Question for the Over 40: Is the youth today more lazy, lackadaisacal?

Question

HOLD THE PHONE: There are young people who are energetic and full of life. And they give their time to their peers, families, etc. BUT WHEN did people start losing respect for their elders? When I was a kid, we respected adults so much more than many kids seem to do now.

For example, I know a 44 year old woman, and her elderly 87 year old mother. They were both attacked during a break-in, and they beat the 44 year old into a serious condition. Sure, I know thieves have no morals, but where did all the morals go?

Wow, love the answers I'm getting.
Thanks!

TRIPLETHREATSRD, I just might make you my winner!!! That's a GREAT answer, and God bless you!!!! I pray for people like you to have a good future. You name has been added. (((smile)))

when I said HOLD THE PHONE, what I mean, is that there are some wonderful youth in this world. You are right. We just don't always see them in action. Thanks for being a good one, triplethreatsrd.

I agree with many of you. And I appreciate the answers! Doogie, I have felt like you at times. Heyteach, you're always on target. So are all of you, really. Thanks again!

There's good truth in that, noonecan...
Great point! I'M SO GLAD SOME OF THE YOUNGER AUDIENCE CHECKS OUT THESE CRAZY QUESTIONS, TOO. ((((thanks))))

As I go over the answers, you do have a good point, Wally. But how can we argue with noonecan's answer?

I completely understand, Katydid.... Thanks!

ndnquah, DEA, Dr W... All good points...

Answer 1

I'm 14, so I guess I can't really have a 'trustworthy' answer to this, but here's my opinion:

I hate where the world is going now. All you ever hear about on the new are the bad kids, and they same to be getting worse. It seems like there is no honesty, respect, or moral left and it makes me mad. There are so many problems with the world, and youth don't seem to be helping fix that at all.

However, there is a problem with our system of reporting. If you look in the newspaper, you'll see the stories of tragedies, of robberies, of death, and of the terrible side of people. It's like at school: the principal knows all of the students who misbehave because they are the only ones that he ever sees. Yes, the youth of the world are losing respect, but that's not a majority.

This is what my English teacher, Mr. Kitchen, said on the topic, or at least something along these lines: "People now think that all teens are a group of lazy, stupid, criminals. I know that that isn't true. Sure, there are the kids who are bad, but only a teacher or someone who works with you guys could know that that is not the way you all are. Nobody ever hears about the good that youth do."

I'm not denying that morals are disappearing, but from the eyes of one teen who is trying to do her best, I hate the stereotype that adults put on teens. What am I, as one 14 year old girl just trying to finish my homework, go to my ballet classes, and spend time with my friends and family, supposed to do to help our sinking world when I'm instantly labeled as a helpless, evil youth.

I know that's not necessarily what you're saying, and I'm sorry because I know you didn't want me to answer, but there are teens trying to do good in the world. Sadly, though, those aren't the ones that the public hears about.

Answer 2

I believe the majority of them are worse. I blame this on society, because today most parents are afraid to discipline their children for fear of losing them or ending up in jail. There are so many kids today who are graduating from high school who can't read past the 4th grade, nor do any kind of actual math other than addition and subtraction. How many of you have noticed how badly they spell on here even though there is a Check Spelling box? Some of their questions don't even make sense. There are older people out there too who are just as bad and how they got the jobs they have I have no idea. My sons g/f's mother is an accountant, and she couldn't do this problem: 6 + 4(6 -3) - 9 =. She came up with 4.
I went to Adventure Land, and I am disabled. I sent my son to get me an electric scooter. We were there when they opened. They were all gone by the time we got through the line. I saw as my son pushed me in a wheelchair, young kids riding the electric scooters, kids who just didn't want to walk. They would ride up to a ride, get off and ride the ride. The scooter was full of their things too. I blame the park, but then the kids could have lied and said it was for a grandparent or disabled parent. But I think security could have taken them away when they saw the kids riding them.

Answer 3

In all honesty, I do not think the typical kid is any worse than prior generations, sorry Tom Brokaw!

ALWAYS the troublemakers get the attention. ALWAYS "adults" (let's face it, we've got a questionable use of that term too often!) gripe about how in their day they were little angels. Some of THEM were, and many of their cohort were NOT. 20/20 may be hindsight on some things, but it appears that hindsight frequently wears rose-tinted glasses.

I know that it IS the young today who keep our armed forces the best in the world and in history. Honestly, I can't think of another country with more than 200 years under its belt where there haven't been military coups or something along those lines. With no draft, it's volunteers. The re-enlistment rate is amazing and these are not people getting a fairly safe berth in a European city, but people seeing the worst of the worst.

We are STILL number one in charity and I see a LOT of young folks donating time at the food bank, gleaning trees to take to them, building homes for Habitat for Humanity, etc.

I think when WE are young we feel attitude is justified AND we ignore the news because we KNOW the TRUTH which the media studiously avoids too often claiming that any of the FACTS above do not warrant coverage. (Now if we could get three 17 year olds to kill someone at school and run him through a woodchipper, that story would be good for at least a year and several news magazine covers.)

Here's another bit of proof. How many folks have ever heard of Free the Children? It was founded in 1995, not that long ago, by a 12-year-old. He's still active with this now INTERNATIONAL charity AND unlike any other charity I can think of, it's RUN by children. You have got to check out what these kids do because the media isn't going to bother--even though it would be a GREAT Christmas feature piece, how much better to find a couple of 16-year-olds who do a local beer run. That's so unusual AND heartwarming.

See what is closer to the truth for most young folks:
http://www.freethechildren.com/index.php

We've got a lot of folks in their 40s who have some explaining to do--why do they want to be their kids "best friend" instead of the NECESSARY job of being a parent? It's SICK to want to hang out with 12 year olds when you're 40+. You need to be responsible and be a parent. That is NOT synonymous with being an ogre. Too many "adults" whine that their teens don't want to hang out with them. Good for the kids! There is hope even if their parents didn't fully mature.

Yes, manners is largely a lost art, but manners MUST BE TAUGHT. Even a lot of "teachers" want to be "friends" with their students instead of teachers. I'm more disappointed in MY generation.

Answer 4

I'd say "NO" on the lack of respect for their elders. The youth of today are no worse than my generation was at that time of life. I came of age in the late 60's. The war in Vietnam, young men getting drafted, birth control pills - lots of casual sex, drug use and marijuana smoking popular.... all those things added up to a general lack of respect for authority by young people. Morals definitely went downhill from there.

I do have hope for the good kids. Elementary age and teenage kids have so much potential and are so very smart. Perhaps they are the generation that will set things straight in this world.

"Yes" young people are much more lazy and lackadaisical now. Some but not all of the youth of today (and many older people) seem lazy in that they will go back home and let Mom & Dad support them. No ambition, will never amount to anything, let grandma and grandpa take on the burden of raising the grandchildren. That is so very wrong.

Answer 5

Too many single parent homes. Back when you were a kid, most families had two parents. Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of good mothers and fathers raising their kids on their own, but there is a lot to be said about raising kids with both parents at home. Women have their strengths and so do men, but they are different. When one is absent in a home environment, then the child's development is unbalanced and they do not get the upbringing needed to be respectful towards others as much as a two parent home. You can also conclude that the disrespect usually is towards the one who is missing in that child's life. Say if the father is missing then the hostility is usually towards men.

Answer 6

I'm not convinced that kids today are any worse than kids from any previous generation. Different in some ways, perhaps, but no more lazy or lackadaisical. There are records of older people making the same sort of complaints nearly as far back as there has been written language.

It's grand that you and your peers were respectful; but I'm sure that there were plenty of your generation who were not-I know that not all of my peers were respectful.

The beating you mention is horrible....but again nothing new. Thugs have been beating and butchering people for eons.

Maybe we hear about troubles more than we used to. Maybe the fact that so many more of us live away from family farms and in crowded suburbs-towns-cities more of us are exposed to opportunistic savages.

Or maybe we are just following in the footsteps of generations past by worrying about how disrespectful today's younger generation is.

added in edit: >grin< wow, fast thumbs down! I clearly remember the adults around me being fearful for my peers and I when I was growing up. I've read old family letters and journals that described not only lazy, disrepectful kids-but also horrific crimes-POW's being tortured-and fearing for the future. The news accounts that I've read from years past describe beatings, and other violent crimes....so sorry if I must continue to disagree with the thumbs-down votes.

Answer 7

Part of growing up is acting out, but the problem today is that young people do not learn from their mistakes the way young people did two or three generations ago. The solution is young people need to spend more time with adults instead of spending every waking hour with people their age. You never learn anything from those who have little life experience.

Answer 8

I can't quite agree with lazy lackadaisical etc., I think most of the problem stems from the 'bleeding hearts' and 'do-gooders' who are preventing kids from experimenting and experiencing some of the pitfalls we had as kids .. there's little fun to be had, due to the 'idiot' brigade .. I remember collecting birds eggs, butterflies, feathers, camping in the open, walking home at night on my own in the dark, walking 4 miles to school barefoot and home again, no hat, no sun tan cream and here I am 66, hale, healthy all my own teeth, no serious medical problems and a loving wife, kids, grandchildren and gt grandchildren and I can still run a mile in 6.5 minutes, and I don't really 'run scared' of the police and somehow I am living a contented and active life .. so you youngsters, try and avoid the 'idiot' brigade and enjoy life , whilst they haven't killed off everything that's free ,, open air, but guarded, camping, pay your fees, and only in prescribed areas, don't destroy the environment by collecting eggs, butterflies, feathers, don't go swimming without sun tan lotion, hat, t shirt shoes and swim between the flags .. oh forget it .. I wouldn't be a youngster for quids .. poor beggars

Answer 9

triplethreat and heyteach are right on the mark. As someone under 30 I can see where ppl would think of the younger generations as Lazy and what not. I personally think alot comes down to HOW you are raised. Both at home and at school. Also a small element is the nature of the youth themselves. I work with children from all walks of life in my job as Youtheatre stage manager. You can really see how different ways of raising and teaching children affects the way they treat others and adults. It's really interesting to me to see the way kids who are home schooled interact with those who are not. Both groups learn from the other. It's wonderful. I see children who seem lazy and maybe even disrespectful learn from others how to act to adults. But the flip side is I also see children with wonderful manners normally turn into little hellions because they see others doing it.
during a recent incident dealing with 3 boys who would NOT pay attention to me and behave, I went to each boys parents and told them the situation. I got different responses from the boys afterwards. Two apologized for misbehaving the third told his parents and me that the others started it not him( I saw everything he was egging them on). So it's a mixture of many things that contribute to the "laziness" " respectfulness" of today's youth. (ok I know I'm not too far removed form that category :D)

Answer 10

When a country worships Greed, War and Poverty where else can some of the poorer people get their satisfaction than by preying on others that have more than they do. When a society lets hardened criminals loose to prey on others and never change their ways for the better, what are we as a whole supposed to do? We cannot protect ourselves or the courts will give everything we have worked for to the families of the thieves and murderers, because we attacked them while they were trying to kill us and steal all of our valuables in our own homes. This is where the country is now, and with that idiot in the White House today and a whole gaggle more waiting in the wings, it doesn't look like it is going to change for the better any time soon either. In my opinion.