tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post664930953218948346..comments2023-11-03T11:32:01.540+00:00Comments on Thought Experiments : The Blog: Halloween Must Be StoppedBryan Appleyardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-53898885194067475892007-11-01T22:23:00.000+00:002007-11-01T22:23:00.000+00:00i was once ambushed by a posse of youthful ne'er-d...i was once ambushed by a posse of youthful ne'er-do-wells on Halloween outside my house, they demanded expiatory tributes. i raised my hands and boomed "bless you, my children!" and advanced on them, Judge Holden-like. <BR/><BR/>They fled into the night, shrieking. Their mothers had warned them about men like me, though in all fairness i was only going to kick them a few times, not actually kill Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-18217636263726932312007-11-01T22:17:00.000+00:002007-11-01T22:17:00.000+00:00American cultural imperialism, intended or not, do...American cultural imperialism, intended or not, does have an even darker side to its darker side. Next thing you know, people will be demanding the Royal Standard be flown at half-mast when someone of note dies. Oh, wait...Randyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03071928294799081845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-87697807430967752732007-11-01T15:39:00.000+00:002007-11-01T15:39:00.000+00:00When I lived in darkest Stoke Newington one year w...When I lived in darkest Stoke Newington one year we had some particularly challenging small children demanding chocolate with menaces on Hallowe'en. I gave them chocolate and money but all to no avail. I had obviously missed the concealed bolt cutters: my husband's brand new motorscooter was stolen that same evening and later found in the bottom of the pond in Clissold Park. What larks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-35292850118631641752007-11-01T14:30:00.000+00:002007-11-01T14:30:00.000+00:00That email from your English friend, Susan, explai...That email from your English friend, Susan, explains why one of the women who opened her door last night looked so frightened. She tossed two pound coins at our group of 10 kids and shut the door as quickly as she could.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-55163198976540890132007-11-01T14:09:00.000+00:002007-11-01T14:09:00.000+00:00I received an amusing e-mail from an English frien...I received an amusing e-mail from an English friend of mine yesterday. He wrote:<BR/><BR/>"These kids don't want candy, they only want cash. Hallowe/en celebrations are a recent American import here - and our lot don't really get it. If they are not sufficiently gruntled, their tricks usually comprise of pulling up plants, scratching cars, smashing milk bottles, weeing on the porch or setting Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-66913394926881500522007-11-01T13:31:00.000+00:002007-11-01T13:31:00.000+00:00It doesn't really matter, Nige. None of them have ...It doesn't really matter, Nige. None of them have ever had any concrete meaning or significance for those who enjoy them most - the nippers. Children can handle meaninglessness much better than we can.Neil Forsythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00240393170374161007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-53477274601919614672007-11-01T12:48:00.000+00:002007-11-01T12:48:00.000+00:00Come to think of it rat poison, razor blades, and ...Come to think of it rat poison, razor blades, and needles can on any type of Halloween treat giveaway. Oh well. Trick or treat away! Just avoid candy from the crazy guy in the windowless house on the corner. Fear is all part of the fun, isn't it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-43762933922863328642007-11-01T12:37:00.000+00:002007-11-01T12:37:00.000+00:00This is all very well, but soon we shall be reduce...This is all very well, but soon we shall be reduced to just two, maybe three post-religious festivals - one celebrating grotesque consumer excess (Xmas), one celebrating chocolate (Easter) and one (Halloween) celebrating - well, what exactly?Nigehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13314891387515045404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-34506825572060136002007-11-01T12:35:00.000+00:002007-11-01T12:35:00.000+00:00Neil, I can see you're a British trick-or-treating...Neil, I can see you're a British trick-or-treating novice. Must be careful of real fruits and nuts in case a psychopath embeds razor blades and needles in them. And that is your Halloween tip of the year from someone who grew up on REAL Halloweens in America.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-35043718938410140102007-11-01T12:28:00.000+00:002007-11-01T12:28:00.000+00:00Not the same as my experience. In fact my street i...Not the same as my experience. In fact my street in Deepest Hackney - directly off what the press likes to all "Murder Mile" - has rarely felt so safe or neighbourly as it did last night. And, by the way, don't call children "brats" or I'll set my lot on you. You'd be sorry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-90679606667091624272007-11-01T11:42:00.000+00:002007-11-01T11:42:00.000+00:00Good for you hsien lei. The lack of handmade costu...Good for you hsien lei. The lack of handmade costumes (or black refuse sacks, to be more precise) is the one glaring difference between Halloween now and the Halloween of my childhood. I brought Spiderman and (a reluctant)lion on the rounds last night. I'm ashamed to say I got the costumes in M&S. Nevertheless, they had a great time and I had a great time watching them have a great time. My Neil Forsythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00240393170374161007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-88321589361550377382007-11-01T10:36:00.001+00:002007-11-01T10:36:00.001+00:00We will fight on the beaches, Frank.We will fight on the beaches, Frank.Bryan Appleyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-60962388859523076192007-11-01T10:36:00.000+00:002007-11-01T10:36:00.000+00:00I'm afraid you have no choice but to submit, Bryan...I'm afraid you have no choice but to submit, Bryan.Frank Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18410473158808750903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-5797799343138865182007-11-01T10:24:00.000+00:002007-11-01T10:24:00.000+00:00Give me another year in the UK and maybe I'll have...Give me another year in the UK and maybe I'll have another clue what you mean by Westbourne Grove. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-19109344920284110792007-11-01T10:17:00.000+00:002007-11-01T10:17:00.000+00:00Handmade costume! V Westbourne Grove.Handmade costume! V Westbourne Grove.Bryan Appleyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-6550284470747154552007-11-01T10:08:00.000+00:002007-11-01T10:08:00.000+00:00I was one of them although my little one was weari...I was one of them although my little one was wearing a handmade costume stitched by moi. Ha! We had a blast. The neighbors...not so much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-58603944623127611622007-11-01T09:58:00.000+00:002007-11-01T09:58:00.000+00:00Yummy mummies - they're everywhere.Yummy mummies - they're everywhere.Bryan Appleyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-50771466768409854392007-11-01T09:21:00.000+00:002007-11-01T09:21:00.000+00:00we've always had hallowe'en. it's trick or treatin...we've always had hallowe'en. it's trick or treating that's new. I think it had something to do with the demise of begging pennies for the guy - we're all so much more middle-class now....Ian russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11106519805045337505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-73222067174224587392007-11-01T09:11:00.000+00:002007-11-01T09:11:00.000+00:00Mothers with kids ?, in Notting Hill ?. Now really...Mothers with kids ?, in Notting Hill ?. Now really.Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09442327549417743472noreply@blogger.com