The misunderstood youth of today
Unfortunately I am at that age (40 plus) and had to endure the nightmare of going to school and doing what I was told whether I liked it or not; of respecting my elders and being thankful if, after doing someone a favour or task, they gave me a reward.
I sometimes wonder what sort of person I could have been if I was able to have the kind of parental support young people have today. For example parents who, instead of saying that if I was punished at school then I probably deserved it and should learn from the experience, would have instead gone down to that school and “sorted them teachers out for picking on me”.
Maybe they would have shown me that the only way to get on in life was to demand respect from others, whilst at the same time showing none back to anyone other than those people to whom I wished to demonstrate how “hard” I was!
Perhaps they would have taught me to demand those goods which other people have, the very goods which those people have worked hard to get and which I should receive free. After all, it is not my fault that nobody wants to take me on as an employee and pay me the salary I want and they even expect me to get up early just to be on time when I have been out partying all night!
Is that not what the Government is there for - to ensure I have the same chances as everyone else? It isn't my fault that I have no qualifications and couldn't get on with my teachers. Dad said he had the same trouble – does that sound familiar?
Then perhaps when you get verbal abuse from youths in the street you will understand that they all need our respect. We should not invade their space by walking down their side of the street or look at them in the face and we should be more understanding it isn't there fault or their parents that they act as they do. They were probably picked on and misunderstood by teachers; they all deserve a chance and another and another and another - just like they have always had!
By: Malc, ex-optimist
Comments from visitors
Stereotype?? Is that the definition for two typists working side by side?
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My god. Maybe the fact that people assume all young people are the same is one of the reasons we're angry when you "look at us in the face". Would it be fair to assume that all people over the age of 40 are miserable idiots that don't know which form of "there"/"their"/"they're" to use just because of this article? No, it wouldn't. It is opinions like this that just perpetuate the stereotype
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Hi everyone, it is nearly four years since I last looked at this piece I posted, many thanks to all who have read and been able - by using a little intelligence - understand that this was written to provoke a response by those who feel they are owed a life instead of getting out there and finding one, four years on and people are still getting wound up by this, just shows (as some have stated) things never change, and the old ones really are the best! my other nickname is Devil's advocate - see how many more of my gripes you can allow yourself to be wound up by! Thanks for the fun of your replies.
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malc ex optomist - 11-Mar-11 10:35
I think the creator of this gripe doesn't understand what young kids are like today. He thinks that every kid demands respect from others to think they're "hard".He also thinks that because he has seen a few cases of violent crime involving yobs,he now knows all about teenagers.
Life's gotten harder for kids now. Get used to it.
Life's gotten harder for kids now. Get used to it.
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Doesn't anyone remember being young anymore? I remember being at school and getting poked in the chest or dragged by the scruff by a teacher who could only make himself feel big by TERRIFYING small and vulnerable children a third of his weight.
How can you have respect for a bully like that?
How can you have respect for a bully like that?
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I HATED SCHOOL - 20-Nov-10 17:47
I think it is terrible how you pretend you know or understand. all you are is a naive moron who thinks because she may have heard extreme cases or results of knife crime knows the ins and outs of being a young person in the modern society, well guess what we have all read and heard the news however unlike you we will not stereo-type and be so small minded as to think a certain age group can be depicted on others views. Was it our generation who caused the meltdown of the financial world, the delayed effects of global warming, the politically correct government and various others? no it was past generations yet if you think for a moment that although it was never the case with me, if parents went to a school to moan about the way there child has been treated, it would either be because we were too young to standup for ourselves or in, and I repeat, an extreme scenario were the teacher had been outside of her legal rights.
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I assure you,Sir, the only time my parents have ever 'sorted them teachers out' is when my teacher called me a horrible, spoiled little brat who didn't deserve anything nice. Not only was she immediatley fired but my father went up to her and shouted at her. She cried. Hystericaly.
But I agree with you that when people hurl abuse at you in the street-I live in a nice area but there is a school nearby that the rougher end of town go to and I go to the Catholic School, even though I'm a proud atheist and the whole school knows, they often shout horrible things and throw cricket balls and icicles at us when we walk to and from school-most of them have given up trying to gain people's respect because they don't want to change their opinions on young people. So people just play up to the stereotype. Sad really.
P.S. I speak from experience when I say they throw things at us. The winter just gone, I knew someone from my school who has a massive scare from when one threw an icicle at him and I got a cricket ball thrown at my head by someone in upper sixth(17-18) when I was in year seven(11-12) needless to say, it hurt.
But I agree with you that when people hurl abuse at you in the street-I live in a nice area but there is a school nearby that the rougher end of town go to and I go to the Catholic School, even though I'm a proud atheist and the whole school knows, they often shout horrible things and throw cricket balls and icicles at us when we walk to and from school-most of them have given up trying to gain people's respect because they don't want to change their opinions on young people. So people just play up to the stereotype. Sad really.
P.S. I speak from experience when I say they throw things at us. The winter just gone, I knew someone from my school who has a massive scare from when one threw an icicle at him and I got a cricket ball thrown at my head by someone in upper sixth(17-18) when I was in year seven(11-12) needless to say, it hurt.
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I assure you,Sir, the only time my parents have ever 'sorted them teachers out' is when my teacher called me a horrible, spoiled little brat who didn't deserve anything nice. Not only was she immediatley fired but my father went up to her and shouted at her. She cried. Hystericaly.
But I agree with you that when people hurl abuse at you in the street-I live in a nice area but there is a school nearby that the rougher end of town go to and I go to the Catholic School, even though I'm a proud atheist and the whole school knows, they often shout horrible things and throw cricket balls and icicles at us when we walk to and from school-most of them have given up trying to gain people's respect because they don't want to change their opinions on young people. So people just play up to the stereotype. Sad really.
P.S. I speak from experience when I say they throw things at us. The winter just gone, I knew someone from my school who has a massive scare from when one threw an icicle at him and I got a cricket ball thrown at my head by someone in upper sixth(17-18) when I was in year seven(11-12) needless to say, it hurt.
But I agree with you that when people hurl abuse at you in the street-I live in a nice area but there is a school nearby that the rougher end of town go to and I go to the Catholic School, even though I'm a proud atheist and the whole school knows, they often shout horrible things and throw cricket balls and icicles at us when we walk to and from school-most of them have given up trying to gain people's respect because they don't want to change their opinions on young people. So people just play up to the stereotype. Sad really.
P.S. I speak from experience when I say they throw things at us. The winter just gone, I knew someone from my school who has a massive scare from when one threw an icicle at him and I got a cricket ball thrown at my head by someone in upper sixth(17-18) when I was in year seven(11-12) needless to say, it hurt.
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my comments is that we as parents should encourage them in a way were they should to go about because once we treat them harshly they will not except our advise, in other words we accused them by telling lies that they have make friendship with your girl, so this is one of the dangerous thing that can affect the youths today. therefore, we as perants shohuld not misunderstood the youths of today because they are the future leaders for tommoro.
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Me2; if this country is not for you, you can always leave, since you have such grandiose idea's.
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Part 2
This is a country for losers, scroungers and ne'er do wells who lie, cheat and play the system. And you say we don't like this country? Is it any wonder? Your generation had it easy while your elders were supporting and mollycoddling you to have your grandiose ideas. You haven't a clue.
I agree with the poster that there's a total decline in behaviour, attitude and standards in society. However, if the poster is 40ish it is his generation who's betrayed him by wimping out on their kids. But, with a government who outlawed any kind of punishment and a media who promote and glorify sex, drugs, rock n roll and all things glittery is it any wonder they had sod all chance?
The reason that people are leaving this country in droves is because of the mess we are in. If your generation want to change that by having 'fire in their hearts' then good luck to you but I fail to see what you're gonna do to reverse the years of societal erosion.
This is a country for losers, scroungers and ne'er do wells who lie, cheat and play the system. And you say we don't like this country? Is it any wonder? Your generation had it easy while your elders were supporting and mollycoddling you to have your grandiose ideas. You haven't a clue.
I agree with the poster that there's a total decline in behaviour, attitude and standards in society. However, if the poster is 40ish it is his generation who's betrayed him by wimping out on their kids. But, with a government who outlawed any kind of punishment and a media who promote and glorify sex, drugs, rock n roll and all things glittery is it any wonder they had sod all chance?
The reason that people are leaving this country in droves is because of the mess we are in. If your generation want to change that by having 'fire in their hearts' then good luck to you but I fail to see what you're gonna do to reverse the years of societal erosion.
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So then 'losers' what are YOU gonna do about it since you're so smart? Or are you all talk and no action sat on your comfy sofa watching Sky TV? You're right that us oldies are apathetic but excuse us that we have been busy working hard to better ourselves (and to support the next generation) with the massive taxes we have to pay to support all the assylum seekers, single mothers and assorted scumbags who do nothing but take or want something for nothing.
We are busy working hard to pay for our massive mortgages, the country's tax debt and for every scrounging half wit that this stupid government kowtows to.
Perhaps we should give up being hardworking and tired in order to sort out your generation and this piss poor government. Our society is soft on lazy scroungers, crime and injustice & proper rules and enforcement of them. So what are we left with? A media that promotes the have it all and do nothing culture with the majority of teenagers saying that they want to 'be famous' as a career. We have single mothers bringing up their spawn at the taxpayer's massive expense, the NHS has huge waiting lists that's most likely chock full of scrongers who never paid a day's NI in their lives & try finding yourself an NHS dentist these days - you can't coz all the immigrants have got in there first.
We are busy working hard to pay for our massive mortgages, the country's tax debt and for every scrounging half wit that this stupid government kowtows to.
Perhaps we should give up being hardworking and tired in order to sort out your generation and this piss poor government. Our society is soft on lazy scroungers, crime and injustice & proper rules and enforcement of them. So what are we left with? A media that promotes the have it all and do nothing culture with the majority of teenagers saying that they want to 'be famous' as a career. We have single mothers bringing up their spawn at the taxpayer's massive expense, the NHS has huge waiting lists that's most likely chock full of scrongers who never paid a day's NI in their lives & try finding yourself an NHS dentist these days - you can't coz all the immigrants have got in there first.
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It's funny how this kind of complaining has been going on since the time of Socrates and Plato. I recently did research for a documentary series I made at film school, and every generation has complained about the next, all through out time.
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Since when is labelling people ok? Reading that "statment" makes me think that its the older generation that we need to label. I honestly think its completly out of order to judge "youth of today" in this way. Since YOU were in full time education alot of things have changed. The world has grown, just as the mind has. We know more things these days. Eg. drugs, technology etc. If you had the knowlege of what the "youth" do then, im sure you would agree, you would have lived the same life they are living now. As for wanting respect, doesnt everyone? Doesnt everyone have the erge to get respect from most people? Kids of today see 1st hand what there parents go through with, bills, money and whats happening to the econamy. Is it wrong for us to want to live before entering the world of finance and debt?
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i'll tell you what happend, you start moaning about cyberspace etc..while your on it, you all come up with these stupid ideas thinking you are the answer to everything, yet have no intention of following any of them through, you are all talk! you are full of sh*t, and you obviously have no idea about the "youth of today" from the stupid comments iv read
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hahaha! what demons we are! Nothing to do with the world we have been brought up in, the hippy generation being sh*t parents and breeding animals, the other kids then seeing these "people" get away with murder...literally...what sort of impression of the way things work do they get? A older generation who are to gutless and pathetic to do anything about it, and the ones who are "brave enough" to take on these children are never backed up by their neighbours who stand and watch, people like you who will read this and continue to do fu*k all and do nothing but moan while you sit and watch your country descend into the gutters, I’m looking forward to my generation coming of age, growing up like every generation eventually does, least we will have people with some fire in their hearts running things, you don’t care about your country enough to do something about the way it is going, as long as you have your sky TV and your comfy sofa your happy to sit back and ignore what’s really going on around you, its on the news for 5 minutes in the morning then you can forget about it, while your kids have to go to school with teachers who cant and are not allowed to take control, with kids who screw swear and hit our teachers, with kids who carry knives on them and think that they can do what the hell they want...because lets face it, they can, your scared of your own government and kids, of offending someone, of being un-politically correct, PATHETIC....and then you demand respect HA! what a joke! what the hell happened to you lot
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Well I must start by saying that you really dont like teenagers do you??
You sound like such a narrow minded, stubborn, sadistic and clueless person!
You obviously slept through your teen years or were locked away in a cupboard somewhere because it seems you have no idea what being a teenager is like?!
I personally dont think it us selfish 'hard' ass' that you are mad at...It looks like your just wound up with jelousy...the fact that the teenagers today can speak open and freely and have more freedom drives you mad...well I tell you what...get over yourself!! and stop trying to push your bull onto other people!!
You sound like such a narrow minded, stubborn, sadistic and clueless person!
You obviously slept through your teen years or were locked away in a cupboard somewhere because it seems you have no idea what being a teenager is like?!
I personally dont think it us selfish 'hard' ass' that you are mad at...It looks like your just wound up with jelousy...the fact that the teenagers today can speak open and freely and have more freedom drives you mad...well I tell you what...get over yourself!! and stop trying to push your bull onto other people!!
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Leigh...aka selfish hard ass!! - 1-May-08 11:40
The problem with a large portion British youth is that they are British. What they need is sunlight, nice surroundings, and better food.
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How can you tar every young child with the same brush? No wonder some kids behave bad, respect should be a two way street, from youth to adults but also adults to youth. I am now 19 but the lack of respect shown to me when I was at school was disgraceful.
Just because kids are at school doesn’t mean they can’t be mature enough to be treat like adults?
Some examples of adults targeting kids when it is unfair: One day me and my mates where stood chatting in a shopping center when a security guard approached us and told us we had to move as we cant stand still in a shopping center, fine rules are rules however, 5 yards away where a group of 40+ women doing exactly the same, when questioned on this he said we were kids and should do as we are told. Now if adults respect kids like that what lesson is that for kids?
You shouldn’t tar generations with the same brush, like anything every generation will have some bad spells.
You shouldnt tar generations with the same brush, like anything every generation will have some bad spells.
Just because kids are at school doesn’t mean they can’t be mature enough to be treat like adults?
Some examples of adults targeting kids when it is unfair: One day me and my mates where stood chatting in a shopping center when a security guard approached us and told us we had to move as we cant stand still in a shopping center, fine rules are rules however, 5 yards away where a group of 40+ women doing exactly the same, when questioned on this he said we were kids and should do as we are told. Now if adults respect kids like that what lesson is that for kids?
You shouldn’t tar generations with the same brush, like anything every generation will have some bad spells.
You shouldnt tar generations with the same brush, like anything every generation will have some bad spells.
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From someone who's been assaulted by a yobbish thug, my default response is to brand all such kids as thugs.
They're not. The trouble is, the decent ones we don't see. We don't see Alex and James (sorry!) screaming in the streets, playing loud music or stealing cars, vandalising or anything else thugs do. We don't becase it's totally anathema to them to behave so, and they're at home, either working or with their families, or, if they're with friends waiting for their folks to collect them.
What we see is a minority of a broad cross section of unpleasant people brought up in a culture of "I want" without the values of "I should earn it." The reason for this IS their parents. These are the ones who are slobbing around living off benefits at other people's expense.
The solution is easy - cut off those benefits! Stop giving these people money and divert it into the police, the NHS, public services for those members of the public who PAY for them.
They're not. The trouble is, the decent ones we don't see. We don't see Alex and James (sorry!) screaming in the streets, playing loud music or stealing cars, vandalising or anything else thugs do. We don't becase it's totally anathema to them to behave so, and they're at home, either working or with their families, or, if they're with friends waiting for their folks to collect them.
What we see is a minority of a broad cross section of unpleasant people brought up in a culture of "I want" without the values of "I should earn it." The reason for this IS their parents. These are the ones who are slobbing around living off benefits at other people's expense.
The solution is easy - cut off those benefits! Stop giving these people money and divert it into the police, the NHS, public services for those members of the public who PAY for them.
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