Last night and tonight we've had kids knocking at the door 'trick or treating'. My partner dispatched the first lot with some pleasantry or another.
My rather terse response this evening was 'What date is it?'
The kids said 'Yeah but he's on holiday on Halloween'
My response ' Well I'm pregnant with twins and I'm not having any of it, go away.'
Hardly the most inspirational exchange, and probably not the wisest. The kids themselves had one mask between 3 of them and no costume... where is the tradition there?
Why are kids doing it this early? I know they want money for cigs, sweets or whatever but whatever happened to just doing it on Halloween?
I don't know anyone in this area, I certainly don't know the kids. I don't even know what the next door neighbour looks like. I could be a paedophile or murderer or child snatcher or anything. It's insane. How can parents allow their kids to do it and even if they don't know - why aren't they warning the kids?
I resent that not one of these kids has set eyes on me before but they have the cheek to knock at my door and ask for money.
(I never did as a child, all the adults with kids had an arrangement where we lived and we only knocked on each others doors).
I think Halloween is great but I think safety should be addressed and parents should be more vigilant about it and perhaps take into consideration that some people feel threatened because of the tricks, some of them are really nasty and I think it intimidates people, especially older folk.
If I haven't given birth I shall be reading in a candlelit room on Halloween evening, I refuse to prise my overlarge and uncomfortable self off the sofa for all and sundry to come and scrounge at repeated intervals without costumes or masks or any knowledge of whether I'm a psycho murdererous woman bent on revenge. I shall also seal my letterbox shut since some kids will undoubtedly feel that my 'absence' on Halloween is unjust and exact revenge.
Whinge over!

Its getting worse and worse.

There were some kids near were I live who were asking every passer by if they had a "penny for the guy". they didnt even have a guy, one of the kids just put his jumper on the floor on top of a brick. :loopy:

There was some yoof outside Sainsbury's on the Moor last week. He looked about 15 and had managed to fill a plastic bag with rags then put a coat over it. He was begging "penny for the guy" about 5 foot away from the usual Big Issue seller. I couldn't believe it when some old dear went up and gave him money.

Should have been in school surely! Haven't seen him since, hope the big issue seller had a stern word in his earhole

Originally posted by spyro2000
Its getting worse and worse.

There were some kids near were I live who were asking every passer by if they had a "penny for the guy". they didnt even have a guy, one of the kids just put his jumper on the floor on top of a brick. :loopy:

LOL. Funny but true spyro.

I had it last week, went to the door and i'd guess this 12y/o was stood there trick or treating. When i asked for the date he replied '31st mate' before i gave him my two worded reply.

It is getting out of hand, i dont mind the little ones who make an effort and come round but the early teens in their jeans is not right.

I remember a few years ago visiting the USA where we discussed Halloween and our host could not believe that we give cash to the little ones. They (correct me if i'm wrong Sierra or AN other from USA) hand out chocolates and sweets to little ones who come round. (which is the right way!)

Originally posted by taxman
There was some yoof outside Sainsbury's on the Moor last week. He looked about 15 and had managed to fill a plastic bag with rags then put a coat over it. He was begging "penny for the guy" about 5 foot away from the usual Big Issue seller. I couldn't believe it when some old dear went up and gave him money.


I saw him, and reported him to one of the City Centre Ambassadors. :thumbsup: Begging is against the law, isn't it? When I used to work at Sainsburys at Meadowhall we'd spend most of October shifting the idiots from outside our front door.

There was one outside my mum's local shops doing Penny for the Guy in the middle of September. He didn't have a guy though, but one of the other chavs was sat on the floor with a hat on. :suspect:

There was a group of kids outside the AA News shop on Stannington Road on Saturday begging for their guy, "Penny for the guy?" they said, so I gave the kid a penny, next thing he starts bitching that I didn't give him enough money, so I said "Look, you said penny for the guy, I gave you a penny, what more do you want?" so he said "I want a quid mate!", "Get lost!" I said... FFS don't they teach these kids manners any more?! :rant:

Besides, I needed that quid for my Lottery ticket.

Won't be long before we get this:

knock knock knock
(very very flat singing)
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
Now give us some money!



:rolleyes:

Originally posted by Andy
Won't be long before we get this:

knock knock knock
(very very flat singing)
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
Now give us some money!



:rolleyes:

Chavs can't sing, it's a known fact...

And no, I am not speaking from personal experience so DON'T start, otherwise you will be reported to the Mods.

Originally posted by Zebra
...The kids said 'Yeah but he's on holiday on Halloween' ...

That’s an old trick so they can cover more houses over a period of days. I used to use it myself.

If they have a decent costume they I would give them something, but when it’s some snot nosed oik who stands there and says "Trick or Treat" in a voice worthy of Marvin the paranoid android, I tell them to sod off!

We've had the kids with the pathetic "Guy" on Taplin Road already, which is odd as I always thought that was a Bonfire Night tradition!:confused:

But the trick or treaters are usually well behaved and more often than not accompanied by parents round our way.

And they get sweets...not cash and certainly no cheques!:suspect:

Originally posted by Rich
And no, I am not speaking from personal experience so DON'T start, otherwise you will be reported to the Mods.

:o Please don't.

As to trick-or-treater's, if they come on Haloween (or maybe at the weekend) they will get a sweet, if they have made an effort. I never give money and I never give to those who don't have a proper costume on.

I was reading in the paper yesterday that the supermarkets are really pushing Haloween this year to make up for a poor Summer's trade. I certainly have seen much more Haloween stuff in ASDA this year - they have a whole Haloween section now. When I was a kid, we used to just have a few masks.

Please remember that, in this part of the world, November 4th is Mischief Night. I don't want to make anyone paranoid, but if you have pets, keep them in, and if you have a car try and park it in your garage.

:evil:

november the 4th?

back home its 30th October!

Originally posted by youwhatref
LOL. Funny but true spyro.

I had it last week, went to the door and i'd guess this 12y/o was stood there trick or treating. When i asked for the date he replied '31st mate' before i gave him my two worded reply.

It is getting out of hand, i dont mind the little ones who make an effort and come round but the early teens in their jeans is not right.

I remember a few years ago visiting the USA where we discussed Halloween and our host could not believe that we give cash to the little ones. They (correct me if i'm wrong Sierra or AN other from USA) hand out chocolates and sweets to little ones who come round. (which is the right way!)
Which is exactly what we'll be doing this year.
Maybe then next year they'll remember and not come back. :hihi:

Not had trick or treaters yet but saw a couple of kids in a tram stop yesterday with a guy. I was driving so didnt have to actually walk past. I never give money to those with the guy (unless they have made huge effort but, they dont these days). As for Halloween I like to get loads of bags of sweets together for the kids, have a lit pumpkin in the window. Those who come before I just tell them to get dressed up and come back on Halowenn and I will give them sumat. I know its a Mondays this year so I will give em sumat this weekend (if im in) As for the carol singers, we get them at beginning of December and we get loads. Sometimes more than 1 in 1 night. Its all gone mad this year. Everything has started so early.