To my fellow parents here, may I ask a question?

Question

Do you share my belief that many, perhaps most of the young men and women who participate here are far from being representative of today's teenagers in the United States? I am five times a grandfather, and my grands, every one, are bright, quick, truthful, imaginative, independent, and respectful toward their grandfather. So, while meandering about here, I must constantly reaffirm in my mind that it's my grands in California and not the seemingly hopeless, frustrated, disrespectful, pain-stricken, confused, semi-literate, and perverse young people here who are the centerpiece in our Nation's future. And you?

Answer 1

What kind of crystal ball are you using to determine everyone's age over the screen?

Answer 2

I remember posting a reply to someone in the religion section, and the person telling me that I was a teenager and had no right to pretend to deep thought. I found this peculiar in that instance, because I believe I gave a thoughtful, well written answer to a difficult question.

But I guess the person who accused me of being a teenager didn't like that answer and assumed only an uninformed youth would think that way.

For the record, I'm sixty; and having been a teacher and a counselor for many years, in many different locations, I can tell you there ARE a lot of frustrated, disrespectful, pain-stricken, confused, semi-literate, and perverse young people in America. And I respect their right to question a system that seems not to care much about their future.

I'm glad your grands are all well adjusted. But the world is going through a difficult time. Education is failing us and kids are coming out into the world without a clue. I have three grands who went deep into debt to go to college only to find that within a couple of years after leaving school they have entered the category of too old for their fields.

Whose fault is it? The frustration so many of these young feel is something I can relate to. A forum like this gives them a chance to poke and prod an an intractable world. I have no problem with that.

Answer 3

While I'm not a parent, I felt a need to answer the question posed.

I think there is variation. To say that most are one way or another is to miss the point. And likewise, to assume that knowledge or wisdom can only come with age is a bit ridiculous. Knowledge, or wisdom, is relative to one's experience.

To wit: what one man considers wisdom, another may consider foolishness.

There is also the fact that nobody can ever know another person completely, as illustrated in the poem "The Eyes Of The Poor" by Charles Baudelaire. You can never know a person completely, because you are not privy to their thoughts or thought-processes. This is to illustrate the fact that how your grandkids act around you may not necessarily be representative of how they act all the time. Of course, it could be how they act all the time; one can never truly know.

And, in the end, this is all a bunch of theoretical bullshit/self-indulgent pontification on my part, and based entirely on my experiences.

Just thought I'd attempt to give the perspective of someone who is, if not a teen, at least young. :D (Also, this is the internet, and therefore can't always, if ever, be taken seriously.)

Answer 4

You're assuming most people here on Yahoo Answers are teenagers--I don't think most of them are, actually, although there are quite a few teenagers around here, nonetheless. Neither is Yahoo Answers meant to be a "representative slice" of America's youth. It's just a lot of people asking/answering questions and venting/voicing their opinions; bear in mind that the relative anonymity the internet offers allows people to be more bold (and in some cases, dishonest) about themselves and their opinions.

The best you can do is either take what people say here at face value, or with a grain of salt.

Answer 5

Dont purchase person magazines on your boy! Why could you are attempting this? beneficial - bypass to a therapist in case you're able to desire to however the ultimate scientific care is God! Are you following Gods regulations? Cos it doesnt sound like it. what's your relationship like with your boy? Do you particularly understand him and are you particularly fascinated in him or do your conversations revolve around doing chores, hows college and so on?? do you already know if he likes track, if so, whos his favourite artist? issues like this are substantial. greater often than not, examine the scriptures and pray. Get him in contact in that style of element and get him to appreciate God. Pray with him, discover time for that some circumstances a week, if no longer on a daily basis. Its so substantial. Proverbs 22 : 6 practice up a new child interior the way he could desire to bypass: and whilst he's old, he won't leave from it. no longer this electro-marvel scientific care!! What are you thinking? you will probable do greater harm than solid. i understand that homosexuality is a sin, yet you shouldnt eliminate your sons memories. If he has no reminiscence of ways he replaced into before, whilst he's composed of understand God he wont have any past recollection of the blunders he made and how some distance he has come. examine, pray, get a relationship and robust communique going. merely undergo in thoughts, in case you like substitute, substitute comes from the precise meaning you. You and your husband are the top of the enjoyed ones, so it particularly is a risk you at the instant are not doing the dazzling issues. substitute your hearts, pray, examine and invite God to stay interior of your place.

Answer 6

What kind of pedestal are you on to be so judgemental. I mean really, doesn't anyone realize that the youth of society are a reflection upon their elders. I mean i agree the youth of this nation as a whole has more than it's share of problems, but who is responsible exactly for making things the way they are. I'll tell you this musch it's not the kids you describe its their role models. This country is falling apart from the top down, and the sooner we ALL realize and accept that fact, the sooner we can begin to come together to solve these issues.

Answer 7

Well, I am 15 and i am not hopeless, frustrated, disrespectful, pain-stricken, confused, semi-literate, and perverse. Most likely those kind of children are not on Yahoo answers because they are out having a life and causing trouble.

Answer 8

There are many children like your children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, there are many of the others as well. There are definitely more now than when I was in high school, which was only 11 years ago. My kids are turning out good so far, bu they are not teenagers yet, so I suppose we'll see what happens there.

Answer 9

Certain places attract certain people...and sociopaths and psychopaths are attracted to YA likes flies to horse maneur because here, they get the attention they crave from society that they can't get from anywhere else. People here will respond out of shock because they are offended. In the "real world", people will walk away in disgust. Its as simple as that. People *are* also braver here, behind a monitor with the protection it affords from confronting an unbalanced person.

Answer 10

O yes, the wisdom of age. Angst is something that most pass through on the way to maturity, and it is impossible to judge character on a message board.

Answer 11

Mother of 2 grandmother of 5. All are doing well. Paying attention to where they want to go in life and how they can contribute.