I also love to go way-out with the costumes, but can understand why many people don't, for several reasons already stated. Most parents are too harried or simply not creative enough to make their kids a quality costume, and let's face it, who has $60 for a crappy "deluxe" costume that their kid will only be wearing it one night anyway. Many teens don't work yet, and their parents won't front them the money for a costume, or don't have the resources to make their own.

What bugs me are the teenagers who banged on my door last Halloween, wearing their street clothes, trying to shove themselves into my house (!) and demanding I hand over all the Glo-Sticks. They got a bag of plain M & M's instead, and a scolding from a crazy middle-aged lady. Amazingly, nothing was vandalized.
As long as someone's wearing some sort of costume, it's good enough for me. Also, I always hope that when everyone sees our house all done up crazy and spooky, and said Middle-Aged Lady dressed in full costume, wig and fangs handing out treats, that it will inspire them for next year.
(btw, I LOVE pirates)

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