LOL. No skittles for poor people. The literal version.

[papie]

There was a scandal a few years ago in Montreal about this actually. The Town of Mount Royal is a fancy rich GATED town in the city, surrounded by poor Montreal neighbourhoods. One year they freaking closed the gates for Halloween to avoid the out of neighbourhood kids. It was all over the newspapers and they haven't done it since that I know of.

[coribelle26]

This comes up, here and in real life, every year. And every year it infuriates me. I was one of those kids who didn't trick or treat in my own neighborhood, because my parents felt like our neighborhood wasn't safe enough. So I trick or treated in my grandma's neighborhood, which wasn't Beverly Hills but was a nice, friendly, established neighborhood. And I had to get there by car, just like the "shipped in" trick or treaters that people bitch about.

Now I live in one of those nice, safe, established neighborhoods that's a dream for trick or treaters (we live between a low-traffic main road and a lake), and every year one or the other of my neighbors makes a snide comment about kids (always assumed to be from Detroit, which is suburb code for black) getting dropped off at the corner. The kids are in costumes, sweet, and excited to be trick or treating. Seriously fuck anyone who can't spare a goddamn fun sized Twix for a kid they don't recognize.

[emsumm]

I want to like the response!

[Jermys]

Oct 25, 2014 12:23:11 GMT -5 coribelle26 said:

Seriously fuck anyone who can't spare a goddamn fun sized Twix for a kid they don't recognize.

I second this.  Heartily.

[sapphireblue]

I was just reading that letter this morning. That woman (or man) sucks and sounds like such an entitled asshole.

I live in a neighborhood where the houses are really close together and there are lots of streets in small blocks (small yards) so it's great for trick or treaters. It is either low income or moderate income unlike the letter writer but still lots of people drive their kids here.

I've always assumed it's because their neighborhood is too rural or not safe. Whatever. I always like that about my neighborhood. It's FUN to get trick or treaters!

[toepick]

I live in a nice neighborhood where the houses are close together and it's very easy for kids to safely trick or treat. One year a neighbor said to me "ugh - so many of these kids aren't even from this neighborhood." I looked her in the eye and said "how do you know?" She didn't know how to answer appropriately because the truth was that the kids were black.

So instead I said "I am happy to give candy to any child who comes to my door, whether they live on this street or not. Do you really begrudge kids a safe place to go?"

We haven't spoken since - she avoids me like the plague.

[bohemianmango]

That's the scariest thing I've seen this Halloween season. It's sad to see someone so detached from humanity.

[littlesthobo]

I love trick-or-treaters . The kids are just so damn excited. I don't know how anyone could be so snooty and condescending to such happy little CHILDREN.

[madringal]

My cousin lives in a fancy schmancy neighborhood. One year someone suggested that all "their" kids tie a certain colored ribbon to their TOT bags so you know who to give the good stuff to and who to give one crappy Bottlecap to. Thankfully, this idea did not go over well.

[balletofangels]

My parents used to have a popular trick or treating neighborhood, but then a new development was built with better lighting, flatter streets, etc. They were devastated that they no longer get hundreds of kids.

[aussiecrush]

I just can't with this. Fuck her and anyone who thinks like that. They are kids for pity's sake.

[ProfessorArtNerd]

It's fucking candy. You don't have to give it out at all, but If you do, just, like, don't be an asshole about it.


Also they say "poor". But what I think they really mean is "black"

[game blouses]

We never get trick or treaters because our house is set really far back from the street. It makes me sad, I love to see the kids in their costumes. Send them to my house!

[thedude]

Ugh, Proboards ate my post.

I love the response. What a megabitch. We have a similar situation (nice neighborhood, though not even close to being the wealthiest in the country, lol), and about 75% of the kids we get come from other parts of town. I love it. I have no problem spending $100-150 on candy, and I love seeing kids having fun in their costumes. If you don't want to hand out candy or have a limited supply, just shut your light off when you run out. People like 99 suck.

[stellatheartist]

I think a lot of these letters are fake and made up by bored people who have nothing better to do. I think this is one of them. I don't doubt that a lot of people feel this way, but I have trouble believing that someone would take the time to write a letter about it.

[speckledfrog]

People and their Halloween issues bug the shit out of me year. Next on the docket: Teenagers don't need free candy, either.

[flamingeaux]

Oct 25, 2014 13:49:53 GMT -5 @kizmet said:

Oct 25, 2014 13:45:32 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

People and their Halloween issues bug the shit out of me year. Next on the docket: Teenagers don't need free candy, either.

I had some obviously drunk young teens stop at my house last year. I side eyed them but gave them candy. It's not my responsibility to parent them.

If they're with younger siblings, I'll give them candy no matter what they're wearing.  If it's just a group of teens and they're in costume, I'll give them candy.  If it's a group of teens just wearing regular clothes, I'll ask them what they're supposed to be, and then the amount of candy they get depends on how creative their answer is, but they still get candy.  

[birdistheword]

I think it's a bit shitty to just assume all the kids coming to the neighborhood to TOT are poor or on public assistance. And even if they are, who the hell cares? They deserve to have a fun, safe night just like everyone else. We lived in a rural area when I was a kid, so we always went to a more residential neighborhood for Halloween. We weren't trying to mooch off the rich people (lol), we just didn't have a good neighborhood to TOT in. Seriously, just give the kids the damn candy and don't participate if it's such an issue for you.

[curtains]

Oct 25, 2014 16:38:53 GMT -5 mofongo said:

My only question is, do they just randomly drop the kids off at neighborhoods, or are the neighborhoods notified/assigned prior? My church was in a poorer area, and they used to have something on Halloween night for all of the neighborhood kids.

We lived in a rural area and we went to the neighboring town to trick or treat.

We had a local firehouse that would host a party for everyone too but watching your lo get all dolled up and excited to TOT at real houses was worth it to skip the party and go to the next town over.

Nothing was assigned. We just went.

[bluetopaz]

This happens around here, and where I grew up. I remember having a conversation with a client who lived in one of the ritzy neighborhoods when I worked at my old office. She thought she was brilliant for having two bowls by the door---if she recognized the kids, they got "the good stuff". If they were the Poors (and yes, by 'poor' they mean 'black') she'd give them each a mini tootsie roll, or something. So generous, huh?

Anyone who shows up at my door gets candy. Teenagers not in costume annoy me, but I'm afraid of my yard getting TP'ed, so I hand over the goods.

[RoxMonster]

The whole notion that you can only Trick or Treat in your neighborhood is so odd to me. From the time I was 4 until I was about 10 or 11, my mom and I would drive to my grandparents' neighborhood and Trick or Treat there so my grandma could go around with us. I would still Trick or Treat in my own neighborhood, too, if we got back before the time was over. My parents and I also didn't live in the nicest area, and many people did not pass out candy on top of that, so in order to get to participate in a busier neighborhood, we went elsewhere.

This is just such a stupid thing for people to get up in arms about, *especially* if they are upset because the kids coming into the neighborhood are from a poorer area than they are. Eff that.

[lexxasaurus]

Oct 25, 2014 13:36:08 GMT -5 milsaroo said:

If you dress up you should get candy, no matter if you're "shipped in", whatever the reason may be. Jerk.

I'd go as far as saying if you're a child, you should get candy. Even if the kid doesn't have a costume, there's no way of knowing if maybe they couldn't afford it, or they have a reason (sensory disorder, etc). If I'm handing out candy, and a kid comes to my door, they're going to leave with something no matter what.

[bonquiqui]

People truly have too much time on their hands. If you don't want to participate, don't, but don't spoil everyone else's experiences. Kids just want a safe environment to just be a kid.

[livinitup]

"I already pay my TAXES."

In what alternate universe does this guy think his TAXES pay for Halloween candy FFS?

And who thinks this guy doesn't cheat on his taxes anyway?

[elleblue]

Oct 25, 2014 19:29:41 GMT -5 cjoy said:

Oct 25, 2014 16:38:53 GMT -5 mofongo said:

My only question is, do they just randomly drop the kids off at neighborhoods, or are the neighborhoods notified/assigned prior? My church was in a poorer area, and they used to have something on Halloween night for all of the neighborhood kids.

You register with the Halloween judges and are assigned to your appropriate trick or treating jurisdiction. It's like voting.

? ? ?

Lol!

[curtains]

Oct 25, 2014 19:29:41 GMT -5 cjoy said:

Oct 25, 2014 16:38:53 GMT -5 mofongo said:

My only question is, do they just randomly drop the kids off at neighborhoods, or are the neighborhoods notified/assigned prior? My church was in a poorer area, and they used to have something on Halloween night for all of the neighborhood kids.

You register with the Halloween judges and are assigned to your appropriate trick or treating jurisdiction. It's like voting.

? ? ?

Candy Hunger Games

[lilafowler]

My inlaws live is East Gibroo, Connecticut and they have people who are clearly not from their neighborhood brought in. FIL makes it a point to have full size candy bars for everyone. They honestly don't gaf.

[KB]

Oct 25, 2014 19:29:41 GMT -5 cjoy said:

Oct 25, 2014 16:38:53 GMT -5 mofongo said:

My only question is, do they just randomly drop the kids off at neighborhoods, or are the neighborhoods notified/assigned prior? My church was in a poorer area, and they used to have something on Halloween night for all of the neighborhood kids.

You register with the Halloween judges and are assigned to your appropriate trick or treating jurisdiction. It's like voting.

? ? ?

Only of you have the right ID. 

[lilafowler]

Jesus was combative,

[EmilieMadison]

I was assigned to toledo's neighborhood for ToTing. Now, I'm just waiting for a notice from my city that tells me on which day and time ToT will happen. I wish we could just go trick or treating anywhere we feel like it when it starts to get dark on the evening of Halloween. Alas.