A certain HOA (Homeowners Association) has sparked massive outrage online after one of their official letters, which tried to ban “outsider” trick-or-treaters for Halloween, was shared on Reddit. The post, which appeared in the r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit, was appropriately flaired with the phrase, “Pull up the drawbridge! There are peasants at the gate!” and honestly, I can’t think of a better way to describe the sheer absurdity of this situation.
The note was a stern warning to residents, basically telling them that non-residents weren’t welcome to enjoy the neighborhood’s Halloween festivities, and the internet did not hold back its disapproval. Now, what exactly was the HOA’s justification for this over-the-top, deeply unpopular move? Well, the letter itself set a pretty serious tone right from the jump, framing the issue as one of “neighborhood integrity” and protecting the children’s experience.
It began: “As we prepare for Halloween, the [redacted] HOA board would like to address an ongoing concern that has affected the quality of our neighborhood’s celebration in recent years.” Yeah, if you think that HOA’s aren’t as awful as they sound, now you know it’s completely true.
Some people just love to think they’re better than others
The board then went on to explain its view, stating that the community “has long taken pride in offering a safe, charming, and well-organized Halloween experience; something that unfortunately has attracted large groups from outside neighborhoods.” This, they claimed, caused outsiders to “crowd our streets, and diminish the experience for our own children.”
The formal language is one thing, but that reasoning just comes across as completely tone-deaf and frankly, a little cold. The alleged fallout from this outside traffic included what they called “depleted candy supplies” and even “instances of property damage.” So, to be fair, property damage is a legitimate concern, but is gatekeeping one of the most community-focused holidays of the year really the solution?
To solve this supposed neighborhood crisis, the board detailed a plan to actively ban people from outside the neighborhood. This wasn’t just a suggestion; it involved having volunteers to monitor vehicles between 6 PM and 8 PM on October 31. There are parents who would rather spend time volunteering to ruin a night for children than let them have fun. Get ready to show your ID to get a fun-size Snickers.
And for the residents themselves? They weren’t exempt from the new rules, either. If you were planning on having friends or family over to enjoy the fun, the letter had a clear message: “Residents expecting guests from outside the neighborhood are encouraged to make alternate plans.” Imagine telling your own parents or siblings that they can’t bring the grandkids over for the one night of the year that’s all about family fun.
Unsurprisingly, the online community reacted negatively to the extreme gatekeeping. The outrage quickly turned to class-based frustration, with many feeling this was a transparent attempt to keep out families from less affluent areas. The commenter u/OscarTheGrouchsCan didn’t pull any punches, adding, “These people, really, really want to make sure the poors absolutely aren’t allowed, even if they have family there.”
It’s truly a shame to see a community try to crack down hard on what is supposed to be a fun, welcoming night. It just goes to show that some people will try to gatekeep absolutely everything, even plastic pumpkins and fun-size candy bars.
