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10-23-2014 04:00 PM
I saw this online and it reminded me of some discussions here. Dear Prudence is an advice column online.
"Dear Prudence,
I live in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the country, but on one of the more “modest” streets—mostly doctors and lawyers and family business owners. (A few blocks away are billionaires, families with famous last names, media moguls, etc.) I have noticed that on Halloween, what seems like 75 percent of the trick-or-treaters are clearly not from this neighborhood. Kids arrive in overflowing cars from less fortunate areas. I feel this is inappropriate. Halloween isn’t a social service or a charity in which I have to buy candy for less fortunate children. Obviously this makes me feel like a terrible person, because what’s the big deal about making less fortunate kids happy on a holiday? But it just bugs me, because we already pay more than enough taxes toward actual social services. Should Halloween be a neighborhood activity, or is it legitimately a free-for-all in which people hunt down the best candy grounds for their kids?
—Halloween for the 99 Percent
Dear 99,
In the urban neighborhood where I used to live, families who were not from the immediate area would come in fairly large groups to trick-or-treat on our streets, which were safe, well-lit, and full of people overstocked with candy. It was delightful to see the little mermaids, spider-men, ghosts, and the occasional axe murderer excitedly run up and down our front steps, having the time of their lives. So we’d spend an extra $20 to make sure we had enough candy for kids who weren’t as fortunate as ours. There you are, 99, on the impoverished side of Greenwich or Beverly Hills, with the other struggling lawyers, doctors, and business owners. Your whine makes me kind of wish that people from the actual poor side of town come this year not with scary costumes but with real pitchforks. Stop being callous and miserly and go to Costco, you cheapskate, and get enough candy to fill the bags of the kids who come one day a year to marvel at how the 1 percent live.
—Prudie
10-23-2014 04:02 PM
My goodness, if one can afford it, wants to and enjoys it, do it.....otherwise turn your outside lights off and watch tv or something. it is only a few hrs one time a yr.
edited to add, it is not callous, mean or cheap if one doesn't want to participate.
10-23-2014 04:03 PM
Stop being callous and miserly and go to Costco, you cheapskate, and get enough candy to fill the bags of the kids who come one day a year to marvel at how the 1 percent live.
10-23-2014 04:03 PM
Either give out candy to all who ring your bell or don't give any out. Easy.
10-23-2014 04:03 PM
I love her answer and totally agree. Be grateful that you have the means, for one night, to help others have a brighter day.
O/T sorta. My son in law is from a different region of the world. He was at our house on Halloween one night and I asked him to help give out the candy.
He said, So, let's see. People come to your door and ask you to give them food?
I said, Yeah, pretty much.
He said, In our country that would be called begging.
10-23-2014 04:05 PM
oh we would have egged her snotty house
10-23-2014 04:06 PM
We have lots of kids from other neighbohoods come by. We love it and hopefully, they do too. We give until the candy is gone or it gets late. I hope I never have to turn a child away.
10-23-2014 04:07 PM
Holy cow, I have no words for that horrible person. She might find out that those children from those "unfortunate areas" might actually be more appreciative of what they get. I can't believe anyone could be so selfish. Who cares where the children come from? As long as they are polite and having fun, that's all that matters.
10-23-2014 04:08 PM
When I was a kid we always had a list of the "best houses". I lived in a small town and we went to all the neighborhoods, unrepentant candy hunters that we were.
10-23-2014 04:10 PM
When I was little we lived on a farm. Hard to trick or treat from a cow. So we went into town to trick or treat. Nowadays, I live in city and give out treats until I run out.
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