A Classic Example of Why I Distrust "Experts"

This little tidbit is from Profnet, a place where journalists can contact experts on a variety of subject. I've subscribed to their Health round-up, as well as their Entertainment & Living Round-up and find some interesting information in them. Someday when I'm organized I'll write some articles, which is why I subscribed in the first place.

I got the latest Entertainment & Living issue on Friday, and was "delighted" to find this little tidbit from "expert" Robert Butterworth.

"THE PROFNET WIRE: ENTERTAINMENT & LIVING - Halloween/Thanksgiving
Oct. 15, 2004

**2. BEHAVIOR: FANATICS CREATE HYSTERIA IN CHILDREN DURING HALLOWEEN. ROBERT R BUTTERWORTH, psychologist at INTERNATIONAL TRAUMA ASSOCIATES: "Kids who celebrate Halloween have a new menace besides ghosts and goblins -- religious groups that want to ban Halloween, claiming that Oct. 31 is Satan's holiday and trick-or-treating is a sinful ritual. There is a nationwide trend to ban traditional Halloween costume parties in schools due to parental complaints. Parents who forbid a child to dress in costume and celebrate Halloween actually do more to increase a child's fear and preoccupation of the unknown than by participating in the festivities. Parents, by banning Halloween, give more credence to children's fantasies of scary creatures in the night." Butterworth: robert@drbutterworth.net Phone: +1-213-487-7339 (10/15/04)"

I so have a problem with this "expert" opinion.

I understand his concern about this idea that conscience matters should be imposed upon the whole of society--banning a common classroom function, etc., etc. That's not right. People who don't want to participate should just not participate and let everyone else do what it is that they want to do. I certainly don't think everyone should stop doing Halloween just because I don't. I also think that the world wouldn't be all that damaged if no one participated in Halloween. It's just not my job to mandate what people do. I can tell them why I don't, and if my logic is reasonable to them and they choose not to as well, great! If not, great! Just don't tell me I'm being a bad parent because of my choice. Sheesh.

What bothers me is that someone out there is going to believe this rubbish and then instantly whoever doesn't allow their children to participate in Halloween is doing psychological damage because some "expert" says so.

If he could just meet my children he would understand how absurd it is to label me--and incidentally many of my friends--as a "fanatic" who "creates hysteria" in my children because I choose not to participate in Halloween. WHAT ABSOLUTE HOGWASH !

Sorry, had to get that out. :)

I have taught my children what I have come to know and believe, and they choose to not celebrate for reasons of spiritual health and safety. Sure, when they were younger, it was what we required in our household, but there is no way I could stop my oldest from participating in Halloween if that's what he wanted to do. He doesn't want to.

Neither of my boys--now or in the past--have walked around in some kind of outlandish dread that something going bump in the night is going to skin them and eat them alive. For heaven's sake. According to this leap of logic, if I teach my kids not to cross a highway, I'm instilling in them hysteria about automobiles and crossing streets. Or if I say it's dangerous to play with matches, are they going to have a phobia about fire? Not at all. It's a parent's responsibility to teach their children where danger lies and how to be safe. I happen to believe there is a danger here--and anyone is free to agree or disagree, no problem--and I have taught my children why and how to protect themselves. Period. There's nothing hysterical or oppressive about it. It's an informed and logical choice, but I have a funny feeling that it would be tough to get this "expert" to change his opinion on this issue. But that's all it is. Simply an opinion that from my perspective has little basis in fact.

End of rant, I guess. Hope you'll forgive me. At least now I'm laughing. When I first read it, I was just steamed. :)