Is it me or do teenagers show no respect today?

Question

Teenagers are just rude today. Do you have some experiences. Please share them with us.

Answer 1

If what you mean is that a larger percentage of them are disrespectful, then yes- it's true. I believe it has more to do with parents letting the TV and video games raise their children instead of spending time with them and teaching them that there's more to life than a high score at any cost or what the latest shocking gossip was on a TV show. There are still some good kids out there, but they're becoming a rarer breed every day...

Answer 2

I agree that teenagers today are rude, not only that, they're inconsiderate. I'm an 18 year old teen and yes, I am humbled into admitting that teenagers nowadays are rude. I don't consider myself one though, but I've seen many of my peers behave in such ways and I just can't help feeling annoyed and disappointed that they can even act in that manner.

In my school, I've seen students cursing and taunting teachers right to their face. More common, teenagers talking loudly on their mobiles or to their friends onboard buses or trains. There are many, many examples of how rudeness shows, even in the slightest of ways.

However, I feel that teens aren't completely to blame. The parents have a huge responsibility in ensuring that their child grows up learning how to be considerate and polite. I think the reason why my friends and I treat others with respect is due to the fact that our parents drilled it into us. Constant reminders since young to be polite and considerate, and getting spanked when we don't listen. It takes two hands to clap.

So, to answer your question, yes, teenagers today are rude. However, some of us aren't.

Answer 3

Wow. What a loaded question!!

Yes, teenagers are rude today. But, truthfully, so are most people. We've evolved to this society where it's all about entitlement NOW! I'm not blaming technology, but with the advent of the internet, cell phones, streaming video, 400 channels on your TV - we want what we want, and we want it NOW. There's no waiting for things any more - we're very, very impatient.

I think the other part of it can be blamed again on the advent of technology. With things like MySpace and text messaging that have pretty much always been in teenagers' lives, they are so used to such an anonymous form of communication, that simple day to day, face to face interactions are bewildering to them, and they simply don't know how to handle themselves.

I'm not blaming the internet, nor am I blaming cell phones, because both are now necessary evils in our society. But it just seems to be the way society has shifted. I guarantee you that 95% of the teenagers we think are so horrifingly rude don't mean any harm, and have no clue that we perceive them as rude. It's just their society now.

With that said, I still blame the parents. Kids need to be taught simple common courtesy!!

Answer 4

It is not just you--teenagers everywhere have a lack of respect. I work on a college campus, and you wouldn't believe some of the stories I could tell. Suffice it to say that when I say an 18 year old female cussing out a police officer at the top of her lungs, I was shocked.
I wonder where this is coming from?!! The professors have noticed a change, and the staff as well--it is a McDonald's "serve me now!" generation.

Answer 5

I work for the Transportation Dept, I have way to many experiences, that I can't even begin to say, everyday there is always somebody that seems to out do the other!! Your answer is YES, There family's must be very proud of them, because respect comes from the home, then again, I have seen the way their parents act all so. And that's another question.

Answer 6

I'm 61 and Ha! Yes kids have always been kids and some polite and some
disrespectful....what I've found is that one cannot DEMAND RESPECT. I
often had it shown -- say as a military officer, or later as a grey headed guy(lol)
-- but that was out of COURTESY or just plain respect for the rank or age.

I found that RESPECT IS EARNED in life. What goes around, comes around.
so whenever I SHOW RESPECT, I generally get respect in return. However,
the key is NOT LETTING MY EXPECTATIONS BE UNREALISTIC. There are
no guarantees I'll get respect, but if I'm setting a good example, giving respect and not being uppity myself, I generally get fine results.

It's all how I treat them!

Answer 7

I agree that most teenagers are rude, uneducated and lacking energy.

I think it is because they are taught thier rights but not thier responsiblities. We used to earn rights, now they seem to be expected.

However, i would also say there are some real credits out there.

We have 3 15 year olds staying with us this week and they are very quiet and polite, they can hold a conversation.

However, they still don't get up until midday !!

Answer 8

I saw a woman sitting on a bench struggling with 2 toddlers. 1 of the kids dropped a toy just when a teenage boy was walking by. He stepped right over it and kept walking.

On the other hand, I recently got scoulded by an elderly woman for calling her "ma'am". She said a woman doesnt call another woman ma'am.
You show respect, and you still get crap for it.

Answer 9

I had a teenage girl snicker at me for talking to an elderly woman in the grocery check out line. We wasnt holding the line up either. Most teens think badly of the elderly. I am fortunate though. My son has a group of teen friends that are the most polite, thoughtful people I know. Thats very unusual.

Answer 10

It isn't just teenagers that show no respect. Its ALL age groups. Did you hear about the 10 year old girls in Boston that beat a woman shopper up, kicked her, pulled down her pants, etc just because she bumped one of the girls and didn't apologize when the little @$^%&( demanded it? Unbelievable!!

Watch any television show, and DISrespect is glorified over and over again, just for a cheap laugh, but the cost is what? a society that has no boundries, no conscience, and no social skills.