Weird neighbor and Halloween

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a WOHM and don't participate in Boo-ing anymore, but not because of the "oh I have no time and am oh-so-busy factor"; it's not actually that taxing to buy some candy/crap and put it in a bag with a note, etc.

What I hate about it (and why I stopped passing it on) is the environmental factor. We just don't need or use more Cheap Plastic Crap. It's enough, already. Kids get enough junk between the school parties/neighborhood parade/actual H'ween night. No mas!

Yeah, I don't get the impression that these "Boo" treats consist of a pack of candy corn thrown on someone's doorstep. These parents (let's admit it - MOMs!) put together elaborate treat bags and expect their neighbors to do the same for their kid.

I'm the poster you're responding to. When I did participate, it was usually a few treats (two bags of gummies, two bags of pretzels, a few pencils, some stickers) in a paper bag on which I drew a pumpkin or a ghost or some such. (I do like to draw, and I'm pretty good at basic stuff like that.) I'm sure people do elaborate things, but like much of life, you can kind of make it as hard or as easy as you want to.

I'm just out now because there's enough plastic crap and pencils and pretzels out there in the world, you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, maybe they were already boo'd -- maybe by someone in the neighborhood, maybe by a friend, whomever.

Maybe they were pre-empting the bag sitting there unanswered, just as an advertisement for a B&E. You say they should have told you, and you wouldn't boo them. But what about everyone else? Were you going to tell everyone for them then keep reminding them in case someone forgot? or were you going to check every day to make sure no bags accumulated, then boo back for them, or what?

Jesus. The woman just wanted to go on vacation, and yes, a sign was simplest.

This is not a tradition in our neighborhood so I'm a little confused. Does the person who is boo'd know who boo'd them? If not, then she couldn't have told you to wait.

She didn't want a bag sitting there and also didn't want to let down the next person in the chain. Or she was boo'd by someone else.

Either way not something worth getting upset about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't parents still take their kids to the pumpkin patch or on haunted hay rides? What about the ghost train at Burke Lake or a haunted house?

That's the stuff that kids LOVE!

of course people do these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTF IS BOOING?!?! OP I have no idea what the he** you are talking about, it made zero sense.

if you care enough to read the post and comment -- you can google

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, maybe they were already boo'd -- maybe by someone in the neighborhood, maybe by a friend, whomever.

Maybe they were pre-empting the bag sitting there unanswered, just as an advertisement for a B&E. You say they should have told you, and you wouldn't boo them. But what about everyone else? Were you going to tell everyone for them then keep reminding them in case someone forgot? or were you going to check every day to make sure no bags accumulated, then boo back for them, or what?

Jesus. The woman just wanted to go on vacation, and yes, a sign was simplest.

This is not a tradition in our neighborhood so I'm a little confused. Does the person who is boo'd know who boo'd them? If not, then she couldn't have told you to wait.

She didn't want a bag sitting there and also didn't want to let down the next person in the chain. Or she was boo'd by someone else.

Either way not something worth getting upset about.

I think -- but am not sure -- that someone gets the bag of stuff, and then is supposed to visibly mark they've already been hit. And then they send a bag of stuff to someone without the visible mark, and so on and so on, until everyone has participated.

I'd rather light my eyes on fire from the nearest gas burner, but there it is.

[Anonymous]

https://holidappy.com/holidays/How-to-Start-the-Halloween-Boo-in-Your-Neighborhood

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a WOHM and don't participate in Boo-ing anymore, but not because of the "oh I have no time and am oh-so-busy factor"; it's not actually that taxing to buy some candy/crap and put it in a bag with a note, etc.

What I hate about it (and why I stopped passing it on) is the environmental factor. We just don't need or use more Cheap Plastic Crap. It's enough, already. Kids get enough junk between the school parties/neighborhood parade/actual H'ween night. No mas!

Totally agree with this. I also wish snack after soccer games would go away for the season reason - too much unnecessary trash. The kids may like it but also totally understand the need to stop generating waste. We can find new ways to have fun.

[Anonymous]

I’ve lived in dc my whole life and never heard of this. Where does this happen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, maybe they were already boo'd -- maybe by someone in the neighborhood, maybe by a friend, whomever.

Maybe they were pre-empting the bag sitting there unanswered, just as an advertisement for a B&E. You say they should have told you, and you wouldn't boo them. But what about everyone else? Were you going to tell everyone for them then keep reminding them in case someone forgot? or were you going to check every day to make sure no bags accumulated, then boo back for them, or what?

Jesus. The woman just wanted to go on vacation, and yes, a sign was simplest.

This is not a tradition in our neighborhood so I'm a little confused. Does the person who is boo'd know who boo'd them? If not, then she couldn't have told you to wait.

She didn't want a bag sitting there and also didn't want to let down the next person in the chain. Or she was boo'd by someone else.

Either way not something worth getting upset about.

I think -- but am not sure -- that someone gets the bag of stuff, and then is supposed to visibly mark they've already been hit. And then they send a bag of stuff to someone without the visible mark, and so on and so on, until everyone has participated.

I'd rather light my eyes on fire from the nearest gas burner, but there it is.

Yeah, I feel like I dodged a bullet missing out on this tradition. Can you imagine being the forgotten kid on the street, the only one w/o a "Booed" sign in their yard?

Nope....not doing that.

[Anonymous]

I suspect there is a huge overlap in the pro-booing crowd and the pro-soccer snacks for everyone including siblings crowd.

Both crowds have way too much free time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect there is a huge overlap in the pro-booing crowd and the pro-soccer snacks for everyone including siblings crowd.

Both crowds have way too much free time.

Bingo. It's make-work to justify not using the time for something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a neighbor a few doors down who seems nice, usually. A little stand-offish sometimes. Her girls and my boys play together nicely when they see each other.

She was packing up her car on Friday, and I asked if she needed me to look out for packages or anything. She said no thank you, just a short trip, got it covered, etc.

I was walking our dog later and noticed that they had put up a "We've Been Boo-ed" sign that was definitely not there when they were packing up. My boys and I usually do the first "Boos" of the season, and always get their house, because their girls are so nice and cute.

I get that they don't want to participate, but she could have said something or posted a sign that was like "please don't Boo us"; they definitely were not Booed, because no other house on our street that has kids has the sign up! I'm just bummed. It's not like I would have left it on their porch all weekend, knowing they were gone.

To me, putting up a sign that says "we've been boo'd" is basically the same thing as "please don't Boo us". Maybe more subtle. I wouldn't take it personally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect there is a huge overlap in the pro-booing crowd and the pro-soccer snacks for everyone including siblings crowd.

Both crowds have way too much free time.

Hmm, I'm pro soccer snacks and anti-booiing. I think booing has an element of craftiness and pinterestness to it, but soccer snacks is just picking ups some snacks, no creativity required (I'm not trying to outdo anyone else's snacks). Actually, now that I think about it, I do have the same feeling for both. I think if you don't like soccer snacks, you should opt yourself out and leave the people who do like it to do it. I have no problem with boo-ing traditions for those who like it, but I opt out of it. I feel the same way about Elf On The Shelf. If it's your thing, go for it, but I have no interest, so I won't start it in my house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect there is a huge overlap in the pro-booing crowd and the pro-soccer snacks for everyone including siblings crowd.

Both crowds have way too much free time.

so true!

[Anonymous]

Elf on the Shelf is different because that happens INSIDE the privacy of a person's house. The parents decide whether or not their kids participate or not.

This "Booing" thing involves other parents making up elaborate goody bags and expecting other parents to do the same thing. And signs are posted OUTSIDE to show which households were good sports and participated. If you don't participate, you don't get a sign which is awkward for your kid. It looks like Op's neighbor found a way around the awkwardness - good for her!