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How do you react to offensive Halloween costumes?

If a friend of yours wore an extremely offensive costume to a party, like a priest abusing a child, how would you react?
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gno
gno
Marked as Best! October 27, 2009 12:55 AM
Ignore them. People who wear exceptionally tasteless costumes do so to get attention and for the "shock face" when they walk in the room. Don't comment, don't even give them a look.

If they don't get a reaction, then they'll choose something hopefully more tasteful next year.

Otherwise I try to not judge too much. Halloween is the one time when we can be a little tacky and rude. So even if someone crosses the line, I try to write it off as a little bad judgement on their part, and try to forget it ever happened. Same thing regarding bar night on St. Patrick's day, you know?
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tealmyster
tealmyster
October 26, 2009 10:47 PM
I try not to have an opinion on it. It's Halloween and I feel people can dress however. I know certain costumes wouldn't be appropriate around children, so I would imagine those who would be around children would take that into consideration but ultimately it's a day to dress up and express yourself so I try to not pass too much judgement. I have had my share of inappropriate costumes...:)
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cheapgamer
cheapgamer
October 26, 2009 10:56 PM
First if I suspect a person would do this I would try to damage control and catch the person beforehand & say tasteful costumes encouraged on the invite.

Otherwise I would have to take stock at the party. Rate it on a scale of 1-5,

1, could be kind of tasteless . . . I guess
2, Yup it is tasteless
3, Really tasteless
4, So tasteless I loose some respect for that person.
5, What kind of @#$%! would wear that in public!?

Rate it by points above if one or more people point out that it is a tasteless costume add a point.

My reactions would depend greatly on if there are kids at the party.

No kids
1-2 let it slide,
3 chat with the friend and see if you can convince him or her to loose the costume.
4 ask friend to loose outfit or tell him/her to go home.
5 Get out of my house!

Kids
1 chat with the friend and see if you can convince him or her to loose the costume.
2-3 ask friend to loose outfit or tell him/her to go home.
4-5 Get out of my house!

. . . it sounds like you are talking about the 4-5 end of things . . . good luck with it!
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chipmunkwi...
chipmunkwi...
October 26, 2009 11:56 PM
If it was my party kick im out
If it was someone else's party shun im
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unwirklich
unwirklich
October 27, 2009 12:17 AM
I try to keep in my always that what I find offense may not offend everyone and that everyone has the right to wear what they please. For instance I dressed my husband up as Jesus a few years back, and people were offended. I didn't find it offense or even think many would when we first thought up the costume, but it still was.

Keeping that in mind I would simply ignore it. If it was particularly controversial I may start up a conversation based on it, for conversations sake.

Otherwise like every thing in life, if bothers you, go somewhere else. The tables will likely be turned at some point in your life.
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keepontryi...
keepontryi...
October 27, 2009 08:42 AM
I think your husband is a good Jesus. So long as he wasn't doing anything "un-jesus, like hitting on all the women in real crass terms...

Good point
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jkepler
jkepler
October 27, 2009 12:40 AM
I would probably say something as a joke, hoping that maybe the serious undertone would occur to them later. I might say with a smile "just so you know, I'm making some pretty negative personal judgments about you right now." If enough people do that in a non-confrontational way, the person may think twice about doing something like this again.
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dtvrivera
dtvrivera
October 27, 2009 01:03 AM
If a person I knew wore an extremely offensive costume to a party, I would hope that it would not be a very close friend of mine that I would be “required” to spend a certain amount of time with at the party. If it was just a person I knew casually, I would not waste my breath over his/her tasteless outfit but rather move out of their way and ignore the dress-up. However, if it was my close friend displaying an offensive wardrobe or costume, I would likely comment on her lack of taste. I would say something like “Really, you think this is funny?” and then I would likely keep a bit of a distance to her during the party, if I found her costume too offensive or embarrassing. If it were something truly extreme, such as one partner dressed up as a priest and the other as a little boy whom is allegedly “abused” by the priest I would really question their standards and possibly make them aware that there were people in the room that found the dress-up rather inappropriate based on what it was intended to portray.
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thebandit
thebandit
October 27, 2009 03:28 AM
I'd disapprove, and consider not going out with that person on Halloween night, but ultimately it's their choice what to wear. My dislike of their costume is highly unlikely to change their mind, and even if I say that it's offensive, and here is why, my friend either won't care or would have known that already, and made that a factor in why they chose the costume. Some people just like to be offensive on purpose. I don't understand it, but they're out there.
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amybrowne3
amybrowne3
October 27, 2009 07:24 PM
I always go as the same thing, perhaps people don't like mind but no one has said anything ever. Perhaps they assume I am a fortune teller with a bag. I wear my religious cloak and carry a velvet bag which holds my tarot cards. It's the only time I can wear it among the general populace so I enjoy it while I can.

This is a special time where anyone can be anything or anyone so unless it is really disrespectful its okay by me.
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