Hallowe'en is coming. Trick-or-Treaters who visit ...
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Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:5, Insightful)
I agree where is the "I don't do american traditions you insensitive clod!" option?
Re:Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
Agree wholeheartedly...there have been too many polls lately which are irrelevent to anyone outside the US.
So... Scotland, Ireland, France, and Canada [wikipedia.org] are part of the US now? Interesting. And non-Americans say we don't know geography.
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Re:Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:5, Funny)
We'll take Calgary, but Quebec comes in over my dead body.
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And yes I've been around here long enough to be aware that
Re:Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:4, Funny)
No, but it would be fun if the polls also sometimes asked things that do not make sense to Americans. Fair is fair.
What do you give someone who asks for a penny for the guy?
- A quid
- 20p
- A penny
- Fags
- The V sign
What will you do this Hogmanay?
- We drink, we drink, we drink...
- First-foot
- Bonfire
- Caroling not covered under the first option
- Did you mean who will I do?
Re:Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:4, Interesting)
Maybe you should read the FAQ? it's an American centric site.
After perusing http://slashdot.org/faq [slashdot.org] I see no mention of this. Can you please direct us at a specific FAQ entry?
Re:Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:4, Informative)
You can see the original editorial faq [solidot.org] page still at solidot.org.
Dunno why they removed that particular FAQ entry, because it's still obviously true.
Re: (Score:2)
Scottish tradition, you mean. The USA just knocked it up a few notches.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating [wikipedia.org] (note the reference to Halloween in 1895)
Re:Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:5, Funny)
Haggis!!*
*expect more vandalism
Re: (Score:2)
Children don't however understand that there are such differences between the US and Australia. so this year I will give candy to the children, or scare them to death, I haven't yet made up my mind about it yet.
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Re:Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:5, Funny)
If American cultures wasn't superior, it wouldn't be winning.
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What joke? bloodhawk is correct: geekoid didn't put a snarkmark at the end of his comment therefore he was serious.~
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The point of tradition is to do something without expending the energy to think about why you are doing something.
Re:Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:4, Informative)
Completely agreed, fucking tired of kids copying shit they see on US television over here. We don't fucking do trick or treat here.
Re:Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:5, Interesting)
Apparently, your kids do now. I know,. you are old and crotchety and change is scary.
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Re:Trick or treaters who visit... (Score:5, Funny)
The obligatory Fry and Laurie [youtube.com].
Last option most open-ended (Score:2)
Gonna need a Costco run... (Score:4, Informative)
As always, I will be distributing beer and fried chicken embryos.
That is how we celebrate Halloween in France. [wikipedia.org]
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Re:Gonna need a Costco run... (Score:5, Funny)
Hell, I'd rather have that than some shitty mars bar.
You're not supposed to store mars bars there! Ewww!
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trick-or-treaters who visit... (Score:5, Funny)
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Re: (Score:3)
I'd boil some brussel sprouts and dip them in melted chocolate, leave in the fridge overnight, and serve to any unfortunate trick-or-treaters.
But, I'm glad it doesn't happen round here. Children should not be allowed to watch that American crap on TV.
...ignored. (Score:2)
Tricks (Score:2)
Think about it, trick versus trick and you get to choose and prepare the battleground. Trip wires just before buckets of poo covered by gladwrap. Night vision goggles and paintball guns. Stinging nettles and poison ivy. Spider
Re: (Score:2)
I've always thought that the idea was to give those who come knocking either a treat or a trick.
You're misunderstanding the options. "Trick or treat" is similar to the Mexican "Plata o plomo" deal (give us silver or we'll give you lead (ie shoot you)). It's not "give us a treat or give us a trick". It's "give us a treat, or we'll vandalize your property"
I don't have a house of my own (Score:2)
You insensitive clod.
Mental Note for Slashdot Editors... (Score:5, Insightful)
Never put up an American-centric poll late at night. Turns out it's the next morning in Australia where a bunch of cranky readers haven't had their coffee yet, jeez.
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Re:Mental Note for Slashdot Editors... (Score:5, Insightful)
Never put up an American-centric poll.
There, fixed that for you.
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Exactly.
Turns out there is never a moment when the Americans have the world to themselves.
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...Or at least set an option saying "I am not an American, you insensitive clod!"
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Actually, I have no idea. The Aussies sure don't seem to like Halloween, though.
In fact, I'm surprised by the bitterness, it really is one of my favorite holidays - good for kids and adults, none of the pseudo-preachiness of a religious holiday, and the parties often involve people dressing up as vampires or "naughty nurses". Maybe there was some pumpkin-related national disaster I don't know about.
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A few days later in Victoria we have Melbourne Cup Day, the race that stops a nation (or so it's known), which is an excuse to sit around, have a few select beverages, kick back in the probable sunshine (early November it could be hail or scorching), put a few bets on the nags, have a BBQ if not at the actual race course.
The whole spring racing carnival and cup week is a holiday of sorts in Melbourne. You see people dress in all manner of clothes, from cocktail dresses and morning suits through to gorillas
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Doesn't hurt that my brother's birthday is on Halloween so we always had an especially good party growing up. Or that my Dad the veterinarian would open the door to the trick or treating kids with an 8 foot boa constrictor around his neck.
Most will get candy... (Score:5, Funny)
But that round-headed kid is getting a rock.
Recycled freebies! (Score:3)
Years of AOL CDs: check.
Years of pizza flyers: check.
Years of loan and insurance spam: check.
Years of begging spam: check.
And if that doesn't work, I've got a video wall at the back of the atrium playing footage from the aftermath of me releasing my cat on a mouse clearing. On a loop.
bloody yanks come over here after our sweeties (Score:2)
If they have a guy for the fire next week, they get a penny, otherwise they get shot as rebellious colonists:)
uh... missing... yes, I know. (Score:4, Insightful)
Where are the "I don't give a flying fuck", "we don't celebrate Halloween over here", "we don't celebrate Halloween like that over here", etc. options?
Yes, I know, don't complain... yes I know, /. is an american site... I just sometimes wish it would pull its head out of its own arse and stop supporting anti-american prejudice, you know?
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so if I visit a site from another nation, and they have a poll about a local holiday, should I post how butt hurt I am?
How dare Americans talk about an American event on an American site cause someone from whogivesashit might get ruffled, how rude.
Paintballs. (Score:5, Funny)
The velocity of their treats depends on their tricks.
I used to rig ghosts on fishing-line zip-lines (invisible in the dark) so they'd swoop in at high velocity when they were walking back down the driveway. Lots of loooong waits for the right moment, but the few times I got it right they would hear something fluttering up behind them; they absolutely piss themselves in terror when they turn and see this THING coming at them at tens of meters per second and fly just over their heads.
Their screams have kept me warm at night for years.
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I did exactly this one year back when I was in my late teens (too old to trick or treat, but young enough to have fun still). Sitting on the roof all night was fun, and those moments when you get it right and scare the crap out of them make it all worth it. People simply do not generally look up....
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Rural dogs (Score:2)
Trick or treat not popular in Spain, besides,
1) I live in a rural area - people rarely see this area :-)
2) We have three German Shepherds. Assuming you can find 1) Someone coming to this area, and 2) Someone Spanish doing 'trick or treat', I think they would do nothing to my house
Lazy kids today (Score:2)
Options three and six overlap (Score:2)
Isn't
Will get fruit, religious pamphlets or other non-candy
essentially the same as
Will probably egg or otherwise vandalize my house.
Good Stuff (Score:2)
In our new house, I'm told by the previous owner to expect about 12 kids, tops. So I'll probably get decent sized candy and non-candy stuff for those who show up.
At the previous residence, we had to economize with "fun" size items. We had 210 trick-or-treaters -- not counting the grown-ups that escorted the little kids -- before running out of stuff and finally having to turn out the lights. To our surprise, the mini play-doh cans went quickly, even with good candy still in the baskets.
First year we lived
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Old enough to drive? No candy. Exception for peopel who do something awesome. A dad dress as a dinosaurs and going "RAWR!" that's a candy. Dad wearing a sports jersey as a 'costume' no candy.
No costume? no candy regardless of age.
My wife and I often go out bags with a small candy, some trinket. One year we gave out bags of candy and sealed pokemon cards.
This year, probably full size bars.
They'll get a fruity, religious pamphlet. (Score:2)
depends on the age :) (Score:2)
I did this last year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5q4GYXFDLo [youtube.com]
The older kids loved it and made it to the door to get their candy. But the young ones were scared s%^&less. I just thought it was fun. Didn't even think it would be scary to kids!
Stephen Lynch - Halloween lyrics (Score:2)
The sound of cute little footsteps
as they approach my front door
Letting the children inside to drink beers
Razor blades hidden in Three Musketeers
Screams from the basement of kids begging to be set free
That's what Halloween means to me
Tightening the clamps that are holding
their little heads so tight
Putting my lips to their ears
as I whisper please don't fight
I promise to you go home
if you swear not to tell a soul
Well I'll just untie these
I'm kidding, now where is my hacksaw*? Let's rock and roll!
A pinch of yo
Black Black (Score:2)
Note to parents: Don't take your kids to the home of an intentionally childless couple - we will load them up on stimulants before sending them back to you.
MUHWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!! HAPPY HALLOW'S EVE, BITCHES!
Its a religious holiday damn it! (Score:3)
leave the pagans alone
For the ones who knock... (Score:3)
WTF? (Score:4, Funny)
Kids who come to our house will get a mix of stuff (fruits, nuts, candies). They most definitely will not get any religious pamphlets, not even those espousing the avoidance of religion.
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Re:WTF? (Score:5, Funny)
Many of the are completely unawares of how much sugar is actually in fruit.
On the plus side, it's nice of them to offer up both an object to throw AND a target.
Nope. (Score:5, Insightful)
No, there isn't. It's chemically identical. However, the fruit also contains fiber. You have to look at the big picture.
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Further to the parent poster's point, I had read an article somewhere online (thus making me an implacable authority figure on the subject...) which stated that consuming the sugars in fruits along with the fiber slowed digestion of the sugars as the stomach is forced to break down the fibers in order to absorb the sugar. This helps to prevent the high-low fluctuation in blood sugar which leads to unhealthy food choices and overconsumption during low periods. The article claimed that processed sugars and fr
Re:Nope. (Score:5, Informative)
Sucrose is not a simple sugar (it's a glucose joined with a fructose). Most plants do not contain sucrose. Fruits are high in fructose, while grains are high in glucose. To make high fructose corn syrup, they remove part of the glucose in corn-syrup to get it to a 50/50 mixture so that it will taste more like sucrose, though it does taste a bit sweeter. None of these things are chemically altered in any way when the remove them from their plant based sources and put them into processed foods. However, they remove many other nutrients, as well as fiber, from the plants during this process. That is why processed foods aren't as nutritious. The sugar is the same.
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Sanctimony (Score:5, Insightful)
Why is fruit lumped in with religious pamphlets and other non-candy?
Sanctimonious people making a statement?
Let's face it, many folks with strong beliefs have this "beleive the way I do or you're damned!"
It's all about their pathetic little egos. Sure, they'll wrap it up with some rationalization like, "It's to keep you healthy!" or "It's to save your soul!" but in the end, the more folks who believe the way they do, the more comfortable that they are "right".
Let's put it this way, if you truly know that you are right, you STFU knowing that the truth will show itself. Example, eating too much animal products do have some negative effects on one's health. That's why moderation is important. Go cold turkey (pun accidental)? That's more of a personal value judgement than one backed by data - although, I have seen some compelling data that doesn't make the Vegan crowd look so kooky.
As far as the religous example goes, if you have to proselytize then you don't truly believe.
A Buddhist once explained to me why they don't proselytize. "We work on changing ourselves and as we become less angry, attached, more calm, and happier, and if someone asks us "what has changed?" then we tell them about our Buddhist practice.
That explains why they aren't such pains in the asses like the Mormons, Jehova's, and every other Christian cult that insists on annoying me at home.
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It's all about their pathetic little egos. Sure, they'll wrap it up with some rationalization like, "It's to keep you healthy!" or "It's to save your soul!" but in the end, the more folks who believe the way they do, the more comfortable that they are "right".
<cough> Michelle Obama </cough>
Re:Sanctimony (Score:4, Informative)
really? REALLY? are you really that fucking stupid? The first lady wants people to get out side, kids to play more, and for people to grow their own food,. is possible.
What kind of asshole has a problem with that? I mean, beside you.
Re:Sanctimony (Score:5, Informative)
As far as the religous example goes, if you have to proselytize then you don't truly believe.
Not true. Proselytizing is a command of scripture, so if you're NOT doing it, then you don't truly believe.
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Requiring believers to proselytize is a sign of weakness..
You'll have to take that up with the Lord, then, because He commanded it.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Michael Grant (a classicist) states that "In recent years, 'no serious scholar has ventured to postulate the non historicity of Jesus' or at any rate very few, and they have not succeeded in disposing of the much stronger, indeed very abundant, evidence to the contrary." in Jesus: An Historian's Review of the Gospels by Micjhael Grant 2004 ISBN 1898799881 page 200
Richard A. Burridge states: "There are those who argue that Jesus is a figment of the Church’s imagination, that there never was a Jesus at all. I have to say that I do not know any respectable critical scholar who says that any more." in Jesus Now and Then by Richard A. Burridge and Graham Gould (Apr 1, 2004) ISBN 0802809774 page 34
Robert E. Van Voorst Jesus Outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence Eerdmans Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-8028-4368-9 page 16 states: "biblical scholars and classical historians regard theories of non-existence of Jesus as effectively refuted"
James D. G. Dunn "Paul's understanding of the death of Jesus" in Sacrifice and Redemption edited by S. W. Sykes (Dec 3, 2007) Cambridge University Press ISBN 052104460X pages 35-36 states that the theories of non-existence of Jesus are "a thoroughly dead thesis"
The Gospels and Jesus by Graham Stanton, 1989 ISBN 0192132415 Oxford University Press, page 145 states : "Today nearly all historians, whether Christians or not, accept that Jesus existed".
Not believing, or not even taking the time to look at some writings on the subject, is the easy answer. It is the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and singing the Flintsones theme. Even to a casual historian, something pretty strange happened 2000-ish years ago.
Re:Sanctimony (Score:4, Insightful)
Might as well take it up with the tooth fairy. Your "lord" is a fictitious creation of men
[Jesus existed] Even to a casual historian, something pretty strange happened 2000-ish years ago.
No. They agree there was a man named Jesus who acquired a cult following of mostly illiterate, superstitious people who lived over 2000 years ago. Basically nothing more spectacular than the David Copperfield or L. Ron Hubbard of his time, except more people were gullible back then. Pretty much everything ancient people thought they saw of trolls and goblins and nymphs and mares and yetis and the Loch Ness monster is bogus. Everyone they thought used magic like witches and wizards and warlocks and sorcerers is bogus. But Jesus, yep they sure got that one right - undoubtedly divine power in action, no way to pull a fast one on them.
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It wasn't something very strange at all, it's something that happens at least once or twice per decade on average. And on average roughly once every roughly 100 years, that thing then results in thousands of believers. About once in 400 years or so you get millions of believers.
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Re:Sanctimony (Score:5, Interesting)
Well, I am Buddhist, and live in a zendo so it's fairly likely that many of the people who stop by to trick or treat might even figure it out. (A surprisingly number of people don't - there is a sign, albeit small, and a buddha on the porch.)
We don't in fact hand out candy - kind of a long story, but partly it's our own stances on nutrition, partly it's that most candy that's packaged for handing out on Halloween is pretty lousy candy. OTOH, we don't want to be the downers on the block - so we're handing out glow bracelets and multi-colored led glowies (think throwies but with a pin instead of a magnet, and a more interesting led). Last year we only had bracelets - and in 35 minutes went through 200 of them.
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So both 3 and 6 apply to you. Unless fruit and nut sis in the candy.
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Seriously?
It's lumped in with it because they're all examples of things kids don't generally want. We all HATED the houses that give you crap like this. I remember one house used to give out nickles or pennies. Gee thanks.. I can't even BUY a candy bar with that. Promoting your own ideas of what's nutrition or proper halloween behaviour is really against the spirit of the holiday.
Re:WTF? (Score:5, Insightful)
Why is fruit lumped in with religious pamphlets and other non-candy?.
"Things that kids don't want for Halloween"
Re:WTF? (Score:5, Funny)
Kids who come to THIS house will walk away with Linux CDs. Who knows what distro they'll get? It might not even be compatible with their processor architecture! That's part of the Halloween fun!
So, I picked "religious pamphlets".
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This a great idea! So great, I shall copy it.
Kids will have a one in three chance of walking away with Arch.
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I would tell them to come back on the 11th of November when we celebrate St. Martin's day [wikipedia.org]. Of course I won't be opening my door at all that evening.
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I lok forward to sending my most heavily insured child to your residence.
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Don't complain about lack of options
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We throw snowballs down to the ones who do, so at least they get something.
Is that something they want? A friend who'd seen some in an American movie asked me to bring some back when I visited the US. We opened them at a house party, and between about 25 people we only managed to eat half of one of them.
Clearing up afterwards, we wondered if we should put them with the compostable waste, or for landfill.
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American Hostess Sno Balls should be disposed of along with toxic waste or in those medical disposal bags. You might poison a perfectly good landfill if you throw one away in the regular trash.
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Like many thing, it goes back to childhood experiences. AS a child, yes, they want them. They are big and soft and tasty.. to kids.
If you don't have a childhood emotional attachment, I can't imagine an adult enjoying them. I like them, and that's why. Don't get me wrong, I don't eat them any more, cause I changed my diet a few years ago.
Just writing about them is giving me a craving for one.
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The American ones are completely chemical: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hostess-Sno-Ball-WS.jpg [wikipedia.org] . I found them in a petrol station shop, where I'm sure they sit for months before being purchased.
The chocolate cake is dry and powdery, and doesn't taste of chocolate.
The cream filling is oily, artificially sweetened (or maybe HFCS) gloop.
The marshmallow coating is like the foam my laptop case is made from -- it bounces slightly and is completely tasteless.
The only natural thing is the coconut flakes.
They
Re: (Score:2)
Find me one cake, anywhere on the planet that isn't made up of chemicals.
Go on.
So you ate an old one, and judge by that? how amzingly...stupid.
Sugar, Water, Corn Syrup, Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour [Flour, Reduced Iron, B Vitamins (Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Folic Acid)], Coconut (Sulfite Treated), Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable and/or Animal Shortening (Soybean, Cottonseed and/or Canola Oil, Beef Fat), High Fructose Corn Syrup.
Contains 2% or Less of: Cocoa, Gelatin, Modi
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Find me one cake, anywhere on the planet that isn't made up of chemicals.
Go on.
Most cakes I bake myself, depending what ingredients I use. Anything bought from a shop labelled "organic", or sometimes simply better quality products.
Oh -- when discussing food, "chemical" is usually taken to mean "artificial chemical". Did the ingredient come from a farm or a lab? Definition 2 [wiktionary.org].
So you ate an old one, and judge by that? how amzingly...stupid.
Not as far as I know. I ate it a few days after buying it. I've also eaten part of a Twinkie, which wasn't much better. I'd rather not eat:
Sugar, Water, Corn Syrup, Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour [Flour, Reduced Iron, B Vitamins (Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Folic Acid)], Coconut (Sulfite Treated), Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable and/or Animal Shortening (Soybean, Cottonseed and/or Canola Oil, Beef Fat), High Fructose Corn Syrup.
...enough of that.
The equivalent British product (popular with child
Re: (Score:3)
Could you have missed his point more completely?
ALL CAKE (even insufferably smug organic cake is made up of nothing but chemicals.
The common informal definition of "chemical" in this context is a processed food ingredient, and it's obvious that that's the meaning I was using. A chemist would say "substance" if they wanted your/geekoid's meaning.
Being pedantic and obtuse about the meaning of words makes for a crap debate.
(That's "crap" as in "poor", and that's "poor" as in "not worthwhile".)
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So you know kids are going to be attacked and robbed, and you response is to throw snowballs at the victims?
What a bunch of assholes. Assholes that the world doesn't need.
How about to stop getting stoned and help stop kids from getting robbed? NO, no that would require effort.
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Re: (Score:2)
"Fuck that."
how about you change that to:
"Fix that". Or is effort not your thing?
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Re:No costume, no candy (Score:5, Interesting)
I give the teenagers a lecture about being beggars. The little kids are entertainers, costumes and all. But once they are too cool for costumes they are just beggars.
I then hand them a roll of toilet paper each. Now they are extortionists, like Tony Soprano. Much better. I point out that if they use the TP on my trees they will be back to being beggars. They do have permission to TP my trees (hoping they are normal kids and will TP trees they don't have permission to).
I will occasionally teach a borderline case how to throw TP so it unravels in flight.
Re: (Score:3)
That's fucked up man...