The children are safe here , because their parents go with them. So there is no magic to it. Same is true in our societies. We do not have this kind of celebration where kids go door to door asking for trick or treat. It would be considered a taboo to go door to door and extend your hand out to ask some eatables. This is considered begging and the society as a whole does not like something like it. There people will not go to neighbor's home uninvited to be treated with something to eat or drink. It is a big no no and big taboo.
I would share this old joke at this juncture.
A new person in town asked a store owner "what kind of folks live in this town ?"
He said "they are all nice , honest and peace loving."
New person said "then why do you have that big gun hanging on the wall all ready to kill ?"
Store owner said "To keep them nice , honest and peace loving."
I think, as adults, as people who do care for children, if anyone's child came to me, I would be happy to know that someone trusts me as a neighbor to send their child for a piece of candy or mithai.
that engenders a sense of safety for children in a neighbor hood.
you are right, though, it depends on what the society's focus is. belief in trusting others, or being inherently arrogant & doubtful of others.
the bldg i used to live in in NYC organized halloween efficiently. a week before, they'd tell residents who wanted to entertain the children to sign up on a sheet. that sheet was then distributed to the chaperones of the children going for trick or treating. the event hours were set for 5 pm to 8 pm. they'd have a party for the lil ones at 5 pm, and then the kids would go to the apartments on the list for their treats. the system ensured that ppl who didn't want to be disturbed wouldn't be disturbed, at the same time, the kids would have a safe halloween.
Dushwari, today's neighbourhoods are not the safe, traditional neighbourhoods of our childhood days; which parent would want to take the risk?! in such a scenario, i think the approach my bldg management took is practical one... it ensures children's safety while preserving traditions for them.
I wouldn’t mind if trick-or-treating remained a community event where neighbors get to mingle with one another through their kids, but just as an observation over the last decade or so, Halloween has just become a commercial affair… between the costumes! the parties! the candy! and the decorations! It’s just out of control and I’m not sure if I’d want my kids to buy into all the hoopla. Sure… you can decide to what level you want to get involved, but with kids, it’s a slippery slope.
We had about 4 with parents behind them, but a pair of kids came trick or treating without any visible parental supervision. They refused to unmask themselves so don't know who they were, but i tell u they looked really scary. In any case, we gave them some chocolates, and asked them to show us what they had already collected, (good variety!) then WE said, give us some of those candies u have collected. That frightened the poor fellows and they ran off. Hahaa!!!! We sure did scare them!!!
15 hours ago
SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — A 12-year-old boy trick-or-treating with his family in central South Carolina was shot from inside a home Friday and killed, and his father and brother were wounded by the gunfire, authorities said.
The shooting suspect, Quentin Patrick, was in custody, a jail official said. Patrick, 22, has been charged with murder and three counts of assault and battery with intent to kill. The jail official said she didn’t know whether Patrick had an attorney and his telephone number was unpublished.
The family was headed home from a city-sponsored event downtown when they decided to stop at a few homes, Sumter Police Chief Patty Patterson said. The father and his four children approached a home with a porch light on about 8:30 p.m. EDT while their mother waited nearby in a vehicle.
As the family was at the door, they thought they heard fireworks. The 12-year-old boy, his father and brother were all hit by the gunfire. The boy died at a hospital, Coroner Verna Moore said. The other two children were not hurt.
The boy’s father and brother were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities have not released the identity of the family.
Patterson also would not release any more details about the shooting.
“The investigation is continuing into what has been a very tragic evening,” Patterson said. “Our sorrow and sympathy goes out to this family.”
The police chief said there were other people inside the home at the time of the shooting, but she didn’t expect any of them to be charged.
A neighbor said he heard a loud noise about the time of the shooting and thought it was simply Halloween mischief.
“I thought, trick-or-treat night — pranks go down. Anything goes,” said Lenwood Dixon, 49, who works at a hazardous waste and recycling company. “I heard a noise like maybe gunfire, then my daughter saw a bunch of lights flashing and saw some cops.”
In his six years in the neighborhood, he said he wasn’t aware of any violent crimes. He said a few trick-or-treaters had been on his block that night.
“I’m surprised. Since I was here, I’d never heard of anything like that happening. It’s a quiet neighborhood,” he said. “You don’t see many children in the neighborhood. It’s more elderly.”
I have no issue with trick or treating, as long as it is a neighbourhood affair.
I will go one step furtehr and say that ppl should only gio to homes of ppl they know. I actually get annoyed with folks who never bothered to welcome us to teh neighbourhood but showed up at halloween. my point is not to be some part pooper, but because i will not feel comfortable if my kids have a bag full of candy and I have no idea where it all came from?
second issue I have is when ppl not from my area show up, they have no idea what our community rules are i.e. all outside lights on and lit hallways mean we are open to receive trick or treaters, if not it means do not bother, also, it goes on until 7, so when ppl who are obviously not from our area show up at 8 its annoying.
halloween would be a diff thing in a different era when ppl knew everyone on their street or neighbourhood, now its not the case and i think teh going door to door has to evolve and it should be selected doors. It is entirely possible.
The best way is to take the kids to the Mall … they start bright and early and its a max 2 hr affair. By 5 pm every kid goes home happy
I too agree that one should go to those houses that you actually know. The circle of friends, family, neighbours that u truly know makes it a more predictable, less unfortunate affair.
Things to consider are the ‘well lit’ porch lights and the obvious welcoming haloweeny signs. It’d be truly foolish to go to the ‘dark’ corners with no lights on.
As far as the commercialism of it goes, its true** Lucid**. However, creativity can be encouraged amongst the young kids, its surprising how accommodative u’ll find them if u join in with their fun, just keep close to them from their young age… keep the communication door open and u’ll be pleasantly surprised. Kids just want to be heard sometimes, as so do we
