My first year to skip trick-or-treating, I hid in my mom’s bushes. When people would walk up to take candy, I’d casually walk out with my hands in a nonchalant “surprise” pose, and I’d say “boo” in the most calm, monotone voice I could muster. People would jump or scream a little, see me approaching them fully deadpan, and scream before running away.

I was asked to stop by some of the neighborhood parents who said it was significantly more terrifying and traumatizing than if I had performed a proper jump-scare.