Halloween Is For Fun; Haters Should Hide In Their Homes [Block Talk]

ACROSS AMERICA — If there are Halloween fun haters out there, they didn’t respond to our Block Talk survey asking if an enormous skeleton is too, too much and if blood and guts are too, too gruesome.

Oh, there were a couple of people who aren’t into Halloween decorations, one a Long Islander who goes by “Grumpy Ghoul.”

“Halloween excess is just another part of the growing ignorance of Americans,” said Grumpy, a Long Islander.“The Rivertowns’ obsession with Halloween is embarrassing.”

And, in answer to our question about what’s too much, “Every bit of it,” said Elmhurst (Illinois) Patch reader MMS. “Fall decor is plenty for the season — pumpkins, friendly scarecrows, bales of hay.”

Though Halloween-loving in general, some readers were outspoken about displays of blood, gore and violence in neighborhoods where children go trick-or-treating. A reader named Joanne said the horror depicted in the yard displays in her neighborhood is so over the top that she’s afraid to walk around with her 6-year-old.

“It’s getting out of hand,” Joanne said. “I am really confused and not sure what purpose it serves. Don’t we have enough scares in our everyday lives in this fast-paced world of ours?”

Joanne, who described herself as a “mindful mom,” added: “I think we should just keep it happy, cozy Halloween-ey for all of our little neighborhood friends (our kids) instead of messing up their pure and innocent minds. If you love kids, stop the horror. It serves pure evil, nothing and nobody else.”

Rose, a Crystal Lake (Illinois) Patch reader, said some of the yard displays in her neighborhood also fit that bill.

“I know of a local house that does a huge display with a ‘massacre’ theme, full of gore, including a ‘butcher shop’ with bloody body parts,” Rose said. “In a time of too many real-life massacres, I find it gross and disturbing.”

The display is on a corner where young children wait for the school bus. “It that’s someone’s thing, fine, but I dislike that others have to view it without a choice,” Rose said.

A Hackettstown (New Jersey) Patch reader who frowns at Halloween decorations that depict body bags, electrocution or crime scenes pointed out: “People do still pass away at this time, and it’s triggering.”

Yes, But …

“This is so hard to answer because it depends on where the decorations are,” said Concord (New Hampshire) Patch reader Zoey. “In your back yard, I feel like, go to your heart’s content, but it feels different if it’s on the street where everyone can see. I think it is fair to be concerned about younger children or elderly that certain things might upset them or startle them.

“I also have sort of come to the conclusion, as I am writing this, that if it’s the day of Halloween, you really get a pass to go the extreme. But if it is like three weeks before Halloween for example, I think too much blood and gore, screaming, and flashing lights might be when I’d be willing to say it is ‘too much.’ ”

Old Town Alexandria (Virginia) Patch reader Margaret is also on the fence.

“It depends,” she said. “Taking up the whole yard is too much, unless the yard is very small. The large decorations are fine unless there’s six of them. Be respectful of the rest of the neighborhood. Not everyone loves a screaming werewolf or flashing lights.”

That said, she added. “I enjoy walking around and checking out the Halloween decorations around Alexandria. It’s kinda nice that everyone celebrates this time of year so fully.”

Lee in Massachusetts draws the line when there’s “too much clutter.” When there’s “no longer a theme, it starts to look like a yard sale, not a display,” the Burlington Patch and Woburn Patch reader said.

Jen, a Homewood-Flossmoor (Illinois) Patch reader, is a fan of Halloween displays in general, except those that are “a jumbled mess on a lawn with no plan or scene and doesn’t make sense.”

Holliston-Hopkinton (Massachusetts) Patch reader MJ thinks “blood and guts that is too realistic or suggesting violence goes beyond Halloween.”

“If you enjoy that ‘scare,’ there are plenty of movies to watch on your own time,” MJ said. “Your decorations should not prompt people to call police.”

Them Bones

The supersized, posable skeletons rising 12 and 20 feet from their “graves” in front yards all over America are pretty darned cool, some readers said.

“I especially love the giant skeletons and the creativity people use to display them,” said Lynn in Pennsylvania, a Yardley Patch and Newtown Patch reader.

“I have a 12-foot skeleton, and I love it!” said Halloween enthusiast Michelle.

“LOVE the giant skeletons,” echoed Oak Lawn (Illinois) Patch reader Lori, who used all caps to illustrate her enthusiasm for the towering bones.

Babylon Village (New York) Patch reader Gennygirl isn’t a fan.

“I’m not into the oversized decorations that have become very popular the last couple of years,” she said.

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She doesn’t like the inflatables, either, calling them “a lazy way to decorate that takes no effort and looks stupid when not running and is all crumpled up.”

Darien (Connecticut) Patch reader Jo thinks “really tall creatures and inflatables are too much,” calling them “overly creepy and scary.”

The Ghost Of Halloweens Past

Patch reader Eileen yearns for a kinder, gentler Halloween season.

“I remember Halloween being a lot more kid-friendly when I was a child,” she said. “My kids are easily scared by some of these decorations people put out. If my 2-year-old is too afraid to approach your house, it’s too scary and inappropriate. Trick or treat is for small children. Decorate for them.”

Eileen is over Halloween on steroids.

“Halloween has become too commercialized, just like Christmas,” she said. “When everyone is putting up the same blowup figures and giant skeletons, it’s just boring. I miss the cutesy wooden Halloween signs and window stickers people used to put up. Everyone had either made their decor or bought it from local craft shows. It was always different. I personally think it was better that way.”

Tinley Park (Illinois) Patch reader Gigi feels that. “I love old-fashioned pumpkins, scarecrows, etc.,” she said.

‘We Do It For The Joy’

Mokena (Illinois) Patch reader Nicole said there’s no right or wrong way to decorate.

“It’s like pizza toppings, in that there is something for everyone,” she explained. “I may not like pineapple on pizza, but I wouldn’t tell anyone else they are wrong for liking it.”

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Nicole said she and her husband spend weeks putting up their own Halloween display, but also get excited about their neighbors’ efforts.

“We do it for the joy it brings to our community,” she said. “I have seen other people’s displays that are not my style or what I personally think Halloween is all about, but I can still appreciate the hard work, time and money that goes into creating something that is meant to be fun.”

It’s all pretty simple, Sachem (New York) Patch reader TD said.

“Everyone has different tastes, and it’s their home to decorate as they see fit,” TD said. “Some people like it scary and some like it filled with blowup decorations. If it’s something you don’t want to look at, then look the other way.”

A Monster Mash, And That’s OK

Multiple readers said how their neighbors decorate for Halloween is their business, and that Halloween should be all about fun.

“Neighborhood etiquette would be mind your own business and let people enjoy the holiday the way they want in their own yard,” one reader said.

“Halloween is great, all decorations are OK,” one reader said. “It’s once a year. I don’t think other people should ruin a neighbor’s fun. If you don’t enjoy the spooky stuff, don’t put it up, but don’t tell someone else what to do in their own yard.”

“There’s no such thing as too much! I want it all, from creepy cute to monstrously horrifying!” said Windsor Locks-East Windsor Patch and Suffield Patch reader Amanda in Connecticut.

“There can’t be too much, it’s Halloween, we are all having fun, and it’s all about using your imagination,” an Across America Patch reader wrote. “People today are too sensitive to everything. They should stay in their safe little bubble inside their home.”

Nashua (New Hampshire) Patch reader Roberto said there’s “never too much” when it comes to Halloween, which when properly celebrated is “about ghouls, witches,vampires, werewolves and all other monsters.”

“Halloween is supposed to be fun and scary. Let people be creative and enjoy themselves,” said Virginia, who reads Plymouth-Whitemarsh Patch and Norristown Patch in Pennsylvania, as well as Across America Patch.

“This is the time of year people let loose,” said Middletown (New Jersey) Patch reader Cheryl.

“Life is depressing,” another Patch reader said. “Let’s all lighten up and enjoy the holidays, already.”

L., a Long Islander who reads Plainview Patch, Farmingdale Patch and Massapequa Patch, echoed that.

“There is so much to worry about in this world, but Halloween decor is not one of those things,” L. said. “Also, respect other people’s joy.”

“Halloween is the one day you can be anything you want to be,” Elmhurst Patch reader Chris said, calling Halloween displays an art form, many of them hand-crafted and months in the making. “You can express yourself in ways you’ve only dreamed.”

The people who live in Chris’ neighborhood are competitive, designing and constructing displays that rival what the Griswolds would come up with if they decorated for Halloween.

“We are always in competition to make a better display,” Chris said. “Our biggest competitor is ourselves. We must be better than last year. We look for ways to improve all the time. Now as for the amount of gore, that is up to the builder. It is up to the parents to make the decision on whether to bring their children there.”

Why Is This Even A Question?

“Are we seriously asking this question?” said a Toms River (New Jersey) Patch reader who goes by “Boom.”

“There isn’t ‘too much.’ Whatever people want to put out, they should be allowed. If others are frightened by decorations, then maybe they should stay home on Halloween or just avoid whichever home scares them,” Boom said.

Go big or go home, said Joliet (Illinois) Patch reader Sean, who thinks “parking lot trick-or-treating is contributing to the lack of social cohesion and anti-social attitudes of children and the community at large.”

“If it could make kids excited to trick or treat again and gets the scared parents to feel the spirit, it can’t be too large.”

Tray in Connecticut is over the bickering.

“Please, let’s stop normalizing the cancel culture. Everyone has to stop being oversensitive and if they don’t like it, don’t look,” the Milford Patch and West Haven Patch reader said. “If you want a 12-foot skeleton, then get one. If you want a 3-foot cute ghost, get it. Let’s try to keep Halloween alive instead of destroying what used to be an amazing night for all young and old.”

Tray added this: “Happy Halloween, Boiis and Ghouls.”

Well played, Tray. Well played.

About Block Talk

Block Talk is an exclusive Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

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