Dark house - ring the doorbell?

zyxst

You're out trick or treating tonight and see a house with no outside lights on (lights are on in the basement if you can see through the shrubbery). Do you go up, knock/ring the doorbell, and expect candy?

Has it changed since I went out in 1986 (as a teen) and 1998 (with my own kid) that you generally don't go knock on door if there are no visible lights on? We've had 4 people bang on the door looking for treats. I so much want to answer with a butcher knife in my hand.

know_your_worth

I'd think it would be an obvious sign if the lights are not on that the home is not handing out candy.

Very rude for people to be banging on your door!

Parents should know better not to go to those houses, if the kids are old enough to be on their own they should have enough respect to pass by those houses as well.

jmc0806

lights out, you skip the house

kelseyhere

nope, things haven't changed. people go dark tonight on purpose. that's the sign- stay away

RachelsReboot

Yep I tell my kids if the lights are out then we keep walking!

Darkskinned88

when i was a kid we would rock paper scissors to see who knocked...just in case they had a butcher knife lol

Laces_0ut

houses with the lights out get the rotten eggs.

zgochenour

Don't knock. Toilet paper/egg.

vmekash

Some people have lights off because they do no participate in the tradition. Others have the lights off because they're out of candy. It happens. Don't egg or TP. Sheesh!

PS: Bought twice the candy this year. Just not the same every year.

dsjohndrow

Just give them celery or carrots.

HurricaneElaine

They better not ring the doorbell. There's no candy here.












BOO!!!

:laugh:

Bentley2718

That is weird, my understanding has always been that if there were no outside lights on, that meant you didn't go to that house. Then again, I see people who are way out of their childhood years talking about going trick-or-treating with friends, WTH? About the time I was 13 my mother told me I could find a younger child to take trick-or-treating or stay home, but I couldn't go alone or with friends my age. If college kids knock on my door tonight, they are not getting any candy.

I will add that all of our outside lights come on automatically, so short of finding a ladder and unscrewing all the light bulbs, I was stuck handing out candy. Clearly my safety minded landlord wasn't thinking about this occasion.

janlee_001

No lights - not candy, BUT if you want to be taken and used in a witches brew - go ahead and knock - I dare you. ha ha ha ha ah

Rizabees

I've had adults [with their children] knocking on the door expecting candy when the lights were out, didn't even decorate either. I guess the "no lights no candy" rule skipped over a few people.

stellapiano

Our lights went out tonight after about 150 trick-or-treaters when we ran out of candy. We still had one or two doorbell rings, but we either didn't answer, or flat out told them we were out. No big deal.

Just a side note on the "no adults" thing: For the most part I share this attitude too, but I know both sides of this. In my first year of university, I made a friend who had never been allowed to trick-or-treat as a kid because her parents didn't approve of it. She asked me if I would trick-or-treat with her so she could experience it just once. I did, and we had a blast.

When kids come dressed as themselves and have no "trick-or-treat" or thank you for me, I am very disapproving. But when (as in the case of my friend and I) people still dress right up and go through the motions, I don't begrudge them too much. You just never know.

lizblizz2012

So true. A couple of other TOT etiquette conundrums that bother me:

(Obviously this is on the parents' shoulders to teach their kids or go with them to the doors, can't expect 4 year olds to know this stuff.)

1. Teach your kids to take one piece, unless the candy-giver specifies otherwise. It's so rude to take whole handful.

2. Say Thank You! The candy might be free to you but someone paid for it. People who have busier TOT neighborhoods may spend upwards of $20 on candy!

3. In my town there is a two hour time frame for TOT. Don't come an hour early or late. Not cool.

4. One knock or doorbell ring is sufficient. Trust me, I hear you.

5. Never ever ever EVER say "Ew I don't like this candy." This needs no further explanation.

I really do love Halloween and passing out candy, I just wish parents would take the time to teach their kids a few manners before sending them out. Obviously kids will be kids, but it's still important to be polite.

leejayem

We had kids ringing our doorbell at about 8.45 last night - I was very annoyed as we don't celebrate Halloween & my kids were all in bed. My 10 year old woke up (the doorbell rang at least 10 times!!) & she said, "Gee Mum, they must be DESPERATE for lollies ringing the doorbell like that!!" I find it really frustrating that because it's so commercial we all have to play along! My opinion is that parents should find out who on their street is happy to have trick or treaters & ensure their kids only visit those houses. It's just a respect thing.

SuperSexyDork

So true. A couple of other TOT etiquette conundrums that bother me:

(Obviously this is on the parents' shoulders to teach their kids or go with them to the doors, can't expect 4 year olds to know this stuff.)

1. Teach your kids to take one piece, unless the candy-giver specifies otherwise. It's so rude to take whole handful.

2. Say Thank You! The candy might be free to you but someone paid for it. People who have busier TOT neighborhoods may spend upwards of $20 on candy!

3. In my town there is a two hour time frame for TOT. Don't come an hour early or late. Not cool.

4. One knock or doorbell ring is sufficient. Trust me, I hear you.

5. Never ever ever EVER say "Ew I don't like this candy." This needs no further explanation.

I really do love Halloween and passing out candy, I just wish parents would take the time to teach their kids a few manners before sending them out. Obviously kids will be kids, but it's still important to be polite.

We spent almost $40 on candy as we live in a busy neighborhood. Each kid gets a piece of crummy candy and a piece of the good stuff, LOL!

3dogsrunning

No lights, no decorations AND a sign that explains the neighbors will be handing out our treats. Plus a territorial German Shepherd in the window. And one group kept banging on the door (according to my neighbor) much to the displeasure of said dog. Luckily the rest went to the neighbors first (we only got a few).

GiddyupTim

I think it is rude to be home with the lights out. Cmon, is it gonna hurt that much to participate in something so special for the kids?
And, actually, I believe that back in the day the phrase was "trick or treat" because either you gave or you got. In my father's day, the kids did have tricks they could play on houses that were stingy.
Maybe we should return to the etiquette of those times. . .

LauraMacNCheese

Lights out = move on to the next house

RealWomenLovePitbulls

you only knock if the porch light is on, mine is!

3dogsrunning

I think it is rude to be home with the lights out. Cmon, is it gonna hurt that much to participate in something so special for the kids?
And, actually, I believe that back in the day the phrase was "trick or treat" because either you gave or you got. In my father's day, the kids did have tricks they could play on houses that were stingy.
Maybe we should return to the etiquette of those times. . .

Not sure if that was addressed to me as well - we made up very generous treat bags but unfortunately we both work shift work in a job that isn't flexible to let us get home. I arrived home from work with 5 minutes left of TOT. I made arrangements for my neighbors to hand them out (hence the sign).

RealWomenLovePitbulls

I think it is rude to be home with the lights out. Cmon, is it gonna hurt that much to participate in something so special for the kids?
And, actually, I believe that back in the day the phrase was "trick or treat" because either you gave or you got. In my father's day, the kids did have tricks they could play on houses that were stingy.
Maybe we should return to the etiquette of those times. . .

some people don't participate due to religion (Jehovah's Witnesses for example) and some people may not have extra money to buy candy, that extra $10-$20 is a lot to some. so, it is not rude to skip out on passing candy, it IS rude for people to knock on doors that have the lights out, as it is a well known rule that you only go to the door if the light is on.

I am passing out candy, but not everyone has to, and people should respect that.

know_your_worth

I think it is rude to be home with the lights out. Cmon, is it gonna hurt that much to participate in something so special for the kids?
And, actually, I believe that back in the day the phrase was "trick or treat" because either you gave or you got. In my father's day, the kids did have tricks they could play on houses that were stingy.
Maybe we should return to the etiquette of those times. . .

That's a matter of opinion.
Candy is expensive! My educated guess is at least 50% of the kids don't appreciate it, they feel they're entitled to it. You're in your home! It would be different if you were at some social event/gathering. This is your private property where you go to relax after a working all day. To choose to participate is one thing, to be expected to is another.

I always hated trick-or-treating for that very reason. My mom would make me go with my bro and cousin. I always felt way that it was too invasive. Maybe I'm just weird like that.

rml_16

Only houses with front porch lights on.

We once had a kid (with his parents) knock on our door at 11 p.m. after we'd long since turned off the lights.

WTH.

jmc0806

Only houses with front porch lights on.

We once had a kid (with his parents) knock on our door at 11 p.m. after we'd long since turned off the lights.

WTH.

that's when you pull out the eggs and throw them at the parents haha

EnchantedEvening

I think it is rude to be home with the lights out. Cmon, is it gonna hurt that much to participate in something so special for the kids?
And, actually, I believe that back in the day the phrase was "trick or treat" because either you gave or you got. In my father's day, the kids did have tricks they could play on houses that were stingy.
Maybe we should return to the etiquette of those times. . .

We both work until 7:00 and don't get home until trick-or-treating has ended. Do you still think it's okay to egg my house?

Not everyone who has the lights off is a jerk.

zyxst

I think it is rude to be home with the lights out. Cmon, is it gonna hurt that much to participate in something so special for the kids?
And, actually, I believe that back in the day the phrase was "trick or treat" because either you gave or you got. In my father's day, the kids did have tricks they could play on houses that were stingy.
Maybe we should return to the etiquette of those times. . .

I was home and not handing out because hubby and I were in the downstairs rec room watching a mini Bela Lugosi marathon on TCM. I don't get to see the classic horror films, so it's a special time when they're aired.

Living in Canada, they hand out chip bags (Doritos' Lay's, Ruffles) instead of actual candy. Maybe that's a Newfie thing.

rml_16

And there's nothing at all rude about not handing out candy if you're home. SERIOUSLY?? Entitled much? Enough people participate that a few not participating is perfectly fine. The kids are still going to have loads to fill their bags. What a ridiculous thing to say. And I love Halloween and handing out candy. We just rarely get trick or treaters. :-(

On the other hand, we had a neighbor when I was growing up who had her light on and I would see other kids knock and get candy, but she ALWAYS ignored the door when I knocked. She was always nice and friendly all the time, other than that. She even invited me to her house a few times when her grandchildren visited. It was so odd.

magj0y

houses with the lights out get the rotten eggs.

People who actually do this are @ssholes. Seriously, oh whaaa... A few houses don't want beggars. Suck it up. I don't think people realize the damage it can do to paint.