What is a trunk or treat?

Your tradition can be to go onto Pinterest on the eve of October 1, find the fanciest “We’ve Been Booed” template, waste one (1), piece of paper by printing it out, and affix it to your door. Problem solved!

The problem is, the “more-is-more-yay-plastic” people aren’t only affecting “their tribe.” They are affecting the planet. And no, that’s not the biggest environmental threat, but you can’t pretend like cheap plastic crap from China aficionados aren’t also the ones driving huge SUVs, taking multiple flights a year, eating meat most days, using plastic water bottles, cranking the thermostat up, etc.

I understand your sentiment, really--as a family who lives in a condo, rarely drives, eats vegetarian, reuses glass storage, lives at low temps, repairs old clothing, etc. But raging about this on the internet isn't going to change other people's behavior. You want to change things in your neighborhood? Calmly, non-judgementally explain to your friends why you are opting out. You can change the behavior of the people in your life slowly, over time, with kindness and compassion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids love to go out booing.

In our area, kids go with friends and enjoy the ding dong ditch aspect sometimes followed by a chase.

We only give a small bag of candy. No plastic.

And we only hand out candy on Halloween. (Kids choose from a huge bowl.)

Trunk or treat sometime during October is mostly a social event for families. It’s not a big thing in our neighborhood.

Candidly, I think the haters are overthinking this. It’s not your thing. Okay. If you get a boo basket, then just drop it off at another person’s house. NBD.

Hater is a pretty strong word.

It's more rolling my eyes and an impatient sigh. Sorry if it triggers.

This would be true if people were starting threads like "why don't you like my Boo Basket!?" But they aren't. It's clear which people are triggered.

The fact that the Boo Baskets themselves literally have signs that are like YOU MUST KEEP THE FUN GOING BY BOO-ING TWO OTHER HOUSES is evidence that the people who do them want attention, want to control what the neighborhood is doing, etc. That’s pretty darn triggered, to leave a chore telling other people what to do.

You tried, though.

I tried what? I have never participated in this. But if I did I can't see why it would be so upsetting. Just throw it in the garbage? Do nothing? Pass it on? Writing in all caps about this is bizarre behavior, seems like you are triggered.

“Just throw it in the garbage”—that you for proving the point!

Have you ever thought of actually talking to the people who supposedly subject you to this terrible imposition every year? Wouldn't that be easier than shrieking at strangers on the internet? Put your big girl panties on and tell your neighbors you're opting out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh, it makes me happy. My kid is over the moon excited to boo friends. It’s an opportunity to think about what friends might like. (I take him to the book store or Michael’s and we pick out a Halloween book or craft for them).

If you don’t like it, pass it on. Someone will. You cannot control my actions and I cannot control your reaction and that’s okay.

Serious question: do you ever think about environmental waste?

DP

Are books considered environmental waste? Crafts?

You sound like someone I know who made a big deal about why she doesn’t do holiday cards “because of the environment.”

After she pontificated about it at a party she hosted, some guests huddled and ran down a laundry list of her family’s carbon footprint starting with her home renovation and multiple big trips each year. Not to mention her own crafting habits.

See how the tables can turn?

Trees are a renewable resource and they break down. Crafts that are made with plastic are, yes, an environmental waste. If you sew or knit or make art, then it's probably not that bad.

But yeah, I hate when people harp on the small things when they take two international vacations each year and eat a ton of meat. My parents go to extreme lengths to recycle everything that comes in their house, yet they eat red meat weekly and live in a large SFH in an area where they have to drive everywhere. My mother acts like she's an environmentalist because she really cleans out that peanut butter jar so she can recycle it and she makes an extra trip (in her car) to recycle soft plastics (that she doesn't try to avoid, she just thinks recycling it is great). Sigh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids love to go out booing.

In our area, kids go with friends and enjoy the ding dong ditch aspect sometimes followed by a chase.

We only give a small bag of candy. No plastic.

And we only hand out candy on Halloween. (Kids choose from a huge bowl.)

Trunk or treat sometime during October is mostly a social event for families. It’s not a big thing in our neighborhood.

Candidly, I think the haters are overthinking this. It’s not your thing. Okay. If you get a boo basket, then just drop it off at another person’s house. NBD.

Hater is a pretty strong word.

It's more rolling my eyes and an impatient sigh. Sorry if it triggers.

This would be true if people were starting threads like "why don't you like my Boo Basket!?" But they aren't. It's clear which people are triggered.

The fact that the Boo Baskets themselves literally have signs that are like YOU MUST KEEP THE FUN GOING BY BOO-ING TWO OTHER HOUSES is evidence that the people who do them want attention, want to control what the neighborhood is doing, etc. That’s pretty darn triggered, to leave a chore telling other people what to do.

You tried, though.

Are you like…worried about being cursed if you don’t pass it on? It’s not mandatory! It’s not a chore, it’s a choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the greatest things you can do for your mental health is to realize that no matter how much you want to, you can't change or control others' behavior, especially strangers on the internet.

I would argue that an even better thing to do for your mental health is to stop trying to feel better by consuming insane amounts of garbage food and plastic seasonal crap.

Amen.

Anonymous wrote:One of the greatest things you can do for your mental health is to realize that no matter how much you want to, you can't change or control others' behavior, especially strangers on the internet.

I would argue that an even better thing to do for your mental health is to stop trying to feel better by consuming insane amounts of garbage food and plastic seasonal crap.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh, it makes me happy. My kid is over the moon excited to boo friends. It’s an opportunity to think about what friends might like. (I take him to the book store or Michael’s and we pick out a Halloween book or craft for them).

If you don’t like it, pass it on. Someone will. You cannot control my actions and I cannot control your reaction and that’s okay.

Serious question: do you ever think about environmental waste?

Yes, all the time. My own clothes are nearly all second hand, my child wears hand me downs, we rarely travel to see family or go on big vacations because plane emissions are so awful and fast fashion is gross.

A book though? Are you really claiming that giving the family next door “10 little pumpkins” or the 4th grader up the street a goosebumps book is why our planet is in trouble?

NP. A book sounds lovely, but seriously, how many people are boo-basketing books? We’ve always gotten a container filled with plastic Dollar Store crap and a few pieces of candy, which is completely unnecessary because my kids will bring home more candy than our whole family could possibly consume in just a few weeks.

So either pass it on exactly as is (thus buying nothing else), buy a book to pass on, or put up a sign at the beginning of October saying “please don’t boo us”? I don’t get why this is such a huge deal. Do your kids like it?

I boo my elderly next door neighbor a bottle of wine. She boos me with pumpkin flavored coffee if she goes first. This is just an opportunity to build neighborliness. If it’s not doing that for you, then don’t participate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids love to go out booing.

In our area, kids go with friends and enjoy the ding dong ditch aspect sometimes followed by a chase.

We only give a small bag of candy. No plastic.

And we only hand out candy on Halloween. (Kids choose from a huge bowl.)

Trunk or treat sometime during October is mostly a social event for families. It’s not a big thing in our neighborhood.

Candidly, I think the haters are overthinking this. It’s not your thing. Okay. If you get a boo basket, then just drop it off at another person’s house. NBD.

Hater is a pretty strong word.

It's more rolling my eyes and an impatient sigh. Sorry if it triggers.

This would be true if people were starting threads like "why don't you like my Boo Basket!?" But they aren't. It's clear which people are triggered.

The fact that the Boo Baskets themselves literally have signs that are like YOU MUST KEEP THE FUN GOING BY BOO-ING TWO OTHER HOUSES is evidence that the people who do them want attention, want to control what the neighborhood is doing, etc. That’s pretty darn triggered, to leave a chore telling other people what to do.

You tried, though.

LOL we found the crazy neighbor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids love to go out booing.

In our area, kids go with friends and enjoy the ding dong ditch aspect sometimes followed by a chase.

We only give a small bag of candy. No plastic.

And we only hand out candy on Halloween. (Kids choose from a huge bowl.)

Trunk or treat sometime during October is mostly a social event for families. It’s not a big thing in our neighborhood.

Candidly, I think the haters are overthinking this. It’s not your thing. Okay. If you get a boo basket, then just drop it off at another person’s house. NBD.

Hater is a pretty strong word.

It's more rolling my eyes and an impatient sigh. Sorry if it triggers.

This would be true if people were starting threads like "why don't you like my Boo Basket!?" But they aren't. It's clear which people are triggered.

The fact that the Boo Baskets themselves literally have signs that are like YOU MUST KEEP THE FUN GOING BY BOO-ING TWO OTHER HOUSES is evidence that the people who do them want attention, want to control what the neighborhood is doing, etc. That’s pretty darn triggered, to leave a chore telling other people what to do.

You tried, though.

I tried what? I have never participated in this. But if I did I can't see why it would be so upsetting. Just throw it in the garbage? Do nothing? Pass it on? Writing in all caps about this is bizarre behavior, seems like you are triggered.

“Just throw it in the garbage”—that you for proving the point!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh, it makes me happy. My kid is over the moon excited to boo friends. It’s an opportunity to think about what friends might like. (I take him to the book store or Michael’s and we pick out a Halloween book or craft for them).

If you don’t like it, pass it on. Someone will. You cannot control my actions and I cannot control your reaction and that’s okay.

Serious question: do you ever think about environmental waste?

Yes, all the time. My own clothes are nearly all second hand, my child wears hand me downs, we rarely travel to see family or go on big vacations because plane emissions are so awful and fast fashion is gross.

A book though? Are you really claiming that giving the family next door “10 little pumpkins” or the 4th grader up the street a goosebumps book is why our planet is in trouble?

…and all the plastic wrappers from the candy you’re also giving out on Halloween? Why isn’t Halloween enough?

It is enough, sure. But the little joys in life are the “more than enough” moments. Is it not “enough” to wear the same costume 5 years in a row? My guess is you let your kid buy new pieces. Is it not “enough” to carve a pumpkin with a kitchen knife? My guess is a lot of families buy patterns and the fancy carving saws. My family finds joy in sharing anonymous gifts. If you don’t, then don’t participate! No harm/no foul.

You could apply this to every decision in life. Once in a while, you say yes to the extras. Which extras you choose are the ones that bring you joy. (Maybe you like nice hand bags or updating a functional kitchen or vacations or delivery meals on Friday night or makeup or driving your kid to school instead of Usenet the bus or any of the other little extras in life) My family likes ding dong ditching you surprise neighbor kids with a book. The idea that my source of joy and yours need to be the same is rather controlling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids love to go out booing.

In our area, kids go with friends and enjoy the ding dong ditch aspect sometimes followed by a chase.

We only give a small bag of candy. No plastic.

And we only hand out candy on Halloween. (Kids choose from a huge bowl.)

Trunk or treat sometime during October is mostly a social event for families. It’s not a big thing in our neighborhood.

Candidly, I think the haters are overthinking this. It’s not your thing. Okay. If you get a boo basket, then just drop it off at another person’s house. NBD.

Hater is a pretty strong word.

It's more rolling my eyes and an impatient sigh. Sorry if it triggers.

This would be true if people were starting threads like "why don't you like my Boo Basket!?" But they aren't. It's clear which people are triggered.

The fact that the Boo Baskets themselves literally have signs that are like YOU MUST KEEP THE FUN GOING BY BOO-ING TWO OTHER HOUSES is evidence that the people who do them want attention, want to control what the neighborhood is doing, etc. That’s pretty darn triggered, to leave a chore telling other people what to do.

You tried, though.

I tried what? I have never participated in this. But if I did I can't see why it would be so upsetting. Just throw it in the garbage? Do nothing? Pass it on? Writing in all caps about this is bizarre behavior, seems like you are triggered.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh, it makes me happy. My kid is over the moon excited to boo friends. It’s an opportunity to think about what friends might like. (I take him to the book store or Michael’s and we pick out a Halloween book or craft for them).

If you don’t like it, pass it on. Someone will. You cannot control my actions and I cannot control your reaction and that’s okay.

Serious question: do you ever think about environmental waste?

Yes, all the time. My own clothes are nearly all second hand, my child wears hand me downs, we rarely travel to see family or go on big vacations because plane emissions are so awful and fast fashion is gross.

A book though? Are you really claiming that giving the family next door “10 little pumpkins” or the 4th grader up the street a goosebumps book is why our planet is in trouble?

NP. A book sounds lovely, but seriously, how many people are boo-basketing books? We’ve always gotten a container filled with plastic Dollar Store crap and a few pieces of candy, which is completely unnecessary because my kids will bring home more candy than our whole family could possibly consume in just a few weeks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids love to go out booing.

In our area, kids go with friends and enjoy the ding dong ditch aspect sometimes followed by a chase.

We only give a small bag of candy. No plastic.

And we only hand out candy on Halloween. (Kids choose from a huge bowl.)

Trunk or treat sometime during October is mostly a social event for families. It’s not a big thing in our neighborhood.

Candidly, I think the haters are overthinking this. It’s not your thing. Okay. If you get a boo basket, then just drop it off at another person’s house. NBD.

Hater is a pretty strong word.

It's more rolling my eyes and an impatient sigh. Sorry if it triggers.

This would be true if people were starting threads like "why don't you like my Boo Basket!?" But they aren't. It's clear which people are triggered.

The fact that the Boo Baskets themselves literally have signs that are like YOU MUST KEEP THE FUN GOING BY BOO-ING TWO OTHER HOUSES is evidence that the people who do them want attention, want to control what the neighborhood is doing, etc. That’s pretty darn triggered, to leave a chore telling other people what to do.

You tried, though.