by Selene N.
Member since:
July 26, 2006

They Don't Quit!

October 31, 2006 08:33 PM EST
views: 37 | comments: 18

In our neighborhood community, the rule for Halloween is to turn on your front porch / front door light if you want to participate, and turn off the light if you don't want to participate.

I had my light off.  But guess what?  There were still 2 or 3 groups ringing my door bell.  Ok, maybe they were from another neighborhood and did not know our rules.  But one group was ringing my door bell constantly for almost 5 minutes.  They were surely persistent!  I would think if you don't get an answer in 2 or 3 rings, you would just move on and leave me alone.  I could hear talking from a grown-up woman, so they were supervised by an adult.

If you were with your kids, would you let them keep ringing the bell like that?  I don't intend to be mean, but this is not my kind of holiday, and the non-stop ringing (after I had indicated that I wasn't participating) is really getting on my nerves.

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Comments: 18

Tricia C. Oct 31, 2006, 8:37pm EST
I agree.. im only 36 and I grew up with knowing that if the light was on they were accepting trick or treaters.. it is was off, dont even go up to the door. We live near a college campus and we took our kids through the campus dorms this year... boy was that soo much easier than going door to door.
I can't believe you didn't egg them.

I give out candy. This year my son went around as Darth Vader telling people the Dark side of the Force was too strong for him to resist. I think that's a good reason to call trick or treating quits next year.

Everyone knows the lights on/off rule. That isn't just a rule in your neighborhood. That is just basic etiquette.
Linda R. Oct 31, 2006, 9:00pm EST
Every Halloween I put the outside light on and sit outside with my bowl of candy between 6 PM and 8 PM. After that go inside, close the blinds and put the lights out.

I love seeing all the kids dressed up but I hate getting up to answer the door over and over.
Selene N. Oct 31, 2006, 9:13pm EST
Oh. I didn't know the lights on/off thing is a general rule.
Jennifer B. Oct 31, 2006, 9:23pm EST
I have my 4 and 5 year old trained. If the light isn't on, don't ring the bell. It's 9:22 and I just had a very scary teenager ring my bell. I think it's getting a little late.
Barbara B. Oct 31, 2006, 9:24pm EST
Lights on and off was even the rule in the fifties! Lights off, don't go, lights on, candy!!! We turn our lights off in our neighborhood as the cars parading through following the kids who don't live in our neck of the woods seems to be the popular thing to do. Also, our dog isn't fond of the doorbell ringing and we didn't want to be calming him down all night.
William M. Oct 31, 2006, 9:52pm EST
You would think the adults at least would know better.
Susan *. Oct 31, 2006, 10:03pm EST
If the porch light is off....then they need to move on to the next house...it's just plain common sense and curtesy as well
Dee W. Oct 31, 2006, 10:13pm EST
Here it's not only courtesy, it's the law. I don't know what happened to make them pass a town law covering it, but it was the law 10 years ago when I came here.
Robin K. Oct 31, 2006, 10:15pm EST
I thought everyone knew that rule.

But, two years ago this time I suffered a traumatic miscarriage as a result of an auto accident (rear ended). And, was getting ready for surgery. I was in no mood for holidays. But, the trick or treaters didn't give up.

I wondered about the rule too. Thinking - do different neighborhoods abolish the rule? We had just moved in that January.

After, an hour of incessant ringing I gave in just to get them out. I ended up giving away our snack stash. Surpisingly it did lift my spirits, but I was reminded of what I lost that summer...

So, if your a parent abide by the rule. You never know what the person in the house is going through.

ALSO, our state is cracking down on sexual preditors participating in Halloween. So, if lights are off it could be for a genuine reason.
Patty Mayonaise Oct 31, 2006, 11:42pm EST
I cannot stand anyone who consistantly knocks/rings bell! My childrens friends do it just to ask if the kids can come out to play. I teach my kids, knock three times-wait a minute, then leave. It seems as if no one knows manners these days, espacially on a holiday where thetre begging for a treat anyway!
Christina F. Nov 1, 2006, 1:43am EST
The rule in our community is porch light on and door open. I took my 3 year old nephew out trick or treating and we followed that rule. What made me mad, was that there was one house there, that apparently didn't know this rule. They had their light on, front door open and was rather rude when my 3 year old nephew went to their door. Slammed the door in his face. It took me 5 minutes to get him to stop crying, not to mention took all the fun out of the night that we were having.
Michelle W. Nov 1, 2006, 8:41am EST
Parents these days are so rude and uncaring. I would never let a child go to a house with the lights out. Common sense would tell a normal person that. I don't like halloween either.
Tab B. Nov 1, 2006, 9:25am EST
I kept my light off (we do not participate in any way) and were left alone all night.
I think, in your situation, Selene, I would have jerked the door open holding my hubby's shotgun and informed them (with a smile on my face) that we had NO candy to give out and to please tell the rest of their friends the same. But then again, maybe not. I would probably end up having my house/car egged or T.P.'d
Selene N. Nov 1, 2006, 10:53am EST
Robin K. - I am so sorry to hear that.

nancy r. - No, I didn't go trick-or-treating when I was a kid. This is not the norm for Chinese. And I couldn't go out. I have injured knees.

Tab B. - LOL!!!
Christina Fagan - Door open?? Isn't that kinda dangerous? (and cold?)
John S. (arizona) Nov 1, 2006, 4:04pm EST
Having the porch light off here means the shop is closed too. Unless there are lighted decorations/pumpkins and the idea is to be spooky.
We had hardly any kids this year, very quiet in fact.
Julie L. Nov 1, 2006, 10:11pm EST
Nope the rule is the same everywhere. Lights off means stay away. That has been the rule since I was little. And also the rule in every state I have lived in. (only three)
I think the parents should have done something about that.

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