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Dori Monson says he's always hated Halloween because he doesn't like the idea of kids asking for something for nothing. (AP Photo/File)

Dori's Halloween 'humbug'

BY Josh Kerns  on October 31, 2012 @ 2:16 pm (Updated: 3:08 pm - 10/31/12 )

With Dori Monson's three daughters in high school or college, there's a lot he misses about having young kids and all the special occasions they get really excited about. But Halloween isn't one of them.

"I hated Halloween. It's almost always raining, it's always cold on Halloween and this might sound really dumb, I couldn't stand my kids going up to somebody's house asking them for something for free," Dori says.

He went along with it begrudgingly. But the whole trick-or-treat thing just never sat well with him.

"I hate the whole thing," he says.

"Do you want them to go up and offer to do some chores in exchange for candy?" asks Producer Jake.

Actually, Dori says he would have much preferred they pull some weeds for a Tootsie Roll rather than just stick their hands out.

"I don't like the little moochers that come up to my door and I don't want my kids to be a bunch of little moochers."

It's not just about Halloween. Dori says he pretty much feels that way all the time. As a youth basketball coach, he refused to let his players simply send out letters asking for money for fundraisers. Instead, he made them work for it.

"I said 'No, we're not going to just ask people to give us money.' We'll do a car wash, we'll provide a service in return for the money. Or we'll do something, but I don't want people just giving people stuff."

But it's not all Halloween "humbug" for Dori. He admits he loves carving pumpkins, and for the trick-or-treaters that show up, his wife has stocked up on candy and decorated the house. But he'll be counting the minutes until the evening is over.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (4)


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  • halfshaft wrote...
    Not often that I agree with Dori.......
    October 31, 2012 3:25 pm
    ..but I am on board with his opinion of Halloween. I don't remember even particularly enjoying it as a kid. Hope the kids have a safe evening, but don't stop my my house...my house lights will be off, and I will not be home.
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  • irony wrote...
    it's all about the money..
    October 31, 2012 3:39 pm
    history had a good program about the origins of halloween, early 1900's kids played pranks, people started giving treats to appease them. costume business started years later, then movies.
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  • when reality hits you wrote...
    Dori Monson, its not always about you.
    October 31, 2012 6:48 pm
    Trick or treating is about the children and excitement. You don't need a return for your buck on a 5 dollar bag of candy, other than the satisfaction a normal human being enjoys when confronted with little kids braving the harsh weather for a chance to fill a small bag with the one thing all kinds want the most, CANDY!
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  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Hate it..
    November 1, 2012 8:56 am
    I stopped liking Halloween when the adults decided to rip it away from little kids and began calling it their own official start date for the adult drinking season that continues through New Years..The precurser to that was when 18 year old punks knock on the door looking for a handout and then saying "is that it?"..(True story)
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