Trick or Treating is Getting Weird: Condoms
By: Keith
The Associated Press has reported (here) that an Oregon couple gave out condoms to teenaged trick or treaters on Halloween in an attempt to “promote health”. It came to light when the father of a 14 year old girl took offense and said something. The couple, for their part, says it was a mistake to give out a condom to a 14 year old, that they usually ask kids if they’re 16 and, if they are, they’ll give out a condom and a speech on safe sex, to which I said to myself “Who on earth would go trick or treating at that house?” Maybe a kid who wants a condom?
1. Why are teenagers trick or treating in the first place? The couple apparently gets enough kids 16 and over to make giving a speech a stated policy. I stopped trick or treating when I was 12. I still went out on Halloween for a few years after that but not to knock on doors; I wisely left that to the little kids.
2. These folks also give out candy and toothbrushes. I can respect that. On the one hand they seem like useless do gooders, but on the other hand they’re giving out candy. At least they realize kids want candy. If I got candy, I wouldn’t be upset to also get a toothbrush. I think that’s a pretty good compromise.
3. If a 16 year old trick or treater showed up at my door, I would reluctantly give him candy, but I’d also ask him why the heck he’s still trick or treating, and I’d probably give him a speech about how lame he is.
4. I don’t have a problem with the safe sex speech as long as they aren’t giving it to little kids. It seems to me that the older kids had it coming if they thought trick or treating at 16 was the thing to do. Serves them right.
So, what do you think? Is this couple just totally nuts, partially nuts, mildly odd or maybe even completely normal? Would you be upset if your 16 year old came home with a condom? I know I’d be livid if my 14 year old did, but I might be able to brush it off at 16. I’d think it was weird, and I would probably be a little upset, but I would most likely simply chalk it up to quirky neighbors. Besides, I can’t imagine letting my kid go trick or treating at 16 anyway so I doubt the condom issue would be an issue.
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Since nobody got hurt: Mildly odd
I’m not sure what’s more disturbing. The people giving out condoms, or the kids trick-or-treating at that age. However, I would be a little upset that another couple would feel it’s their responsibility to educate my kid(s) on safe sex. That’s my job as a parent and I don’t want anyone else to do my job.
Dennis: Yeah, my first reaction was to the condoms and giving out a speech, but then I thought about it and said “wait! Why are these kids even trick or treating in the first place!?” Duh
Wow, I just laughed this whole time, that was funny. Yes that is weird and crazy at the same time. It is the job of parents to educate the children of sex, not neighbors. Those teens are too big to be trick and treating. I say and because at 16 they are tricking and treating at the same time. They are tricking those people into giving them treats, then the are getting tricked right back by getting condoms geez and a speech HA! jokes on them, what a laugh.
Mari: Agreed. IT’s a little odd for neighbors to be giving the safe sex speech. That would make for a pretty awkward neighborhood barbecue
I’m so glad to read this! I won’t let my kids trick-or-treat once they’re teens. They think I’m the wicked witch of the west for this. My eldest daughter, who went to PS for junior high especially hated the rule. ALL of her friends trick-or-treated. It ends up that my husband trick-or-treated as a teen also (I stopped, like you, before I was a teen). I came up with the rule after having so many negative experiences with teen trick-or-treaters when my kids were younger. The teens will do things like wear roller blades so that they can go faster, but they also knock little kids over and so forth because they are going so fast. Seriously, how lame is it to want candy so badly that you wear roller blades to trick or treat?!?!? I have a better idea, get a job and buy your own candy! Though, I do have to admit, as the mom of three teens, getting a job is easier said than done for teens these days…
Maureen: I can’t stand teenage trick or treaters. Like you, I have a hard time understanding how candy is so important to some of these teens. Roller blades? We haven’t seen that yet, but when I do I’ll be sure to give them a lecture. That’s wrong
I had the same impression. Trick or treat backfired in that case big time but the whole incident shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Come to think of it, I might give them reflective stickers next time together with a lecture on road safety at night. Let’s see how that goes down.
I’m actually puzzled that mighty AP picks up on minor stuff like that as if there aren’t more important issues to report.
Jorg (sorry, I can’t put an umlaut with my computer): I agree. It’s seems super weird at first. But after a little reflection I couldn’t help but giggle
I don’t mind teens trick or treating as long as they’re in costume. If they don’t make the effort for a costume, I won’t give them a treat. I have a friend in Indiana who had PARENTS trick or treating. What have we come to as a society? But to hand out condoms?! I don’t even think schools should have the right to do that. (another blog Keith?) LOL
EVO: Yeah, I’m not a fan of the whole condom thing either. This is one reason I’m a little protective over my boys and their interaction with state controlled institutions. The decision making abilities of bureaucracy leaves a bit to be desired.
But, I expect that sort of silliness from schools. Trick or treating though? I’m not sure if its’ funny, sad or if I should be mad. I’m with the dad; I’d be mad if my 14 year old daughter got a condom. That’s just wrong. But, I almost have to laugh at 16 year olds who trick or treat and get a condom.
It does seem like a trick more than a treat, and who’s to know if they were punctured? And more importantly, are the teens taught they’re not fail proof on any level; STDs or pregnancy. I too would be perturbed if either sex of my children were given a condom for trick or treating. It gives the message it’s okay to have sex. Here’s a condom, go have fun. what the heck? That’s not for them to decide with other children.
Some years ago, when I lived for a short time in a shared house, we had a couple of older kids (15-16y) turning up at our door. One of my house mates, who just bought himself a shiny new car, gave those teenagers, to our horror, $30 to make sure they leave his car alone ,or so he thought. Of course, the same kids turned up the following day in the hope that they get more out of us.The only trouble was that they bumped into me. I gave them a very unPC like dressing down, pointed at my mates car and told them to keep their fingers off ‘my’ car. Later on that night, those kids slashed the tyres ……..I moved out 2 month later.
That’s weird. Well there are lots of different people out there. Some kids are just to old to be trick or treating and don’t even wear costumes. I heard one come to the door and say “Can I have some candy”. They don’t even say “Trick or Treat” or “Happy Halloween” anymore. It’s better with the younger kids. They don’t even care about the candy, they are just there for the fun of it.
Hmmm… it’s just a sign of where our culture is going I suppose.
We get some “kids” coming up to our door looking for candy that appear to be 14 or older. I tell them to go to Hell. No… I’m kidding. I reluctantly give them candy too
I think that giving kids condoms on Halloween isn’t really the time and place to do it. If some kid is going to have a life changing moment where they realize they should use condoms I don’t think it’s going to come at someones front doorstep during Halloween. That’s just me…
How to use my bridesmaid dresses as Halloween costumes?
Okay, I can see the point here. But I mean some kids aren’t like that! Me for instance and my friends, we’re going to trick or treat, but we don’t knock little kids down, that’s just plain mean. I mean we just go out for the fun of it, it’s our last years, and then we go to a restaurant together, nothing wrong with that. We want to still be kids. I want to still be a kid and enjoy the moments I have because I never got to trick or treat as a kid. But now I do and I want to savor the moment with having fun with my friends. And we would never egg or throw toilet paper in tree’s. Do you know how much eggs, and toilet paper are?! I wouldn’t want to throw money up in a tree, or throw a good egg at a person’s house causing financial damages to the siding. but all I’m saying is yes, there is an age. But we just want to have fun. thought I might educate the adults on hoe mature teenagers trick or treat. And don’t just trick