Not One Trick-or-Treater tonight. by Geezer

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Not One Trick-or-Treater tonight.

POSTED BY: GEEZER
UPDATED: Monday, November 1, 2010 13:48
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Sunday, October 31, 2010 3:16 PM

Keep the Shiny side up

When we moved here 20 years ago there were 50 a year, but it's just kept going down. Last year was just the kids at the end of our court, and this year - zip. There's plenty of kids in our neighborhood, but they just don't come out any more. What the heck is going on?

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Sunday, October 31, 2010 4:32 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

Same here. :(

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Sunday, October 31, 2010 5:48 PM

DREAMTROVE

Same here.

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Sunday, October 31, 2010 5:56 PM

FREMDFIRMA

Well, we don't have a lot of kids in the complex at all, and for safety reasons, not to mention it's freakin COLD around here in October, we've moved most of that to the shopping malls, the stores are quite happy to donate the candy as it also means increased business potential for them, and the malls themselves tend to lay on extra niceties like clowns and magicians and whatnot (plus extra security to protect the kiddies, for which I have a secret weapon*) so it works out well for everyone involved.

*said secret weapon being Wendy, since she can pass for just another one of the horde, so we put her in costume with a radio and let her wander around watching for internal threats - she of course is just pleased as punch with this since she not only gets paid, but winds up with a big freakin bag of candy out of it, and her gear won't even raise an eyebrow cause she's dressed as friggin Bulleta.

Downside is the inevitable candy binge, dealing with the resultant hyperbrat, and eventual tummyache and whining thereof...

Small price to pay, that.

-Frem

I do not serve the Blind God.

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Sunday, October 31, 2010 6:24 PM

THEHAPPYTRADER

I only vaguely remember actually trick or treating at someone's house. Mom always seemed so paranoid of... well everything. She said something about strangers could put poison or razor blades in the candy or something like it. I remember visiting a few houses of folks she knew very well and then hitting up the 'almost shopping' mall (a glorified wall mart, a place with sports equipment a few shoe and clothing stores), where one of the teachers would set up 3 NES's, three TV's and duck hunt on each screen, amongst other things that must not have interested me enough to stay in my memory. This would be during the 90's.

I guess they are all in malls now, thought I don't think they play duck hunt anymore. 'Course, I suspect that aspect might have been unique to my area and childhood.

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Sunday, October 31, 2010 7:43 PM

CANTTAKESKY

I have no idea why.

But here is my speculation. We live in an exaggerated climate of fear. Everybody is getting the willies. Everyone's spidey sense is going off. Something bad, something really bad, is going to happen.

Depending on who you talk to, it is either the terrorists or Big Brother or the economy or pandemic or some natural disaster. But there is a reason the American survivalist movement is all of a sudden going through the roof.

It is possible that people are too tense to trust their neighbors enough to enjoy trick-or-treating.

-----
"Tch, secret government killing activity! That's why I don't pay taxes!" -- Sheik Amar, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time

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Sunday, October 31, 2010 8:46 PM

PIRATENEWS

John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!

You'all live in the spooky house at the end of the street. [Twilight Zone music]

I know I do. Plus the NO TRESPASSING, BEWARE DOG, ELECTRIFIED FENCE and GLOCK SECURITY signs.

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Sunday, October 31, 2010 9:26 PM

DMAANLILEILTT

Cos it's a stupid tradition.

"I really am ruggedly handsome, aren't I?"

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Monday, November 1, 2010 2:57 AM

FREMDFIRMA

Was boring as hell tonight, didn't see another human out there at all, although I think the Possum has reached an accord with the Bunnies, prolly since of him having almost-hands and the ability to climb a tree - cause they were over there and it looked like he was payin them a share or something after plucking an apple or two, he can get the apples down, but the tree is on their turf, you see.

Wendy, well, she got to have a little more fun than expected... although maybe not as much as she wanted to!

W: Since I'll be on duty, can I have a real Uzi ?
F: NO!
(Her costume Uzi is a squirt gun, mind you)

After a bit she spotted a suspicious character hanging around one of the entrances, and when she went over to linger in his vicinity and watch him, the creep tried to lure her off with some cockamamie story about helping him look for his dropped wallet (despite him having been in the same spot watching the kids for almost an hour) so she zapped him with the squirtgun, called him a pervert and then radioed the uniformed security, which referred the call to the police.

Bastard is a sex offender on probation, and they can't DO much of anything since he wasn't overt and can simply deny everything and say he was just there to buy something, yadda yadda...

But I bet his PO is gonna have some words about it, since the service call was logged with his plate number, and there's a witness who can place him on site - dunno what he's on probation FOR, but I can guess, so it might well be a violation, not that it'll get him locked up or nothing, grrr.

I did however, reprimand her verbally (an exercise in complete futility if there ever was one) for squirting the guy, as it was unprofessional.....bwahaha
Hooo boy, I can't even TYPE that with a straight face, nor could I deliver the reprimand without laughing, hahahahaha.

And now she wants strawberry waffles?!? for a "performance bonus", so I guess I better be gettin on that, eh ?

-Frem
I do not serve the Blind God.

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Monday, November 1, 2010 5:00 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

I think it's the economy.

Our neighborhood used to have a lot of houses all decorated up... yanno, the witch who rode her broomstick thru a tree, Beetle Juice, pumpkin lights etc. There's a cul-de-sac and turnaround on the next block over where four houses got together to jointly decorate the street and had a little Halloween block party. Three years ago our street was like Mardi Gras: wall to wall people coming and going. I took a picture off the front stoop... there were about 15 people in the shot.

LAST year, there were two houses decorated for Halloween, including ours. THIS year, only us. We still got lots of kids and handed out about 30 bags of candy, but not anything like the previous years when we handed out 80 bags. Parents, yanno... they scope out the neighborhood a week ahead of time and ours looked like pretty thin pickings.

Folks just want to stay at home and pull the covers over their heads.

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Monday, November 1, 2010 7:34 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Nah, I reject that it's the economy. It has been going down over time, and I think it's both the climate of fear and the fact that so many things have happened to kids in our society that wandering around alone is something parents fear, and I think most parents are too lazy to walk around WITH their kids to make it possible.

We're Scrouges; for years we've buttoned up the house and pulled the curtains on Halloween 'cuz I'm too cheap to buy a lot of candy and we have no kids of our own. I do recognize the trend, nonetheless.

Only one Halloween did we participate; Jo loved holidays, so we bought a whole bunch of decorations and went whole hog at it. She even dressed up in funky, torn, dirty Goodwill clothes and lay in a coffin, from which she would rise, which scared not only the kids but more than a few parents! I dressed as a witch and sat in a ratan chair with a high back, and also moved when kids came by to offer them eyeballs and other "ghoulish" candy. It was fun as hell, but we never did it again and now I'm stuck with all these skulls, bats, gravestones and shit that nobody even bought at our yard sale!

I'd do it again, maybe, if someone would do it with me, but we're back to buttoning up.

I think the "climate of fear" is justified, but instead, in that so many kidnappings, killings, assaults, etc., have happened to children and the number has grown over time, as well as the fact that we hear about it more I think. I don't think it has anything to do with fear of terrorism or anything like that, more fear of danger to the children (as exemplified by what Frem posted) and the unwillingness of many parents to accompany their kids.

I think it's a shame, as it's been a tradition which was harmless fun for kids, and sometimes parents alike, as well as those who handed out the candy. We're losing this, as well as so much else in our society (especially trust), which is too bad.

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

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Monday, November 1, 2010 7:43 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Well, after 9-11 there was a HUGE dropoff. Then things started picking up again until the streets were jammed with peeps. Then the bottom fell out of the financial sector and the real economy after that, and things went straight into the toilet again.

Ya see, our neighborhood is safe. Parents (who DO walk around with their kids) bring them here from surrounding (poorer) neighborhoods by the van-load and truck-load... I kid you not. We don't get kids by onsies and twosies but by fivesies and tensies. So climate of fear doesn't enter into the equation... not in our neighborhood anyway... but people just weren't participating.

And, I can point out three foreclosed houses within sight, including one partially-finished mansion that's been at the plywood and tar-paper stage for two years (and counting). (So we even have our own haunted mansion!)

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Monday, November 1, 2010 8:26 AM

KWICKO

Quote:
We're Scrouges; for years we've buttoned up the house and pulled the curtains on Halloween 'cuz I'm too cheap to buy a lot of candy and we have no kids of our own. I do recognize the trend, nonetheless.

I'm the opposite - despite having no kids, I tend to go overboard on the candy and decorations. I *want* the kids to have a great time, to trick-or-treat, to enjoy themselves, and I *want* the neighbors to know that I'll be looking out for their kids, even if I have none of my own.

I always loved Halloween growing up, but now it's just another day, it seems.

The modern definition of "socialist" is anyone who's winning an argument against a tea-bagger.

AURaptor's Greatest Hits:

Friday, September 24, 2010
I hate Obama's America. You're damn right about that.

Friday, May 28, 2010 - 18:26 To President Obama:
Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar.
Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.
... go fuck yourself, Mr. President.

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Monday, November 1, 2010 8:30 AM

STORYMARK

Well, my neighborhood was swamped last night. Constant stream of kids from about 5:00 to 9:00.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Monday, November 1, 2010 8:58 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

I'm glad to hear there were places that were full of kids, and Mike, you shamed me. I will make more of an effort to partake in it from now on, I make that vow; I DO want to encourage people to let their kids trick or treat, and it's important enough for me that I will cease being a scrouge.

Sig: Maybe you're right, if they're busing them in from poorer neighborhoods. It's nice to know your neighborhood keeps the tradition.

On the other hand, you said parents DO take their kids around. That doesn't change the argument whatsoever, because you can't know how many DON'T, right? Nonetheless it sounds like your neighborhood is one of the good ones, and I'll partake, maybe even do up the decorations (since I've still got the damned things!) in future. I really DO lament the dropping off; my mom made costumes for me every year and I remember how much fun it was.

I've never forgotten one costume; she made me a jester's costume, with a matching little jester on a stick to go with it. She was a helluva seamstress and made clothes for my Barbie doll, when I had one (which was up to age 9 in Afghanistan; after we came back, I was into horses!).

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

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Monday, November 1, 2010 1:45 PM

PIZMOBEACH

... fully loaded, safety off...

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
Quote:
We're Scrouges; for years we've buttoned up the house and pulled the curtains on Halloween 'cuz I'm too cheap to buy a lot of candy and we have no kids of our own. I do recognize the trend, nonetheless.

I'm the opposite - despite having no kids, I tend to go overboard on the candy and decorations. I *want* the kids to have a great time, to trick-or-treat, to enjoy themselves, and I *want* the neighbors to know that I'll be looking out for their kids, even if I have none of my own.

Pretty much the same here - we always give full on candy bars, the kind we wanted when we were kids. We figure it's once a year, do something a little nice. We had just over 125 kids, pretty much the same as the last 5 years. And some amazing costumes - we're impressed how much effort a lot of kids put into them.

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

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Monday, November 1, 2010 1:48 PM

KANEMAN

Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
When we moved here 20 years ago there were 50 a year, but it's just kept going down. Last year was just the kids at the end of our court, and this year - zip. There's plenty of kids in our neighborhood, but they just don't come out any more. What the heck is going on?

"Keep the Shiny side up"

I blame it on Bush......One more day Whoooot.

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