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Problem: Kids may receive candy at Halloween that could be poisoned or contain sharp objects. Too, the kids may prefer things other than candy.
-- Nov. 3, 2005: Snopes may have to issue a retraction on their proclamation of safe Halloween candy. See links below for a few post Halloween news items.
--
Suggestion: Large chain stores could offer, say, sheets of 100 coupons good for say, 10 cents each. The trick or treaters would be given the "safe" coupons (rather than potentially dangerous/unhealthy candy) which could be exchanged for anything in the store. The coupons could printed with or shaped in the form of spooky characters, celebrities, etc. -- and take on the characteristics of trading cards. Coupons could be numbered so that certain coupons would have "special powers" and "pay off" with a special prize. Or certain "hands" of coupons, such as certain "hands" in a playing card game, could also have certain "magic characteristics" and offer special rewards. Kids could trade coupons amongst each other in order to gather the coupons for the specific store(s) each child preferred, and to make the coupon "hand" matches required to acquire the "special powers/" prizes. The stores would benefit too as the merchant's names would be frequently on the minds and lips of the kids and the parents who will bring the kids to the stores for coupon redemption. The parents will shop at the stores for other goods while there.
Snopes: Poisoned halloween candy (FALSE)
http://www.snopes.c...oison/halloween.asp
Time to debunk that old canard again, I guess... [jutta, Oct 30 2005]
Día de los Muertos
http://www.mexconne...e/daydeadindex.html
Foreigners have more trouble understanding "El Día de Muertos" than any of Mexico's other fiestas... but here's a good index (including photo essays so you know what cemeteries look like during these holidays) and articles that describe this tradition better than I will ever be able to. [Pericles, Oct 30 2005]
My idea for a nice halloween...
The_20Haunted_20Resorts
I would exchange all the candy I got as a kid to find a place like this. [Pericles, Oct 30 2005]
Drugs in Halloween Bag
http://deseretnews....9,635158053,00.html
Cocaine in Halloween treat bag spurs probe [Sunstone, Nov 04 2005]
Halloween Treat Bags contain dangers
http://www.azcentra.../imgs/h_section.gif
Feces, Needle, found in Halloween Treat Bags [Sunstone, Nov 04 2005]
Needles, Pills in Treats
http://www.cbc.ca/n...chips_20051104.html
Headache pills found in Halloween chips, needle in candy [Sunstone, Nov 04 2005]
Needle in Halloween Candy
http://www.news-reg...111202005_new04.asp
Needle found In Halloween candy [Sunstone, Nov 04 2005]
Keep Halloween candy from pets
http://www.upi.com/...051030-110748-7987r
Halloween chocolate can be especially toxic to pets [Sunstone, Nov 04 2005]
Halloween Candy/Allergies
http://www.wlns.com...?S=4045414&nav=0RbQ
Candy allergens can trigger a serious reaction [Sunstone, Nov 04 2005]
Gold Needle in Candy
http://www.wtov9.co...5218865/detail.html
Small gold needle embedded in the candy [Sunstone, Nov 04 2005]
Candy-wrapped razor blade
http://www.canada.c...5-bc4a-cdf5b5d9bae9
Mission toddler handed a candy-wrapped razor blade [Sunstone, Nov 04 2005]
Butterfinger's inch long needle
http://www.journals...9ce363311596586.txt
Nore pulled an inch-long sewing needle — out of her mouth [Sunstone, Nov 04 2005]
Metal baked into Chinese produced candy
http://news.yahoo.c...n_re_us/candy_blade
Razor blades in candy [Sunstone, Feb 14 2008]
Annotation:
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I guess the hooligans will come tomorrow night. I made a mad run to the store to purchase what I felt was adequate bribes for this particular holiday & stood feeling cheated as the packages were smaller & more expensive than last year. |
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I thought they were coming tonight. |
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(as jutta's link probably shows, I also read on snopes that there have been less than 10 deaths recorded as a result of trick or treatin' & most of those are related to angry relatives. Bloody Hell! & all of those apples I had to throw away! - as a child in the 70's.) |
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That link was some sad reading. I don't think it trumps this idea. Parents would like it and you added some hijinx to make it more interesting. |
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I'm sure there are things way more dangerous than trick or treating. People should stop terrorizing others for insignificant matters like this one... there isn't danger just EVERYWHERE. Geez... |
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Plus, this idea is proposing something that takes away the best part of childhood: enjoying the "here and now". I think this coupons would only make kids learn at an early age that accumulating is a good thing. I would say, just give them healthier treats or join our mexican traditions :p |
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[Pericles], I live in a heavily populated Mexican neighborood. I have only a minimal idea of what the Mexican tradition would be. Could you elaborate? - El Dia de los ... (I can't remember. - is it muertos? Is there no candy, but some other, better way to connect to the rememberance of those who should be?) |
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It's called "Día de muertos" and it's really interesting. My favorite mexican celebration. Yes, around here, death is a celebration. See link (first link. Second one is a candy-free alternative to celebrate halloween. Just an idea I had a year ago). |
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I'd vote against this to say that collecting paper coupons is not as much fun as collecting candy. As your bag gets heavier you develop a sense of accomplishment. And when you get home after walking all 20 blocks of the neighborhood, you are physically exhausted BUT at the same time you can see the bounty of your labor. A heaping pile of candy 2 feet tall is more brings more gratification than a stack of coupons. |
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Wendy's Restaurants offers coupons good for a junior frosty dessert at 10/$7.50 ... I took note of this and think it is a good idea generally, in that coupons provide one "more" way to dissuade your local kids from vandalizing. |
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As for "El Día de Muertos", if I need help decorating the house for Halloween, I'll get advice from the S. Americans -- spooky! |
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You suggest 100 coupons at 10 cents each. That's 10 coupons per cent! I suggest 100 per cent! No, 1000 per cent! I want to see children struggling under grocery bags full of near-worthless coupons, collapsing on the curb, the steps, the middle of the yard, begging for leftovers and bottled water, anything to get them through the night. But seriously, I think one of the fun things about Halloween is that you don't know what you're going to get. Coupons turn it into a mere economic exercise. As for the safety issue, if you don't trust someone, stay away from their house! Parents, who will be accompanying their kids anyway, might limit their peregrinations to the porches of known neighbors. Bone! |
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//Too, the kids may prefer things other than candy.//
I thought that the US tradition was to misuse the word 'also' at the end of sentences, also. |
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Why does Pokemom come to mind? It wouldn't work, the stores would only be able to sell them once a year. Candy can be bought anytime but these coupons? Not to mention that by just going to the store, buying the coupons and then using them again to buy some stuff, and more coupons. Its like "30 Coupons, give me them Twinkies, (70), and another bag of coupons." |
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<true story>When I gave a sweater to my aunt for xmas, she was suspicious, and took it to the store, wearing gloves, and exchanged it for a "clean one", as she feared that I was putting razors or drugs in the sweater.</not at all a true story> |
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Halloween is a day to joyfully be in fake fear, not to cower in real fear of the highly improbable. |
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