Why do young people treat senior citizens so badly?

Question

I have seen to many examples of younger people being disrespectful to the elderly. Did they forget these people fought in wars, lived through the depression and have more knowledge than they are given credit for? I understand that there are situations where older people are rude, but I think you should still respect your elders. What do you think can be done to close the gap between old and young??

Just so you know, I am not just referring to teenagers, so no need for the attitude. Not all young people are disrespectful, I'm just trying to understand why some are.

Answer 1

That's a very good question.
I suppose it's out post industrial revolution attitude of "if you're not young, fit, and beautiful, and able to work, work, WORK, thereby contributing to American society, then you are USELESS." Even in the media, all we see are young heroes and heroines who are best and brightest of us all, while the old are looked upon as feeble and weak-minded.
Add to that, the lack of knowledge that many people actually have ABOUT history. The average kid I know knows nothing about the Depression, nor do they care. Most kids have no idea of what older people have gone thru. I do, because I love history very much, and I respect the old, and everyone in general.

Answer 2

I have an elderly neighbor (82 yrs old) and I absolutely love sitting and talking and joking with her. She is so much fun to be around and you can learn so much from her. I think talking and listening to our elders would do a whole lot to help bridge the gap between young and old, especially if young people would try and make the elderly feel they are contributing or are needed. Sure they may be slower and sure they may forget sometimes, but if you live long enough so will you.

Answer 3

I know what you mean and it's very sad where i live there are lots of elderly people and sadly some of them don't say hi like they use to do some still do. a little lass said hello and smiled at me i did the same in return but as i was saying alot of them don't now because of the brat like teens we have today this mostly because children are born to very young people and they are only young adults themselves and don't teach the same respect as people before them. this is way the it's not good for teenagers to have babys

Answer 4

I am a teenager and i've never and will never disrespect a senior citizen, like that. Kids and teenagers now a days, are becoming disrespectful, spoiled brats. The reasons why they act disrespectful and are spoiled, is because of the parents.

Answer 5

I can tolerate old people, until I get stuck behind some old ***** in a store, that went in knowing she was going to write a check, and waits until the entire order is rang up and bagged before she even gets her check book out to start writing the check. At times like that I wish we had death chambers like in Logan's Run. And, for some reason I have VERY serious doubts that you said anything like you claim to have said to that woman that you claim was rude to an old woman.

Answer 6

Not all of them do that. Just some of them.

I suppose it's because their parents didn't teach them to respect others. I wonder, too, if some of these parents never respected these children? You first learn love and respect by being loved and respected.

Answer 7

I believe you have to shame the parents of the younger ones. Who did they learn respect from? Certainly not their parents

Answer 8

Because they are no longer needed. The knowledge they were kept around for now comes from other sources.

Answer 9

when did i treat a senior citizen bad???????that's like disrespecting my grandparents which i will never do stop generalizing young people i may be a teenager but i don't disrespect elders so change ur question