There is nothing more adorable than seeing dozens of toddlers and elementary students dressed as fairies, monsters and superheroes running excitedly from house to house on Halloween.

Only one thing could possibly ruin this image; teenagers (and that means you) dressed as fairies, monsters or superheroes running from house to house on Halloween. Even worse is when teenagers run around without costumes and still expect to receive treats. The last thing I want to see as I open the door to happily distribute candy to costumed infants is one of my classmates in jeans, a t-shirt and an incredibly lame mask screaming “trick or treat!” in their post-pubescent voice.

For those of you who this applies to and who have already mapped out the most efficient candy collecting route, stop it right now. Think about all of those poor children who ring doorbells only to find out that all of the candy is gone while you sit at home with more than you could or should ever eat. You could just as easily go to your best friend’s house where there will be equally free candy and people your own age.

If you do insist on trick-or-treating, keep your costume appropriate. It seems that costumes get a bit risqué once you hit about 16 and no parent wants their child to question why Wonder Woman is walking around in her underwear. Plenty of people have parties on Halloween that are intended to entertain masses of high schoolers in their Playboy Pirate and High Seas Honey outfits, and I suggest you attend one of those instead of scarring the kids for life.

It’s perfectly fine if you are going out as an act of charity or to escort your six-year-old sister and her friends. But do not do it out of your uncontrollable desire for KitKats, DumDums and other tooth rotting miniatures, and do not go dressed as the “sexy” version of Spiderman, Batman or Superman. Parents all over Shawnee will thank you for acting your age.