It's time to terrify kids about the evils of candy

[Flyndaran]

That's what I mean. I don't think someone doing what you were doing deserves to have an arrest record.

First offenses for juveniles don't get records. And even if they did, it would be sealed upon reaching 18.
I'm not their parent, and demanding that I accept anything less than my rights is offensive, in my opinion.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Yeah, and terrifying kids to death over a few pieces of silly string is worth it? If it's actual criminal damage, then by all means, if the parents of the kids responsible won't listen, call the police. In other words, smashed pumpkins, slashed car tires, paint thrown at your front door or over your car. Not silly string or toilet roll over your trees. There's such thing as overreacting, and wasting police time; if you make a habit of calling the police every single time a child TPs your house, they might just charge you with that.

[the_std]

There's such thing as overreacting, and wasting police time; if you make a habit of calling the police every single time a child TPs your house, they might just charge you with that.

They won't, and they shouldn't. TPing is still vandalism, no matter how minor you say it is, and that means it's still criminal. Sure, the police have better things to do, but they can't charge you for calling them about a crime.

[Lace Neil Singer]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasting_police_time

It might be different where you are, but over here, if anyone constantly bombarded the police with reports of criminal damage at Halloween and all it was was a few strands of silly string or toilet roll, they'd soon get slapped with wasting police time.

Also, your children hitting each other is assault. What, are you going to call the police every time your eight year old slaps your ten year old? Or perhaps call the police whenever someone walks accross your lawn; that's trespassing. It just smacks to me of using a sledgehammer to crush an ant.

[Fashion Lad!]

Just reading the OP and a few random posts..

Someone needs to do something. Kids are FAT these days. Honestly. I went to the store a few weekends ago because I wanted some new clothes. I go between a medium and a large when it comes to shirts. I'm 5'11". A mom was buying some clothes for her son, he was probably 5'2-5'4" and he needed an extra large. I know this because the mom asked me, "is there an extra large on the top shelf?"

A dentist offering $1 per pound isn't street value on candy, but it is money and it does get rid of shit kids probably shouldn't have large quantities of anyway.

[DesignFox]

<snip> It just smacks to me of using a sledgehammer to crush an ant.

That's all I'm saying, too, Lace. As usual, someone else puts it better than I do. Property damage like what you described should absolutely be reported and dealt with. Non-damaging mischief, I'll grant, can be annoying, but do we really need the overkill?

If they were my own kids, I'd kick their asses if they got caught doing real damage. That shit would not fly, and somehow, they'd have to apologize and pay for it out of their own pocket.

If they got caught for TP, flour, etc. I'd make them apologize and go clean it up themselves. If they can't stick to doing their friends houses, and start hitting random people, then I wouldn't allow them out.

Of course, if I ever get the crazy bug and decide to have kids, I would hope they wouldn't want to do a mischief night, or at the worst they'd be the kind of kid who wouldn't damage anything. *shrug* As long as the kids are just having fun and not doing anything harmful, I don't really have a problem with it.

If the kids involved are all your neighbors, I can't see why you wouldn't at least TRY and settle it with the parents first. But I live in an idealized world where everyone takes responsibility for their actions, tolerates the simple BS, and doesn't get all arrest and sue happy over minor infractions.

Maybe we should start a separate thread for this? We're de-railing some of the original argument.

And FashionLad, you bring up a point. I don't think the dentist was trying to rip kids off. I think he was just trying to give them a healthy alternative to actually eating the candy they received. Gathering the candy costs the kids nothing, so turning it in for a couple of bucks might be a nice alternate treat.

[AdminAssistant]

Or the parents could put the candy away and let the kids have a few pieces at a time. I mean...it's freakin' candy. I realize that childhood obesity is a problem, but why can't kids have some freakin' Halloween candy? The occasional Twinkie?

I'd hate to be a kid now. No fun allowed and people constantly shoving carrot sticks in your face.

[Nyoibo]

Or the parents could put the candy away and let the kids have a few pieces at a time. I mean...it's freakin' candy. I realize that childhood obesity is a problem, but why can't kids have some freakin' Halloween candy? The occasional Twinkie?

Because it's never just "occasional", that's the problem.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Or the parents could put the candy away and let the kids have a few pieces at a time.

My mum used to do that; lol, how I hated her at the time. XD

[Flyndaran]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasting_police_time

It might be different where you are, but over here, if anyone constantly bombarded the police with reports of criminal damage at Halloween and all it was was a few strands of silly string or toilet roll, they'd soon get slapped with wasting police time.

Also, your children hitting each other is assault. What, are you going to call the police every time your eight year old slaps your ten year old? Or perhaps call the police whenever someone walks accross your lawn; that's trespassing. It just smacks to me of using a sledgehammer to crush an ant.

Here, I would imagine police refusing to answer a legitimate call about a crime would get sued. I love how you belittle the amount of vandalism as a toilet roll. Most use many rolls. Besides, forcing me to do work is not a strange kid's right. It's my girlfriend's nagging that usually does it...

[Lace Neil Singer]

Toilet roll costs money; why not just roll it up and treat it as a free gift, instead of complaining? XD

[Flyndaran]

Toilet roll costs money; why not just roll it up and treat it as a free gift, instead of complaining? XD

I live in the pacific northwest. The idea of remaining dry outside is alien to us.

[jackfaire]

I live in the pacific northwest. The idea of remaining dry outside is alien to us.

Yes it is. God I love it.

[DesignFox]

Toilet roll costs money; why not just roll it up and treat it as a free gift, instead of complaining? XD

LMAO!

Hey, in the marching band, if you were really special, we sprang for Charmin. That stuff wouldn't disintegrate for MONTHS! XD

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I imagine someone who lost their minds over one roll of Charmin on one night out of the year to the point of calling the cops probably invites a lot of other rolls of Charmins on other nights of the year, too.

I'm just saying.