Thursday, October 16, 2008

Another Dumb Idea

Registered sex offenders in Maryland will have to post this 'scarlet letter' on their home this Halloween.

It's all kinda stupid if you ask me.
Don't pictures of pumpkins and other types of Halloween bling serve as a natural attractant for kids?

I remember growing up that if a house had no lights on, or pumpkins out, that meant 'No candy here. Go away!'

What are the odds that kids will see the pumpkin and approach the door?
Do kids even bother to read while in a candy induced state of mind?
What about the stupid Mexican kids who don't know English?

Story Here

In all reality, child molesters aren't likely to strike on Halloween, tricking one kid to 'come inside' while his/her Friends and parents wait on the stoop.

5 comments:

Bike Bubba said...

You know, in the past 15 years I've had a home where trick or treaters might come, I think the actual number who came is in the single digits. Always had the light on, always had something safe to give them, almost never get a visit.

Probably just as well--giving kids a week long sugar high probably isn't the world's coolest, but it's still kind of sad to see an old tradition dying out like this.

Anonymous said...

For the past several years, more adults than kids have dressed up for Halloween (someone did a survey).

I determinedly mount a trick or treat effort (go out, and have someone at the house) every year. The kids are coming out again. Now if only the local adults can keep the kids focussed on the fun instead of on their 'entitlement' to candy--this is an interesting and painful-to-watch shift in some of the groups coming to our door.

I agree, though, Gino, that the "lights off" or "no pumpkins" were the rules when I was little, and they are the rules I am teaching my kids.

A big black "X" might have been a better graphic.

Anything that looks cutsey should not be a symbol of depravity, in any case. Not a good design choice by someone.

Jade said...

I laughed at this statement in the article...
"The state also this year is distributing pamphlets statewide to warn families and trick-or-treaters to stay away from homes with the pumpkin signs"

"Folks... we went ahead and printed Halloween themed signs for registered sex offenders, stay away from houses with Halloween themed signs."

Truly, truly moronic.

kr - I'm with you... a big black "X" would be far more effective.

We live in a neighborhood where the houses are a decent trek from each other, steep hills and long walkways. The first year here we had 20 trick-or-treaters total. It has grown slowly, but this year (since it is on a Friday night) we are spearheading a revival of the holiday by hosting a Halloween Party, complete with group trick-or-treating for the kids.

Gino said...

i was thinking maybe a picture of an old pervert with his pants down would be more effective.

Bike Bubba said...

Or as another friend of mine noted once, if sex offenders are still dangerous, why are we letting them out of jail in the first place?