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

[DesignFox]

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.

I didn't bring it up earlier, but that's what tended to happen in my neighborhood...

[Flyndaran]

I didn't bring it up earlier, but that's what tended to happen in my neighborhood...

That would change a minor crime vandalism into menacing a much bigger crime. Then I sure as hell would call the cops for such threats.

[Lace Neil Singer]

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.

Therefore, several free gifts. XD I'm sure it would dry out eventually if you placed it next to a heater and we do have a recession... XD

[DesignFox]

That would change a minor crime vandalism into menacing a much bigger crime. Then I sure as hell would call the cops for such threats.

That makes it a totally different situation.

I'm not advocating harrassment. I'm just making the point that the people who got their panties in a twist over a bit of toilet paper often found themselves on the receiving end of more frequent pranking. People who didn't make a fuss about the toilet paper generally didn't get bothered and only had to clean up their yard once a year.

Vandalism and pranking are on two different levels for me. A once a year prank and continual harrassment are also two entirely different things in my book.

When I was growing up I learned that the bullies quickly left you alone if they couldn't get a rise out of you. The more you protested, the more they picked on you. Once I wised up and managed to turn it around on them, THEY were the ones getting laughed at.

Same rules sort of applied in regards to michief night. If the kids can't get a rise out of you, they don't bother you. You're the crotchety guy that calls the cops at a drop of a hat? You make yourself the target. Either because they're going to push limits and see how far they can go before they get caught, or because they were doing something stupid, non-damaging that they thought was funny and NOW they're in trouble. Sometimes it's retaliation, or sometimes simply, "Well, if I'm going to get into trouble, might as well EARN the punishment."

If I know I'm going to get in trouble for beating someone up because I gave them a push, and the punishment is the same regardless of the push or a punch, I'm gonna just go punch the guy in the face. Might as well have the crime fit the punishment. NOTE: I'm not really like that at all, just making up an example.

Of course, there is also a difference between calling the cops and having them come chase the kids off, and actually pressing charges. I've no problems with giving kids a scare when it's earned. Red and blue flashing lights will get them to leave and perhaps not come back...in a lot of instances I think that's all that is necessary.

If they're damaging stuff...WHOLE other story.