I love the idea of dressing up at Halloween although it's been a while. Don't boycott Halloween - dress up in a burqa!

Society as a whole has gotten a wee bit slutty. This too shall pass. Maybe not soon enough for my taste.

 

Again, I don't see the sense in dressing up. If I had kids and was taking them out, sure, but I don't. I don't need to dress up to go out just because it is that time of year.

I used to love Halloween too, I would dress up all the time, have pumpkin carving contests with my mom, I would have fun. But those days are over. And there is no sense hanging on to the past is there?

 

We don't have Halloween in South Africa, but I generally avoid all holidays.

As a man my opinion on the half nakedness issue differs from yours. We like seeing women in various states of undress.

I can imagine how baffled women must be at seeing this behaviour. But that's easy for you to say, you don't have a chemical floating around in your brain making you horny all the time. ;)

Of course, all this changes when our wives/girlfriends are doing the slutty dressing for parties.

 

You've certainly provoked some thoughts with this post.

1) While it's true that I haven't attended an adult Halloween party in a number of years, I would be surprised if every attendee dressed as a pimp, gigolo or a slut. I don't know if that group represents a majority or a minority of adult Halloween partygoers. I'm going to assume that they are a minority. I'd question whether these two article writers are overreacting to what they've seen or heard, but that's just a guess on my part. I'd actually be more concerned about people wearing potentially degrading or distasteful clothing on any day other than Halloween. I can rationalize it for Halloween because it's about pretending and playing a different person. And the candy, of course.

2) Does adult behavior tarnish what's currently seen as a children's holiday (with very different origins, as your post shows)? Perhaps, in the same sense that shenanigans at office Christmas parties (drunkeness; passionate moment in supply closets, on desks, and on photocopiers; generally being a drunken asshole) could cloud a favorite children's holiday. Especially if someone's wearing a Santa suit.

3) Adults are too old for this shit... That's a personal choice and decision. If some adult wants to go out in public dressed as a rabbit or a superhero, I don't have any issue in reserving a day for that. Again, personal choice. If you're not interested in that, Barbara, that's cool.

4) It's all about the consumer, not the sentiment or original purpose: can't really disagree with you there. But if some adult wants to go spend the money, then more power to them.

Thanks for an interesting and thought-provoking post!

 

Pstonie, I totally get the male need to see women, but they are all ready everywhere anyway (ads, web sites, etc) - there is no lack of sexual stimulus for men out there for free or for a fee.

I hope it isn't coming to the point in society where all women are nothing more than eye candy for men and should be in a constant state of undress for them!! I kid of course, I know that isn't the case, as you said, men are also possessive/protective and don't want to see their wives/girlfriends/mothers/daughters doing this.

As far as sexual drive... Truth is I am one of those women that would love to have sex every day. I attempt to get it but... well that's a whole other topic.

Mark, I do not have a problem with sexy. Anyone who knows me, knows why I am laughing about this. I am not a prude in any shape or form.

You are right, not EVERYONE is dressed that way. A large portion, but not everyone.

Next, yes what adults do, DOES tarnish what children do. As much as we pretend children do not copy what adults do, in fact THEY do. If you click on the image from PostSecret and read the comments on my Flickr post, you will see a photograph of children dressed in those types of sexualized outfits for Halloween. No child needs to be dressed as a sexy maid.

I know that this my person choice. It is my opinion and I am in no way suggesting anyone has to agree. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. People out there can decide to buy into holidays or not, again I am all for personal choice, it just isn't my choice and that is what I am stating.

Thanks for the great comments guys.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/malingering/281554774

read the linked articles to show the outfits being sold to children.

 

"Next, yes what adults do, DOES tarnish what children do. As much as we pretend children do not copy what adults do, in fact THEY do. If you click on the image from PostSecret and read the comments on my Flickr post, you will see a photograph of children dressed in those types of sexualized outfits for Halloween. No child needs to be dressed as a sexy maid."

Fair point, I really can't argue with you there.

 

Please check out my follow up post today called Tricks are for Kids?

I think it shows you what I mean.

 

Geez times have changed.
I was thinking the same thing when they showed Granville Mall on the weekend....all the women/girls were dressed in slutty outfits.

Lets see...I went to Luvafair as Glinda one year. My friend was Dorothy...no mini dresses.

At the costume house parties...I wasa spider one year and a roman one other year.

The guys were either in drag or dressed like vampires or SPOCK!

Or cool stuff from movies...or totally geeky.

We had one year around here of slutty pre teens for trick or treating..but the next was back to normal.

I am dressing like a witch. We like Halloween..our yard is spookified and the kids are ready.

But not dressed like that.

 

Kerry, Yes times have changed. I used to love holidays... I think the joy of them all has been sucked out of me over the years.

 

I totally agree with you. They're even marketing risque costumes to little girls. The end of the world is near, this generation has gone to freakin' Hell. Young people (young adults, alike) lack originality nowadays. If these broads want male attention that bad then why can't they just go up the damn men and start a conversation or introduce themselves to at least let the man know they have a voice/mind/whatever...I mean, damn! They are REALLY that desperate to be sexy only so a guy can talk to them. Thank God, I got originality.

 

If we are supposed to be an example to kids, why not be one? Dress as your favorite character from a book, or some other creative character? I know my friends had a bash the other day. One was that dude from 300, another was the paperbag princess. Nothing skimpy, nothing sexy. It was just fun. I think the majority of adult feel the "sexy" costumes out there for kids are rediculous, just like you, but we need to take that majority and become the examples that we should be. Why let a few tramps ruin it?

 

Good points Trace. (PS thanks for the Halloween card).

If I had kids I would do just that. Dress up in something fun and not sexual.

But I don't have kids.

I don't see the sense in spending money on an outfit just to go out to a bar night.

I would also like to say this post has been only my opinion and I am in no way telling other people what to do.

I'd also like to thank BeyondRobson.com for linking to this post.

 

Hey there Barbara, I have been doing the Halloween with the kids for the last four years....This year we had 15 teenagers sleep over...as you say...it is all for the kids...here is the link to the photo

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/1802114010_8367019099.jpg

Beachut

 

Johnno, Hey mate, that is a cute photo, thanks for sharing that. Looks like the kids had a blast, you are a great dad. Hope all is well downunder my friend.

 

Before getting too jaded (I feel the same way about slut-o-ween), you should check out an event like the Parade of Lost Souls (Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC). Most costumes there are homemade and Halloween is celebrated according to its roots. Slut costumes are minimal. It's pretty much the only Halloween event I attend!

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flungingpictures/1801833576/

This was my costume at the parade.. "No Face" from Spirited Away.

 

S - Great stuff. I appreciate the tip. Maybe next year. Great picture. Thanks for adding your suggestion.

I am all Halloweened out at this point all ready. Since Friday everywhere I have gone has had people in Halloween theme. After 6 days of Halloweenisms it doesn't even seem like today is the actual day it is supposed to happen.

 

very interesting topic. I really enjoyed reading your comments.
I dunno if I am from another world or what because I never was in the slutty phase. I feel sexy with a pencil skirt and silky blouse, I do occasionally flaunt the cleavage cause its quite nice if I dont say so myself ;o)

But i am pretty grossed out that little girls are projected with those most ridiculous costumes. I always wanted to be a cat. I was prolly a cat for Halloween 10 years in a row haha

I pray that I will be an influence in my daughters life forever. Cause when they grow into teenagers there isn't much you can do but pray ;o)

 

Hey O, I think I went as a cat many years too. HAHAHA. I don't think that there is anything wrong with dressing sexy in daily life. You can be sexy without looking like a hooker or a porno character or a trailer trash skank. I love my boots and heels and figure hugging clothing. Nothing wrong with that I think. It is a matter though of how your image is projected.

 

Hi Barbara,
I too dislike what Halloween has become in that it has lost a good part of what it was. The Russians have issued a ban on Halloween in schools oddly enough as a "cult of death saying it "mocks death".
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21558436
Well yes, that was what it was supposed to do. Once a year we could safely deal with death. We could be pleasently afraid yet thumb our nose at death at the same time. We could wear his garb, show our bones, our ghosts etc.We are defying death by staling his power. Thats why we have horror movies, ghost stories etc. But when horror movies became slasher movies, with scantily clad nubile girls running about till they are brutally slaughtered we lost something.
But between the ultra conservatives who considered Halloween devil worship, not seeing it as devil defiant, and banning it from kids for that reason, and the ultra left who don't want the kids frightened and the crazies who made Halloween dangerous tampering with candy, our culture turned the whole thing into an adult holiday and another excuse for drinking and behavior that is slutty. But- and this is a big one- there were always holidays that did this. Carnivale was always a holiday that reversed the normal rules-see watered down versions in the old "Hunchback of Notre Dame" movies. Madi Gras here is somewhat that way as is Spring Break. But in this day of war and terrorism, etc. it's hard to find a mummy scary and vampires are sexy, and we examine ghosts or whisper to them. And no one wants to talk about death, let alone poke him in the ribs.
On a personal note my wife and I had a problem with older kids in no costumes who didn't even say "trick or treat" and who looked old enough that we should have been handing out razors and condoms instead of candy. The last year we handed out candy we did do costumes, sat out side on a warm Hallloween and had only about 10-15 young children come. We haven't bothered since.
Roger

 

Roger, I so hear ya on the teenagers too old for it, and the balls it takes for them to go out and demand candy. It happens everywhere. I find it so rude.

I didn't know Russia had done that. As with most holidays I don't think it should be forced on anyone who doesn't want to celebrate it.

But I think the fun of the holiday has been eroded for sure.

I hope you and Betsy are doing great. Nice to see you stop by again.