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And what, pray tell, are the positives of Halloween?

To begin with, I don't agree with some of your negatives, or at least disagree that Halloween is responsible. I do respect your right to post your opinion as much as my right to disagree. I don't really feel the need to justify my position any further than to say that yours seems extreme to me, and it smacks of trying to tell others what to do with their leisure time...they're not hurting anyone. My argument could end right there, but I'll play along.

As far as the positives go, here are a few:

- Many neighborhoods have get-togethers, which IMO strengthen communities.

- Economic activity (treats, costumes, cider & doughnuts, decorations...) - nothing wrong with that.

- Kids and adults have a fun activity to share.

- Costume day at school was always fun, and you could argue that Halloween activities promote social skills.

- Hayrides, haunted houses, etc. - yes I know you disapprove, but I don't. My local sportsman's club does a haunted forest, which generates revenue for what I consider to be an important community group.

- Kids eating candy pisses off Michelle Obama.

As far as the positives go, here are a few: - Many neighborhoods have get-togethers, which IMO strengthen communities. - Economic activity (treats, costumes, cider & doughnuts, decorations...) - nothing wrong with that. - Kids and adults have a fun activity to share. - Costume day at school was always fun, and you could argue that Halloween activities promote social skills. - Hayrides, haunted houses, etc. - yes I know you disapprove, but I don't. My local sportsman's club does a haunted forest, which generates revenue for what I consider to be an important community group. - Kids eating candy pisses off Michelle Obama.

Why are those positives associated with Halloween versus just doing them anyway? What specific things associated with Halloween itself are positive? For example, Christmas has some pagan roots also, and is over-commercialized, and marked by greed. Yet Christmas celebrates the Biblical account of the Savior's birth, and therefore has a redeeming property regardless of our traditions. Halloween is empty tradition, and stripped of those "positives" offers nothing but darkness, death and mayhem.