originally posted by royjames
in these dangerous times shoul'd we not stop this tradition as I have noticed young children come to the door without adults to look after them and I worry that some sicko might do something bad to one of them.
There is NO real danger to children, just an increase in perception of paranoid parents who believe the sensationalist 24h media and certain political parties who both use it equally for self serving reasons.

Hi
Sorry if i sound like a killjoy but i don't like trick or treating..it isn't an English tradition at all, it is something we have copied from the Americans and i don't know about you but i am tired of copying everything America does..Get rid of it!!!!

Originally posted by Caz1
Hi
Sorry if i sound like a killjoy but i don't like trick or treating..it isn't an English tradition at all, it is something we have copied from the Americans and i don't know about you but i am tired of copying everything America does..Get rid of it!!!!
Yeah like bombing strangers! but to be fair to us we taught them everything they know.

Why get rid of America, what's it done wrong this time ? ;)

Actually I think it's more of a danger to householders, - especially old people living alone. There have been cases of kids terrorising old people and even gaining entry and committing assault and robbery.

Trick or treating is a good cover for the yobbish element, and on those grounds I think kids should be accompanied or chaperoned by an adult.

I do think assault laws should be relaxed. You egg my wiindow, I'll break your legs...that kind of thing....

Thus far no ToTs and one bus egged in Broomhill....

Some areas of America have banned it this year,so maybe this is one time we could follow with a clear conscience.

Oh Tony why bring politics into a simple trick or treat question??
Lets keep this on tack here,so you beleive that all the crime and specially the child abuse and violent crime is some media invention,sorry but this is totaly wrong.
This is unfortunatley the real world and not some media invention.

I'm not against children going trick or treat-ing, but I think an adult should go with them to keep an eye on them... maybe not going up to the doors with them though.

In the case mentioned earlier of kids trick or treat-ing in the tower blocks at Netherthorpe, I think one of their parents was waiting on the stairs outside the corridor door.

Originally posted by Greybeard
For how long has it been a 'tradition' ?

Ten years...perhaps less ?

I know its been going for at least 20 years here, I definately remember trick or treaters going around in the 80's and myself trick or treating with friends in the late 80's. My parents were never believers in it, so would never take me, only went as I were older with other friends.

If you ever get get chance to spend time in America in October its quite amazing to see the dedicated Halloween shops in the malls and all the houses decorated with Halloween stuff and lights.

Originally posted by matsalleh
Some areas of America have banned it this year,so maybe this is one time we could follow with a clear conscience.

most places here in the states have curfews in place through out to keep people in line.

it does help with keeping the property damage down (the big thing here it cover peoples property in shaving cream which eats through paint. my dad had about $1500 in damage one year cause some kids thought it was funny to write "****" on the side of his van and was there until we had to have the van repainted)

halloween is an overall fun holiday, done more in the suburbs than say manhattan or chicago.

and i grew up not celebrating it from about age 7 and on. my mother wasnt too keen on it and decided taking us to toys r us to get a few new barbies & matchbox cars was a better time & money spent. she said she didnt grow up with halloween (she was born and raised in north london) and really didnt see a need for us to have it. though she did get a kick out of seeing the toddlers all dressed up with smeared makeup on. lol

and edit: and no you shouldnt get rid of it unless it a problem. theres more harm than good being done.

Originally posted by Caz1
Hi
Sorry if i sound like a killjoy but i don't like trick or treating..it isn't an English tradition at all, it is something we have copied from the Americans and i don't know about you but i am tired of copying everything America does..Get rid of it!!!!


Although I am often the first to subscribe to the Clarkson perspective on the USA, Trick or Treat is an old English custom from mediaeval times, which died out for in England for hundreds of years, but was carried over to America by the 17th century emigrants to the USA.
It's recent revival in the UK can be linked to the custom being portrayed on imported TV programmes from the States, but don't blame the yanks for something we exported to them.

Mark

Originally posted by royjames
Oh Tony why bring politics into a simple trick or treat question??
Lets keep this on tack here,so you beleive that all the crime and specially the child abuse and violent crime is some media invention,sorry but this is totaly wrong.
This is unfortunatley the real world and not some media invention.

Sorry to disappoint you Roy, but the idea that the streets are full of 'perverts' is very far from the truth. By far and away the majority of abuse takes place within the family home. The idea that the streets are unsafe is an invention. I never made mention of any specific party BTW.

I personally think that trick or treat (in its modern format) is little more than begging, and that parents should be a little ashamed that they let their children knock on strangers doors and ask for money. At least carol singers make (a usually half hearted) attempt to entertain.

Originally posted by Tazz070299
Although I am often the first to subscribe to the Clarkson perspective on the USA, Trick or Treat is an old English custom from mediaeval times, which died out for in England for hundreds of years, but was carried over to America by the 17th century emigrants to the USA.
It's recent revival in the UK can be linked to the custom being portrayed on imported TV programmes from the States, but don't blame the yanks for something we exported to them.

Mark

Trick Or Treat is an anachronism that ran its course and rightfully died out in Britain. I'm sure there was originally more to it than demanding money with menaces. That's the part we have to thank the Americans for giving back to us. :rolleyes:

i ended up saying "get lost" to the two lads who knocked last night, but only coz they'd got me otu of the bath at 9.30 :(

a couple of years back the littlies came round in a group with a bunch of parents, (quite good considering it's Darnall) and i was cool with that, the little kids are ok, it's only when it's 15 year olds i start getting annoyed.

A friend of mine kept getting 14 and 15 year olds coming round.

She didn't mind giving something to younger children when when it gets to that age its just begging.

She said to one group of teenage lads she didn't have any sweets to which they replied have you got any money? The cheek. She then gave them 50p just to get rid of them and they siad can;'t we have a £1. She said no and they replied well fancy a sh*g.

Its kids like that that make people think it should be banned.

We got one trick or treater last night which makes a change from last year even though it was the same group of kids calling in different number formations.

I never encouraged my kids to go trick or treating and they all felt it was begging so made their own decisions not to do it - like this guying thing - that used to really bore me hanging around while my mates did it so I'd go home early.

Tell you what though - it's funny to watch the kid's faces when they ask, 'penny for the Guy' and you drop them a penny and run off with their Guy.

i feel like a flippin parrot - only the name and general materialistic attitude is American...the rest is British and never died out....it was just foreced to more remote parts of the country where it continues to this day.

Rather than demanding a ban and blaming the americans why not take a little time to learn about our British heritage and customs?

I have to agree about the lack of adults accompanying children whilst guising, what are these people thinking?

Moon

demanding sweets or money or we will egg your house...

i wonder if thats how ronnie and reggie kray started? haha

Can't we just blow the little blighters' heads off if they annoy us? With a water pistol, naturally. But could fill it with tomato ketchup for a smidge of added realism. Although I read recently that real film blood is created from summer pudding. So there we have a solution that's not only educational and morally soundbut both delicious and nutricious to boot. Bon appetit!

well, the other night i was bugged by some more commercially minded bonfire night pests...

Change for the guy mister ?

on my way out of Morrisons....

Originally posted by AJCrowley
well, the other night i was bugged by some more commercially minded bonfire night pests...



on my way out of Morrisons....

did you write that book on fly fishing?

Originally posted by kirky
did you write that book on fly fishing?

No, that was A......J.........HART..LEY......:nono:

Originally posted by royjames
it has been very busy tonight with the door knob endlesly going.


Get a doorbell with 300 different tunes.....

I agree wholeheartedly with those contributors who abhor this extremely annoying custom of American origin. However, to ban the "tradition" would be very much against democratic principles. There is a libertarian argument for allowing people to engage in such things if they so wish to. The threat from sexual predators to children has always been there and , sadly, always will be. Children are, in some cases, at threat in the home never mind if they go off "trick or treating". Perhaps a minority of children/teenagers do use the "tradition" as an excuse for anti-social behaviour and vandalism. Nevertheless, I think a society in which "trick and treating" was banned would be a society in which the interventionist, nannying state had simply grown too large. I hate Rap music, and I groan when I hear it blasting out of a passing car [and I detest some of the sentiments expressed by the "artists" concerned], but I wouldn't for a minute want it banned.

no its begging and its dangerous and its annoying!!

I never denied that it is "begging" and "annoying". How is it "dangerous"? The group of children who knocked on our door were accompanied by an adult. They received nothing from me but a polite "No thanks". They left. Where was the danger? You seem to feel strongly about it, so tell me!

dangerous for the kids, there are some weirdos about - and no i dont think its worse than it used to be, there has always been strange people hanging about.
and also dangerous for old people, bogus callers take advantage of halloweene and bash old people - not good
and also dangerous generally. or rather the sense of danger. I got outta of the car and had three lads appear from nowheer screaming trick or treat at me - i could have slapped them, but said "ive just come home, come back later" and they did exactly the same to my neighbour who is elderly as she got out of her car. she could have had bloody heart attack. she hadnt even opened the door and they had crowded round.
blimey i do feel strongly about it! im on one here!
i also dont like fireworks or carol singers - bar humbug

Trick or teating - name is american but idea is Celtic

Nevertheless, there are some aspects of British Hallowe'en festivities that have our very own, local touch. The Celts of 5th century BC would dress up in costumes to ward off the spirits of the dead who, they thought, came out on Hallowe'en, or All Hallows' Eve, to inhabit their bodies. And trick-or-treating began with young Irish lads roaming the countryside on the Night of Mischief. They would rampage around, hammering on doors and demanding money or food in return for saying prayers for dead relatives, playing pranks and practical jokes on anyone who failed to comply.

Natalie, surely you can't view all children who engage in this ritual as in danger. As I said previously, many children die at the hands of their primary carers every month, in their own homes. If we take your argument to its logical extreme, we would not allow children out of our sight. Some children do use the ritual as an excuse for causing mayhem and distress, but most don't. Why spoil things for the majority? As I said before, I can't stand Rap music [and some of the messages within it may be considered anti-social], but I realise that a society which banned everything that was "potentially" dangerous would be one in which the state had taken away our freedom, and taken over our lives. The cases you describe are undeniably unpleasant, but there are wider issues at stake here; the role of the state, and the societal trend towards overprotection of children. Of course, I have never lost a child to a sex offender, so I suppose it is quite easy for me to be philosophical. I do see your point, to an extent.

Originally posted by timo
I agree wholeheartedly with those contributors who abhor this extremely annoying custom of American origin.

:help: it isn't flippin american...read the posts made.

Moon

It's definitely Irish in origin, I was brought up with it back on the Emerald Isle, it was really exciting to get dressed up and visit friends, neighbours and family who would pretend to be scared/not recognise you and then give you some small goodies, usually a handful of peanuts and penny chews. The evening usually finished sharing your spoils with your friends at a local bonfire - we didn't celebrate 5th November so Halloween was a big fuss. It was a family orientated thing, parents with kids - no yobs asking for money.

I think the idea must have got transported to America by Irish emigrants where the more commercially minded turned it into what it is today (sadly).

Moon Maiden,
Thanks for putting me right there re the non-American origin of Trick or Treat. I just associated it with American popular culture. I suppose a quick skim through Frazer's Golden Bough might have told me that the ritual has ancient European roots. Easy to forget that so many rituals have an ancient pedigree. It is still a pain in the ******** though.