Ghoulish tricksters.

garinda · 20-10-2005, 22:04

October is drawing to an end, and Halloween is nearly here. Soon as a prelude to kids ringing our door bells lisping a few lines of 'Away in a Manger', we will be disturbed by 'trick or treaters'.

Trick or treat, that American import that is now part of our British calender. Is it a bit of harmless fun, or extortion with menace?

Do you welcome the little darlings knocking on your door on these dark winter's nights, and reward them with treats, or the more commonly demanded money? Would you let your children do it? Is it safe for young children to wander the streets knocking on strangers doors?

It's certainly something I didn't do thirty years ago as a child. We made a lantern out of a turnip, and if we were lucky, were taken to wander on top of Pendle Hill looking for witches.

mez · 20-10-2005, 22:06

i usually give the darlings some sweeties but after about the 20th time of answering the door it starts to wear me down & i start to get grumpy with the last few.............he he he he

mez · 20-10-2005, 22:11

sorry was messing with my keyboard........didn't read the thread correctly , no i don't think i'd let my kids out on their own these days especially .......halloween , bonfire, & xmas carol singing.

cashman · 20-10-2005, 22:14

may sound a bit mean but ive never agreed with kids knocking on doors in the evening,know a few old folk that get frightened of answering on dark nights.

ANNE · 20-10-2005, 22:14

Oh I dread it.
With every knock on the door.
"It's you go."
" No you go."
Last year I got sweets.
Not got none this year.
They still grt the same answer when the first lot of vultures have swarmed.
Shouldnt be allowed.
Private halloween parties sure.
But dont agree with door to door trick or treating.

chav1 · 20-10-2005, 22:14

unless ocompanied by an adult they dont get nothing from me although i do like the look on their faces when after been asked trick or treat i reply with oooh can i have a trick please

garinda · 20-10-2005, 22:15

When I lived in Glasgow, people went way over the top with the decorations. All the houses were trimmed up with lights and witches that moved, and animated pumkins. I don't know who paid the electricity bill, it was probably a long extension and plugged in over the other side of Hadrian's wall.

People used to shop specially for when children came to trick or treat, and woe betide you if they weren't properly compensated.

Pauline01UK · 20-10-2005, 22:15

Well my kids are all grown up now but I never let them go trick or treating because I didn't feel it was safe for them to be knocking on strangers doors. I know its harmless fun for some kids but some kids of today become quite abusive if you have nothing to give them. I had a couple of kids at my door last week, I nearly jumped out my skin they way they banged on the door.... They banged so loud you would have thought it was the bailiffs at my door the way they pounded it.. and then when I said I am sorry but I have no money and nor do I have any sweets all I got was a filthy mouthful and the kids must have only been around 8 or 9.....

I certainly won't be answering my door to them again!!...

shillelagh · 21-10-2005, 00:00

I cheat - I put a pile of sweets on my doorstep and a notice to only take 1 and then ignore the banging on the door. If the sweets have all gone then its tough luck! Mind you there is only one i will give money to and that is because he's a diabetic and so wont give him sweets.

I never went trick or treating either it seems to only have come in over the last 20 years. I made a lantern out of a turnip or a swede whatever my mum got and then stuck it in the window! For the last few years though i've bought a pumpkin for my niece and helped her dig it out and she took it home with her. A pumpkin is easier to dig out than a turnip!

garinda · 21-10-2005, 09:35

If you did give a child a treat that did harm a child, such as a sugar rich sweet to a diabetic or homemade fudge that gave them food poisoning, could you be sued?

accymel · 21-10-2005, 10:31

In cases of a lawsuit Rindy it would be hard to prove in case of diabetic because its not something u ask when u open the door to trick & treaters so intent isnt there as for homicidal fudge then it would be a police criminal matter not a suit matter. Tho the point of diabetics usually they will say they cant have it so then give em something else.

I tend to give my copper ~ they get as much as their hand can grab LOL rather than sweets

Tealeaf · 21-10-2005, 10:35

What you need to do is wipe your sweets, etc, on the inside rim of your bog bowl. Next, let them fester for a day or two (rewrap if you have to) & then hand them out to the blackmailing little brats. Such a course of action, while not harmless, will certainly not lay you open to any possible criminal or even civil charges.

accymel · 21-10-2005, 11:14

Thats very ghoulish Teafeaf

& i thought my gunge trick was bad

lol

Romps · 21-10-2005, 11:55

I don't take my children trick or treating, I think its dangerous, tho I don't mind when children knock on our door, but I do prefer to see an adult with them. We had a Halloween party last year and a couple of adults took them TorT'ing. I do draw the line at late callers tho, by 9 ish i think it's to late to be knocking on doors for any age children, so I probably won't answer.

Anyway this year there is a Fun day in Rhyddings park for Halloween, its on
Saturday 29th October 2-4pm there is a fancy dress competition for the children and various other things going on . We will post the details on here in the next few days.

Mick · 21-10-2005, 12:50

Well if you go Romps DONT do too much its the Accyweb meeting in the evening at the stag fancy dress and all dont forget will you .