General Discussion

Dorian Gray

(13,851 posts)

199. I live in Brooklyn too

Fri Oct 24, 2014, 07:05 AM

Oct 2014

though we might be in different neighborhoods. But I just wanted to put this out there.

I have a friend who has a teenage son who is on the autism spectrum. (Pretty severely) At 16, he still wants to trick or treat, and I think it's important to be mindful that many teens (not just on the spectrum) are grappling with the adult v. child thing. They still love candy and want to trick or treat. They want to be grown up, but the attractions of childhood are still there.

So it's no skin off my chin to give them candy. (I'm not home for much of the night, anyhow, as I usually take my daughter to a Hallowween party at a kid's gym in our neighborhood. She, funnily enough, HATES candy, so we "trick or treat" on the way home at some friends homes. But we don't need to get a big bag of loot. And she's FOUR)

If a parent seems to want candy, I'll happily give it to them. Because lord knows I crave a three musketeers sometimes!

(We are in Park Slope... the Stepford Kids neighborhood!)

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Kids from poorer neighborhoods keep coming to trick-or-treat in mine. Do I have to give them candy? [View all] KamaAina Oct 2014 OP

Teabagger Feral Child Oct 2014 #1

Who can't afford a gated community. n/t Orsino Oct 2014 #12

But, thinks she's Feral Child Oct 2014 #129

That's what I wondered. Upper-middle class professionals might live in maddiemom Oct 2014 #186

Meant response to Orsino (gated communities?) maddiemom Oct 2014 #187

Living "modestly." Fantastic Anarchist Oct 2014 #95

I wish we got trick or treat visitors fasttense Oct 2014 #133

we always buy a lot of candy... awoke_in_2003 Oct 2014 #158

Me too. I hate having candy around because I don't want to be tempted, but always buy hlthe2b Oct 2014 #201

We get no one in our neighborhood, which is rural, so phylny Oct 2014 #173

Yeah, and what selfish a hole. nt brush Oct 2014 #181

Oh, probably generous enough Feral Child Oct 2014 #217

Unbelievable. theHandpuppet Oct 2014 #2

That seems to be happening pscot Oct 2014 #28

Geeze. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #3

I think we're being too harsh on her, and we LOVED the traffic coming to the densely packed Hortensis Oct 2014 #134

We had a very active 'churchy' couple a few doors down Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #136

Wow. We need more of this. Very nice. kysrsoze Oct 2014 #215

Some parents do encourage their children in greed--even for candy Wella Oct 2014 #159

Hogwash. Tommymac Oct 2014 #190

We have more barns than houses. We always drive in to town. tecelote Oct 2014 #193

That's such hogwash Dorian Gray Oct 2014 #197

WTF??!! This is a free country and those babies and bigger kids should be welcome Ecumenist Oct 2014 #200

What if the kids lives out in the country? IrishEyes Oct 2014 #206

"A local walk around"??? Where I grew up, the nearest neighbor was a mile away. I"m sure 1monster Oct 2014 #208

There are seven houses in my subdivision Papagoose Oct 2014 #213

+ 45 billion Caretha Oct 2014 #169

You wonder about the sort of person who would write that e-mail el_bryanto Oct 2014 #4

The kind of person who thinks living in a high income area frees them from seeing *those people* Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #10

There's the rub .... Fantastic Anarchist Oct 2014 #97

No one wrote the email. former9thward Oct 2014 #11

Lol. Never met an Ayn Rand fan? Hassin Bin Sober Oct 2014 #18

What You Say?? Sparhawk60 Oct 2014 #49

That's what it looked like to me too. Although I assumed it was written to seem ironic. eom Blanks Oct 2014 #52

Bingo. REP Oct 2014 #69

I've heard lots of people say it creeksneakers2 Oct 2014 #75

Can't speak for this particular email, but Tree-Hugger Oct 2014 #94

What is your evidence for that assertion? nt el_bryanto Oct 2014 #111

Knowledge and common sense. former9thward Oct 2014 #123

Ah - so no actual evidence? el_bryanto Oct 2014 #127

I did not know this was a court of law. former9thward Oct 2014 #135

I simply asked for your evidence - and you said you didn't need any. nt el_bryanto Oct 2014 #157

Post removed Post removed Oct 2014 #152

I've heard people say the exact same thing gollygee Oct 2014 #163

I know people say those things. former9thward Oct 2014 #171

And on cue.... ProudToBeBlueInRhody Oct 2014 #176

The majority of posters on this thread agree with me. former9thward Oct 2014 #191

I think you're right, actually. Warren DeMontague Oct 2014 #180

yeah like this never happens. I hope kids miss your house roguevalley Oct 2014 #212

I'm not saying it never happens. Warren DeMontague Oct 2014 #218

I suspect the person that wrote the email is the same person that answered it. n/t A Simple Game Oct 2014 #118

On what do you base that suspicion? nt el_bryanto Oct 2014 #120

Just a hunch. I have a hard time thinking that anyone would look to an outsider A Simple Game Oct 2014 #130

Sounds like a fake letter REP Oct 2014 #5

sounds like? heaven05 Oct 2014 #34

The latter. eom. 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2014 #104

It may be faked. But I heard a sister-in-law say almost exactly the same thing. tclambert Oct 2014 #59

The concept of property has brought out the worst in the human race. CrispyQ Oct 2014 #82

So does greed: even for candy. Wella Oct 2014 #160

+1 nt MADem Oct 2014 #63

it sure does Liberal_in_LA Oct 2014 #96

No, they don't. gollygee Oct 2014 #164

It could be fake Shankapotomus Oct 2014 #198

We get kids brought in from poorer neighborhoods, and I give them MORE candy. djean111 Oct 2014 #6

You exemplify the generosity of our dying middle class SleeplessinSoCal Oct 2014 #21

We get a lot of migrant worker families - lots of tomato and strawberry farms around here. djean111 Oct 2014 #54

Thank you. Rozlee Oct 2014 #110

I always thought kids were shuffled around to AtomicKitten Oct 2014 #7

happens to me every year. i did a spit take the first time kids came up to the door and the parents dionysus Oct 2014 #27

I have the older ones sing me a song. They are usually in a group so I pick something like shraby Oct 2014 #48

This is a great idea! AllyCat Oct 2014 #210

We've had some good older ones come by over the years. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #138

sweet. dionysus Oct 2014 #146

Has always bugged me, too. Laffy Kat Oct 2014 #153

one little kid came as a fork.. tin foil from head to toe. dionysus Oct 2014 #155

Really? All kids coming to our door hopefully go away with nice memories and some good treats. Hortensis Oct 2014 #203

You're obviously a nicer person than I am. nt Laffy Kat Oct 2014 #205

I really enjoy the crowds of kids n2doc Oct 2014 #8

I do, too. Halloween used to be big business in this neighborhood. TONS of kids calimary Oct 2014 #55

prolly a lie, to boot. mopinko Oct 2014 #9

right heaven05 Oct 2014 #36

I suspect the first letter is made-up. MineralMan Oct 2014 #13

I agree it's fake. The tagline gives it away. (nt) enough Oct 2014 #16

The writer signed a real name and the columnist changed it to "Halloween for the 99 percent" NT Eric J in MN Oct 2014 #60

I agree, it sounds like a setup. hughee99 Oct 2014 #17

I also agree. People who really feel that way spooky3 Oct 2014 #56

I dunno, I've seen a lot of letters that were outrageous to Miss Manners.... moriah Oct 2014 #81

Miss Manners is my hero. Truly. MineralMan Oct 2014 #83

Nope. HERVEPA Oct 2014 #89

Maybe you're right. MineralMan Oct 2014 #92

She is kind of fun to read. HERVEPA Oct 2014 #93

Prudence's mother was Ann Landers, so Prudence is NOT in any danger of tblue37 Oct 2014 #149

Definitely fake. How the hell do you know which neighborhood trick-or-treaters are from? Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #14

I was wondering the same thing ... knightmaar Oct 2014 #15

Beyond fake. dilby Oct 2014 #23

Yes, every last kid loves to dress in a head-to-toe burqa. bullwinkle428 Oct 2014 #25

Probably car loads of kids showing up. Hassin Bin Sober Oct 2014 #33

But how do you know whether they came by car or walked? Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #44

How do I know the "car loads of kids showing up" came by car? Hassin Bin Sober Oct 2014 #88

Well, around here Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #140

It's a dog whistle demwing Oct 2014 #46

Oh no you di'int! KamaAina Oct 2014 #100

That's not me talking demwing Oct 2014 #115

Oh, I know KamaAina Oct 2014 #117

The sick thing demwing Oct 2014 #121

Well, when your neighborhood is lily-white for miles around and some face or hands reaching out No Vested Interest Oct 2014 #72

Well, if you're a rich, white racist snob theHandpuppet Oct 2014 #124

If you live in an all white neighborhood gollygee Oct 2014 #165

Fake letter linuxman Oct 2014 #19

Damn abelenkpe Oct 2014 #20

There are a LOT of people out there who don't care for Halloween, Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #141

For those insisting that this is a complete fabrication, I can personally attest bullwinkle428 Oct 2014 #22

Yes, whether this particular letter is real or not ohnoyoudidnt Oct 2014 #37

I guess these DUers never met an Ayn Rand fan. Hassin Bin Sober Oct 2014 #38

I appreciate where you are coming from but don't think an Ayn Rand would even give out candy. rhett o rick Oct 2014 #150

bingo- said or un-said... it is the attitude and has been whispered behind the scenes of fortunates tomm2thumbs Oct 2014 #86

I've heard people both complain gollygee Oct 2014 #166

I hope you banter with them, tease them a little, and give them oldandhappy Oct 2014 #24

Great post!!!!! I second this. onecent Oct 2014 #137

"Social service, charity" heaven05 Oct 2014 #26

This sort of reminds me of my sister-in-law, murielm99 Oct 2014 #29

Is this a joke? nt ladjf Oct 2014 #30

I've never heard of anyone referring to themselves as the 1% JohnnyRingo Oct 2014 #51

The letter-writer signed real name and the columnist changed it to "Halloween for the 99 percent" NT Eric J in MN Oct 2014 #61

here should be a ashling Oct 2014 #31

I'll chip in to send the Jesse White tumblers to perform. Hassin Bin Sober Oct 2014 #41

We hand out full-sized candy bars for Hallowe'en. MineralMan Oct 2014 #32

If I were nine years old again... JohnnyRingo Oct 2014 #45

We really don't get a lot of double-dippers, really. MineralMan Oct 2014 #50

Hmm I usually get the bite sized for 2 reasons - cost is one, I just assumed it was less expensive seaglass Oct 2014 #71

I ran a spreadsheet after the last time we gave out the little stuff. MineralMan Oct 2014 #73

So do we. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #142

Same here. 30 full size bars @ $18 is a good deal and the kids are thrilled. n/t MerryBlooms Oct 2014 #154

I like the way Prudie plays! Tuesday Afternoon Oct 2014 #35

No one has to hand out treats at all. JohnnyRingo Oct 2014 #39

with all the 'enablers' heaven05 Oct 2014 #40

About as authentic as "Dear Penthouse". VScott Oct 2014 #42

I doubt that many readers think her questions are legitimate. MineralMan Oct 2014 #53

Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses? My taxes pay for these useful institutions. tclambert Oct 2014 #43

I actually know people like that procon Oct 2014 #47

Great response.Can you imagine being so selfish to deny a candy bar to a poor kid that gets to judesedit Oct 2014 #57

I can't JustAnotherGen Oct 2014 #62

dEAR 99 pERCENT, Turbineguy Oct 2014 #58

Whether or not the letter is real, the sentiment does exists. madamesilverspurs Oct 2014 #64

You can always turn off your front light, to indicate you're not No Vested Interest Oct 2014 #65

I did that, too. Thought everyone did Uben Oct 2014 #66

Now you're talkin! BobbyBoring Oct 2014 #87

Never did that, but... Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #144

If you want to send your Dentist's kid to Yale lancer78 Oct 2014 #183

My friend Lois-Ann Yamanaka writes of this in her "Heads By Harry" KamaAina Oct 2014 #103

Full Bars! progressoid Oct 2014 #112

Kids from poorer neighborhoods routinely come up to my building Recursion Oct 2014 #67

Wow... druidity33 Oct 2014 #175

this is an expressed fear of the S.O.s neighbors HereSince1628 Oct 2014 #68

Sounds fake, but ABSOLUTELY represents the thoughts of tens of millions of Americans randys1 Oct 2014 #70

see, 99--otherwise you get tricks. librechik Oct 2014 #74

75 percent of the trick-or-treaters are clearly not from this neighborhood? SmittynMo Oct 2014 #76

Dog whistle demwing Oct 2014 #119

Are you kidding me Docross Oct 2014 #77

When our son was five d_r Oct 2014 #78

I just moved to a nice neighborhood, though nothing like what the OP describes. Maedhros Oct 2014 #79

No, you stingey, mean-spirited, resentful tight-wad vlyons Oct 2014 #80

It probably is a made up letter, but the sentiments probably are not. logosoco Oct 2014 #84

Solution: All the doctors and lawyers can send their kids a few blocks over to the billionaires cemaphonic Oct 2014 #85

Sad and Crazy erpowers Oct 2014 #90

It makes you FEEL like a terrible person, because you ARE a terrible person. n/t Fantastic Anarchist Oct 2014 #91

The 'Gated Community' Mentality RadicalGeek Oct 2014 #98

People do think this way Tree-Hugger Oct 2014 #99

WTF indeed! elleng Oct 2014 #101

We live in a very neat, lower-middle-class neighborhood. LOTS of families drive here for TOT. riqster Oct 2014 #102

The more the merrier at our house! woodsprite Oct 2014 #105

We get around 200 trick-or-treaters every Halloween. Jokerman Oct 2014 #106

'show me your papers before the snickers.' pansypoo53219 Oct 2014 #107

What a silly question. When trick or treaters come from poorer neighborhoods it is a good idea Louisiana1976 Oct 2014 #108

I live in a old 1960s subdivision surrounded by rural roads and farms in all directions. NutmegYankee Oct 2014 #109

that sounds awesome nt d_r Oct 2014 #116

That's the way it's gotten to be where I live. The rural/suburban mixture means that enough Oct 2014 #162

that is the difference between me and a repuke Skittles Oct 2014 #113

You should find out where this is KamaAina Oct 2014 #114

I know plenty of people like her Skittles Oct 2014 #122

Candy ? NM_Birder Oct 2014 #125

I have seen kids come home with a wide variety of item on Holloween. Pencils for school, apples, jwirr Oct 2014 #126

I posted a reply with the following points... brooklynite Oct 2014 #128

I live in Brooklyn too Dorian Gray Oct 2014 #199

I can sympathize with the letter and understand her frustration scarystuffyo Oct 2014 #131

We do have a sarcasm thingie KamaAina Oct 2014 #145

I don't sympathize with that whiny twerp. They have no business giving out candy. rhett o rick Oct 2014 #148

Halloween visits fell off in recent years, and I missed it. But our neighbor started doing a haunted Hekate Oct 2014 #132

a perfect example of the uselessness of guilt noiretextatique Oct 2014 #139

Face palm... blackspade Oct 2014 #143

My only expectation of the kids who ring our bell... 3catwoman3 Oct 2014 #147

They come in vans in our neighborhood packman Oct 2014 #151

while it's possible that the specific letter in the OP could be fake there really ARE JI7 Oct 2014 #156

sounds like my street ibegurpard Oct 2014 #161

Anyone here from Dallas? Y'all haven't experienced Halloween until you have seen a Swiss Hestia Oct 2014 #167

Locally LWolf Oct 2014 #168

Gawd, don't remind me of those people... ReRe Oct 2014 #170

I am kind of annoyed by the adults though... fbc Oct 2014 #172

What? NaturalHigh Oct 2014 #174

We will be shutting our door / turning our light off once it gets completely dark out. X_Digger Oct 2014 #177

Oh, me too. We welcome all the littler kids but the teens are annoying... CTyankee Oct 2014 #209

Oh the humanity! Whiniest Whine Eva'! Where's my damn Cha Oct 2014 #178

How else am I gonna get rid of all this candy? Retrograde Oct 2014 #179

People that are pretty well off are possibly the real culprits. How does she know where they are brewens Oct 2014 #182

The poor kids should be coming to your neighborhood . . . OldRedneck Oct 2014 #184

Better give 'em something - ever hear of the "flaming bag of dog poo" trick? tularetom Oct 2014 #185

Now ya done it.... Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2014 #192

Has anyone here heard a RW conservative ask for approval of their beliefs ever? IronLionZion Oct 2014 #188

Dear 99, toddwv Oct 2014 #189

I was joking with my wife that I want to pass out the candy I got as a kid Revanchist Oct 2014 #194

We tend to get a lot of kids from poorer neighborhoods.... Adrahil Oct 2014 #195

Someone threw out troll bait and caught a Purdie... ileus Oct 2014 #196

JUST PUT A SIGN IN THE YARD TNNurse Oct 2014 #202

You forgot, lonestarnot Oct 2014 #204

I don't mind it, with one caveat joeglow3 Oct 2014 #207

I bought extra candy from Walmart itsrobert Oct 2014 #211

Agree with those who think this is a fake letter oberliner Oct 2014 #214

We don't do T or T VA_Jill Oct 2014 #216