British Youth?

Question

And how far have we come for the British press , to label us as being afraid of our youth ?.
Any ideas , open discussion .

Answer 1

As ever, it is a minority that gets the majority a bad name. The minority is, however, virtually uncontrollable, because their parents, for the most part, have abrogated their responsibilities apropos their offspring, and because media, government and, inter alia, agencies responsible for youth, have enabled them to set up their own culture which, in its naturally immature fashion, is diametrically opposed to the tranquility of society that English Law cites as its own raison d'etre.

It is not the use of alcohol, sex or vandalism that is the issue here. I am fifty, and, in my teens, I went after sex, tried to obtain alcohol, and whilst not a vandal myself, grafitti and the smashed telephone box were as commonplace as of now. I do not feel that London today is any more risky than the Ridges in North Shields (Tyneside) was in my youth. However, whilst sex could be negotiated, alcohol was difficult to obtain, as the corner shops were not allowed to sell it and off-licences and pubs were very circumspect about off sales to the beardless or chin-fuzzed youth.

The problem is that, lacking firm leadership, Society is unsure where to go, what to approve and what to condemn. Consequently, youth, with its unformed mind, has no sheet anchor, no corpus of values to adhere to, no norm, either imposed or suggested. They have nothing to look up to, or to emulate, other than what is marketed by the unscrupulous media to inflame and exacerbate natural adolescent angst.

Adult society does what it wills, irrespective of its repercussions upon others - witness the drunken behaviour of people in their twenties and older, the loud parties in homes proceeding after midnight, fly-tipping, uncouth manners and slovenly deportment and dress. In short, Adult society condones youthful excesses by performing them themselves, or, worse, by ignoring excesses committed by all of society, youthful, or ostensibly, mature.

Government dithers, and seeks to ameliorate the situation by imposing restrictive statutes, without providing the resources to impose these statutes, and in itself, the imposition of these restrictive statutes undermines the basic principal of English Common Law - to wit that an action is only illegal if it is proven that you intended to commit the action in knowledge that it is illegal, or that you were sufficiently callous as to be indifferent to the consequences of your acts. Restrictive legislation only breeds resentment, and the immature, of whatever age, will break these restrictions with consummate glee.

A massive can of worms has been opened. The lid can only be restored by a government that will lead by telling society what is expected of them and what their rights are if they fulfil their duties. We need direction, and a code of acceptable behaviour will be the first step in this direction. I am not advocating and end to individualism, or to multiculturalism, but I do speak in favour of basic ground rules for society, and for the means that these ground rules can be enforced with efficiency. Duties, however, must take precedence over rights. Rights, other than basic rights, will need to be earned in future. This stands as much for adults as for youth. As we stand at the moment, youth has nothing to look up to, and no greater aspiration than hedonism.

Answer 2

I think the problem in general is lack of discipline, no respect for others, lack of control at both home & at school & knowing that they'll get away with whatever they do as the law protects them.
My daughter attends a very good catholic school & from day one, she was taught to respect others, treat people how she'd like to be treated. I think the school they attend has some significance as to how they conduct themselves.
I have a friend who's a teacher at a school near me. She puts quite a lot down to the children (especially the boys) having no father figure in the home, so they have no one to look up to & learn by. Which to some degree I think she's right.
I'm not afraid of the youth of today though. I think they take some bad press & all seem to be tard with the same brush.
Some are dealt a bum deal from day one, some get in with the wrong crowd & some turn out to be exceptionally nice people who just got lost along the way through their teenage years

Answer 3

they made us afraid in the first place so it seems a little harsh to then make news out of news they created.

don't believe the hype
you are far more likely to be attacked by someone over 21.

search the british crime survey or google youth crime

Answer 4

I guess we are afraid of our youth. The fact of the matter is that people who commit real crimes are frequently released while the police hunt down drivers who speed.

I think our youth needs a good slap to wake them up a bit.

Answer 5

Before I even answer this one tell me what do you catagorise as British, do you mean english, scottish, welsh or those born in northern ireland? Lets use our national identities, the Welsh do, the guys from Scotland and N Ireland do so if you are English - that is born in England , you are not British you are English. Welsh if you are born in Wales.or Scottish if born in Scotland or Irish if born in N Ireland. Be proud of who you are and when you get those forms which ask you is you are British complete it as other and state which one you are. Be loud and proud - the Americans are, the French are, canadians - NOTHING WRONG IN IT - dont let others make you think there is, I used to but not any more

Answer 6

I tell you one thing regarding our youth. I think its totally wrong that the next generation should be held to ransom over a pension situation that needs to be sorted out now!

Answer 7

Love maggies answer,but I'm just a proud cannuck.

Answer 8

Don't be afraid of them, just get them some bridge work and caps. A few years of braces and British youth will look just fine.