halloweencostumes

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First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
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doodley is not amused
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
A kid at my daughter's school showed up yesterday dressed as a geisha, complete with yellowface makeup. While I think some of these bans may go over the top, I do believe there are some parents who don't have the sense to come in out of the rain and may occasionally need a gentle reminder of basic common sense. #halloweencostumes
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hellosunshine
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
"too scary - or offensive, gross or saddening."

So no Lindsay Lohan costume then?

(I'M KIDDING. BAngieB's gonna take a hit out on me.) #halloweencostumes
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vulcanized
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
I'm surprised kids are still allowed to dress up for school at all. Where I live, it's a practice long abandoned because it takes up too much time according to the schedules set up by No Child Left Behind. My mom's class has a little room-parents Halloween party and they do some Halloween arts and crafts leading up to the day, but other than that, no more Halloween in school. #halloweencostumes
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Ultraprison!
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
Today I'm at my office dressed as the one thing that scares adults the most: a Tween girl. Hannah Montana shirt and all.

I remember masks being banned in elementary school, but not "scary costumes". Seriously, what the hell? Now kids who didn't go costume shopping until the last minute can't just cut two holes in a sheet and go as a ghost? Ridiculous. #halloweencostumes
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tiredfairy
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
Halloween was originally about scaring away demons and other baddies, yes? So the whole idea is to be scarier than the things that scare you.

To me, Halloween has always been about having fun with the things are a bit darker about life. Things that scare or horrify you...death, the undead, etc.
I think the quote about some people thinking it's "satanic" is telling...there has always been a superstitious element that objects to Halloween's pagan roots, even if they don't always know that's what they're doing.

Also, I don't know if anyone has noticed this but...childhood is scary sometimes. Kids should be allowed to explore that if they want to, especially in a such harmless way as a Halloween costume. To me, it's like people freaking out about their kids dyeing their hair pink or blue. Kids need outlets and ways to express themselves. Better than drugs or actually self-destructive behavior. #halloweencostumes
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SparklyTempest
10/30/09

@tiredfairy: I think, though, that part of it - at least in elementary schools - is that older kids (5th-6th grade) were wearing costumes that went beyond obviously fake blood and zombies and scaring the crap out of younger kids (think Pre-K or K). My mom works at an elementary school and I've helped out there for various things. I can remember older kids coming as surprisingly realistic things like car accident victims or serial killers and going out of their way to seriously terrify the youngest kids in the hall. Part of that is a behavior issue, but I don't think there is a problem with these rules. I think the scary costume rule applies to issues like these, not classics like vampires, ghosts, etc. #halloweencostumes
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tiredfairy
10/30/09

@SparklyTempest: Kids that young were always in separate schools where I grew up, so they weren't around any older students. I can see some of it, masks make sense because then you can't tell who kids are...but I'm not sure this is being limited to just "realistically" gruesome.

But then, kids go trick or treating, yes? One would think they'd see that then, too. And it's important for kids to learn about what's real and what isn't.

It sounds like it's any scary or "non wholesome" costume. I just personally think that's ridiculous. And I think there's an odd, superstitiousness, underpinning this. Plus a lot of the weird sanitizing of everything. It's not the worst thing in the world for a kid to get scared, and if you prepare kids ahead of time, it should be fine. #halloweencostumes
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boxspelunker
10/30/09

@tiredfairy: I agree. I mean, who is it harming when a kid has neon hair? That kind of thing is impermanent. It'll go away soon enough. Frankly, most people just grow out of it and no longer desire to have purple liberty spikes after a certain time period.

I think that if we want to promote equality and tolerance, we should help break down stereotypes of "person with piercings = murderer", too. Besides, if you can't do it before you have to get a job, when can you do it? #halloweencostumes
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SparklyTempest
10/30/09

@tiredfairy: True. I think, though, it is easier for parents to prevent young kids from the scariest of the scary when supervising trick-or-treating. At the schools I went to everyone intermingled at various points in the halls, the lunchroom, etc. (sometimes even with much older kids - I went to some schools that were pre-K through 8th or pre-K through 10th). I think parents do need to prepare kids to be scared, but I guess I can think of enough really scary stuff in the world they'll have to deal with without freaking them out on what should be a fun holiday for them.

I think the "non-wholesome" side of this is ridiculous too - my high school had all sorts of rules about what color you could dye your hair, piercings, etc. that were out of hand. That being said, I don't really have as much of a problem with the really scary stuff being restricted in elementary schools. It is a bit much in middle or high school, but I think about 3-year-old pre-K at some schools and think those kids may be a bit young for some things. #halloweencostumes
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Wit is periodically disensouled
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
But I thought the whole point is to be scary and evil? Or is this just my Catholic education talking? Our principal dressed up as the Wicked Witch every Halloween... and once for Christmas, as a matter of fact.
I can't help feeling like we're so sanitized and removed from gore and superstition and darkness all the time, that it's nice to take time out to revel in it. #halloweencostumes
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BelleBreezing
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
The rules should really be age appropriate. For instance, when I was in kindergarten I was so frightened by a kid dressed as a vampire on my bus, I refused to ride it home. The principal had to call my parents. But older kids....why not? #halloweencostumes
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thesciencegirl
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
My niece is in pre-K and goes to a school where they have uniforms. They're not letting the kids dress up at all, so she has to save her Kitty Cat costume for tomorrow. :( I remember wearing my costume to school (and parading down main street) was my favorite part of Halloween as a kid. #halloweencostumes
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BelleBreezing
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
But what if my kid wants to be a SEXY ax murderer? #halloweencostumes
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PlainMyrtleMae
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
When I was in fourth grade, I wore my "Mexican Man" costume to school. I found a mask at a party store which I now realize was very un-PC. I also had a sombrero and a poncho that was really a rug with a hole cut out. I kept it on all day and went to after-school latchkey. no one said a thing. #halloweencostumes
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thesciencegirl
10/30/09

@PlainMyrtleMae: I think a lot of kids wear costumes that they won't really recognize as problematic until they are teens or adults. #halloweencostumes
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PlainMyrtleMae
10/30/09

@thesciencegirl: I think you're right. #halloweencostumes
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midwestdesigner
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
Luckily, some of the parents are in the generation of cheaters posted about yesterday: [jezebel.com] So, maybe some of these kids will come as a carrot ... with a cupcake costume underneath! #halloweencostumes
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Dodgergirl
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
Personally, I think more kids should dress up as philosophers. There would be something deeply unnerving about an eight year old Foucault. He could go on about the panopticon and the prison of our soul. That's some scary shit. But no gore! #halloweencostumes
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morninggloria
10/30/09

@Dodgergirl: My cousin's wife dressed their 2 year old son as Truman Capote the other year. The year before that, a garden gnome. #halloweencostumes
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NotChoinski
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
An earlier Jezebel post shows a picture of a little Girl ballerina next to a an angry skull mask.

One can argue that if Schools do not permit 'Scary' costumes as a form of harmless play, kids will not learn to deal with 'Scary'. Should that little girl freak out whenever she sees a skull mask because she didn't get the chance to 'learn' its harmless?

I also wonder if the 'no scary outfits' crowd also bans all forms of cheesy Halloween decorations that don't limit themselves to (Smiling ONLY!) pumpkins and cats. #halloweencostumes
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Edited by NotChoinski at 10/30/09 1:25 PM NotChoinski was starred NotChoinski was unstarred

hortense
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
This generation seriously needs a Rufio to lead the revolution against the Debbie Downer Parents Brigade. #halloweencostumes
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hfree
10/30/09

@hortense: bangarang #halloweencostumes
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TheFormerJuneBronson
10/30/09

In reply to First, They Came For The Ax Murderers: Censorship Of Kids' Halloween Costumes
I don't quite get the mask bans. I suppose there might be a good reason that I don't know about, but I couldn't guess what it is. Even as a first-grader, I knew what masks were and generally speaking, who was behind them. Perhaps I should offer an apology to anyone in my class whom I may have traumatized with my C3PO mask. I'm terribly sorry, Master Skywalker. I'm a protocol droid, and not too good at storytelling. #halloweencostumes
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Wit is periodically disensouled
10/30/09

@TheFormerJuneBronson: Well... I suppose they could limit the child's field of vision which might be dangerous at night time, when they're roaming the streets for brains -- I mean candy -- but I cannot see that being true for school, unless there's a concern they might be run over by the AV cart or something. #halloweencostumes
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funnyface
10/30/09

@TheFormerJuneBronson: My one thought: they want to know who everyone is and be able to see that kids are indeed who they say they are/are supposed to be. It's probably related to fears about unwanted unidentified visitors on school grounds and/or kids switching identities/classes/places with other kids. #halloweencostumes
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