Halloween

[Boris+]

Hi Moby,

I suppose it's all a matter of personal preference, it's up to the individual, but why be a lemming? It's fine to just generally 'go with the flow' (in your own social group, that is), but why not a bit of individuality? (Not arguing with what you said, Moby - just thinking out loud). Maybe another word for 'individuality' could be initiative. It's all very well being 'one of the crowd', but there's no harm in what some folk call 'being different'.

Children benefit from education, from being stretched (and nurtured) - or so I think. Education doesn't stop or begin at the school gates, and have always set store by the thought that initiative and individuality can be a very good mindset.

Maybe it's a bit extreme, but to illustrate my point - during WW2 it would have been 'sorry about the war, Sir, we wouldn't let Hobart be an individual, pity about the lives lost, he wasn't allowed to show initiative'. We need individuals, and we need them to feel at home with showing initiative; this doesn't suddenly appear at the end of their school years, it has to be nurtured and encouraged as much as possible, don't we?

Anyway, for me (and my nearest and dearest) being a lemming is just plain boring. If other people want to be a lemming - fine; but it doesn't mean that they are right.

Em

[suespud]

Hi Sue,

I didn't mean to touch a sore point - and if I did (from your point of view), then apologies.

I'm not going to answer all the points you made as I think it won't do this thread any good; other than to say that for me there is absolutely nothing wrong with old values. People who maintain old values are not living in the past - it's very easy to live in the present and embrace the future and still maintain old values.

Part of this is imparting to the younger generation and children alike a practical ability and clamping down on being part of 'the throwaway society'. From my point of view, going to a shop and buying convenience food and ready made outfits is the thin end of the wedge. As much as is practicable I won't do that - and for me ..... my way of doing things has paid dividends.

So, I apologise if I caused you any discomfort, stress, annoyance or anguish, and hope you have a great day today.

-----------------

Hi Alan,

I like your choice of words - very apt.

Em

No sore points at all...In fact I'm puzzled at what would make you think that.....
Of course some old values are worth maintaining, never said they were not.
I guess, it's just different priorities.

As for convience food...it has it's place..at times.
Ready made fancy dress outfits......"it's the future"
Life is too short to worry about stuff like that.


As for discomfort,stress,annoyance,anguish you think you may have caused me......
Hell no...not in the least.



I'm having a great day...
Looking online...getting ready to order..my convenience foods, ready made pigs in blankets, stuffing,etc for Christmas....sausage rolls....quiche etc.....
M&S of course...

[GillD46]

Ordered all mine the first half hour they were available, a few weeks back - I'm rather obsessive about getting the collection time I want in Christmas Eve, always have the same one

I LOVE M&S Christmas Food - convenience food it may be, some of it, but it suits us very well

[Silver_Shiney]

On reflection, perhaps "celebrate" is the wrong word - "glamourise" is probably more what I am thinking

Shouldn't ' participate ' be the most important word ?

Those that do are not generally looking for hidden deep religious meanings but simply a day of fun to enjoy with their family and circle of friends ... if so then that has to be a whole lot better than sitting at home dabbing on the X Box or watching violent videos.

Agreed, but the deep spiritual side of life is behind this, whether you look for it or not.

As I said, why glamourise death, gore, horror? What is "good" about going round knocking on peoples' doors begging for sweets or money? It causes disruption - but that's okay, it's just harmless fun. Please don't use the argument "well you don't have to open the door" - some people might be expecting genuine visitors. Walking round my area yesterday I saw many broken eggs that someone has to clean up - but that's okay, it's just harmless fun. That "scream" mask is one of the most disturbing things going around but it's now been glamourised into a mask worn by little kids. It's okay though, it's just harmless fun. The woman who was gang-raped by a bunch of lads last night, who were all wearing "scream" masks, will be reminded of her ordeal every time she sees that damn thing. But, hey, it was just lads having harmless fun.

I've got nothing whatsoever against kids dressing up and having a party. But - and I will ask this again - why does it have to be as ghouls etc? Why not as "pretty" things?. Why does it have to involve making a nuisance of yourself to strangers?

[Dancing Queen]

Ordered all mine the first half hour they were available, a few weeks back - I'm rather obsessive about getting the collection time I want in Christmas Eve, always have the same one

I LOVE M&S Christmas Food - convenience food it may be, some of it, but it suits us very well

Gill, my husband loves to quote me ... If M&S don't sell it then we don't have it

Goodness what is there not to like about their food, the Christmas selection this year is just fantastic.

[Boris+]

Hi Sue,

For a long time now our festive eating etc has been a bit different to the majority - but this year it's going quite 'off piste' - (hope I won't be pisted off!!!).

So, have a great time - I expect that for many half the fun is the selecting items and ordering - and we'll have our own sort of great time.

Bye the way - mistletoe still included!

Hah Bumhug!

Em

[david63]

It might be a bit extreme but they do not "celebrate" Halloween in India

[Manoverboard]

That's a coincidence ... we didn't celebrate it either but we did have a great curry

[Quizzical Bob]

We had just sat down to do dinner when the doorbell rang. "It's trick or treat" I said to mrs Q who went to get some chocolate biscuits. We opened the door to see two little children in wonderful costumes, one witch and one scary pirate. After twenty seconds they lifted up their masks and said "hello grandad" it was our daughter's children from just round the corner and we hadn't recognised them

They moved back near to us 3 months ago and it hadn't occurred to us that it might be them! But it was a lovely surprise.

[Ray Scully]

Gill, my husband loves to quote me ... If M&S don't sell it then we don't have it

Goodness what is there not to like about their food, the Christmas selection this year is just fantastic.

Its the pound shops Aldi and Lidl for us poor folk

Ray

BTW
What a difference a generation makes. Fifteen to twenty years ago Halloween was not an event I looked forward to with any degree of relish. It normally meant the village center was strewn with eggs and flour, cars were covered in silly string and Evelyn Sexton and her helpers spent the following morning trying to de-egg our Mawdesley Village Hall. Today nothing; the young people of our village are to be congratulated for being so socially aware and far more responsible than SOME of their parents

[GillD46]

Gill, my husband loves to quote me ... If M&S don't sell it then we don't have it

Goodness what is there not to like about their food, the Christmas selection this year is just fantastic.

Yep, that's us too - and long may it continue

[Silver_Shiney]

excellent, Ray

[Dancing Queen]

Well if you will keep going on all these cruises Ray

[suespud]

Gill, my husband loves to quote me ... If M&S don't sell it then we don't have it

Goodness what is there not to like about their food, the Christmas selection this year is just fantastic.[/quote]


Its the pound shops Aldi and Lidl for us poor folk

Ray



BTW
What a difference a generation makes. Fifteen to twenty years ago Halloween was not an event I looked forward to with any degree of relish. It normally meant the village center was strewn with eggs and flour, cars were covered in silly string and Evelyn Sexton and her helpers spent the following morning trying to de-egg our Mawdesley Village Hall. Today nothing; the young people of our village are to be congratulated for being so socially aware and far more responsible than SOME of their parents[/quote]



Must admit Ray, we have never seen nor heard of any egg related attacks in this area..ever.
The young ones just look on it as pure dressing up and having fun....for a couple of hours once a year!!! Nothing sinister, nothing nasty....just kids being kids.

[Silver_Shiney]

You're lucky, Sue. This is classed as a decent area, yet the local shops have stopped children buying eggs because of the number of egg-throwing incidents. In the past I could have made a good number of omelettes to feed the homeless with the number of eggs that had been thrown at my house. The little blighters still get their hands on eggs from somewhere, as witnessed by the number I saw on the ground yesterday. Don't ever try to tell me this is good clean fun, it's out and out vandalism.

[suespud]

You're lucky, Sue. This is classed as a decent area, yet the local shops have stopped children buying eggs because of the number of egg-throwing incidents. In the past I could have made a good number of omelettes to feed the homeless with the number of eggs that had been thrown at my house. The little blighters still get their hands on eggs from somewhere, as witnessed by the number I saw on the ground yesterday. Don't ever try to tell me this is good clean fun, it's out and out vandalism.

Maybe we are lucky, I live in a very working class town ...Jarrow (albeit in the posh end )
We don't seem to get trouble like that.
I'm not saying it doesn't happen in other places..
I'm just saying it's not all bad on Halloween and for most people ,children and adults alike it is just fun...
Kids grow up too quick..let them have a bit fun without being frowned upon..even if you don't really agree.

[Silver_Shiney]

As I've made very clear, but doesn't seem to be getting through for some reason, it's the glamourisation of ghouls, gore, occult etc that I object to. The kids can have plenty of fun without that crap.

[suespud]

As I've made very clear, but doesn't seem to be getting through for some reason, it's the glamourisation of ghouls, gore, occult etc that I object to. The kids can have plenty of fun without that cr*p.

Ohh your view is very clear...
But that is your take on it...
Kids don't take it seriously..anymore than adults take horror films..Dracula movies..Frankenstien.. Beetle juice..type etc..
It's not real it's make believe...for a few hours..once a year..
Don't know why you can't seem to grasp that...

[Boris+]

And what bothers me Sue, is that you can't grasp what Alan is saying.

Em

[Ranchi]

I see Boris asked 'why be a lemming?' Well if you saw Attenborough's programme last week about the Arctic fox you., you will know why..if you didn't then go to iPlayer or Youtube and view it. We fell about laughing at it. Oops seem to have gone off topic!
Strve

[Silver_Shiney]

As I've made very clear, but doesn't seem to be getting through for some reason, it's the glamourisation of ghouls, gore, occult etc that I object to. The kids can have plenty of fun without that cr*p.

Ohh your view is very clear...
But that is your take on it...
Kids don't take it seriously..anymore than adults take horror films..Dracula movies..Frankenstien.. Beetle juice..type etc..
It's not real it's make believe...for a few hours..once a year..
Don't know why you can't seem to grasp that...

The occult behind it is very real. I don't know why you won't grasp that. And you say you live in the real world? I truly despair.

[suespud]

For goodness sake... It's just kids dressing up ...... not a bloody recruitment drive for "The Occult"!!!!!

[Quizzical Bob]

As I've made very clear, but doesn't seem to be getting through for some reason, it's the glamourisation of ghouls, gore, occult etc that I object to. The kids can have plenty of fun without that cr*p.

Ohh your view is very clear...
But that is your take on it...
Kids don't take it seriously..anymore than adults take horror films..Dracula movies..Frankenstien.. Beetle juice..type etc..
It's not real it's make believe...for a few hours..once a year..
Don't know why you can't seem to grasp that...

The occult behind it is very real. I don't know why you won't grasp that. And you say you live in the real world? I truly despair.

The occult, by definition, is not part of the real world.

[kaymar]

I think it's called solipsism, isn't it? A simple definition would be "if I can't see it, it doesn't exist."

Sue, as you say, in the posh end of Jarrow you have had no experience of the less pleasant side of Halloween "pranks" and long may that last. Others have not perhaps been so lucky and, leaving aside the more contentious occult connections, "trick or treat" can be, and is, an excuse for mindless vandalism, albeit by a very small minority.

Whatever, it is all over for another year - just fireworks through the letterbox to worry about now.

[suespud]

I think it's called solipsism, isn't it? A simple definition would be "if I can't see it, it doesn't exist."

Sue, as you say, in the posh end of Jarrow you have had no experience of the less pleasant side of Halloween "pranks" and long may that last. Others have not perhaps been so lucky and, leaving aside the more contentious occult connections, "trick or treat" can be, and is, an excuse for mindless vandalism, albeit by a very small minority.

Whatever, it is all over for another year - just fireworks through the letterbox to worry about now.

Kaymar, I fully accept that a very small minority use it as an act of vandalism. I never said it didn't happen.
Just as I accept there is an Occult.

Just don't accept children because of their fancy dress on one night, are being drawn into it.

I totally agree about the morons on bonfire night!!!!!