Halloween is coming up this Wednesday, and it’s time to have a discussion about costumes.

There have been multiple controversies sparked by this issue — numerous celebrities have apologized for costumes that were seen as inappropriate, an Iowa teacher is being investigated by her school district for wearing blackface to a Halloween party, and costumes depicting cultural appropriation and misrepresentation are still widely common.

Take for example the controversy at Yale College a few years ago. On Oct. 28, 2015, the university’s Intercultural Affairs Committee sent and email encouraging students to be wary of “culturally unaware and insensitive costumes.”

A lecturer, Erika Christakis, then emailed her residents questioning the email, which was met by hundreds of upset students called for the resignation of the lecturer and her husband, Nicholas.

This is a difficult line, as the argument can be seen as two sided, especially in intellectual circles — is it a First Amendment right to wear any Halloween costume you would like and is it censorship to restrict what people wear? Or, is it just encouraging a culture that protects marginalized identities by not appropriating their culture for the sake of a costume?

So, should you encounter this on Halloween this year, here are a few recommended steps to use the chance as an educational opportunity as to why that particular costume may be damaging.

If you find a costume that someone is wearing offensive, do not immediately shout at them, or insult them. Approach them and speak with them — ask them why they wore their costume, and try to help them understand why you see it as offensive. This is particularly important if you are an ally of the community as to relieve the burden of already marginalized communities to have to educate someone appropriating their culture.

We advise this because insults are not well known to change someone’s views. Fear and pressure may change those views, but in the long run they will only foster hatred and resentment. The only way to permanently change a person’s viewpoint is to have a mature, good faith dialogue with them. Persuasion is the best weapon in your arsenal.

Expecting someone to validate and accept your subjective feelings without discussion may only lead to resentment and foster of hate, rather than them seeing your point of view.

That being said, there is a line and costumes should be selected in a mature and thoughtful manner. Things like blackface will never be acceptable.

As Erika Christakis stated in her email, “there is a difference between fantasizing about an individual character vs. appropriating a culture, wholesale, the latter of which could be seen as hurtful.”

Do not use this holiday as an excuse to dress and act in an offensive and inappropriate manner. If you expect people to treat you respectfully, it is a disservice to them to act irresponsibly yourself.