I don’t really like Halloween.
There, I said it. I want to. I used to. But now, as an adult, it’s just disappointing. Like, it makes me disappointed in society.
Every year, I can’t help but feel a vague sense of dread, just waiting to see what kind of destruction takes place. And today, the day after Halloween, is when all the lovely details come out.
This is how I feel about Halloween
About twenty cars were vandalized in my neighborhood last night – I’m talking graffiti, slashed tires, broken windows, theft. Just…why? I live in a city, in a neighborhood with people from all walks of life. It’s not crime-free, but it’s far from a scary, violent place. Except on Halloween, I guess.
I did walk away from my car with some trepidation last night, worried that perhaps I’d find it egged or a pumpkin smashed across the hood. I gave people too much credit. Thankfully my car was spared, but many of my neighbors had their day/week/month ruined this morning for no reason at all.
A few miles away, my dad, a man in his sixties, reluctantly answered the door shortly before midnight after relentless knocking and ringing of the doorbell – simply to stop the racket that I’m sure was stressing out both him and our elderly family dog (who has major anxiety). At which point a bunch of jackass teenagers silly-stringed him – a retired man, relaxing alone in his home. Really?
Every year it’s the same thing – teenagers, even adults, smash to pieces jack-o-lanterns lovingly carved by small children. Homes and cars are vandalized. Actual riots break out.
I get that Halloween involves mischief – kids being kids, pulling pranks, a little TP and shaving cream. But it’s not that anymore. Now it’s genuine cruelty and destruction and just makes me wonder what is so wrong in people’s lives. A holiday that should be so fun – for adults too but especially for kids – has just become sinister.
Honestly, what’s next? Breaking into people’s homes and stealing their Thanksgiving turkey? Throwing coal through people’s windows on Christmas Day? Crashing a child’s birthday party and slapping him or her in the face?
To the people who pull this crap: You are high on the list of the worst people in the world. Below terrorists and serial killers – but far above litterers. And you know how I feel about litterers.
Are your twenties a joke...? 
That is so terrible to hear! Why aren’t the city police doing anything about it? I’ve never heard of that level of destruction over Halloween. Horrible!
I don’t know, I mean this particular incident (with the cars) was pretty extreme, I don’t think anyone necessarily saw that coming. But it’s all the little things too. Like my dad bought a ton of really good candy, and put it in a big bowl on the porch (our dog goes bananas if the doorbell keeps ringing, and she has bad legs so we don’t want her running back and forth) — not a half hour later, someone had stolen the whole thing. Like WTF? Then two sweet little boys came to the door and my dad felt SO bad because he had no candy for them! Stuff like that makes me so mad/sad.
This is just plain horrible. I don’t understand some people these days. Why spoil the fun of a holiday for everyone, all for some extra candy? It’s a shame that so many celebratory times are ruined by a few bad “eggs” that want to spoil everyone’s fun.
What a shame, I hope the neighborhood can pull together to sort this out.