On any other evening, presenting a frightening or threatening visage might be a violation of a general duty not to scare others. But on Halloween at trick-or-treat time, that duty is modified. Our society encourages children to transform themselves into witches, demons, and ghosts, and play a game of threatening neighbors into giving them candy.So, if there is, under law (or something) a "general duty not to scare others" (except on All Hallows Eve) can the right-wing phobia-induction propaganda machine therefore be estopped, as the legal eagles put it? (And might there be just a bit of punishment in the deal as well, at least for the worst offenders?)
— Bouton v. Allstate Ins. Co., 491 So. 2d 56, 59 (La. Ct. App. 1986)
Wishing all not a "happy," but a truly frightening, horrific Hallowe'en that puts fear (if not an acute myocardial infarction — that's truly frightening, not "scary") in your hearts & poop in the pants of whatever idiotic costume you're sporting.
I see you - or your camera - is there in Highland Park.
ReplyDeleteI spent the day cruising round Boyle Heights and DTLA, buying marigolds and eating huaraches - getting out of my safe Westside cocoon. There's some places in HP I want to go visit.
Travel Editor:
ReplyDeleteAfraid it's getting all "gentrified," 'though there are interesting restaurants & such opening. You might want to check the Second Saturday Art Crawl/Drive, too; plenty of aesthetes among the hipsters.
And if you hurry there's a stair climb tomorrow. We'd be there but we're going to a pool party. (Or, of course, sitting here just waiting for someone who's read this to break in. You never know.)