Trick or Treat

[PurpleChez]

OK. This has nothing to do with politics or the election. But I'd like to hear what anyone thinks about this.

When I was a kid in Pennsylvania, trick or treat was something for little kids in costumes. The last time I went I was 13 (this was 1979), and I ended up feeling a little self conscious. No one -- NO ONE -- in high school went trick or treating. NO ONE.

NO ONE.

My first Halloween after moving to Georgia (1998) I was amazed (that is to say, pissed off) at the number of surly, uncostumed teenagers roaming the town with shopping bags, expecting folks to load them up with candy. The natives didn't seem to think there was anything odd about this, but for Bobbi and me it blew our minds. Since then, other people have told me that it's that way in their area too -- trick or treat now includes unsmiling high school kids in jeans and hoodies out prowling for free candy. I swear...if one of my high school classmates had been "caught" trick or treating, they'd still be getting razzed for it, twenty-plus years later. In general, kids get more sophisticated as time passes -- superficially at least. But this goes in the opposite direction. How did it become cool to revert to the world of eight year olds? What goes in your neck of the woods?

[Quantess]

1. as long as they have a decent costume on

I'd give them candy. I'd give candy to the parents if they're dressed up for Halloween.
Who cares?

[texpatriot2004]

6. I agree about the "decent costume" part nm

[PurpleChez]

7. Right. They could at least make an attempt at a costume.

But I still don't think it's right. I just wonder what goes through their heads. Like I said, when I was in high school it would have been a matter of shame to be caught trick or treating, but it wasn't an issue because no one actually did it. So, I wonder what they're thinking as they go out among swarms of fairy princesses and terry cloth puppy dogs. Isn't there some sort of sense that "I don't belong here." Apparently not.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. There were about 3-4 uncostumed teenagers tonight.

Youngish ones, probably no more than 14, and they were polite, not surly. But still, I really wish they'd try to throw together at least some semblance of a costume if they're going to go around begging for candy. That has always annoyed me. I gave them candy anyhow because I want to get it out of the house so I don't eat it myself.

[texpatriot2004]

3. Hands down the teens should not be trick or treating...but they

still do. I am new around here but there was some discussion about it today and that was the gist of it.

[Quantess]

5. This was also an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

Larry David turned down teenage trick or treaters, and then got his house egged and TP'd.

[PurpleChez]

8. I'm glad to hear that. I'm not anti-teen or anything...

if someone wanted to have a teen halloween party at a community center (the way they do after prom stuff now) that would be great. I hate to sound like a crochety old guy, but for me it just saps part of the fun out of the event when the happy little kids are being crowded out by grouchy high school kids.

[Sydnie]

4. The teenagers here take over the center of town after the kids

have their parade. Every year, our fire department hosts a parade through town and then the kids line up in front of the fire station and wait their turn to go through and get a bag of candy (small zip lock type) and an apple (since we are known for our orchards). Then the little ones hit all the houses in the center of town. The little ones are mostly gone by about 8 pm, and the teenagers take over. They shaving cream themselves and the sidewalks, a few town windows and maybe a few cars too. They are mostly gone by about 10 pm. Then, the fire department brings out a truck, hoses everything down and returns the town center to normal before the morning. It's pretty harmless fun for the most part and everyone knows what to expect and when.

[Rosemary2205]

9. my neighborhood has "damage night"

The last 4 or 5 years we have about 10 little kids who may or may not be in costume. Then the teens come around to key cars, steal porch ornamentation, break off the lid on mailboxes etc. Luckily they have not upgraded to guns yet.

These little darlings are driving down home prices to the point I can't sell for as much as I owe on my house and I've lived here 12 years. I'll be glad when my house finishes foreclosure so I can move.

Edit - Sorry this was supposed to be to the OP.

[phylny]

10. I had a few "uncostumed" teens come to the door, and I gladly

handed out the candy.

Why not?

[PurpleChez]

11. Because until very, very recently

this was something sweet reserved for little kids. We sell sequined "HOTTIE" shirts for 8-year-olds. I'm no moralist, but I think sometimes that our society has taken much of the innocence away from childhood. Can't we set something special aside just for them?

"Why not" uncostumed teens? Is high school junior too old? Senior? College kids home for the weekend? And if you're going to co-opt the kids' event at least make an attempt at a costume. And for eff's sake say thank you or smile or something. I'm not trying to make this into a Big Issue, because it isn't one. It does annoy me, and it also interests me from an amateur sociologist point of view. I've touched base with some high school classmates on this issue and it was agreed that in the time and place we grew up high school-aged kids just simply did not under any circumstances go out for candy, and anyone who did would have been absolutely ridiculed. I just wonder when and how this changed.