jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

For the first time ever, I'm going to have my lights turned off on Halloween night. I don't want a bunch of strangers and their parents coming to my door and breathing on me. If I were a parent, I would certainly not want my kids knocking on strangers' doors.

A friend's grandson was sent home from elementary school because he had a cough and a fever. He tested negative, so he can go back to school. What crazy times we live in.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

One township near me is recommending not participating...

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

I am going to take some time to think about your post. I understand your feelings and will probably post about it later

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

What did you do in 2009 when kids were dropping like flies from the Swine flu?
This flu is neat because millions seem to have it with no symptoms, and it mostly only kills the ancient/decrepit.

Now that the entire country is in a panic, you shouldn't have to worry about trick or treaters, so I'd leave my lights on lest some anarchist decides to practice peaceful firebombing for kicks...

captivecookie Loc: Washington state

Well, it is a night to celebrate scary things.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

TylerDurdensReel Loc: Fresno Ca.

Protecting one's self and your family is not panic. Just to add a little perspective, the H1N1 pandemic lasted nearly 16 months and by the end of the pandemic on August 10 2010 the WHO determined that there had been 6,724,149 confirmed cases and 18,449 confirmed deaths over 214 countries. There were 12,469 deaths in the U.S. Between 880 and 1,800 tragically children died.

There have been over 210,000 deaths in less than 9 months in the U.S. alone. Over 35 million cases world wide. Do what you need to do to feel like you are being responsible.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

For me there is a nostalgia thing that goes with Halloween which makes it hard to let go. Halloween Trick or Treat should probably be relegated to a safer saner time.

Unlike many, Covid 19 has nothing to do with my decision. The Country over all has become a more dangerous place in which to live. Children are denied childhood, at least as we knew childhood. No more will you hear "go outside and play but be home by dinner" coming from parents and rightly so in the world WE have allowed to happen. We, everyone of us, is responsible for the world in which we live and all of us should be ashamed of what we allowed to happen.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I remember one year in Central Florida where they basically cancelled outdoor trick-or-treating because of a bug the mosquitos were carrying. Some motels blocked off a floor and various organizations handed out candy from each room.

captivecookie Loc: Washington state

I do NOT agree that it is everyone's fault. I DO believe each of us can take stock in our lives and impact on the world and view ourselves as being sovereign, and therefore personally responsible for ourselves and how we interact with others.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I guess we should have made sure our kids raised their kids like we were raised.
Hmmm. What about our kids. Bet they were raised differently also.
Aside from the fact that there has been an ever increasing amount of bad people in the world.

Bill_de Loc: US

Our town usually 'allows' trick or treating from 6 to 8 pm. This year they announced it would be from 5 to 8 pm. I guess parents want to get the kids out of the house for an extra hour after having them locked in the house this year.

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TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

This flu is “neat”? Really? Not sure how old you are or what medical conditions you might or might not have, but you are certainly badly informed about the risks, and you certainly don’t need to be “ancient or decrepit” to exercise the reasonable caution suggested by medical professionals. Despite your assertions, children, teenagers and young adults, while comprising a smaller percentage of fatalities, not only die from this disease, but when they survive, may have lasting health consequences. I wouldn’t wish that on my children or their parents or grandparents, their teachers or the first responders or medical personnel that will be required to care for them or those that they infect. With all due respect, this is exactly the attitude and misinformation that have helped 212,000 Americans to lose their lives to this disease (so far). Sorry, but this foolishness when it concerns life and death makes me angry - I have had friends die of this disease, and none of them were “ancient or decrepit”.

Let me tell you a story about one of those. Uzi was originally from Israel, but he always had an American flag on his van’s antenna. He was a self employed heating and A/C tech, and the most competent and honest one I ever met. He was our go-to guy for me and my friends whenever something broke that we couldn’t repair or had a license to buy the necessary Freon. Uzi was, I would guess, in his early 50s, not overweight and with no health problems that I was ever aware of in the years I knew him. Two weeks ago, I recommended him to a friend to service his A/C. My friend was surprised that he didn’t receive an answer to his text, until a week or so later, he received a text from his next of kin - Uzi had died from Covid 19. When you have family or friends that die and are not “ancient or decrepit”, it brings it home.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Everybody dies from something. Eddie Van Halen died of throat cancer at 65, Patsy Cline died in a plane crash at 32, my dad at 61 and Jim Fixx 52 died of a massive heart attacks. If you are afraid enough of dying to alter your life style I feel sorry for you. You pass through this life only once and if you live that life in fear of dying, what kind of life can it be. I can't remember who said it but at 77 years old I believe: "Live for today, for tomorrow you may die. I lived through the Cold War when we believed someone was going to drop an atomic bomb on my head. Live in fear of a virus--not a chance.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

There is a BIG difference between “living in fear” and being well informed, realistic, prudent and wise. I am 75 and have survived a war and two “widow maker” heart attacks. I have looked death in the face personally a number of times and seen almost all my friends and family die, and I value any of the remaining years (or days) that I may be given. I have a new grandchild due in two weeks, and I have no intention of living foolishly and squandering the daily gift that is life. You make your decisions (as long as they don’t adversely affect others), and I’ll make mine, but propagating foolishness that puts lives other than yours at risk is not only selfish and ill informed, it’s criminal.