Trick or Treaters... no costume?

[briannesmom]

We had a few older kids come without costumes and I gave them candy. Thats what I bought it for, to give away.

Amy

 

[Toby'sFriend]

ya know --- it is a fun pack of M&Ms I'm handing out --- not college scholarships, paychecks or Certificates of Outstanding Achievement. I really don't see a need to "earn" having one dropped into you sack or bucket, and I really don't have time to sit down and think up a list of rules that I should require people to follow before I'll grace them with my generous gift.


If you want my honest opinion, I think all the bickering about whether the age is right, the costume is right, the place of residence is right....is a tad bit petty.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I feel as though they should dress up--but I wouldn't deny the candy.

We always have candy leftover--so I'd wish anybody would knock on the door.


(we only bought 1 bag!).

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

If you want my honest opinion, I think all the bickering about whether the age is right, the costume is right, the place of residence is right....is a tad bit petty.

I totally agree!

 

[DVCLiz]

Sorry, Papa - let me rephrase that.

I think it is mean to deny candy to anyone aged 18 or younger on October 31st, regardless of attire. And I think people who have small children might someday, far in the future, want a courtesy extended to those children, whether or not they have on the attire that their father once thought he would (or could) insist on. Fair enough???

 

[Aidensmom]

All of the teens that were accompanied by only other teens were in costume. We had a few teens not in costume that were accompanying young children. We also had two very young (maybe 5 or 6) boys not in costume, just with their little pumpkin buckets. We gave all of them candy.

I felt bad for the little kids without costumes, was kind of wondering if maybe their families could not afford it or something.

 

[SDFgirl]

We had several teenagers with no costume show up. I gave them candy - who cares? Of course I prefer the kids who show up in a costume, but sheesh, people - it's a friggin' tootsie roll!!!! In the long run, is it really gonna matter?

 

[mickeysaver]

My wife said a group of 4 teens showed up at our door tonight and were not in costume. They wanted candy. My wife didn't give them any.

Not asking what you think about what my wife did, but I am curious what YOU would do. She said they were all about 13 - 15 years old.

We had 4 teens at our door with no costumes either, but ours claimed to be strippers, models, and the agent for the others. lol Maggie

 

[Blondie]

Sounds like an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm!

All of our TOT'ers had on costumes. I'd probably still give them candy even if they didn't.

 

[Papa Deuce]

All of the teens that were accompanied by only other teens were in costume. We had a few teens not in costume that were accompanying young children. We also had two very young (maybe 5 or 6) boys not in costume, just with their little pumpkin buckets. We gave all of them candy.

I felt bad for the little kids without costumes, was kind of wondering if maybe their families could not afford it or something.

I would feel bad for kids who can't afford costumes too. But in my neighborhood everybody can afford a costume. My only point is, with the older kids, if they aren't willing to put in any effort, why would they feel like they are entitled? I too, would give teen escorts who are not dressed some candy if they wanted it. But when you are 15 or so years old, and not escorting any younger kids... nope.

 

[hiwaygal]

Oh, I've been known to give "too-old-to-dress-up-but-not-to-get-free-candy" kids myself...but (if they are older) I usually razz them a bit about not dressing up...it's all in good fun!

 

[Serena]

If they aren't in costume, I make them do something, like sing a song, dance or something like that. They usually have fun and I do give them candy. I'd rather them go out begging for candy than other things they could be doing.

 

[tiggerlover]

We give them candy, costume or not. You can't be too careful these days and I would hate to have my home or car egged or worse. If the price to pay is a little candy, I will gladly pay.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If they aren't in costume, I make them do something, like sing a song, dance or something like that. They usually have fun and I do give them candy. I'd rather them go out begging for candy than other things they could be doing.

Great idea! I'll have to remember that for next year.

 

[Meezers]

Has anyone noticed how many people here are giving candy out because of fear of reprisals? Candy by intimidation....great holiday we have here.

This is one reason why I have stopped participating in T or T....I felt like it was "give me what I want or I will be back later and trash your house"....

Most of these older "children" do not live in my neighborhood....many of them don't speak enough English to say "Trick or Treat"....I didn't like the rules of the game so I chose not to play.

Ready for flaming now!

 

[marybet]

I had over a 100 kids, some teenagers, some little ones with no costumes, some who didn't say trick or treat, but I gave them all candy. I even stood by the mailbox so they didn't have to walk thru the yard. They all were driven here in cars by their parents, we don't have many kids on this street.

I used to live on a street were if I had 20 kids it was a busy night. I love to see them and I had one of those fake knives thru my head, the little kids would just stare, it was so funny. I had a great time and I even gave some of the kids two candy bars.

 

[Papa Deuce]

If they aren't in costume, I make them do something, like sing a song, dance or something like that. They usually have fun and I do give them candy. I'd rather them go out begging for candy than other things they could be doing.

That may be a good approach.

 

[disney4us2002]

Hmmm, I'm surprised at a) how many people would give candy w/o batting an eye and b) the number of strong opinions. Odd to me. Basically I see it like this: IF you are in costume, you are trick or treating; if you are NOT in costume, you are begging. That is the exact statement I made to my 16 y o tonight. We don't get any TOTers however since we are 1/2 mile from the road and back in the woods. I would not knowingly send my children out w/o a costume. JMHO

 

[noseybuddy]

Sorry, Papa - let me rephrase that.

I think it is mean to deny candy to anyone aged 18 or younger on October 31st, regardless of attire. And I think people who have small children might someday, far in the future, want a courtesy extended to those children, whether or not they have on the attire that their father once thought he would (or could) insist on. Fair enough???

I agree with you totally!

 

[DVCLiz]

Hmmm, I'm surprised at a) how many people would give candy w/o batting an eye and b) the number of strong opinions. Odd to me. Basically I see it like this: IF you are in costume, you are trick or treating; if you are NOT in costume, you are begging. That is the exact statement I made to my 16 y o tonight. We don't get any TOTers however since we are 1/2 mile from the road and back in the woods. I would not knowingly send my children out w/o a costume. JMHO

I guess my feeling is - if you are downtown on a street corner, holding a tin cup, you are begging. If you are out on Halloween, and you are less than ten years away from having your braces off and more than ten years away from getting dentures, you are trick or treating. I just don't care about the costume - I like to see kids having fun. Tell your 16 year old I have a bunch of candy left over - he can come and get some if he wants!!!!!

All kidding aside, I'm very glad we are having these kinds of minor differences of opinion about candy and costumes, and that we aren't discussing something tragic, as has been know to happen in years past. And I think we ALL agree on that!!!!