It seems to me that everyone always says that their generation was so much more respectful of adults and the elderly when they were younger. My pet peeve about this is when I hear people in their 20’s say something like this. Are you kidding me?! You were a teenager a few months ago! I don’t think things have all of a sudden gone down the shitter since you turned 20. Its just the fact that now you are a maturing adult, now the loud and annoying things that teens do have gone from being funny and entertaining to just plain loud and annoying. I guess some people just have trouble admitting to themselves that at one time they used to be a jackass when they were 15. —Me
This article appears in Sep 1-7, 2011.
IMO, the jackass potential exists throughout one’s life. Then again, one’s jackass is another’s wit, is another’s doofus, ad nauseum….
I agree that there were jackasses back in the day. But it seemed like most people were fairly decent back 20 years ago. Now most teens come across just how you wrote. I think the problem is undisciplined youth of the last decade are having undisciplined children. People are so self absorbed these days.
Why, when I was a lad….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRxjqOcvxoE
The problem *is* kids have been allowed to do what they want because you can’t even look at your kid sideways without fear of child services taking them away — so they know nothing’s going to happen to them. I know a big reason why I wasn’t a little shit is because I knew there would be consequences I wouldn’t be happy with. And now it’s all about self esteem and not exposing kids to rejection, which is actually fucking up normal psychological development, I’ve read, because kids aren’t being exposed to rejection and they think the world revolves around them and they’re so fucking special that when they go into the ‘real world’ and no one coddles them like their parents/teachers they have mental meltdowns. I know one person who was treated like this by her parents and she’s the biggest brat and has recently HAD a mental breakdown because she realized she wasn’t some special creature to the whole entire world. She’s the biggest pain in the ass to deal with and has the ultimate ‘poor me’ complex.
HOWEVER, I know A LOT of my friends who are in my general age group who have witnessed the little shits that have been raised in the 90s/early 2000s and are determined not to raise our kids this way.
Fuck sakes, I would’ve gotten my ass cracked if I behaved like some of the little arseholes I see out there these days.
I’m in my 20s and although my pals and I got into shaninigans over a decade ago, it was totally g rated in comparison from what you see today. Maybe you are right though OP, that we simply matured, but I can assure you we never acted the ways some of these young kids act today we still had a shred of respect for those older and wiser than us, which is what so many seem to be lacking these days. It’s kind of sad. They are probably good kids, just no direction or guidance.
I dunno PK, it’s actually pretty hard for child services to take your kids away. The problem is people aren’t as tough or as determined as they were in those days, life has been made very convenient and we are really spoiled.
Remember that movie The Incredibles? When they tell the kid “everyone’s special!” and the kid grumbles back “which is another way of saying no one is” bingo.
No one is special.
INFY hit it on the head, it comes down to being selfish. MY kids are better than everyone else’s because their MINE. It used to be that parents raised their kids to a productive part of society, not a SET.
I used to get my hide tanned on occasion, when I misbehaved as a kidlet and I think I turned out ok and pretty well adjusted. (You’ll just have to take my word for it, ok?) I agree with you PK, 110%. Parents are afraid to make a move and the kids know they can get away with it. There are no more consequences, other than maybe a bit of a tongue-lashing. I’m not saying we got to start beating our kids or threaten them with excessive physical violence to get them to behave but, I have never, (and still don’t), see any problem with spanking a child as a means of discipline when it’s warranted. Obviously the current trend of positive reinforcement even when the kid has obviously done something they are not supposed to, is definately not working. Generally speaking, kids are spoiled beyond belief these days. (God I sound like my Dad all of sudden. *shudder*) I don’t remember EVER getting anything more than a chocolate bunny and some eggs, maybe a card for Easter. None of my friends either. NOW, it’s like another fucking Christmas! New bike, video games, tv’s, I-pods. It’s insane. They are having this false sense of self-entitlement thrown upon them at an early age and are growing up to be SET’s (thank you tommy), having never known any different. For the most part, they are coddled, spoiled and undisciplined. Self-absorbed, as INFY said above, and it is most definately the parents who are at fault here. (Again, I’m generalizing) How hard is it to just say “NO” every once in awhile and not cave in and give them everything they want? Teach them respect, both for themselves and for others. Teach them manners. Teach them that they are not always going to get what they want and that sometimes, we all have to do things we don’t want to do. Teach them that there will be times they will get disappointed, hurt. Teach them right from wrong. These are fundamentals. They should be as apparent as teaching them to tie their shoe or thier ABC’s. Don’t be so lazy and don’t count on anyone else to teach them. It’s your responsibility as a parent to impart as much life-knowledge on your kids as you possibly can. The more they know, the better decisions they will make in their lives. It’s common sense and been proven time and again.
These same youths also think they’re old school by the time they’re 18.
OK – I missed what TJ’s SET is and it’s driving me nuts! We need a glossary! Somebody? Please?
that’s because if you weren’t respectful, you’d get a whack upside your head from your mom or dad. and you probly earned it too?
respect is a two way steet, you have to give to earn it. if you are being an asshole or other thing, then you get fuck all in return, except maybe scorn from those looking on.
but some good manners never hurt anyone, try it sometime douchebags.
My mom certainly said no to me. She stuck by it too.
Once I was SO mad that she wouldn’t take me swimming and kept saying “no” that i packed my little barbie bookbag and hit the bricks, determined to break out on my own.
… I ended up making it once block down the road, realized it was supper time and I was hungry and went home.
I was spanked once or twice, but other than that I was a really good kid, honestly. And if I was bad, I’d get something taken away like my NES (lol) or my TV or whatever. I hated it and it taught me a lesson, but these days you’ve got kids killing themselves because their parents take their x boxes away!
I had a friend who’s mother would take away all my friends’ toys when she misbehaved. She’d pack them up and wouldn’t give in. She took them away for a month, once for a serious violation. She was dirty with her punishments! She used to babysit me and when me and my friend cut the neighbours’ flowers in her garden and blamed the boys on the street she made us sit on the side deck for two whole days in the middle of summer and not move and watch the other kids play. That learn’d us! Though, that WAS back in the day when kids actually went OUTSIDE in the summer.
In any event, I’m totally using the “take something they love away” punishment. And I have no problem taking all their shit away when they’re really bad, either.
i missed that class too snubiz…what’s with the fork?
Oh – just a little change. More of a fork you. (not you you) I’ll go back to critters next week. : )
Aaand it’s over to the night shift. Happy (long) weekend everybody (who has one)!
Damn, I came too late. SET stands for Self Entitled Twat, for those that were wondering. I see the term tossed around here a lot so I figured we could make an acronym for it. I don’t take credit for the phrase but I have placed an official TommyJules902 copyright on said acronym. It cannot be challenged in any court of law, and as such any ruling therein will be considered invalid.
Hope you have a good long weekend as well Snoobster! I’m outta here in just over an hour, and looking forward to a peaceful weekend at my good friend’s cottage in Grand Pre. Nice and quiet and SET free!
Those now-20 year olds are probably the same ones who accepted candy from Father Lahee in the pedophile van. LOL.