Gary’s next door neighbor has a dark house and they are in their patio drinking. Gary has called them out on it.
Leo thinks that there was nothing to call them out on. If they want to have a quiet night, just leave them alone.
Anti-social behavior is not condoned in this neighborhood. Once a year children get dressed up and come to houses. If you don't want to give candy to teens dressed up in Tee-Shirts ... Gary understands that ... so close up shop at 9:00 p.m.
The neighbors Gary speaks of, have extremely loud pool parties nearly every stinkin' Saturday. Gary can hear them arguing who is the drunkest over their radio which gets louder as they get drunker. One day a year, buy some candy and be pleasant ... let the children have have a good time at one's personal expense. Gary says Bah Humbug to those who feel they need private time on a children's holiday. Pick another day.
And I object to the idea of enforced compliance to social activity if one does not want to participate. People have no obligation to hand out candy, and no, it is not a moral or societal failure if they want to sit out a holiday, "children's" or otherwise.
Of course there is no "obli
Gary’s next door neighbor has a dark house and they are in their patio drinking. Gary has called them out on it.
Leo thinks that there was nothing to call them out on. If they want to have a quiet night, just leave them alone.
Anti-social behavior is not condoned in this neighborhood. Once a year children get dressed up and come to houses. If you don't want to give candy to teens dressed up in Tee-Shirts ... Gary understands that ... so close up shop at 9:00 p.m.
The neighbors Gary speaks of, have extremely loud pool parties nearly every stinkin' Saturday. Gary can hear them arguing who is the drunkest over their radio which gets louder as they get drunker. One day a year, buy some candy and be pleasant ... let the children have have a good time at one's personal expense. Gary says Bah Humbug to those who feel they need private time on a children's holiday. Pick another day.
And I object to the idea of enforced compliance to social activity if one does not want to participate. People have no obligation to hand out candy, and no, it is not a moral or societal failure if they want to sit out a holiday, "children's" or otherwise.
There is no obligation ... there is no law ... to Gary it is a matter of being a little magnanimous. Spend ten bucks, turn on your porch light, make a child happy. Participate ... make a child smile. You don’t even have to find a kid, they’ll come to you. Yes, for Gary it is both a moral and societal black mark for, those who do not face extreme circumstances, not to participate just one day a year and hand out some candy to children. Participating in Halloween, is similar to Gary, as helping out a handicapped person at the store, or giving an elderly person your seat on the bus, returning a wallet to its owner, giving a glass of water to the post person on a hot day, taking in a lost dog or cat ... making a child smile.
Yes, Halloween is cheesy and a pain in the neck and something most of us would rather not do after a tough day at work. Yes, all ages participate in Halloween, but I choose to focus on the children, all dressed up in make-believe outfits, big-eyed and so happy to receive a piece of candy. For those who put ‘making a child happy’ over their own wants and turn on the porch light instead of retreating to the backyard ... God Bless you, you made a child happy.
Our days are made up of thousands of tiny acts. There is no law declaring we be decent and kind. There is no written obligation requiring humans to act humanely, but if we have an opportunity to make someone smile after we execute a tiny act ... we, society, even the world is just a little warmer a little better.
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