"Kids these days..." (young generation vs old generation)

[zhy378]

you turn on the television, read the news, and see all these news about the kids of this century. theres news on kids shooting at schools, young teens playing the death games such as sniffing house-hold products to get 'high' or to pass out to experience the close-to-death feeling, little kids like 7 year olds driving a car onto the highway, the age of being a murder is getting younger and a group of 2nd graders boys sexually harassing a 1st grader girl,etc.

and yet there are the older generations who say " kids these days, back in my days we were never like this...etc"

so my question is " are kids these days getting more dangerous-wild than our older generations back when they were our age or is this kid-teen phase just a cycle where the older generation will always view the younger generation of today being more dangerous with the aception that kids these days are brought into a world where they are more aware of their surroundings and acknowledge of the world than their parents and grandparents.

my opinion, it seem like it is a mix of kids will aways be kids being more wild than their parents were as they go through the same thing kids should go through with the acception that they will experience new things as the generations change for each one. but i do think kids these days are more wild than i was when i was a kid.

[chewy]

i agreed that kids today are more wild, too self-centred, too ego...i think it has to do with the upbringing of the kids esp. in the form of family support and also the media e.g. movies, internet etc. too has to play a part....and kids nowadays r more cynical... so different from the past generations

[keikai]

Lol I just feel that the world is always changing and advancing. In the past, men were always more important in the familyhold than women. Now, woman more or less hold equal or higher status than men in certain areas, and they're more dependent on themselves.

The world has changed in many ways, inclusive of this younger generation issue. Its possible, that the younger generation at this moment will feel that the generation 50 years later or so are outrageous. It all comes to the point of 'Generation Gap'. Especially with all the technology and laws that came up in pretty much recent years.

They tend to protect children(at least this in my country, this is so) and prevent certain 'teaching' methods to be carried out by parents. In the past where these laws had yet to be in effect, obviously parents had more control over their children. Therefore its no surprise that children in this generation have grown to be wilder and possess more individual thinking, with the need to have alot of privacy and freedom of their own.

[Chun Li]

Every generation always thinks the next generation is horrible and is going to hell. I think it's partly because of jealously that they are enjoying life and you're old and bitter. Also, it's probably because the technology these days are way more advanced than what we had before. I just think that it stems from ignorant jealously.

[hil_sky]

Maybe it's because most children are the only child in their families? That's why they're so self-centered. In the last generation, most parents have a whole bunch of kids so the kids know how to share, be nice and all that.

[judes]

It's funny that this current generation says things like this, but they have to remember that they were the products of the 70s and the sexual revolution and the feminist movement, and most of them were "kids" or "teenagers" or "young adults" back then that THEIR parents probably yelled at for "kids these days".

So yes I think as parents they will always view their children as children doing inappropriate things, just as we will view our children when they get into whatever their fad is in the future. My grandpa who is in his 80s still treats my father who is in his 50s like a disobediant teenager sometimes. I don't see it changing any time soon.

[Cheyanne]

So yes I think as parents they will always view their children as children doing inappropriate things, just as we will view our children when they get into whatever their fad is in the future. My grandpa who is in his 80s still treats my father who is in his 50s like a disobediant teenager sometimes. I don't see it changing any time soon. Hahaha! Tell me about it! My grandad treats my uncle (they are staying together) who is married with the oldest son 28 years old exactly like a child. He questions him on his movements and when he (I mean my uncle!) goes out, my grandad will not allow him to leave the house and when my uncle ignores him and goes out just the same, my grandad will get so mad at him and not talk to him for days! Hmm... maybe it's just the old age catching up with my grandad.

Anyway, kids these days are much wilder probably because they are exposed to so much more. All the TVs, radio, internet have got so much more to teach compared to the four walls in a classroom with the ever boring teacher droning on.

[chineseguyjl]

if ur talking about the bad stuff. i think the younger generation is atleast twice as worse as the old generation, everything besides the summer of 1969. if u pay attention in class, thats woodstock. but still, its like the more the world advances the more the kids become worse and wild.

[whatever u want]

oh yeah...kid these days are so wild and..some act like the grown-up o.O
some kids..when I talk to them...the way they talk to me like they are the same age as me..lolz...I don't know why now kids are grow that fast *-*
....I think they watch too much films and movies that not suitable at their age ....

[tomato_0]

kids these days grow up too fast - what with the make up and minis, latest mobile phones and getting pregnant, we have all outside influences to blame. the older generation are so uptight about all the stuff that the younger gen do and its time that they accept it. in their olden days, there were no such things as computers or singers such as JAY CHOU to pass the time. and in this day and age, i guess parents dont wanna let kids out coz of pedophiles and rapists and stuff and kids find ways to rebel which result in crazy crazy kids..

[lattae]

I don't think I am jealous of them when I say this but...

Self-centeredness has gone up. So has selfishness.

Thanks to this trend, we are seeing less of courtesy, respect, chivary etc.

I've seen kids on the train who'd do things I'd never do like bash their parents. I don't know what kind of parenting allows them to put up with that either. :worry:

[spork]

I think when I say "kids these days...." it doesn't stem from jealousy XD

I agree that kids are growing up too fast these days, not all of course, but enough and I think part of the reason is because the parents are too indulgent. I work at a daycamp over the summer, and some of the kids are only 8 and their parents allow them to listen to rap and hip hop. It's not that I am against rap or hip hop, it's just that I'm against letting kids listen to songs that are still pretty explicit even when censored. When I was younger, I wasn't allowed to listen to rap or hip hop, and if I had kids, I wouldn't let an 8 year old listen to that stuff either.

A lot of kids become desensitized to violence through the media and video games, so it's not surprising that the fact that the world is a pretty dangerous place doesn't really take root in their minds.

I bash my parents a lot though XD not openly as on a train, but I still do it, so I guess I can't say anything about that, hehe.

[shaka_1205]

some of the kids are only 8 and their parents allow them to listen to rap and hip hop. It's not that I am against rap or hip hop, it's just that I'm against letting kids listen to songs that are still pretty explicit even when censored. When I was younger, I wasn't allowed to listen to rap or hip hop, and if I had kids, I wouldn't let an 8 year old listen to that stuff either.
A lot of kids become desensitized to violence through the media and video games, so it's not surprising that the fact that the world is a pretty dangerous place doesn't really take root in their minds.

I agree with you Spork, 8 years old kids don't really have the experience to say what is good or not. The entertainement industry is betting lots of money on violence to attract audience and that affects the youth. However in my humble opinion, I think that the real problem to violent and disobedient youths these days are parents. They don't really take care of their kids, they don't really try to teach their kids what is good and what is not. It's easy to say to a kid "Oh that is bad, you must not do that" "Oh that's good, you should be like that". Kids also need explanations and real-life examples so they can understand how our society works. Forbidding a kid to play GTA3 just because it's violent, won't stop him to become violent later.

In my case, I've been listening to rap since 12 and playing/watching violent stuffs even before, but that hasn't turned me into a psychodelic violent bastard (or am I... :D ). That is thanks to my parents education espcially my dad's, his way of teaching is almost like "The Dialogue's of Plato" or something, can't really remember. And now look at me, an 18 years old teen with a mind of a 20 years old, that's what lots of people have told me (not being arrogant or cocky here).

So I personally think it's easy for parents and society to blame the entertainment industry for their violent kids but they should really look at themselves and ask, "Have we really tried to avoid this?".

Just my take on violent kids these days.

[c_c_]

maybe children mature more quickly today and maybe they don't - there's no comparison. for example, WAAYY back in the day, girls were married at 13, had a family to take care of at 15. now, many women don't enter matrimony until their 30s. On the other hand, when we compare our world with, shall we say, the world 50 years earlier, then yes, children are more exposed to the world and growing up at a greater rate. But the mantra is the same: kids wish to grow up, to be seen as adults, while grown-ups dream constantly of being children again. the key is to find the fine line that defines them

[sam_ho]

Yea...I agree with lattae...kids these days have grown...more arrogant and well, they're just obsessed about computer games, modern technology. I mean, where's the enthusiasm towards knowledge? Sure. There're some kids that are still interested in learning...in my point of view, like only 25 percent of kids want to learn. I've seen them bash and yell at their parents. horrible.

[Fearless]

Kids these days are cockier and larger jerks. :oops: Ha, example. I was playing Soccer in Gym and me and this kid about three years younger slam into each other. I go to say sorry but before I can he punches me in the chest and insists me to fight him. :excited: Needless to say, I beat his face into the ground. The point is these kids need to learn more respect. The rate has dropped severely.

[baranamtara]

Kids these days... They don't have any respect... And they don't know how to react in cerain situations...
It's weird... a 10 year old boy tried to get into a fght with my ex-boyfriend who was really tall and seemed to be strong... They just can't tell how strong this person is...

I think.. it's not the kid's fault... but the parent's. They don't care what their kids are doing all day long. They use a lot of violence or they don't even try to tell them that they did something wrong ("just let them be. They'll find out themselves...").
Parents seem to give the kids some money and send them away. They don#t care where they go and what they do with the money. Being ignored liekt his... it hurts a lot. It's horrible...

10 year old girls think that they have to be sexy... They wear make-up... and behave like... They are just horrible. They think they are soo great.
No respect for nothing... not going to school and only talking about their new cell phones...

Thsis young generation... isn't a good one... It's going backwards to stoneage... *sigh*
Poele will be stupid in 100 years... >.>

[Sugar&Spice]

I agree!! I hate it when I see the young girls today, running around in these really short skirts, and make-up packed on. And they aren't even old enough to fill out a training bra. I think children today should really stay in a childs place. But I still love children, I just think that parents should put their foot down when it comes to the actions of their children.

[danny24]

i think thats true aswell parents should put their foot down but nowadays a lot of parents are stil children themselfs i can see it with a friend of mine he has 3 kids and is only 26 years old he just lets the kids do whatever they want and those kids eventough they are only 5 4 and 2 they have the vocabulary of a constuction worker f*ck this and f*ck you and stuff like that i just cant believe it dont people teach kids respect anymore

[Sugar&Spice]

That is so discusting. I hate to hear children cussing. And your right about the parents being children themselves. Because my neighbor has a 13 year old daughter, and she is the nastyest little girl you ever want to see. She wear tight clothes, rolls her eyes, and challenges every adult that she can. She even got nasty with me, I told her mother, and she said," Well kids are kids." That made me so angry I wanted to yell. Because, I have 8 nephews, and 2 neiecs, and if I ever hear them talking to an adult like I hear these kids talk. I would have to pop them. But I think that the parents don't care enough, for their children to discipline them right.

[danny24]

its like the respect of the world is getting lost by every new generation but i know the first thing i would teach my children(when i have them) is to have respect for the elders not to use bad words cus there are many word to explain how your feeling without have to use cus words and also to have them grow up for as long as its posible in a cus free invironment i know thats hard almost imposible but thats what i would strive to do

[AZNiNjARaVeR]

From my view point, a lot of this younger Kid rebelling is mainly coming from America, because of the Judicial system. In alot of places, disiplining you children is an everyday thing, and is a must. In America, if you give your kid a "woopin" they have the right to call the cops on you, creating a disadvantage for you, causing you to have to pay child support, and create a bad record for you. Good thing, I was raised the good old fashoned Taiwanese way and was beat as a child or I would of probally rebelled like crazy...

[danny24]

From my view point, a lot of this younger Kid rebelling is mainly coming from America, because of the Judicial system. In alot of places, disiplining you children is an everyday thing, and is a must. In America, if you give your kid a "woopin" they have the right to call the cops on you, creating a disadvantage for you, causing you to have to pay child support, and create a bad record for you. Good thing, I was raised the good old fashoned Taiwanese way and was beat as a child or I would of probally rebelled like crazy...

ok child support is if your parents are divorced so lets say you live with your mom your dad has to pay child support and its not only in the us that kids can call the cops on you its here in holland aswell but thats mostly if you really beat your child like with a belt or something like that they check if the story your child is true by checking for bruises and if your child has bruises from you beating on them that usualy not the cause of a subtle tap on butt to corect them if you know what i mean you should never beat your child ok a small tap ok but beat them no thats some thing you should never do because your not just beating the child but you are also beating down the spirit of the child
ok diciplin is good but to a certain degree thats what those people of child protection check

[AZNiNjARaVeR]

ok child support is if your parents are divorced so lets say you live with your mom your dad has to pay child support and its not only in the us that kids can call the cops on you its here in holland aswell but thats mostly if you really beat your child like with a belt or something like that they check if the story your child is true by checking for bruises and if your child has bruises from you beating on them that usualy not the cause of a subtle tap on butt to corect them if you know what i mean you should never beat your child ok a small tap ok but beat them no thats some thing you should never do because your not just beating the child but you are also beating down the spirit of the child
ok diciplin is good but to a certain degree thats what those people of child protection check
ya thats what i mean, the father has to pay child support, i forgot about that...
but what happens is that sometimes a tap on the butt is never enough...When i was young and did something crazy enough, my parents would wip out the nice old fashoned rice paddle and beat my butt with it...
my friends parents even screamed..."i love you" while doing so...
but if i called the cops, i could have easily gotten them in trouble for doing so.
But thats america for you!
didnt effect the spirit of me...
just affected me as making my parents more of my "master" to say...Now i respect my parents even more then some of my friends that were never hit as a child...(they dont even talk to their parents...)

[danny24]

i think that children shouldnt respect parents as their master but to respect them as equals and parents should do the same thing
and if you live with your father the mother has to pay child support aswell its an equal thing but as i said its not just the states that do this its almost all western cultures you just hear more about the states cus they make a tv show out of just about anything haha

[Sugar&Spice]

ya thats what i mean, the father has to pay child support, i forgot about that...
but what happens is that sometimes a tap on the butt is never enough...When i was young and did something crazy enough, my parents would wip out the nice old fashoned rice paddle and beat my butt with it...
my friends parents even screamed..."i love you" while doing so...
but if i called the cops, i could have easily gotten them in trouble for doing so.
But thats america for you!
didnt effect the spirit of me...
just affected me as making my parents more of my "master" to say...Now i respect my parents even more then some of my friends that were never hit as a child...(they dont even talk to their parents...)

I live in America, and if I did something crazy. I would get a beating with a belt, across my butt. And I never called the cops on my parents. So don't generalize. Okay?! Because it is not everyone in America that practices calling the cops on your parents. I'm not prejuidce, but it is mostly caucasan children that call the cops on their parents, or get a divorce from their parents. In a black family, you take your beating and then get on with the rest of your day. But it was a belt to your butt, not serious beating. Never a punch of anything like that.

[Ginuwine]

The older generation are more respectful and well mannered, they laws back then didn't overprotect kids. If you did something wrong you copped it, nowadays you can get away with nearly everything if your under 16.

[c_c_]

but what happens is that sometimes a tap on the butt is never enough...When i was young and did something crazy enough, my parents would wip out the nice old fashoned rice paddle and beat my butt with it...
my friends parents even screamed..."i love you" while doing so...
but if i called the cops, i could have easily gotten them in trouble for doing so.
But thats america for you!
didnt effect the spirit of me...
just affected me as making my parents more of my "master" to say...Now i respect my parents even more then some of my friends that were never hit as a child...(they dont even talk to their parents...)

I live in America and my Chinese parents used to spank me too, but I don't really think I could have gotten them into trouble for doing so. I recently read that the United States judicial system has made rulings in which they considered that parents disciplining children via spankings is not against the law. child abuse is defined as physically or mentally inflicting pain on a child against the child's interests, so if our asian parents are doing it for our own good, it's not really child abuse. anyways, "da shi qin ma shi ai" (hitting is familial warmth, scolding is love)

children nowadays are a little too rebellious, but they're not terrible. I went through my rebellious phase early (around 9-13) and it was pretty bad with the screaming and temper tantrums, and I admit that I did some stupid stuff like running away from home, but it wasn't as if I went and became a junkie like most people seem to think rebellious kids do nowadays. I think that the junkies and "loose" children are only the worst end of the spectrum, the terrible minority. most of us may have our off days in which the we scream our throats hoarse and run out of the house in the rain, but we'd never do anything that'd really jeapordize our futures. because, somewhere in our overactive imaginations, we know our parents only want the best for us. ^_^

[peoplecallmejay]

Wow great posts. Everyone sure has a great point of view in this topic. Surely I have nothing to say. But I agree that kids these days are kind of corrupted.

[Zell]

I have to say the kids nowadays is more troublesom, but we can't blam the kids. Kids are innocent, they don't know anything, it's the parents' responsibility to teach and guide them to be a better individual.

The kids expose to the media too much too, so, the media play a major factor for the kids to be wild or bad. All they see in the tv, internet, games or movies are violence, sex etc. So, the kids would think that it is normal for them ot act like those charactors in the movies, tv, games etc.

[lornac1208]

hmmm..... what i think is that "kids these days" aren't getting the discipline they need unlike our parents or the generation before us. i think it's that kids don't understand their limits now because there's so many choices, so many new things that they just don't know their limitations. For our parents, they didn't have TV or PS2 or something so they couldn't watch any TV to maybe get influenced to try something like robbing a store or something... it just didn't happen. so in conclusion, it's probably because "kids these days" don't understand their limitations.

[lil~jo]

Kids these days are getting more reckless and wild...
indeed...

I mean, things our parents or their parents our even THEIR parents would never do...
we're doing today.

Take for example,
our dressing, our way of speech, they way we talk to our parents.
They've all changed dramatically.
Girls dress exposing more skin, guys low ride they're pants beyond recognition.
Youths swear so much and don't respect they're parents to the extent of how our parents treated their parents.

There are so many more crimes, all being youth criminals.
So many murders, rapes, burglaries...
The list goes on.

The young generation has to straighten up, and get cracking to try to improve the current society, otherwise our world is only going to get worse and worse by the time our future generations come.

[AZNiNjARaVeR]

I live in America, and if I did something crazy. I would get a beating with a belt, across my butt. And I never called the cops on my parents. So don't generalize. Okay?! Because it is not everyone in America that practices calling the cops on your parents. I'm not prejuidce, but it is mostly caucasan children that call the cops on their parents, or get a divorce from their parents. In a black family, you take your beating and then get on with the rest of your day. But it was a belt to your butt, not serious beating. Never a punch of anything like that.
not generalizing...
I got beat by my parents as a kid if i did something horrible or bad. I accepted it and i never called the cops. But what I am saying is that now en days many children have the will to call the cops for something like that. I am fully born and raised in America and still here till this very day. My Church minister told us a story about somebody PUNCHED his son in the stomach when he told off his mom. I think this is the correct way to deal with that kinda situation. I would do so too to teach my children not to talk to parents or females in that way.
But what i was saying was that people always seem to be too soft on their children when their young. No disipline is put forth and parents have no power over their children. Children need to learn respect and sometimes, the old fashoned spanking is the only way to initiate that effect. If i wasnt spanked....I would be a crazy wild and undisiplined kid...and be on nanny 911(tv show)

[Sugar&Spice]

not generalizing...
I got beat by my parents as a kid if i did something horrible or bad. I accepted it and i never called the cops. But what I am saying is that now en days many children have the will to call the cops for something like that. I am fully born and raised in America and still here till this very day. My Church minister told us a story about somebody PUNCHED his son in the stomach when he told off his mom. I think this is the correct way to deal with that kinda situation. I would do so too to teach my children not to talk to parents or females in that way.
But what i was saying was that people always seem to be too soft on their children when their young. No disipline is put forth and parents have no power over their children. Children need to learn respect and sometimes, the old fashoned spanking is the only way to initiate that effect. If i wasnt spanked....I would be a crazy wild and undisiplined kid...and be on nanny 911(tv show)

Yeah buddy I agree with you. Sometimes a good old butt kicking is needed! Actually I agree with everyone on this page.

What I really find annoying is the fact that, kids have no respect for old people. They un past them knowing that they are weak and can fall easily. They cuss at them, and they ignore them. They do not care about them anymore. I like the idea that was put in my head, to respect older ones, and give them honor and dignity. That was taught to me when I was little, and I still hold true to these standards. Some my age think that I'm square, or too old fashioned because of my views. But I can't help it, they are apart of me. Honroing the older ones is what was implanted in me. And in the earlier days it would have been normal. But today, younger ones think it is weird, or too goody goody.

[Austin]

its really up to the old generation to insure that the values of theirs is passed onto the new. if they act this way its because society doesnt do anything about it. but nonetheless i totally agree with everyone

[darkwinn]

Well considering kids of the past persay in the 60s were druggies and such cause they didn't know the negative effects while modern kids today are so called violent due to the media ect i think they are all just on the same level of negative except just with a different brand on. Its practically the same thing just different style of bad things to do. Kids will be kids effected by their surroundings and society its really the way things have always been. Neither generation is different they just found different things to play with.

People might not agree with me here but i don't think our society can be improved in the way everyone wants in this thread. Unless u first want to change the media then change everyone back to the way things were in the past without modern technology such as TVs and radios. It's because of the media that defines who we are today just like in the past it used to be war and politics that determines who we were back then.

[Sugar&Spice]

darkwinn- I agree with you wwhen you said that in the 60s they were, druggies. And they were bad as well. And kids today have found a new level of bad. I agree. They do tend to get into alot of new things, that are far worse then what it was like back then. And yes the level of badness in the kids back then were just as bad for that generation.

But I don't agree completely to what you said about the media. I do agree that they play a major role in putting ideas into thekids minds as to which way they should go. And most of the time it is negtive.

But I can't agree when you say that to solve the problem we have to get rid of the media. I tend to agree with Austin when he spoke of parents taking the lead with their children, and passing on their values to them. Because they have been through that rebellious stage, so they know that, those values are not correct.

Passing on their experience to their children. And instilling that into them, really is what is needed, to solve the situation.

[darkwinn]

From being a kid myself and from having a little brother i know that my parents words have little worth. But besides that i wish parents could do that but at times we listen to our friends above our parents many times. Generally i think that the media is responsible for almost all negative aspects. They generally make the illusion of truth which is hardly right and people who can't tell the difference believes it. Those people are ur friends and many people in our society that will jsut tell someone else their beliefs and the chain continues. Even mom and dad fall prey to the media. Why else would they buy girls short skirts? they know its cool and hip and what happens if they don't? We go and buy it anyways or we whine cry and pout cause so and so has it. Parents can only do so much but its up to society to change it but society has the media to spread its words and so far its no good.

[Sugar&Spice]

Sorry if I only reply to this one right now. I'm in a little rush, I'll reply to your other one a little later.

Darkwinn- I love how you debate. I agree. It is the media, and I have said that as well a couple of times before. And kids do tend to listen to their peers and what is on the media before they listen to their parents. And that Is because they feel that their parents are too old fashoined and can't relate to the times. But in the end, your statement made alot of sense. Society has got to change, and then there will be a change on the influence on children. Because they tend to sway the way the media, and other peers are going. I think we have come to a common ground on this debate.

[Saharial]

Kids today are far more aware of thier rights when it comes to the law as well. If you knew that you weren't going to get arrested for doing something wrong it would make you bolder.

I agree the media has a lot to answer for, but why are the parents allowing their kids to watch damaging films? I think the family unti is disintegrating alot too and that stops kids having a stable home environment. Its a combination of alot of factors.

Parents are often too afraid to say no to thier kids in case they alienate them and kids take advantage of this. If i was naughty when i was a kid I got a smack on the butt. I don't agree with hitting kids or slapping them, there are lots of non-agressive ways to teach them how to behave, but a well timed and appropriate smack is fine in my opinion.

The one thing that I find really awful is the *ahem* explicit fics that young teens write. Aside from being incredibly unrealistic (see if you feel like doing anything after being thrown into a bath <_<) its simply disturbing that they express themselves so openly when you never know who is reading or lurking.

[darkwinn]

U make a lot of interesting points but i don't think its really ever been about knowing the law. I think everyone wants to be bad in some way or another because they love the rush and feeling of doing something they aren't suppose to. Even if u knew u could get caught u would do it sometimes.

The media is the biggest factor in my opinion. Even if a family unit was strong the kids would eventually go against the family anyways because of the reason i stated be4. We usually eventually rebel against that family unit because we want to have our own control and the family unit is quite controlling. Then we do things our ways. Or we just go after what seems funner. When i was a kid and i got hit for it i just said okay whatever and just made sure i wasn't caught next time haha. Punishment is a nice way to decrease the amounts of time a kid does something bad but hes still going to do it. No way to stop him completely.

The parents don't always let us watch the damaging films at times it can't be helped and the kids find out other means to watch it. Generally from their friends or their brothers and sisters or even just turning on tv normally. Its not only films but think about the news nowadays. War is the common theme and murders nowadays what can we say but violence is common everywhere.

i have no idea about the teen fics but i bet we all want to express ourselves one way or another. Like i said we generally are oppressed elsewhere and are just finding a way to go against it. So maybe thats why. Im not sure of this so don't take my word for it here.

[judes]

i'm confused though.
i grew up watching a lot of violent tv. but i don't really have an urge to go out and be violent, because i have an understanding of the consequences of violence and that i cannot hurt another human being.

i also grew up in a family that didn't allow us to watch anything that was sexual, we were forced to physically turn away and look at the wall when anything sexual was presented on tv. and "sexual" means even a romantic kiss on the lips. this didn't stop until i was in my mid teens (15) and even then my parents expressed disgust at the blatant display of sexuality.

i was affected predominantly by my family influences. it may be because i was born in taiwan and had a very conservative asian background, since in taiwan there is significantly lower saturation of sexuality in the media. i would say sexual promiscuity though, is still predominant.

so i don't think that pointing fingers at the media is appropriate, because like sahariel said, it is one of the main factors but definitely not the ONE factor that prevails overall.

i agree that how your family has raised you and the environment you are in, media being part of it, is an overall influence on how you are. although you do eventually rebel from your family, i don't think you ever "let go" of your roots and of how you were affected by your childhood and how you were raised.

there are plenty of kids who don't watch tv who engage in violent or sexual behavior. and plenty of kids who watch tv and their actions are not violent or sexual.

it's very dangerous and limiting to only narrow it down and say that the biggest factor is a certain method of communication, i.e. media. the media is a powerful tool of communication, but it itself is not good or bad, pure or corrupting. just because you watch a violent movie clip does not necessarily mean you will go out and imitate it.

the media, drama, film, imitates life, not the other way around. unlike something scripted, we have choices which we wish to intake or not. and if there are people who want to be led by the nose of the media without accounting for other influences, then it is their own fault for being ignorant and not critically think about their actions and their choices.

[darkwinn]

Your right but u can't say ur the same as everyone else. A family does play a big role in it but however nowadays the kids of these days the family is not what it was. You say the media is suppose to imitate life but how many of us want to be jay chou or even at times want to be dressed up or be someone else? Since this is a forum on him i think i can use him as a prime example of how many people here are all very impressed by him. Me though im not saying the media only creates violence however i say it creates social misfits ect. I bet u eventually even though u grew up in that form of a family u still went against them a lot and did stuff u know they wouldn't want u to do. Also u just said it urself people in taiwan had a lower saturation of sexuality in the media as far as i know americans are much worse then taiwans are currently. We are the ones that are currently having lows in economics ect. If u want to get that deep and start comparing countries and what they show in the media. But going at this from a psycology aspect we all want to be what we believe is the stronger or a more like able adaptable person. The media portrays this except they spin it off and says it looks cool. We believe them and at times we want to be them.

Also a kid that never watches tv or anything (i would like to meet one) will still meet another person who has. That person may seem more knowledgeable then the person who didn't watch tv and hey we might be persuaded.

Since u used ur past ill use mine. My family isn't a family we argued we fought. My relatives hate eachother so i never meet them. Ever since i was 7 my parents always were fighting and wanting to divorce yet they haven't. I've at one time dreamed of why bother live. and now im where i am today enjoying life to the fullest my way. I can't say its the media that did it but it was the media that helped me. It def wasn't my family, i used to sneak to my friends house to watch R movies or whatever all the time. We all grow up differently but we have one thing the same. We all see whats in the media and decide to incorporate some aspect of it into our own lives and sometimes we take it all. Media being Tv Video Games Internet not only movies and tv alone.

[countess]

darkwinn: I think i agree partially to what you're saying. You said that the media, will ultimately affect one's life and influence it in some way or another. That part i agree with. However, I didn't understand how the media helped you?

Also, on this subject matter, i personally don't think that we can point the finger at the media for kids being the way they are these days. I agree with Judes on this point- media is a reflection of life. Tv, video games, the news are all forms of art mirroring life. When you used the example of Jay Chou as the media, i don't agree. Jay Chou is a form of Popular Culture, he is an idol of some sort, but he is NOT media. The media may portray Jay, and they may work together, but Jay himself is not the media.

But anyways, back on topic. First of all, i don't really agree with the first post. I don't think kids these days are any worse, on a general scale than kids in earlier generations. If we look at the 60's in western society, we had the hippie movement. Those kids (now the mature aged people) had by far a more rebellious lifestyle than people of our generation. They took drugs, believed in free love etc etc. The thing is, once people get older, they change. Kids will always be kids, they will always rebel and do the wrong things- but its not like they stay that way forever- well most don't.

I think the reason we're led to believe that kids these days are wilder than the older generation is simply because we live in a more conservative society. Our values and mores govern the way we think. Certain issues that are totally "unacceptable" today might have been the social norm back in the day, therefore it wasn't deemed inappropriate.

[judes]

countess: i agree with what you're saying, especially regarding jay.

there is a clear distinction between celebrities and the media. the media encompasses all forms of communication on a mass level. and that is all it is: a tool to spread ideas and information. the media does support celebrities, but it is also heavily dependent on the people who wishes to spread those ideas. and people want news regarding celebrities.

if you want to blame someone, blame the major corporations that have enough money to pay to bring ads and shows and everything else to the people via the media, because that is the easy way to get the products you're trying to sell out to the general public.

and yes, like what i mentioned in the morals thread as well. our current culture is a lot more conservative than the culture that was in the midst of the sexual revolution. but we always get this idea of "oh the old days were better and people back then were a lot nicer blah blah blah".

[Sugar&Spice]

Darwinn- I read your post carefully, and there are different aspects of your debate that I wholeheartedly agree with. But before I say anything else. If you have found a way that the media has helped you, that is good. It dosen't matter what anyone else thinks about that. But your other statements about the media also made sense.


The effect that the media has on people in general is
very widespread. I agree that it is a way for communication, so anything on the tv, web, etc. Leaves an impression on peoples mind. That is why there are so many people trying to get an image that they saw some star with. To try to seperate the media from celebs in my opinion is like trying to seperate white from rice. Without the media, celebs would not be famous. Why do you think some women are starving themselves to try and fit into an image that the media set up? Saying what their idea of beauty is, and how everyone should have such a fake view of what beauty is?!

To some people the media may not influence them, but that is not to say that it won't influence someone else. Pertending that the media dose not influence people, is in my opinion ignoring a problem. A problem by the way that is out of our hands. Fashion mags, and web access, celebs, tv shows, etc. All have an influence on people who let it have an influence over them. To say it dosen't happen is wrong.

If children are following these fads, there is little that parents can do about this. At times, the parents can go out of their way talking to theire kids, and teaching them. But still the child will rebell, and do as they please. I believe in a slap on the butt once in a while. But kids(because that is who we are addressing in this debate.) tend to follow the crowd, and follow what is popular, as regards what is now the in thing to do, as regards to the media. That dose not mean that they are ignorant. But they are inpressionable. They are young and don't think about the consequenses of their actions. Now if they were grown following after the latest trends, and whats new on the media, then they would be ignorant.

In my opinion, people in general are affcted by the media. And everyone is different. You can't say because you weren't affected, that it dose not happend. The media is out there because people rely on it, and people follow it as some kind of guide to go by. If you don't see that(anyone in general) then your eyes must be closed to that fact. Because it happens. I don't agree with following the media but pleanty of people do. regardsless of their backgrounds, and how they were raised.

And since all a parent can do is limited as far as dicipline, and training. Because kids tend to do what they want, whether it is behind their backs or not. Parents can teach their kids how to think, and hope that they follow the right course, and hope that they are not influenced too much by their peers and the media. And make healthy choices.

Oh and BTW, there wa a poll taken exactly a year ago. And it asked people which has a bigger influence on kids/teens. They gave the choice of parents, the media, and thier friends. 89% of people agreed that it is the media, and 6% said their friends, and 5% said their parents. Just thought that I would share that bit of information.

So thats my view, anyone who dose not like it, or agree with it. Then feel free to disagree. But thats my view, and I'm sticking with it.

[orangeman]

All these fingers pointing to others, but deep down, aren't we to blame?

Adults have changed a lot too. They raise the kids, tell them what to do and be, whether it's good or bad. Kids can't disobey their parents, and when they do, they're left out with no support. Is this good parenting? Maybe in earlier times, kids did do what parents told them without fuss. Nowadays, kids rebel and have no respect for others, more less themselves. Didn't parents use to beat their kids to show authority? This is a crime in the US, but if my parents didn't hit me at times, I would've been a f**khead. I don't think spanking is wrong, but there is a limit.

And the media, oh yes. Back before the era of technology, there wasn't much the media offered. Radios mainly and I think some primitive tv for the avg. family. Nowadays, the media has so much revenue that it can do whatever it wants. Make people smoke/not smoke, buy/sell stuff, even commit suicide(it's a plausible theory). When people surround themselves around sex and guns, what do you think will happen?

Mentalities change. Today in teens, it's peer pressure. The pressure to be cool, smart, get good grades, not be a loser, etc. Not a healthy atmosphere. Does it get better through time? I doubt it.

Society isn't improving, it's declining. Compare attitudes of people from different eras. Some will be nice, while others will be rude. It's just how it is.

I can't say more, since I'm not as experienced in age as the other members. But I can speak for what I see in my generation.

[Sugar&Spice]

Orangeman- I agreed with most of what you said, up until the point where you said you are not at the same advanced age as others. This has nothing to do with age. As a matter of fact, it would be nice to see younger ones comment on this thread, because they are going through it now, instead of saying what it was like when they were older. Some make fun of the fact that I encourage young kids in my posts, but I feel like this, so the hell what, I'm going to say this. Never let others make you feel bad about your age, to the point that you feel like you can't comment on a thread. Age has nothing to do with it. If you know what your saying, say it.:D

[orangeman]

What I meant was that I haven't experienced the 90s, 80s, etc. Not sure how people of that era lived. So I didn't want to write anything that may be untrue in those times.

[stag]

well times change, it's understandable that the youth changes with the times, for example take the music, when the beatles came over from europe the song "I wanna hold your hand" was considered to be very sexual, compare that now with song sthat pretty much say crap such as "I wanna F*** your brains out." and such. that change in music occured in just a few decades, you know what they say, the only constant is change

[jct8]

Kids these days have to deal with problems of today's society. People of the older generation cannot and should not compare their generation with ours because they did not have to deal with the problems that we do now, nor do we have to deal with the problems they dealt with. Nowadays, we are so involved with the media that we are constantly reminded to violence, sex, fashion, etc. that we are more effected than they are.

[joce]

kids this day are more dangerous. but some of them not like that. some of them are really a good kids. i think it is all because of their parents. maybe their parent didnt love them, or their parents didnt teach them manner or other...
i think as long as their parents teach them and love them, kids will never be dangerous as now...

[mirumodepon]

well, in my opinion.. we can not blame them... it is the environment that makes them... why nowadays, 5 years old kids carry latest handphone series, playing game, in my time, i dont have playstation, xbox etc.. even my parents dont have handphones... i think its the advance technology influence them... these young generation could be better or worst depend how the parents teach them... nowadays parents also busy with their work... in a statistic.. more married woman that have kids are working... means that they dont have time to care about their children...

[alice_jjar]

Ok, I think you guys are right, the generation now will always say that the next generation is always not good enough. Why is that? Even I say that about the upcoming generation.

My juniors, compared to us, we are more independent and simply think more than we whine. These children are pampered in their real life. By whom? Their parents of course.

Now, to me, this is due to the changing time. Everyone around the world now is upgrading all the time and technology advances and people earn more money now. These children gets to enjoy all the luxury and they will never know what their parents' hard work. When they are consumed with all this luxury, they become complacent and more dependent on others.

This is what is causing the generation changes. Every generation becomes more and more complacent each time. Therefore, the older generation would always compared the new generation and them causing them to see the difference even though it was made by their very own bare hands. They just did not realise it.

[KawaiiPanda]

personally i don't really like our generation (yes, i know i'm in it -.-) =\ i have to admit a lot of us are pretty selfish. I find alot of people my age rude, just things like if i'm trying to talk to them they'll have their earphones in their ears or they'll have some electronic device they're occupied with and won't talk to u properly until they get to the "next lvl" and there are kids whose every second word is a swear word and they think its cool to bully others. And so many teens these days just try hard to fit in whether its spending all our money on clothes and makeup and new hairstyles when there are people homeless and starving all around the world. i mean i know i'm probably bagging alot of you out right now (me included) but thats just my opinion on how i see our world today. and yea, i kind of agree with my parents on 'youth these days aren't as nice and responsible as the older generation' but seriously if it wasn't for the older generation advancing our technology and making new discoveries we wouldn't have all these distractions and material objects that most of us obsess about which kinda reuslt in us being a bit selfish.

<---- keep in mind i didn't say ALL youth these days ^^ so not ALL of us are like that.

[chiru]

i'm trying to talk to them they'll have their earphones in their ears or they'll have some electronic device they're occupied with and won't talk to u properly until they get to the "next lvl"
Ahaha! I am a bit like that. But I can still hold a conversation while doing those types of things. It is just when people say, "Hey, can you do such and such for me?" I will be like, "Wait till I reach the check point!!" But then again, why would you ask a preoccupied person for a favor in the first place?

But I have to say, I am fairly well behaved for my age. (Ahahaha)
I think it is all the technology we have now. When I was young, my mom did not let me watch TV or go on the computer. The first video game I played was when I was 12 or 13. (Only two or three years ago for me!!) And it was at the Teen Center near the local library.

But kids nowadays, have TVs, computers, and games in their own rooms! I find that amazing. A kid that I baby sit has a cable TV in his room. And he watches it 24/7. And when he is not watching it, he is beating me up or calling me names. He really is a brat.

The only difference is technology, I think.
Plus, nowadays, it is really popular not to spank your child. A lot of newer mothers are going through some sort of "revolution." But when you point out that their child is a total brat, the get all defensive. I can always tell which kids get spankings and which do not....


P.S. I always give up my seat for senior citizens!! Although ever since that one woman kicked my stuff after I gave her my seat, I am not so enthusiastic about it....

P.P.S. I do not buy any clothes or make-up. In fact, my mother and sister still buy my clothes for me. (Ahaha) The one time I did buy my own, I got a size 2 jean. Little did I know, that I am a size 0 so when I walk, they start to fall off....like a guy's pants....-___-

[alisadorsey@yahoo.co]

I am really happy that I am not young anymore. I feel sorry for the young people who are in school dealing with so many issues, that when I was in school in the 80's did not have to suffer. My nieces and nephews tell me so many stories that my eyes just widen from the shock. So I am so over protectie of them, because I don't like it when I go to the mall with one of my nieces who is like thirteen, but looks older, and men come up to her and say how pretty she is. How inappropriate. She is just a baby in my eyes. I just give them a look and they back off.

I am not elderly, but I know that my parents would not let me walk out of the house with some of these outfits that I see younger girls wear. I had talk with my niece about some of her outfits. So I noticed when I went back home to Florida that she looks like a little girl now. Now I am not all stressed out when she goes places with me.

[Qinghe]

Some kids nowadays are crazier than some in the past. The pressures of a teen/kid nowadays is much more stressful than it was before because there's pressure from everywhere. Gotta be smart, look cool, be cool, good at sports, have friends, speak to people you don't even know, meet people you don't want to, live up to some of your parents'/teachers'/friends'/your own expectations, etc. Things change and perhaps this just happens to be the more dangerous era.

[orangeman]

A person asked to identify an item, but did not post a working link to the image. I said "Link doesn't work" and didn't bother to check back. Well, this kid complains and came back with with "**** you, bad answer" I was about to rip this kid a new one but unfortunately, he blocked messaging of any kind. Another one had an entitlement problem. Couldn't for the life of him use punctuation nor capital letters. I regret even bothering with scum like him.

I'm not the most polite person, but I do know manners. I appreciate people's assistance, even when they aren't helpful. Whatever happened to thank you? Please is virtually nonexistent. It's all "I want it now, b****"

Kids these days just want instant gratification, their self-centered desires fulfilled, and couldn’t care less whom they trample to achieve such a status. If their parents were actually around, they might do something.