So, I have seen and heard of disturbing trends in Halloween. Fewer and fewer kids are out trick or treating. People tell me that they only get 1 or 2 groups other than me, and I trick or treat at the tail of prime time (6pm to 9pm), because I am at work until about 9pm. That means I get only an hour at the end of prime trick or treating time and up to an hour after prime from 9pm to 10pm. I hit houses at the end and they have not had any other trick or treaters. These are not houses out in the boonies or like that one that is between Normandy Park and Burien we went to that one year that had not had trick or treaters for the better part of a decade, these houses are in residential neighborhoods, prime areas, including on the shores of Lake Burien (the houses that often give out full sized candy bars).
I hear that these kids are being taken to community centers, malls, schools, churches and the like, rather than being taken trick or treating. THIS IS A TRAVESTY!!! Halloween is a perfect time to teach kids things like how to deal with strangers, how to recognize bullies (like bag snatchers) and how to deal with them, and correct Halloween protocols.

Halloween protocols, this brings me to my main point. There are rules. One, to indicate receptiveness to trick or treaters you have a primary, secondary and tertiary indicator.
Primary is the Jacks-o-lanterns. If it is lit the house is good to go. This is just common sense. If the lantern is lit, then people are awake, only an idiot would leave it lit when asleep. If they are asleep, I have no problem waking them up so they know to put out their fire hazard. During the day this is ok not to be lit, and at night even though this is the primary eye catcher it is not the most important indicator. Other Halloween decorations may take the place of a jack-o-lantern, such as webbing, streamers, or even a sign that says knock loudly (if they did not want me to knock, they should have taken down the sign).
Second is the most important: The porch light. During prime time, if the porch light is lit, the house is probably ok. After 9pm, this is does not hold true, but if the porch light is lit, then candy you should get.
The last indicator is the inside lights. After the prime time, then you need at least the porch and an inside light on. Otherwise, let them sleep. Unless they left their jack-o-lantern lit, then they deserve to be woken up.

I write this angry writing, because people do not know or follow the protocols. They leave their lights on, and then when you trick or treat they say "Oh, we are out of candy," or "It is after Nine, why are you still out?" or "Don't you know it is Ten?" This last one is my favorite, because after she asked if I knew what time it was I asked her if she knew her jack-o-lantern was still lit (as well as her porch light and the inside lights). She told me it was too cold to go out and extinguish the jack-o-lantern. I made a point of letting her see me put it out for her; I am such a nice guy. She was a very mean person. However there were several very nice people that gave me everything in their bowls, which was awesome. Those people restored my faith in humanity.
Now you know what has annoyed me tonight.