So the other night, I was trick or treating with my kids and a friend of my daughter. When we got to one of the houses, which was lavishly decorated for the holiday, a man opened the door holding his phone.
"Before I give you candy," the man said to the kids, "can I take your picture?"
So he took a photo of my kids while I waited on the curb, feeling extremely uncomfortable about the whole thing. Then they took candy from him and left.
Later, the mom of my daughter's friend whispered to me that man always takes photos of the trick or treaters, and she finds it really creepy, but never says anything. My husband said he wanted to tell the guy not to do it, but it all happened so fast and the kids were already running ahead to the next house.
I still don't know what to make of the whole thing. Doesn't the guy realize how creepy it is that he's taking photos of random kids? But then again, they're all wearing masks or costumes... it's not like they were in bathing suits. But somehow it just seems like someone should tell him to STOP.
I'm glad I don't live in that guy's neighborhood.
I get where you're coming from, but it could be the guy delights in Halloween costumes. Especially if his house, as you say, is lavishly decorated for the holiday. Yes, it's a tad creepy and they aren't my kids, but I would give him the benefit of the doubt.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but it’s still not right to take a kids picture with parental permission, even if he’s not going to use them to jerk off.
DeleteEwwww...
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have the opposite problem. We always dress for Halloween wearing costumes to work and then later to give out candy. Parents of trick or treaters often ask to take our pictures with or without their kids. We usually say yes, but then there was this year. A family not only wanted a picture but wanted to one of us to hold their infant for the picture.
ReplyDeleteBut I’m sure that’s with *their* camera, right?
DeleteShouldn't this weirdo be asking the PARENTS for permission to photograph the children? And shouldn't the parents be saying HELL NO? In today's world, give NOBODY the benefit of the doubt.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a picture of your children in their costumes, you should "paste" it into a Google search and see if their photos are online somewhere without your permission.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be this idea that no one would take a picture of a child without a nefarious reason. Legit or not, a LOT of parents feel this way. This guy is pretty tone deaf which is creepy in itself even if he had no other motives than "I love halloween and look at all the cool trick or treaters that came to my house!!"
ReplyDeleteI would find it creepy and would want to stop it.
ReplyDeleteBut it may be harmless? I have much older neighbors who take pictures of us at Christmas and give us a copy of the photo. It seemed really weird the first year and now is just one of their quirks. They decorate hugely for all holidays (flags, light-up window signs for everything from Valentine's day through Labor Day plus special celebration-of-season décor for off-times. And the addition of giant inflatable things for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). My neighbors aren't creepy towards kids and don't seem to be all that interested in them--they'd much rather talk with adults. They're just very, very into every holiday, and I think the photos are another part of how they celebrate and share with others.
One other thought that occurred to me as I was writing this response: if the guy was really being secretive about it, he would have a photo-taking doorbell and wouldn't even call attention to what was going on. Which doesn't mean that this particular guy isn't being creepy...but at least you know about it.
If it were an elderly couple or a woman, I would have been much less bothered.
Delete35 years ago when i was still trick or treating a husband and wife in my neighborhood took pictures of every trick or treater every year... and kept of photo album....weird,,,, but they were truly harmless and I think hey must have been deprived of grandchildren or something,lol. I did however make my BIL corner the dj at his sons wedding and demand his phone to delete pictures he took without asking of my kids who were very young.
ReplyDeleteA really sweet man down the street took pictures every year. Then he would have a slide show going on showing all the kids costumes throughout the past decade or more.
ReplyDeleteKids would stop and watch the show instead of running off for more candy.
Jen in San Jose