An argumentative technique in which The arguer easily knocks down a proposition never offered by the opponent (usually weaker than the true proposition) and then attacks it as if his opponent had offered that proposition.

One sees it in annoying campaign ads: Candidate X opposes a law that would allow warrantless searches of private households looking for illegal aliens, and Candidate Y claims "My opponent supports illegal immigration."

I'm not sure I agree 100% that I used that technique - perhaps Chessmann did not, himself, propose some of the things I ridiculed, but I maintain that such things are examples of the type of hysterical thinking engaged in by many (perhaps even most - certainly the most vocal) opponents of celebrating Halloween.

It's unpleasant to rely on ridicule (as I have) but some people make it so tempting - certainly ridicule may be called for when something is ridiculous.

Ross,

I visited your website last night. Enjoyed it. Nice to see you offering the kind of entertainment that you do for kids.

Mark

Kind of you to say, thanks.

There are a lot of good ideas on the Halloween DVD from Kidabra.