Gen Z, Get Your Fucking Hands Off Halloween

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So now Gen Z is ruining my favourite holiday.

As if the astonishing self-entitlement, permanent offence-taking and complete willingness to offend everybody else weren’t exhausting enough. Now Halloween apparently needs a fucking public-order contingency plan.

In Zoetermeer, Friday’s Halloween celebrations ended with riot police and ten arrests. Youths reportedly threw fireworks and other objects at officers. Including a bicycle. A bicycle. Apparently the costume was “unbearable little shit.”

Meanwhile, the Dutch interior minister has warned about online calls for disorder this weekend. Student organisations themselves have questioned the organisation behind the supposed protests and advised against attending.

And here in Hilversum, our Halloween organisers have had to issue a notice explaining that the event is going ahead, but they will withdraw their support if unrest develops.

People volunteering their time so children can collect sweets now need an exit strategy.

Congratulations. You’ve made trick-or-treat require a risk assessment.

I am fucking unhappy too. About quite a substantial list of things, actually. Yet somehow I manage to leave the house without looting a shop or pelting police with rocks and fireworks.

Being unhappy is not a fucking permit.

What really gets me is the hypocrisy: demanding consideration for every feeling while showing absolutely none for the people whose evening, business or safety you’re prepared to wreck.

The children in costumes didn’t set your rent. The volunteers didn’t write government policy. The shopkeeper isn’t withholding your future behind the till.

Demonstrate. Make demands. Be furious.

But if your contribution involves smashing things and terrorising everybody nearby, don’t expect me to applaud your political awakening.

You sweatpants-wearing morons. Put the bicycle down.

I wanted pumpkins, horror films and theatrical monsters. The actual arseholes were not on the programme.

Sour thought

You’re unhappy? Join the fucking club. Leave the kids’ Halloween out of it.

Sources: Zoetermeer report, NL Times · Dutch protest warnings, NL Times/ANP. Hilversum information: the Halloween organisers’ notice shared with me, describing their position when issued.