Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 18 > Entry
Halloween Hall of Shame
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ghosts and goblins are bad enough, but there’s nothing more horrifying for Halloween trick-or-treaters than getting a really awful “treat.” You know, the mushy apple, the vegan cookies, the (gasp!) sugarless gum!
What’s the worst (if well-meaning) treat you or your child has ever received?
E-mail your horror stories to treats@ajc.com (and please include your name and a daytime phone). We’ll share the best in a story on the Halloween Treat Hall of Shame.
Permalink | Comments (136) | Categories: Halloween
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By Tina
October 18, 2007 9:10 PM | Link to this
When I was a kid, our neighbor gave out pennies. Even then, a few pennies wouldn’t even buy a piece of gum.
By AbbaDabba
October 19, 2007 7:31 AM | Link to this
My mom used to give out toothbrushes instead of candy. I get it, but still…horrifying as a kid!
By Sabs
October 19, 2007 7:52 AM | Link to this
The candy wrapped in the plain orange and black wrappers. Terrible..
By Larry
October 19, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this
Received a packet of cream of wheat one Halloween.
By LR
October 19, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
Not sure if they’re still around but those little tootsie roll-shaped bit-o-honeys were always the last to get eaten from our trick or treat bags
By FCM
October 19, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
I know the most hypocritical was the from the family who sent their son out to trick or treat and while he was eating candy from his haul they would tell you the did not believe in giving candy and hand our Unicef leaflets.
I have nothing against Unicef.
By Loren
October 19, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this
Hey, I actually like the candy in the orange and black wrappers. One of my favorites. But I detest the loads and loads of choking hazards that little kids shouldn’t eat like jawbreakers, fireballs and oversized lemonheads. Parents please keep in mind that lollipops and soft candy like mini chocolate bars are best for little ones.
By Kiki
October 19, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this
A little old lady was passing out peanuts…we each got one single peanut (in the shell).
By Larry
October 19, 2007 8:55 AM | Link to this
I never figured it out; but, once I went to a house where the woman was passing out AAA batteries - one to a customer.
By JM
October 19, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this
That little old lady might not have been able to afford candy, so she was giving what she could…
The Bit O’Honeys are the last to be eaten at our house, too.
The plastic spider rings are just junk that breaks and goes into the trash basket before a week is up.
By Mary
October 19, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this
This is not what I received, but I was embarrassed one Halloween when we didn’t have any candy because we didn’t think we would have any trick or treaters in our neighborhood and my husband gave out bananas.
By Stacey
October 19, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this
When I was a kid we had an elderly neighbor who gave out dried up fruit. Note, I did not say dehydrated, I said dried up. I swear I believe that the oranges were left from the previous Christmas and were so dry that you couldn’t peel them. My mom made us stop at her house because she (Miss Minnie) really looked forward to us stopping by and that really was the best she could do. Mama just kept them and used them to make potpourri for Christmas.
My aunt bought a bag of pastel marshmallows one year but my mom convinced her not to give them out since they aren’t even wrapped. My aunt was only about 40 then so we couldn’t use the “she’s old and doesn’t know better” excuse for her.
By atlgirl
October 19, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
When I was a kid, my mom gave out #2 pencils. Maybe the neighborhood parents appreciated it, but the kids sure didn’t! The best house in my neighborhood gave out cans of 7-up. We’d time our visit there to about halfway through, when we really wanted a soda.
By Mrs. Warren
October 19, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Boxes of raisins were the worst! I love raisins but not for Halloween! I think we may give out canned drinks this year. We just moved into a new neighborhood with tons of kids and are looking forward to lots of trick-or-treaters. We want to be the house that gives the best item, since we always loved going to that one house when we were kids.
By Phil
October 19, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this
When I was a kid, a neighbor was giving out old candy Easter eggs. Ick.
By Bueno
October 19, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
Every Halloween I give out the soy sauce and duck sauce packets from the Chinese takeout places to the teenagers (especially the ones not wearing a costume) who come to the door and just stick their hand out.
I drop the packets in their hand and they immediately put the “treat” in their pocket without looking and walk away.
Priceless.
By Mrs. Warren
October 19, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
Bueno - that’s hilarious! I love it! I’m sure we will have some of those teenagers at our house this year. They will probably ask for two drinks and steal our pumpkin.
One year I had a 125 pound pumpkin. No one stole that one.
Another thing I hate is when people leave the bowl and say “take one” but by the time you’ve gotten to that house, some kid has dumped the whole bowl into his bag.
By Bonnie Fisher
October 19, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
My two daughters went Trick or Treating in the neighborhood. They went to a house belonging to a pilot who worked for a well-known airlines. Instead of candy, he gave them 10 mini bottles of assorted liquor. I bet no other child got that in there goody bag.
Bonnie (770) 5924304
By Wilson
October 19, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
I HATE CANDY CORN. deep breath I just needed to get that off my chest. There were never many kinds of candy that would make me unhappy, but candy corn was definitely one.
By lk
October 19, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this
Bueno, that’s a great idea. I wish I had some of those condiments on hand. I really dislike teenagers without costumes coming by. One year I told them if they didn’t have costumes it wasn’t trick or treating it was begging. My husband was worried we’d get our house egged. Last year we ran out of candy and turned the lights out about 9 PM. Some teenagers still came by to “trick or treat”, when my husband told them we were out they asked if we had money instead! The gall!
When I was little the best treats were home made - popcorn balls, candy apples. I really didn’t like getting fruit etc. One year my sister got a box of cereal from one of those variety packs.
By LD
October 19, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this
Hey Bonnie? What are you soliciting this halloween?
By LD
October 19, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
Let me re-phrase that. What are you giving out this halloween?
By Joan
October 19, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Halloween is by far my favorite time of the year. When I was little, I loved to TorT and didn’t care what I got from who. If the little old lady down the street wanted to give out pennies, we appreciated that, and put them in our piggy banks.
However, Mom always threw away ANYTHING that wasn’t wrapped, including apples. Back then, people would put razor blades into apples…..
I love Candy Corn, and it is very difficult for me to stop eating it!!! They are like Lays’ Potato chips to me, can’t eat just one. I also LOVE smarties!!!
Bonnie - What is the pilot’s address - I could use some mini bottles!!! ha ha
Now that my little one is too old for TorT, I go out with friends who have small children. I just love Halloween!
By Angie
October 19, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this
My mom actually gave out the worst treats in the neighborhood. She would save the candy we didn’t like from the previous Halloween in a paper bag in the fridge. Then she would pick through it and hand out what didn’t look look bad. I was so embarrassed that I told my friends to not come to the house on Halloween!
One Halloween before we had our own kids, my husband and I were forced to hand out granola bars and packets of Doublemint Gum. We were supposed to go work at a church carnival that evening, so we hadn’t planned to hand anything out. But we had moved to a new neighborhood and didn’t know that it was chock-full of aggressive kids who went trick-or-treating before dark. We tried not answering the door, but they would peek into the windows and yell at us to come to the door. After we’d emptied our pantry of anything remotely resembling a treat, we left early for the carnival!
By arh
October 19, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
I hate the houses that give out Bible verses on the little pamphlets. Their kids are the ones who have to stay inside and miss all the fun. It’s Halloween-lighten up!
By Smitty
October 19, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this
ARH The Christians don’t like Halloween.
In a friend’s subdivision, the HOA sends out a letter, that if Halloween falls on a Sunday, they want the kids Trick or treating on Saturday. They say it’s because it’s a “school night”. My question is, Halloween falls on a school night just about every year, and that’s ok, but Sunday isn’t??? Go figure……..
By Ed
October 19, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
Dried beans from an elderly lady we lived near. She was poor, we all were. I think she just wanted to give us something that made a sound as she put them in our bags hoping we’d think it was candy. Actually it’s one of my best memories of Halloween as a kid.
By Tyra Ellis
October 19, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
The worse holloween treat I received was black likerish
By KJ
October 19, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this
Yikes, what kind of neighborhoods do you people live in? If any kids “yell at me to come to the door”, they’re getting the hose.
By jen
October 19, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
Yeah, I bet that likerish is bad. But licorice rocks! :-P
By Koz
October 19, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
Hey I’m a Christian and I like Halloween. I don’t hand out tracts either - I used to hate getting them when I was a kid.
By BT
October 19, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
That’s not necessarily true of all Christians. I am a Christian and I take my son out trick or treating every year. My parents, also Christians, took me and my brothers out also when we were growing up. It doesn’t bother me that people hand out Bible tracts seeing as we are in the end times. People need to be informed of how their lives can be transformed. Also, if Halloween falls on Sunday, we have a mini festival for our kids and they get plenty of treats. Although Halloween isn’t my most favorite time of year, I still enjoy it quite a bit.
By Poopoo
October 19, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
BEER
By RRC
October 19, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
I HATE CANDY CORN AND THAT NASTY PEANUT BUTTER CRAP IN THE ORANGE AND BLACK PACKAGE. GROSS
By James
October 19, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
One year I got a REAL bag of M&Ms, not one of those little Halloween-sized bags. Saved it for several days as the best treat I’d received. When I opened it, it was fully of rocks! Some teenager pulled a good trick on me! I felt so violated (ha)!
By HAROLD
October 19, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
SOCKS
By One
October 19, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! You guys are cracking me up!!!!!
Bonnie, what’s the pilot’s address, I could use a few of those minis! And are you seriously posting your number?! Beware the cuckoos!!
All Christians don’t hate Halloween. I personally don’t feel it’s a “real” holiday, because I have to work. Don’t we get all “real” holidays off? lol And to me, trick or treating died out when I was a kid……..when folks would put razors in apples!
Angie, I would have been handing out azz whoopings to those kids peeping and screaming. WTF?!
By Im4privacy
October 19, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Bonnie (and anyone else who does this),
Just a friendly tip here: It’s not a good idea to include your full name and phone number on your posts. The internet is full of weirdos.
By Percy
October 19, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
Unwarranted Love is the worst treat to receive from a stranger. The second worse is an invitation to watch movies in their basement. The third worse treat is wearing their costumes and dancing for them.
I’m glad I don’t have to trick or treat at The Governor’s Mansion anymore.
By Jon Benet
October 19, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this
A neighbor would pour popcorn into our containers. It was gross. He was always cheap and wierd. Rule of thumb: if all the lights are out and there’re no decorations, don’t expect anything. Some people want to be left alone or don’t answer the door at night.
By Feets of Flan
October 19, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
I always hated the popcorn balls. Have no idea what was in them becuase I never tried to eat one. Perhaps that is why I now fear a Chinese Invasion.
My first halloween was spent in my Grandmother’s parlour listening to Tito Puentes albums and reading a paperback novel, “Fear of Flying.” That evening I asked my Grandmother about why the Chinese are so committed to invading our country, She stated that the Chinese are jealous of our freedom and will not stop until they consume everything that makes up our culture, including Halloween.
This is the first I had ever heard of this Halloween, and I decided to venture out and discover for myself why this day would be one that another country would like to take from us.
By Kat
October 19, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Anyone who is new in town should keep this in mind - Halloween’s afternoon drive is traditionally the WORST traffic you will ever encounter. Work from home that day or leave at lunchtime. It is hideous! You will miss TorT if you stay at work until 5 p.m. On the candy note, those “miniature” size candy (smaller than the fun size) are lame.
By Mark
October 19, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
I save all the scoopings from my cat’s litter box. Then I go out and buy tootsie rolls. I eat the tootsie rolls, well you get the idea.
By CL
October 19, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
Isn’t it funny how we all had elderly neighbors or eccentric neighbors who did weird things that we loved them for? Wish I still had some.
By Kat
October 19, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this
They used to make that wax candy…what WAS that, anyway???
By Feets of Flan
October 19, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this
I wore some kelly green trouser and a smart wool shirt bearing an image of a motorcyclist in a airborn position. Having never experienced a Halloween before, I decided that a conservative approach may be best if I was to assume this role as one who was well versed in this festivity.
My first goal was to find a group of children and make friendly conversation so I may follow their lead and observe this event within their fold. Ever mindful that any one of these person may be a Chinese Red Army operative, I chose to use an alias in case I need to separate myself quickly and return to the safety of my Grandmother’s parlour to inhale the final breaths of Freedom.
I chose the name Erica Jong, author of the novel I was reading not minutes before at my Grandmother’s home. I had no clue that Erica was a female name as I had very little experience with persons of the same name. My hope was that the last name bore a close enough resemblance to a Chinese name so that I may blend in with any clandestine Red Army spies who may lurking the streets of my neighborhood in search of our vulnerabilities or making notations of customs or freedoms they may wish to expire after the invasion commenced.
By Kat
October 19, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
Uh-oh, there are two “Kats.”
By Lucille Willoughby
October 19, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
Circus peanuts. Yuck.
I used to hate Mary Janes (the peanut butter/molasses taffy) as a kid, as an adult I’ve developed a taste for those.
Circus peanuts? Never.
By Meg
October 19, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this
We get lots of Mexican candy, which I don’t let the kids eat because some of it has lead. Ugh, raisins are the worst, along with peppermints and tootsie rolls. We give out Bibles, in a tote bag with lots of candy and little halloween toys. I love halloween. It’s a great witnessing opportunity, but giving out just a tract is like giving a tract INSTEAD of a tip. If you’e going to give a tract don’t do it to be cheap and save money, be extra generous. The people you’re giving it to don’t realize that the Word of God is worth far more than whatever material thing you give with it.
By Meg
October 19, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
We get lots of Mexican candy, which I don’t let the kids eat because some of it has lead. Ugh, raisins are the worst, along with peppermints and tootsie rolls. We give out Bibles, in a tote bag with lots of candy and little halloween toys. I love halloween. It’s a great witnessing opportunity, but giving out just a tract is like giving a tract INSTEAD of a tip. If you’e going to give a tract don’t do it to be cheap and save money, be extra generous. The people you’re giving it to don’t realize that the Word of God is worth far more than whatever material thing you give with it.
By Meg
October 19, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
We get lots of Mexican candy, which I don’t let the kids eat because some of it has lead. Ugh, raisins are the worst, along with peppermints and tootsie rolls. We give out Bibles, in a tote bag with lots of candy and little halloween toys. I love halloween. It’s a great witnessing opportunity, but giving out just a tract is like giving a tract INSTEAD of a tip. If you’e going to give a tract don’t do it to be cheap and save money, be extra generous. The people you’re giving it to don’t realize that the Word of God is worth far more than whatever material thing you give with it.
By amy
October 19, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this
i always hated those things in the black and orange wrappers, and those things in the strawberry-looking wrappers.
my mom would never let me even touch anything that could have been opened and reclosed (luckily those black and orange and strawberry things fell into this category, as did tootsie rolls), or non-sealed homemade things.
sometimes people in our neighborhood would give out a couple of loose crackers. makes your bag all crumby :(
By DLink
October 19, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this
NOTE
Phone# and name are only necessary when e-mailing to treats@ajc.com for publication.
This is neither required, nor recommended in the “comments”
Fruits/vegetables… Bottom of the list, definitely! o_0
By Early Bird
October 19, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this
I’m about halfway through these and had to stop and tell you I haven’t laughed so hard in years! Some of these are hilarious!
By yoni4u
October 19, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this
YOU GUYS ARE HILARIOUS!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE SOMEONE HATES CANDY CORNS :( THEY ARE THE BEST! I COULD EAT A BAG IN ONE DAY.
AS A KID, I HATED APPLES. I WAS TERRIFIED OF THE RAZORS THAT WERE SUPPOSE TO BE IN THEM. I HATE, AND STILL HATE, THE STUFF IN THE BLACK AND ORANGE WRAPPERS
By Lori
October 19, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
This is bad-I gave out yogurt one year. I lived in an apt. complex and didn’t have a thing. All I had was yogurt. The kid took it. He chose strawberry-banana!
By Andy
October 19, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this
I remember wanting to find the Conehead’s house for the fried eggs and six-packs of brewski.
By CBrown
October 19, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
I got a rock.
By nypeach
October 19, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
When I was 9 years old and living in Boston, my aunt took us to a white neighborhood (a friend lived there) to go trick-or-treating. A homeowner gleefully handed me what I thought was a chocolate bar all nicely wrapped. I unwrapped it and took a bite…it was chewing tobacco. I barfed all the way home. My uncle was furious that someone would give a child chewing tobacco. But that’s Boston for you. I don’t think much has changed.
By Jennifer
October 19, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
I LOVE the condiments idea for the uncostumed teenagers. Ours carry plastic bags, like grocery bags.
Can’t wait until Halloween to try that one.
By sprinkles
October 19, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
Halloween of 1999, my kids were little and a new family from India moved into our neighborhood. They were really nice people, had kids the same age as ours and they took turns hosting play dates after school. Something must have been lost in the language translation, because for trick or treat, they handed out packages of Ramen-Noodles.
By kristin
October 19, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this
Popcorn Balls!!!!! Yuck, they were ALWAYS stale. Pennies sucked, but they were always from some old lady so you felt sorry for her so you thanked her anyway. Double bubble gum was another that I hated, you chewed it 2x before it got rock hard.
I do remember comming home after trick or treating and my dad would always “check” for any foul play involving snickers or milky ways. It seems that the wrapper was always supisious in those two brands.
I miss those days.
By d'bag
October 19, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this
feces
By JoJo
October 19, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this
When I was a little boy, my brothers & I went trick-or-treating. We went to the next door neighbor’s house and he came to the door with a bowl of popcorn (that he was eating out of). He proceeded to grab handfuls of popcorn and drop them in our bags. Now how gross is that?!?! So, as soon as he closed the door, we dumped it right back into his yard. :-)
By TeeHee
October 19, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this
This year I’m giving out candy corn, pennies, double-bouble, popcorn balls,condiments, and those delicious things in the orange & black wrapper.
Who’s coming to my house?!
By Kimberly A. Davis
October 19, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
Oh God….I remember one of our ‘holier than thou’ neighbors giving out apples with a religious track attacked to it. :::::;barfing:;;;;
Atlanta Pearl Girl
By b.o.o.h.o.o.
October 19, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
go tee hee! personally the black and orange thingies were my FAVORITE as a kid, and I liked pretty much all the other candies named. Now my tastes run pretty much to good chocolate… don’t remember any bad treats, but got “exposed” to one year…just ran on down the street.
I will miss taking my kids now that they are grown. A friend makes homemake popcorn balls, and I love them. enjoyed everyone’s comments…
By Ivan
October 19, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
This year the kids (usually teenagers) without costumes who come demanding a trick or treat will get BOTH - a scoop of pudding in their bags.
By Ted
October 19, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this
True story: We never get trick or treaters in our neighborhood but my wife always has somethiung just in case. Last year she worked late and I was going to a party and was to meet her there when the doorbell rang and two kids about 13 years old were at the door in costumes. I paniced, apologized for not having anything and gave them each five bucks and then turned off the lights.
By Jeff Laue
October 19, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this
I found a vein in my hotdog, but it tasted great!
By Jon Benet imposter
October 19, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
A neighbor used to pour stale popcorn into our bags. Here’s a clue where not to go: If the lights are out and there’s no decoration, skip the house. There are folks who, for whatever reason, do not want to participate, can’t open the door or don’t want to, especially after dark. Also, no neighborhood is safe anymore.
By john
October 19, 2007 4:25 PM | Link to this
Popcorn balls!!! They keep forever. I think these were from when my grandparents trick or treated.
By Sam
October 19, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this
The word of god? TO the person who hands out bibles and looks forward to witnessing on halloween; Please just give me a snickers or some candy corn and let me be. I may already have beliefs and regardless of being inline with yours, please allow me to participate unmolested.
Keep your fiction to yourself
By J$
October 19, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
A meat ball…Just like in The Wedding Singer.
By nurse&mother
October 19, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
Wow! What memories I have. Halloween is my favorite holiday (except Christmas). I loved “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” (still do). I can even recite many lines (sad). I certainly remember the razor blades in treats. I remember the popcorn balls. Hated the orange & black wrapper candy. I too loathe candy corn. Loved the chocolate candy like M & M’s etc. My sister and I would trade treats.
I recall when you could send the kids out by themselves around the neighborhood. My best friend lived in a really nice neighborhood. We went to her house every year. There was one house that left the candy out and we (my older sister included) emptied the bowl. I was about 5 yo, sis was 7, bf was 9. I really felt guilty. There was one guy that dressed up like Frankenstein and scared the kids as he opened the door. I was so scared, I screamed and wet my pants. In retrospect, it was hilarious!!
One year we had a car follow us. He didn’t let out any kids and didn’t pick any up. He stayed about two houses behind us. My bf realized that he was following. We went down a hill and he passed us, but slowed down. We turned around and ran back up the hill and hid out at another neighbor’s house. Not sure why we didn’t run back home. I truly believe that he had bad intentions. When we finally got home, our moms smiled at us and said, “oh really?”. I’m not sure that they believed us.
I like the idea of giving out soy sauce packets! LOL. I would be afraid of having some damage done to my house, property etc. About 13-14 years ago, my aging grandfather (77 or 78) had some older teens come to the door. I think he felt threatened and supposedly said, “Get the he#$ out of here”. This was a man that never talked like that. We weren’t sure what came over him (can’t rule out temporary insanity Ha Ha). We were surprised the teens didn’t beat him up.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! Have a great Halloween.
By w00t
October 19, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this
Halloween is the day for worshiping the spawn of satan.
Duh.
By J
October 19, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
When my kids were small, they approached a house where some people from another country lived and were told “you no tricky treat here, American tradition”
By Jim
October 19, 2007 4:45 PM | Link to this
3 unshelled WALNUTS
By nurse&mother
October 19, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this
Smitty I am a Christian and I believe in Halloween. As a matter of fact, my church is hosting an annual trick or trunk party on the Sunday (gasp!) before Halloween. The last two years, we even had a “fortune teller”. I think it just depends on some churchs or some parishoners (sp?).
By Chris
October 19, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
Candy Corn was my least favorite treat. But the worst treat ever was a neighbor that gave out toothpicks.
By Terri
October 19, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this
I used to sell Girl Scout cookies door to door in my neighborhood. Guess what I got back from the same lady every year? And not a box of cookies, which wouldn’t have been bad, but two or three thrown into my treat bag.
By Angie
October 19, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this
A few years ago, someone in my neighborhood gave my son a TupperWare brochure in his trick-or-treat basket - HOW TACKY!
By Kevin H
October 19, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this
“I got a rock.”
By nurse&mother
October 19, 2007 6:15 PM | Link to this
“I could have had candy, apples, and gum, and cookies and money and all sorts of things, but no. I had to listen to you. You block head. You kept me up all night waiting for the great pumpkin”. -Sally to Linus
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October 19, 2007 6:45 PM | Link to this
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I found this on a bulletin board like this one and decided to try it because I was desperate for money. A little while back I was browsing through several newsgroups and came across an article similar to this one that said you could make thousands of dollars within weeks, with only a small investment of $6.00! So I thought Yeah right! This must be a scam! But like most of us, I was curious so I kept reading. Anyway, it said that: 1) You need to send $1.00 to each of the six names and addresses stated in this article. 2) You then place your own name and address in the bottom of the list at #6, and post the article in at least 200 newsgroups. (There are millions of newsgroups, so I was like ok) No catch, that was it. So after thinking it over and talking to a few of my friends first, I thought about trying it! I figured: What have I got to lose except 6 stamps & $6.00, right?? Then I invested the measly $6.00 (Of leftover change my friend gave me to go to the store with to get paper towels and tissue. WELL, GUESS WHAT!!? Within 7 days, I started getting money in them mail! I was SHOCKED!!! I figured it would end soon, just a few nice people who gave it a go and tried but the money just kept on coming in. In my first week, I made about $25.00, no big deal right?, WRONG By the end of the second week I had made a total of over $1,000.00! In the third week I had over $10,000.00 and it’s still coming! This is now my fourth week and I have made just over 22,000.00!!! It’s certainly worth $6.00, and 6 stamps, I have spent more than that in a value meal!!!
Let me tell you how this works, and most importantly, why it works. Also, make sure you print a copy of this article NOW, so you can get the information off of it as you need it. If you follow the directions exactly, you will start making more money than you thought possible by doing something so easy!
SUGGESTION: READ THIS ENTIRE MESSAGE CAREFULLY! (Print it out or save it.) Follow the simple directions and watch the money come in! It’s easy. It’s legal. And, your investment is only $6.00 (plus postage).
IMPORTANT: This is not a rip-off; it is not indecent; it is not illegal; and it is virtually no risk-it really works!!!! If all the following instructions are adhered to, you will receive extraordinary dividends!
PLEASE NOTE: Please follow these directions EXACTLY, and $20,000.00 or more can be yours in 20-60 days. This program remains successful because of the honesty and integrity of the participants. Please continue its success by carefully adhering to the instructions. You will now become part of the Mail Order business. In this business your product is not sold or tangible, it’s a service. You are in the business of developing Mailing Lists. Many large corporations are happy to pay big bucks for quality lists. However the money made from the mailing lists is secondary to the income which is made from people like you and me just for asking to be included in that.
~~~~> HERE ARE 4 EASY STEPS TO GET STARTED <~~~~
STEP 1: Get six separate pieces of paper and write the following on each piece of paper, “PLEASE PUT ME ON YOUR MAILING LIST”. Now get 6 US $1.00 bills and place ONE inside of EACH of the 6 pieces of paper so the bill will not be seen through the envelope (Please make sure that the bill won’t be noticed in the envelope to prevent thievery ) Send out US $ DOLLAR BILLS, that way it will be more widely accepted.
STEP 2: Next, place one paper (with the bill inside) in each of the six envelopes and seal them properly. You should now have six sealed envelopes, each with a piece of paper stating the phrase: “PLEASE PUT ME ON YOUR MAILING LIST” your name and address, and a $1.00 bill.
What you are doing is creating a service. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY LEGAL!!! You are requesting for a legitimate service and you are paying for it! Like most of us, I was a little skeptical and a little worried about the legal aspects of it all. So I checked it out with the U.S. Post office (1-800-725-2161) and they confirmed that it is indeed legal!
MAIL THE 6 ENVELOPES TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES BELOW:
1) Brooke Mckinney10157 Cox Gap RD. Boaz, AL 35956
2) Cordara Brown348 Amos Jones Rd. Littleton, NC
3) Jamie Brown3595 E 10th St APT 1234B Greenville, NC 27858
4) Chalace NazarioEast Carolina University Tyler Hall Box 919 Greenville, NC 27858
5) Richard D. Moore3950 Bostic Dr. APT 102 C Greenville, NC 27858
6) Savannah Taylor2325 Breton Hunt Lane Suwanee, GA 30024
*MOST IMPORTANT STEP** STEP 3: Now take the #1 name off the list that you see above, move the other names up (6 becomes 5, 5 becomes 4, etc?) then add YOUR Name as number 6 on the list.
STEP 4: Copy this article. Change anything you need to, but try to keep this article as close to the original as possible. Now, post your amended article to at least 200 newsgroups. (I think there are close to 2.4 million groups) All you need is 200, but remember, the more you post, the more money you make!!! (You can make thousands of dollars more if you add just 20 more newsgroups to the 200) This is perfectly legal! If you have any doubts, refer to Title 18, Section 1302 and 1341, US Postal and Lottery Laws or Title 18, Section 3005 in the US code, also in the code of Federal regulations, volume 16, sections 255 and 436, which states; a product or service must be exchanged for money received. The simple note in the letter, “PLEASE PUT ME ON YOUR MAILING LIST” Makes it legal because you are paying for exchange of a service, (adding the purchasers name to his mailing list) for a $1.00 fee.
KEEP A COPY OF THESE STEPS FOR YOURSELF, and whenever you need the money, you can use it again and again! PLEASE REMEMBER that this program remains successful because of the honesty and integrity of the participants and by their carefully adhering to the directions. Look at it this way: If you are of integrity, the program will continue, and the money that so many others have received will come your way.
NOTE: You may want to retain every name and address sent to you, either on a computer or hard copy, and keep the notes people send you. This VERIFIES that you are truly providing a service. (Also it might be a good idea to wrap the $1.00 bill in dark paper to reduce the risk of mail theft.) So, as each post is downloaded and the directions carefully followed, six members will be reimbursed for their participation as a List Developer with one dollar each. Your name will move up the list geometrically so that when your name reaches the #1 position you will be receiving thousands of dollars in CASH!!! What an opportunity for only $6.00 ($1.00 for each of the first six people listed above) Send it now, add your name to the list and you’re in business!
~~~~> DIRECTIONS FOR HOW TO POST TO NEWSGROUPS<~~~~
STEP 1: You do not need to re-type this entire letter to do your own posting. Simply put your mouse curser at the beginning of this letter, click and drag your curser to the bottom of this document, right click and select copy from the edit menu. This will copy the entire letter into the computers memory.
STEP 2: Open a blank notepad file and place your mouse curser at the top of the black page. Right click and click the edit menu, select paste. This will paste a copy of the letter into notepad so that you can add your name and postal address to the list.
STEP 3: Save your new notepad file as a .txt file. If you want to do your postings in different settings, you’ll always have this file to go back to.
STEP 4: Use Netscape or Internet Explorer and post this article as a new message by highlighting the text of this letter and selecting paste from the edit menu. Fill in the subject, this will be the header that everyone sees as they scroll through the list of postings in a particular group, click the post message button. You’re done with your first one! NOTE: Please don’t SPAM or send unsolicited emails. It’s completely illegal. Send emails to all the people you know or any ways that allow you to, instead of SPAMMING. (Just a reminder)
CONGRATULATIONS!. THAT’S IT!!! All you have to do is just to different newsgroups and post away, after you get the hang of it, it will take about a minute for each newsgroup! * REMEMBER, THE MORE NEWSGROUPS YOU POST IN, THE MORE MONEY YOU WILL MAKE!! BUT YOU HAVE TO POST A MINIMUN OF 200* That’s it! You will begin receiving money from around the world within days!!! NO JOKE!!! You may eventually rent a P.O. Box due to large amounts of mail you will receive. If you wish to stay anonymous, you can invent a name to use, as long as the postman will deliver it. * JUST MAKE SURE ALL THE ADDRESSES ARE CORRECT. *
By mandizzle
October 19, 2007 6:58 PM | Link to this
i can’t think of anything completely bad, but i rememberone year my sister and i recieved those miniature cans of pringles AND a coke!
By mandizzle
October 19, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this
i can’t think of anything completely bad, but i remember one year my sister and i recieved those miniature cans of pringles AND a coke!
By dawniemb
October 19, 2007 8:43 PM | Link to this
One time a man at a dark house with the porch lights turned off told us that he was giving us hard boiled eggs. When we got to the street light to check it out, we realized that he had given us golf balls.
By icee
October 20, 2007 1:55 AM | Link to this
This had me laughing!
By Sharon
October 20, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this
When I was a kid, my dad and brother and I rigged up a scary-looking fake ghost in a graveyard that was located on a heavily traveled road nearby. While out trick-or-treating, we walked up to the cemetery to check on our trick ghost. Someone threw an apple out of their car window which hit me in the behind. I went flying like a bowling pin! Thirty Halloweens later, my family still laughs about me laid out in the cemetery in my witch’s costume, covered in applesauce.
By c
October 20, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
When I was a kid a person in my neighbor gave out cornbread wrapped in foil.
By Charlie Brown
October 20, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
1: I got a rock. #2: The AJC’s allowing an Illeagal Pyramid Scheme to advertise above.By Barbara
October 20, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
I think those strawberry hard candies (the ones with the strawberry wrapper) are the worst! They were always left when the candy was eaten.
I love candy corn though! It was the very first candy I ever had. My dad gave it to me and so it brings back fond memories. I also remember when I was about six, my dad saying that I was going to ruin my teeth when I was trying to eat a black cow. I could barely chew it. My teeth were black! My parents never bought candy, and so it was really funny.
By Anita
October 20, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this
The worst Halloween treat I ever received were a handful of pennies. They totaled less than $.20. Even as a kid, that was a crappy treat.
By Grammaw
October 21, 2007 12:20 AM | Link to this
When I was a kid T or T’ing (in the 1950’s), I was given an apple core, and my friend was given a chewed piece of gum. Our mothers made us go back up to the door and put it back in the guy’s hand. He looked startled, but it gave us kids some satisfaction…that and soaping his house and car windows!!!
By Troy
October 21, 2007 1:20 AM | Link to this
One home in our neighborhood gave out corn candy. We beleive that candy was at least 10 years old. They came in little packets and in some packs there was just one big piece of corn candy (maybe they all melted together). In other packs the candy was either faded or a different color. I have never ever liked corn candy. My mother would throw it away.
By ihorizon
October 21, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
Last year I gave out popcorn mixed with M&Ms in small candy sacks. I hope that the kids liked it as candy is getting pricy these days and you never know how many to buy. Also, I play Ghostbusters theme song at the door. The adults all laugh but the young ones dont have a clue. Sigh. Memories.
By Frank
October 21, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this
As a little boy in the 1960s we had a neighbor who would greet you at the door holding a large bowl of popcorn. While her greasy husband sat in his wife beater watching television, she would take her hand and grab a large fist full and dump it right into our bags. Needless to say, it was never eaten.
By Jeff
October 21, 2007 8:25 PM | Link to this
The house down the street would give out apple—from their apple trees. Kids started taking a bite out of the apples and threw them on their front lawn. Kind of mean looking back, but funny at the time.
By j
October 21, 2007 8:37 PM | Link to this
Worst: Fruit, homemade treats, pennies, peanut butter candies in black and orange was paper. Those are definitely the worst.
Best: Any large size candy bars. I once got a can of fruit cocktail. Kind of weird, but a whole can! That was considered dessert in the 70’s, so it was great.
By Tiffany
October 21, 2007 9:43 PM | Link to this
When I was a kid, a woman once handed out rice cakes. Sugar free, fat free rice cakes, taste free rice cakes.
By Scott
October 22, 2007 6:07 AM | Link to this
The best and worst trick happened the same night. About 1967 I was taking my little brother around with his friends when some “big kids” stole his and a friends bag. My friends and I were a house behind trying not to be associated with them when the thief comes running right toward us. I’m dressed up in my football gear and fake stepping aside when the kid gets near me. And I laid him out. His feet actually flew into the air and he landed on his head. One of my friends grabbed the other stolen bag and we ran like the wind all the way home. We left the thief laying there. I think he was out cold. The ambulatory thief yells they’ll find us and I yell back “Our Dad’s in the Army and he’ll shoot you”. If we’re watching a football game and someone gets laid out my brother still calls it a Halloween hit.
By One
October 22, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
PLEASE REMEMBER that this program remains successful because of the honesty and integrity of the participants and by their carefully adhering to the directions Then there goes your claim of this being profitable!!! We all know there’s more dishonest people with NO integrity in this world………sounds like a scam to me!
By Dave
October 22, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
Did you know employees at the Chick-Fil-A corporate offices are not allowed to talk about Halloween at work? That place is a borderline cult…thats a shame that their employeer is quick to judge. I wonder how many of those employees live double lives…ya know…drinkin’, cussin’, premarital sex and trick or treating.
By JBJrocks
October 22, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
I love smarties too! Does anyone remember calling them batman pills way back in the day? That is what we called them when I was a kid!
By Trent
October 22, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this
I remember , growing up in Tucker, we had a cheap neighbor who would put pine straw in a baggie and toss it in our bags in his dimly lit corridor so we didn’t have a chance to check out what he threw in. We found it strange because it didn’t make a sound dropping in our bag.And then he would shoo us away quickly. This happened for three straight years. The third year it happened we loosened up our arms for some serious egg throwing.
By ATLGoddess
October 22, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
I don’t remember getting any bad treats as a kid….I especially LOVED anything chocolate….now that I’m an adult I only give the good stuff such as M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces, Snickers and Three Musketeer’s Bars….that’s because I only give out treats during a 2 hour window and then I turn off my light and stash everything that’s left….which is quite a bit because I’m intentionally stingy when it comes to handing out my candy!!!
By yanamom
October 22, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
I absolutly hate anything with peanuts or peanut butter, specially those black and orange wrapped things! Oh, YUK!
We were lucky as kids. We lived in a small town and everybody T&T’d at the same neighborhood every year. We knew who gave out good treats and who did’t. So we’d skip the “bad” houses and hit the “good” ones twice!!!
My dad always bought the giant size candy bars for our neighbors. We lived out in the country, so we knew exactly how many T&T’ers we would get (grand total of 6!!!!) We’d all get together, hand out the treats and then head into town to go do the real T&T’ing!!!!!!
Until last year, we didn’t take our children T&T’ing. I didn’t feel comfortable going to a neighborhood that we didn’t live in. Now, thanks to all the building, we have a couple of new subdivisions on our street. So we went for the first time last year. The kid’s loved it, I loved it. It’s the only time I like having that many houses so close to where I live. It’s also the only time I miss living in a sub-division, since I love to decorate and dress up. I enjoy seeing the small children in their costumes and handing out candy. Hated the teen’s with no costumes, wish I had thought of the soy sauce packets!!!!
Since it was their first time, my kids didn’t care what they got! They just had fun going from house to house getting something to put in their bags! It was also fun teaching them to knock on the door, say “Trick or Treat” and “Thank you” when something was put in the bag. We are also teaching them to not run across the yard (use the sidewalk and driveway) and to not bother any one that has all the lights out.
I can’t wait for next Wednesday night!!
By jen
October 22, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
I love Halloween!! I remember the McDonald’s coupons that one older lady would give out every year. You could get a free shake or cheeseburger.
The best was one house giving out twinkies.
By Heather
October 22, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this
I don’t like the licorice or the orange & black wrapped stuff. Candy corn is good, but I tend to over-indulge and get a stomache ache!
Anything chocolate was good, my brother & I would trade so that we got what we wanted.
My mom would put all of ours together and then divide in half, so when my brother started getting lazy and not getting a lot it wasn’t so fair. Now, looking back I should have done the same as my brother!
I once got the McD’s coupons too. What a treat, as I live in a small town and we had to go 30 miles to the nearest McDs (no kidding)!
My parents now have about 200 or so kids stop by (5th year running), they have already spent a bunch of money as they give candy out in 3 groups.. little ones (suckers with the round grips & candy like that), elem kids (choc, gum, etc) and teenagers get the sodas. My friends from high school bring their kids there now to chat and catch up. Small towns can be really great like that.
By telfairgirl
October 22, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
Best Treat: McDonalds coupons. Worst treat: loose candy corn. What were they thinkning when they handed this out? Loose candy tossed in a bag filled with wrapped candy, apples, and dirty coins by a hand that may or may not be clean and could have been who knows where before they opened the door. I loved the house where the mom opened the door and her husband jumped out from behind a tree by the door to scare you silly. You could hear the kids screaming all the way down the street!
By Werewolf
October 22, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
condoms.
By art
October 22, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
Worst treats: I can’t name just one. 1. The pseudo-tart tablets in the red-and-clear wrappers. Guess they were supposed to make children think they were taking medicine which is exactly what they tasted like. 2. Old marshmallow Easter eggs. This was Halloween! 3. Tiny bags of popcorn—enough for one or two bites. 4. Pennies (see many other posts on this one). 5. Old Hershey’s Kisses in Christmas foil!
By Rudy
October 22, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
One year I got a piece of fruitcake left over from the previous Christmas! Yuck! By the way, I agree those little peanut butter turds wrapped in black and orange paper SUCK!
By Pop Tarts
October 22, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this
Never had a bad experience when trick or treating back in the day….
By Isis
October 22, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this
I grew up in a rural area. One Halloween a neighbor of mine handed out roasted peanuts that came from their field. Now that’s country…LOL.
By Bob Skjunk
October 22, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
I always like to give out the small M&M packets. Only, I usually microwave them for a few minutes and then give them out. It does melt in your hands!
By Tootsie
October 22, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this
I love Halloween…it’s fun, creative and tasty! But I have a paranoid neighbor who tries to discourage T or T by setting up a table w/ candy (donated by others) on one of the neighboring streets.Now is’nt that fun…T or T at a table?!
By Diane
October 22, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this
I got an onion in my bag.
By Kay
October 22, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
Dum-Dums. The absolute worst.
By DJ
October 22, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
worst halloween treat ever?? that’s easy: BIBLE TRACTS.
By DKB
October 22, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this
We got some great treats as a kid, but there was one old man who would make us trade for treats. The rule was that he could pick whatever he wanted out of our bag, but then gave us whatever he wanted to, whether we liked it or not. We all complained about it and yet we never passed by George’s house on Halloween without stopping in.
By L.
October 22, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this
Mary Janes, Jelly Beans and YECCH!!!!! Goodies
By Jada
October 23, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
I’m from the midwest. When I was a kid the old lady next door roasted “chestnuts”, she’d wrap a handful of the nuts with shell still on in tin foil and drop the still warm package into our treat bag. Yuck e poo!Chestnuts are the nastiest thing a kid will ever bite into. Mom insisted that we go next door first. We’d go, but the chestnuts would be the first thing in the garbage when we got home.
By Beverly Staley
October 25, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
I remember when “big kids” (I was about 5) pushed me down and took my candy. They also broke the elastic string on my mask - ran home crying. Nowadays, I can’t believe that I was allowed to go out alone - times have surely changed. It was really cool when people had their houses decorated to the max - one of my neighbors even had a hearse once. The “corpse” would sit up and give out the candy if you were brave enough to approach it! Those were the days…. I try to be the “cool” house now with the best treats (mini candy bars). Unfortunately, I don’t get many TotT’ers. Expect to get less this year due to the holiday falling on Wednesday and all the churches are having “fall festivals.”
By Chief Big Tree
October 26, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this
Ex-Lax spiked Hot Chocolate!
By Sherry L.
October 27, 2007 2:18 AM | Link to this
Dum-dums, really? I love those! I agree with most of you on here - the generic black and orange wrapped candies were horrible, as well as “home-made” treats, and bible tracts.
I miss trick or treating now that all the kids in our family are too old. I live in a subdivision, but no one ever comes to my house. We have 2 large dogs that everyone is scared of. But I put them up, open the gate, turn on the light and no one comes :-( But my hubby enjoys getting all the candy!! LOL!
By BirdyGirl
October 28, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this
Don’t forget there is a “trick” in TorT! Loose popcorn, old easter candy, a handful of peanuts in the shell? Definitely sounds like a Trick to me! Maybe the kids should just say “Treat”?
What time will the kiddies start heading out on Wednesday?
By Trina
October 28, 2007 11:42 PM | Link to this
I have laughed so hard reading these. It’s true that those bad things could be a trick. But I always thought a trick would be a card trick or dog trick or magic trick. My Aunt was to this day known for giving out Cokes and coke pencils and such. My uncle worked for Coca~cola. Everyone loved her. I’m going to give good candy and drinks from a iced cooler. I want them to love me. This year is the first for us to stay home and give candy out. There ought to be blog where we can say what happened on halloween. I want to laugh somemore!!!!! Have fun!!!!
By Amanda
October 29, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this
I remember one year, about four years ago, I went trick-or-treating with my best friend. We went to our neighbor’s house down the street and there they were, passing out toothbrushes. Generic, plain old toothbrushes in packs of two. I remember I got a red and a clear one. I was never so angry before and didn’t talk to those people for a month!
By lindsay
October 29, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this
one year when i was a kid, a neighbor handed out these miniature Bellsouth phone keychains that converted into pens. obviously someone had leftover items from a work convention. do not want!
By ryan
October 29, 2007 9:12 PM | Link to this
there has NEVER been a reported case of people putting razor blades in halloween candy it is a huge urban myth….stop re-hashing BS stories your parents told you!
By .
October 29, 2007 10:57 PM | Link to this
On toothbrushes…my dad was the town dentist so it was always toothbrushes, floss, and toothpaste…the small sample ones.
I know my mom felt compelled but boy was it embarrassing for us.
However, at least they didn’t pull a Willy Wonka on us and forbid us from trick-o-treating for candy. But the rule was that after Halloween night we had to dump all our candy in a communal pot (5 kids) and we got one piece each day.
As a parent now I get that part…
By kelvin
October 30, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
kj, you cant give them the hose this year…we have a water restriction
By steve
October 30, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this
One lady in our neighborhood gave out the Jehovah’s Witnesses pamphlets instead of candy.
I guess she figured it was easier than going door-to-door and giving them to us?
By WrittenSouls
October 31, 2007 7:55 AM | Link to this
My least favorite candies were the bad tasting lolipops, tootsie rolls, and individually wraped papper candies. My fondest memory of halloween was this: Im a christian and being a Chriatian all my life when I was younger my family had a nightly tradition of saying God bless you, may Jesus be in your heart, I love you before going to bed. Well I was a kid and it was night of course and I was very sky so when I get to the door I forget the words to: Trick or treet, smell my feet, give me something good to eat, Well since they are soo similiar in format Lol Once the lady opened the door I was like God bless you, May Jesus be in your heart, I love you. Lol and afterwards I was like oh my gosh what did I just say Lol I was soo embarrased and the rest of what happend is blocked out lol