Note: this article was originally published November 1, 2017
Last Halloween, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted a picture of his daughter Chloe dressed up for Halloween.
I’m going to take half of Chloe’s candy tonight & give it to some kid who sat at home. It’s never to early to teach… https://t.co/NvjIwEiiQl— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.) 1509490408.0
"I'm going to take half of Chloe's candy tonight & give it to some kid who sat at home," the president's son wrote in the tweet. "It's never to early to teach her about socialism."
Yikes. (And to think — didn't Trump Jr. learn his lesson the last time he tweeted about candy?)
Trump Jr.'s tweet backfired. Fast.
Trump's tweet ignores about a million factors to consider when comparing the politics of trick-or-treating to socialism (I can't believe I just had to write that sentence). Much of the internet was happy to inform Jr. what exactly his tweet got wrong.
For starters, just ... why? Why take a completely innocent thing like trick-or-treating and make it "ugly and divisive"?
J.K. Rowling pointed out the Trumps probably aren't the best people to be criticizing free handouts.
Fill her bucket with old candy left by her great-grandfather, then explain that she has more because she's smarter… https://t.co/jCh5CQsnbz— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1509526119.0
Others used the tweet to point out Trump Jr.'s hypocrisy on other issues, like his father's tax plan.
@DonaldJTrumpJr Take 80% of her candy and give it to the top 1% of trick or treaters. You know like your dads' tax plan.— Monteqzuma (@Monteqzuma) 1509497453.0
Keith Olberman was one of the many users who noted trick-or-treating, in and of itself, certainly isn't, um ... a capitalistic concept.
Wait - where did she GET the candy, Dondi? Wasn’t it given to her, piece by piece, by members of the community? https://t.co/ouq2Gpcubz— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1509496187.0
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said what many of us were thinking in a simple six-word tweet. You can practically feel the facepalm through the screen.
The first family, ladies and gentlemen. https://t.co/uwgThc3OI5— Chris Murphy (@Chris Murphy) 1509495720.0
But at the heart of the criticism aimed at Trump Jr. was his tweet's lack of empathy and compassion for others.
@DonaldJTrumpJr When I was sick on Halloween when I was 6 and had to stay home, my brother gave me half his candy.… https://t.co/fPEWydUA6k— Raise this Wounded World (@Raise this Wounded World) 1509494164.0
After all, most kids who don't trick-or-treat aren't staying in because they choose to.
@DonaldJTrumpJr Perhaps that child stayed bc he had cancer, was disabled, was in foster care or parents couldn’t af… https://t.co/2jOPHe2xnM— enoughalready (@enoughalready) 1509535004.0
My Upworthy colleague Eric March explained that, growing up, his parents did have him give away his candy to those less fortunate and, even as a kid, he "was happy about it."
When I asked Eric about his tweet, he told me he often shared his candy with local nursing homes (where his mom worked), gave it away in donation drives, or shared it with other kids at his Cub Scout meetings.
Not to mention, sharing is something we usually want to teach kids. Right?
There are plenty of lessons to be taught on Halloween. Selfishness isn't one of them.
@DonaldJTrumpJr I think sharing with those that are less fortunate than you is a universal human value. Perhaps you could try her that.— Chris B. (@Chris B.) 1509493448.0
Sharing your Halloween candy is something to feel good about — not frown upon.
There are many reasons kids don't go trick-or-treating: various disabilities, food allergies, illnesses, safety concerns (just to name a few). Halloween seems like an ideal time to teach kids about the privileges of trick-or-treating and encourage them to split up their bag of sweets with a classmate or neighbor who might not be able to venture out on Oct. 31. After all, selfishness is what's truly spooky this time of year.
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.