Your thoughts on kids today...?

Question

I'm not a parent. At 43, I have decided I don't want children, but have a great many in my life through family and close friends. I realize that I can't understand many things, but I also know that I have objectivity in my favour when it comes to the behaviours of children today.

I'm interested in the thoughts of those folks on here as to why we have seen such disrespect for adults and a general feeling of entitlement in the last couple of generations of young people.

Answer 1

It is a lack of parenting. People need to teach their kids values, respect, manners, etc. and today they are just not doing it. I can not believe some of things that my 13 year old daughters friends are allowed to get away with. My question is where are the parents?
It starts at home.

Answer 2

Errr, it's not the kids fault. Not that that's an excuse because in our heart of hearts we should know that we treat others as we want to be treated. The parents are not teaching them right and wrong. Kids have far too many freedoms and not enough responsibilities. Parents are busy doing their own thing. I know that's a generalization, but everything is moving so fast today and "Me time" seems to be so important to everyone. It takes a lot of time and sacrifice to be a good parent. Families should go back to eating supper together and saying grace and turning off the TV and computer every once in awhile. Amen--I'm off my soap box.

Answer 3

I was taught as a young child that children should be seen--not heard. This was a basic. You remained in eyesight of the adult caring for you, unless otherwise instructed, and you kept quiet unless the situation called for vocalization. For example, at the age of 4 or 5 we were riding to church. I was in the way back of the station wagon and I saw the silhouette of a body lying in a driveway as we passed. I told my Dad, at first he didn't believe me but because of my insistence, he turned around to find an elderly gentleman collapsed from a massive coronary while shoveling. I would like to say that we saved the dear man, we didn't. The point is that my Dad knew that I wasn't lying because I had been taught correctly that you shouldn't disturb the driver without a very good reason (don't speak unless spoken to). Today . . . a good reason could be wailing over McDonald's or some other frivolous roadside venue.

A child is not going to respect adults when they are given the choices that adults have. It makes sense to put a meal in front of a child and have them eat it without saying,"I don't like- green beans, broccoli, peas, carrots" and catering to their wants instead of their body's needs

Answer 4

It's quite simple.
Because they can!
Kids disrespect their parents and elders because nobody stops them anymore. I have heard some kids saying things that I would have been slapped for when I was a kid. And their parents laugh at them, think it's funny that little Johnny told his mum to get stuffed!
And they're not made to work for anything anymore, not made to wait, or save up, or earn or deserve anything. I think that because these days it's the norm for both parents to work, and the kids spend a lot more time alone or with carers, parents feel they have to cram as much love in the time they do spend with the kids and let them have what they want when they wnat it. Quick fix mentality. So kids get used to putting their hands out for stuff. And they get it, irrespective of their behaviour.
I'm 31, and it blows my mind, the difference in the way kids are now to the way I was raised. I was given nothing for nothing, if I wanted something I worked for it. At 16 I had two part-time jobs on the go, would never have even thought of speaking disrespectfully to an elder, helped with all the chores around the house, paid my way, saved for what I wanted, used the manners taught me, and did as I was asked. I didn't wander around the streets being smart-mouthed and rude to people for the fun of it, taking the stuff I wanted off those too weak to object.
Bring back the punishment. We've been forced to not punish our children because of so-called civil rights, but I say being taught to mind my manners and be respectful by getting a bit of a smack when I shot my mouth off never hurt me. Obviously, some people take it too far, and that's why it was stopped, but instead of making a society of selfish fools, because of afew violent idiots, stop the violent idiots and let the rest of us discipline our children to make them respectful.

Answer 5

I want to challenge the kids of today, the 15-25 yo....take a look around those who you hang around....do you see anyone who would know how to help, really, if your community was in need of service from volunteers? Do you know anyone of your group who you would say is a problem solver? Can you see anyone in your group being a nurse, a teacher, an inventer, a doctor, etc, who will contribute toward the betterment of your lives? Do you have anyone in your group who is someone who takes positive action to remedy problems or do all of them sit back and complain....while holding their hands out for the money that the honest workers earn in productive activities? Do you know more people who would rather steal the new LEXUS instead of trying to hold a job and buy one?

When you kids are 45-60 years old, who will be your doctors, your mayors, your engineers, your caregivers? Or will you all be beggars or dead due to an I-don't -give-a-damn attitude within you now?

Answer 6

Well, there are good kids and bad kids in every generation. I'm a bit behind you generation-wise and you might call me a kid because I'm 27. I have always given respect where deserved and not freely. It's earned. I don't treat someone any differently only because they are older. I treat everyone the same, no matter their age. It's how I was brought up, the way my parents raised me.

It's also the way I am currently raising 3 kids of my own. It's not disrespect, but a respect not freely given away. That's as in myself and my sons, but I can not speak for the world.

Answer 7

computers,media and others.

ok...i seen some. but that was a long time ago and maybe standards have changed. i seen and heard primary sch kids yelling ST(you know the rest).

i have been brought up...kinda off the point. not so good, and not so bad either.

been interested in Guns and weapons + fighting since young.

had my first own alcholic drink when i first turned 18, i think someone threw that bottle of hooch blackcurrant away, even although i have no proof atm. that wine was a 5% concentration type, i bought it in a supermart.

i have seen occationly bad behaviour from kids these days, but rare.

Answer 8

Parents today, have relied on so-called experts to tell them what parenting is. Look at how many children Dr Spock messed up! Look at how "Time Out" had backfired on society. Discpline has been taken from homes and schools. My mother told me that when she was a kid, grand parents had more say so and rights over kids as well. If you look at your kid wrong, they will put you in jail. Speaking of jail, kids go to jail and come out treating it like its a badge of honor. Consequences are almost non-existant that most kids are not afraid to go to jail. Parents nowadays think its cool to be friends with their kids. Hello, kids have enough friends they need standards, discpline, and role models. Our kids are over weight becuase they have multiple absentee parents, for instance Nintendo, Playstation, X-Box, television, internet, etc.....
Not that there is anything wrong with being a geek, but kids want to be Bill Gates instead of public service; fireman, police, pilots, military, etc.. Our gilrs are all raised to be gold diggers and anorexic toothepicks that are not comfortable in their own skins. Public/Private School system is a joke so now our kids get home schooled and now there social skills suck. Not to mention how unsafe schools are. They are still taught the same false history, "NO, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DID NOT DISCOVER AMERICA, ABOLISHING SLAVERY WAS A COMPROMISE FOR ABRAHAM LINCOLN NOT HIS FIRST CHOICE, AND WOMEN DID MORE FOR THIS COUNTRY BESIDES ASK FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

Our kids our the continued victims of our own shady past and low standards.

Answer 9

We could blame MTV and ESPN--they identify with their respective audiences. But if we take a closer look I don't necessarily agree with you that "children" (are we talking teenagers here?) have a GENERAL disrespect for those older than us. In fact--and I have talked with a lot of young people, many of them want to know what it was like in our early years (for me it was the '70's), how we coped, how we solved our immediate problems, how we got through life to where we are.

Personally I don't envy being a young person these days; Most of the jobs are out of this country-- leaving only limited jobs left; We're turning rapidly into a two class society--and young people start out as the "have-nots". People's rights are withered away to almost zilch, (have you flown on a commercial airplane lately? Ugh-h-h-h!) in this police-state.

Kids these days may have a slightly different way of expressing themselves, but I don't think they show disrespect.

Answer 10

thats not why kids disrespect adults.. mainly its cause parents don't listern to their kids, they just don't keep an close eye on them like they should.. so the kids that get in trouble most of the time its cause the parents have taught their kids to be that way. thats why most of the kids get in drugs. its really sad.. if people could open their eyes and keep an close eye on their kids then maybe they wouldn't be so bad.. they learn it from their parents and kids they hang out with.. if you keep them were you know what they are doing and who they are hanging out with and show them who is boss, they will have a better life.. they will understand when they grow up.. i hope that helps you..

Answer 11

I have no problem with the young kids,(teenagers),they are high tech intelligent,and very down to earth,they have no discriminations,I once went in to club ,and danced by myself,some girls ask their boyfriends to dance with me and then invite me to join them. I felt ashame of myself,..when I was their age I will never give an attention to an old lonely lady dancing by herself,,,busy giving my full attention to some cute guys. And if somebody is copying my dance technique I am pissed. I think if you know how to deal with these kids,they are respectful and helpful.Kids taught me how to park my car the right way and how to work on computer.