Halloween is known for its candy, costumes, and spooky decorations, but not everyone is a fan of the holiday. Colin Stroud, a father from Ohio, expressed his frustrations about a neighbor’s Halloween display in a detailed post on LinkedIn on October 16. In his message, he also mentioned an unexpected positive aspect, stating that the experience had brought his children closer to their faith. His comments led to sarcastic responses on social media, with one user indicating they found the situation quite ridiculous.
Stroud began his post by saying he dislikes Halloween. He mentioned that he had trouble explaining to his sensitive daughters why a nearby house had a large decoration of a demon holding a bloody axe in its front yard. He felt that these decorations made their neighborhood walks feel like encounters with evil.

He reflected on how Halloween decorations were not as scary when he was growing up, from 2005 to 2012. Stroud expressed disbelief over why anyone would put such frightening items in their yard. He pointed out that there was a young girl in the neighborhood who was unable to sleep due to the decoration.
Amidst his complaints, Stroud noted a positive outcome from the situation. He shared that his daughter was confidently approaching skeleton decorations and shouting declarations of faith, which he viewed as a positive development.
However, many people online were skeptical of Stroud’s claims, with some suggesting that his daughter’s reaction seemed exaggerated. Others questioned whether his parenting style had influenced her response. Some commentators speculated that Stroud’s extreme religious beliefs might have contributed to his daughter’s fear.
Amid the criticisms, Stroud also found some supporters. Several parents shared similar experiences about their children’s reactions to Halloween decorations. In a follow-up to his original post, Stroud noted that he had lost many followers after sharing his views and realized that many people have similar decorations in their yards.
One supporter encouraged him to see the feedback as a compliment, while another parent recounted how her young child was also scared by Halloween displays. She pointed out that she used those moments to remind her child that they are safe.
What do you think about the reactions to Stroud’s post?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Analice Couto