Ranting about the youth of today...

[elspeth]

This is hardly original but oohh, I'm annoyed... quite unreasonably so, but the point of ranting is surely to have a bit of time to be briefly cross and unreasonable and then go back to being my usual tolerant self...

I was on a bus this morning, sitting minding my own business... when a couple of 14-or-so year old kids got on. They had one of those mobile phones that double as an mp3 player and have a loudspeaker built in... and the kids don't have the consideration to plug a pair of headphones in, everyone travelling on the bus has to listen to their music. And they have it on at such a volume that, if you're listening to music of your own through headphones, their music drowns yours out, so if you don't want to turn yours up, hurting your ears and giving yourself a headache, you have to turn yours off and listen to theirs. Besides the kids' attitude, I deplore the kind of manufacturers who encourage people in antisocial behaviour.

Now, far be it from me to criticise their music. I hated the tracks they were playing, but that's not the point (no, really!). I have yet to hear a mobile phone speaker that can make any music sound tolerable, I should have been just as irritated if they'd been playing music I liked through such a dreadful speaker. These days you can get headphones that do much better justice to the sound.

Seriously, why don't kids today have any consideration for other people? Why aren't they brought up understanding that they're not the only people in the world and they ought to have respect for others? Is it just the ones I come into contact with? Unfortunately though, as I work with the general public and see this all the time, it's not as if the ones I come into contact with are just the idiot few. And I suppose that, having been brought up by two teachers, from a very early age I was used to the idea that there were loads of other people in the world and I had to be a part of the whole. When you grow up around schools, you learn about communities really early and really well.

Why don't kids say please and thankyou any more? To their parents and to everyone else? What's happened to manners? And while I'm on the subject of language, why do so many kids use swearwords in general conversation as if they were just adjectives like any others? Is their collective vocabulary so poor? When the particular kids who sparked this rant wanted one of the bus windows shutting, one didn't say to his friend 'Please would you shut that window, I'm cold?', it was 'Oy, you bleeper, shut that bleeping window, it's bleeping freezing'. And then no thankyou when 'oy you' had shut the window, just another comment about the bleeping winter weather, in a tone that suggested the weather was a personal insult rather than just the sort of weather that happens in Yorkshire in December. What are they teaching in these schools these days? And why aren't the parents, as well as the schools, teaching them the difference between good language and bad, and between appropriate and inappropriate language?

*takes a deep breath* right, now I've finished breathing fire, of course I'm being unreasonable. There are plenty of well-brought up kids out there who would restore my faith in the youth of today, I'm sure. But I really wish they'd come and travel on the same buses as me and give some of their lesser contemporaries a good example. Someone's got to, and some parents and schools seem to be falling far short of the role models they ought to be.

[zheer]

  I can only conclude that you are getting old, "KIDS THESE DAYS" and "WHATS THE WORLD COMING TO" suggest that you are turning into an old wich, the ones that all school kids turn into when they are older. But yeah its true kids these days,coz when i was growing up............................

[elspeth]

I think you're probably right. Possibly I ought to ask for a broomstick for Christmas... ah well, such is life!

[berrt]

There always was this "annoying youth"...
When i was 14+, some of us had really bad manners (including me at times..?) - im 54 now.

OTOH, i know some very well behaving young people, so there's not a big drift over the decades, i guess.

B.

[thalbergmad]

The reason kids have no respect or consideration today is simply because you cannot hit them any more (awaits scientific theory from Prometheus). There is no discipline in the home, in the schools or on the street.

Only this week a 14 year old girl reported her father to the police for hitting her. He has now got fined and has had to do community service. Is she ever going to do anything he tells her again?

This is also a result of 10 years of Labour government. Many housing estates in UK are no go areas where the Police are too frightened to go and teenage gangs rule the roost. Stabbings and shootings are now commonplace and the Police cannot break down the wall of silence.

Welcome to England, the cesspool of humanity.

Thal

[mcgillcomposer]

The reason kids have no respect or consideration today is simply because you cannot hit them any more (awaits scientific theory from Prometheus). There is no discipline in the home, in the schools or on the street.

Only this week a 14 year old girl reported her father to the police for hitting her. He has now got fined and has had to do community service. Is she ever going to do anything he tells her again?

This is also a result of 10 years of Labour government. Many housing estates in UK are no go areas where the Police are too frightened to go and teenage gangs rule the roost. Stabbings and shootings are now commonplace and the Police cannot break down the wall of silence.

Welcome to England, the cesspool of humanity.

Thal

I think that we should also be allowed to hit misbehaving adults, which, by the way, would not be a small number...

Of course, we would have to compensate somehow for one's age...I suppose the older one is, the more firm the surface of the beating stick becomes. Perhaps, however, this wouldn't work so well - I think for a 90 year old to be hit with baseball bat made of diamond might cause for more harm than is due. Oh well, as they say, with age comes responsibility.

[thalbergmad]

I used the word hit to wind up my learned friend Prometheus.

But yes, adults should be punished as well.

The only punishable offence in UK is speeding.

Thal

[zheer]

  I dont think one should hit a child, only in self defence.

[prometheus]

They grow up in our world.

[ahinton]

Someone (I cannot now remember who) said some time ago, "it's surely better to complain about the youth of today than participate in giving brith to the youth of tomorrow"; I'm not necessarily identifying with this sentiment, but I just thought that it might be worthy of mention.

Another exchange I remember reading a while ago took place on a bus in Birmingham and went more or less like this:
First precocious child: "Don't you insult my grandfather like that; he's a man of honour and courage and fought in the second world war!"
Second precocious child: "But he's German; didn't he fight for the Germans?"
First precocious child: "Yes".
Second precocious child: "Oh, that's OK, then. I apologise to him for my rudeness".

Lastly, this (again, authorship uncertain): "always remember that the unruly youth of today will become the arrogant adults of tomorrow and the senile geriatric pests of next week".

I mean neither disrespect nor lack of sympathy towards "elspeth" here when I urge that next time anyone thinks of ranting about "the youth of today" as a whole (as distinct from individual youths in certain particular circumstances), remember that some of them make up the UK National Youth Orchestra, the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela dn other such organisations...

Best,

Alistair

[slobone]

Did you try asking them (with a smile) if they'd mind turning it down or off? You never can tell, they might have been so surprised at being treated like responsible human beings that they'd comply before they had a chance to think about it...

One time I was on a plane where two kids, travelling without their parents, were driving everybody crazy -- climbing over the seats, running down the aisles. Since the crew seemed to be the only people not bothered by this, I finally grabbed one of the kids by the wrist and said "You shouldn't do that on a plane, you might get HURT", giving his wrist an extra squeeze. He was so startled he behaved for the rest of the trip.

But then, I had 100 lbs on him, easy...

[pianochick93]

I must say elspeth, not all teenagers are like that. I know a fair few peers who have no consideration for fellow human beings, but I also know an equal number who are polite, courteous, and sensible (well maybe not completely sensible, insanity runs in my friendship group)
I am not just saying this because they are my friends, there are plenty of people I hate that are nice as well.
Also I do have do give some of them a reminder about manners, and so have earnt the nickname 'mother'. Most are good though.

[gerry]

It's unfortunate that we are inundated today with more and more products that encourage antisocial behavior. Cell phones were bad enough but then they added that annoying walkie-talkie feature where you can hold the phone two feet away, shout into it and broadcast the whole conversation. We also have the booming car sound systems that rattle the bones as they drive by. In addition, research has shown that all these devices with earphones when used at high volume can damage hearing, and as a result, the volume of normal conversation has risen.
 
My defense, I just never leave the house without those foam ear plugs - they work wonders in suppressing the noise and keep my blood pressure within tolerable range.

[minor9th]

I'm a high school English teacher, and I'd say 90% of my students are very polite--this year, closer to 100% (they vary-- much like crops do!). I live in a small university town, so perhaps I experience the best that youth has to offer. Now, if they'd only wear pants that fit and stop listening to rap...

Actually, I blame rap for a lot of teen issues. So much of it glorifies the "ghetto" life (ignorance, crime, disrespect, etc.), that kids who listen to it 24/7 can't help but be influenced by it.

[term]

Actually, I blame rap for a lot of teen issues. So much of it glorifies the "ghetto" life (ignorance, crime, disrespect, etc.), that kids who listen to it 24/7 can't help but be influenced by it.

That's just too easy. Rap has *nothing* to do with the youth of today in general. If anything, it is a product of today's youth culture (or has become that). And the percentage of people who listen to rap is just too small to be significant.

I think you underestimate young people.  The 10 year olds apart, it's not like you listen to rap and *boom* become agressive and do everything they say and find ghetto life cool  It's entertainment!
Blame political, social and economic problems; the circumstances of our time determine people's mentality.

[minor9th]

That's just too easy. Rap has *nothing* to do with the youth of today in general. If anything, it is a product of today's youth culture (or has become that). And the percentage of people who listen to rap is just too small to be significant.

I think you underestimate the percentage of kids who listen to it. I would venture 50-60% in my area, which is hardly a ghetto, and I'm sure the percentage is far higher in more urban eras.

[thalbergmad]

And the percentage of people who listen to rap is just too small to be significant.

The percentage of youth who listen to rap and are knifing each other to death on our streets is not insignificant.

Thal

[pianochick93]

I blame the parents to a certain extent. My parents always raised me to be polite to everyone, especially my elders, and I have never felt the urge not to be.

[rc]

Blame political, social and economic problems; the circumstances of our time determine people's mentality.

I think a lot of people are too quick to blame society.  Or in many cases, blame anything and everything for their problems.

Society is an easy scapegoat, but I feel there's a certain bit of hypocrisy with someone who likes to condemn society yet takes advantage of its benefits and so is an active participant in the great machine.  We're all typing on computers right now...

I'm not attacking anyone here, it's just that I sometimes come across somebody who really seems to despise the society that's made their entire way of life possible.  I think it's easy to see only the defects, too easy to blame.  I stand in awe of those minds in the past who've come up with ideas to help humanity.

Anyways now I'm rambling

I'm with pianochick, the best defense from bad influences must be good parenting.  Kids don't have to grow up believing everything they see on TV...

But you can't choose your parents anymore than the society you're born into.  After a point, there's not much sense bothering about things you can't control.

[term]

I think a lot of people are too quick to blame society.  Or in many cases, blame anything and everything for their problems.

I agree. I rather meant: If you have to blame someone/something, blame society..
Rap as such has nothing to do with any social or behaviour problems or anything. Since the industry has dumbed the whole thing down for mass-market selling, it's just music and entertainment. Nothing else. No ghetto lifestyle, no rap-"philosophy".

The percentage of youth who listen to rap and are knifing each other to death on our streets is not insignificant.

Yes, but where's the connection between rap and killing?
That's a common mistake; politicians over here make that often when they talk about those guys who killed their teachers and students in school- they were playing Quake3 or Doom3 or UT, so they blame computer games. hm...
It's not rap that makes people agressive, but agressive people may like to listen to rap.

I think you underestimate the percentage of kids who listen to it. I would venture 50-60% in my area, which is hardly a ghetto, and I'm sure the percentage is far higher in more urban eras.

Wow. I can assure you that this is certainly far from average. And there are no general statistics for urban areas...At my school there are few who listen to rap music. Most of my friend listen to rock, metal, and all that. I've seen at least 3 times more people in my life who listen to rock than hiphop. That may have changed, but i still remember when 10 or 15 years ago rap was "underground" to a certain extent and not at all widespread. How can that influence a whole generation?
And btw, i find metal to be much more aggressive than most hiphop...not necessarily the lyrics, but the sound.

[thalbergmad]

Yes, but where's the connection between rap and killing?

All over the newspapers if they are to be believed.

Rap preaches violence and will infest the mind of the young and so called disadvantaged youth.

I would have thought that there have been more teenage killers that listen to rap than those that listen to Schubert's Chamber Music.

Thal

[minor9th]

It's not rap that makes people agressive, but agressive people may like to listen to rap.
Wow. I can assure you that this is certainly far from average. And there are no general statistics for urban areas...At my school there are few who listen to rap music. Most of my friend listen to rock, metal, and all that. I've seen at least 3 times more people in my life who listen to rock than hiphop. That may have changed, but i still remember when 10 or 15 years ago rap was "underground" to a certain extent and not at all widespread. How can that influence a whole generation?
And btw, i find metal to be much more aggressive than most hiphop...not necessarily the lyrics, but the sound.

I've never heard of metal heads engaging in drive-by shootings...not even "death metal" fans! Nor are they out on street corners selling dope.

Someone said. "If white kids would stop buying rap, it would disappear"--one can only hope...

[term]

Rap preaches violence and will infest the mind of the young and so called disadvantaged youth.

I would have thought that there have been more teenage killers that listen to rap than those that listen to Schubert's Chamber Music.

So what? Again, where exactly is the connection? You both extremely underestimate young people, as a matter of fact, this actually has nothing to do with young people: You suggest that if someone - regardless of age - just listens to that kind of music makes him stupid and violent. Like i do everything they say...i listen to rap since i was 13. And such statements imply that this must also be true for computer games (or all kinds of games), for movies, etc...
Come on. The world is evil, bad things everywhere, violent music, films, games, all that...you sound like kids should grow up in a cloister.  I think young people are very capable of thinking reasonable. Someone who grew up in reasonable conditions can tell good from bad and will not become a killer just like that. What I become, how i am and what i do has its roots in me first, and whatever that is, i find affirmation in what i do. So teenagers don't become violent because of the music, but if they already are violent they may like that kind of music. Don't confuse cause and effect. And if they are violent, i would ask the parents how they bring up their children.

I've never heard of metal heads engaging in drive-by shootings...not even "death metal" fans! Nor are they out on street corners selling dope.

You don't know rap music. Thats what the public gets to hear. 99% of the lyrics do not encourage to do anything violent at all. Just like 99% of metal has nothing to do with satanism. Just cliches. It's the same with computer games, parents think all computer games encourage killing innocent people  What BS!
Seriously, you're entitled to your opinion and you don't need to like the music. But you should know what you're talking about, and what you guys know (based on the statements you make) is mostly propaganda and myths spread by people who themselves have no clue (politicans, media). I've rarely seen media coverage that has dealt with hiphop in a fair way. The same is true for computer games, both subjects are related. It's the fear of elderly people that the youth is bad and corrupted....

[thalbergmad]

You suggest that if someone - regardless of age - just listens to that kind of music makes him stupid and violent.

No i did not, as i mentioned the words youth and disadvantaged.

You need to read more carefully.

Thal

[richard black]

Rap preaches violence and will infest the mind of the young and so called disadvantaged youth.

One might choose to argue that this is a chicken and egg job - rap is only accepted by those who regard violence as normal already. I would tend to assume it's a two-way street of influence. It's hard to deny that music with a direct message in the lyrics is likely to influence kids - it always has done, since, oh, seditious songs in the Middle Ages at least. Probably happened in ancient Greece and earlier.

To my mind, the problem with the 'permissive' society (something I'm instinctively rather in favour of) is that it requires 'the kids' to be more extreme if they want to have something to rebel against. Rebellion is after all a natural function of youth.

I actually think that teaching pop music in schools and even universities has undermined an important part of pop's function - I mean precisely rebellion. Hence street musicians becoming more and more extreme, and commercial ones more and more anodyne. Would Elvis and the Beatles have happened if pop had been taught in schools in the 1950s and 1960s?

[danny elfboy]

The youth of today is like the youth od the past, every kid is different from another.
In the 1940 there were as many ill-mannered, egotist or plain evil kids as there are nowadays and nowadays there are as many mature, altruist and sensible kids as there were in the 1940.

Besides many of the adults we consider horrible-people for their narrow-mindedness, sexism, violence, arrogance, unsensitivity have been kids in the 1940, have been kids educated with those educative means we have idealized as superior and better; while the results speak for themselves and show otherwise.

It's just absurd to pretend that a kid which is treated like a property by his/her parents will become nothing but the creepy clone of his/her parents. Every time you see a kid which is just arrogant, presumptuous, egotist, egocentric and evil you'll notice his/her parents are exactly the same and that's the kind of environment the kid has been forced to conform to.

The freedom we give to youth is just artificial. We force them to conform to a world where the only thing that matters is "gathering stuff" and then we give them the "freedom" to go around and gather as much stuff as they can at the expense of other people's well being and freedom; because we teach to them (indirectly or not) that this is the only reason we are living. We call this *** nonsense "freedom" but the freedom that matters, the freedom to free themselves from such schemes is just denied to them in all subtle and cruel ways.

No wonder that a study of the UNESCO showed that western modern kids are the more unhappy and unfulfilled individuals in the whole world and the study pointed also out that it had nothing to do with wealth, money, entertainment or technology just with the artificial, second-hand life devoid of real meaningful experiences and real meaningful feelings (what John Holt called "the prison garden of modern childhood") they live in. They're not living a real human life but a modern surrogate of life, just like the plastic surrogate of trees you see on certain cities.

We program them in creepy way cause we're creepy and we just want to turn kids into disgusting clones of ourselves and our stupidity and greed and we don't give them the freeedom to resist such programmation and when the programmation is over and we've killed any hint of curiosity, spontaneity, creativity, compassion, sensitivity and awe in them we blame them for that instead of blaming the matrix those clones come from: "US" and blaming our destructive brainwashing.

[gerry]

I actually think that teaching pop music in schools and even universities has undermined an important part of pop's function - I mean precisely rebellion. Hence street musicians becoming more and more extreme, and commercial ones more and more anodyne. Would Elvis and the Beatles have happened if pop had been taught in schools in the 1950s and 1960s?

Interesting point - I'll have to think about that. Let's encourage more rap courses in high school and university - perhaps it will undermine the trend and steer youth into a more productive genre of rebellious "music". 

[thalbergmad]

In the 1940 there were as many ill-mannered, egotist or plain evil kids as there are nowadays

If that is true (which i doubt), perhaps we have lost the ability of dealing with them.

Thal

[term]

We program them in creepy way cause we're creepy and we just want to turn kids into disgusting clones of ourselves and our stupidity and greed and we don't give them the freeedom to resist such programmation and when the programmation is over and we've killed any hint of curiosity, spontaneity, creativity, compassion, sensitivity and awe in them we blame them for that instead of blaming the matrix those clones come from: "US" and blaming our destructive brainwashing.

omg.
The picture you're drawing looks like this:

You have a talent to see the negative things and make them look 10 times worse than they actually are.
I've recently read "The Name of the rose" (again^^) and some people (not only on this forum) remind me of some of those monks in the abbey. For them, the whole world is evil, everything outside of god and christianity, even outside the abbey is to avoid. The cities are amusement parks full of jugglers and liars and thiefs and storytellers, money replaced god and the banks replaced the churches, kids rebel against their parents and teachers, schools teach heresy, education is corrupt blah blah blah.
You sound like that. My uncle sounds like that too. It's really sad. Stop moaning and rambling and get a grip.

I think you've already said it: The youth of today is not that much different from past generations. I mean of course things are different (and more complicated) now, but people adapt to the circumstances determined by, hm development essentially. The only constant in history are humans, what changed is technology (in a broader sense, including ideologies, forms of government, etc). In the world of today there's as much room for good and evil as there was in the past.

The last sentence is btw complete nonsense. The US is not the root of all evil. w t f? Bold statement, would'n you say? It's just cheap America bashing and pretty much used up. I've seen enough of those 'evil conservative think-tanks' here in Europe too.

(what John Holt called "the prison garden of modern childhood")

I can see where he's coming from, but thats not true for everybody imo.

[danny elfboy]

The last sentence is btw complete nonsense. The US is not the root of all evil. w t f? Bold statement, would'n you say? It's just cheap America bashing and pretty much used up. I've seen enough of those 'evil conservative think-tanks' here in Europe too.I can see where he's coming from, but thats not true for everybody imo.

It's US as in "us modern people" ... otherwise I would've written "USA".

[danny elfboy]

If that is true (which i doubt), perhaps we have lost the ability of dealing with them.

Of course that's true, just ask whatever person who lived in the 1940 but also who doesn't idealize the past for the sake of it (human beings have the bad habits or remembering only the good about the past and forgetting the bad) If there are ill-mannered, arrogant, egotist people there are also ill-mannered, arrogant, egotist kids ... it would just be a contradiction in term to see a person who praise his/her own arrogance, egotist and ill-manners but that teach otherwise to their kids. And there's no evidence that in the 1940 there were less ill-manner, arrogant and egotist people. Quite the opposite, we had a concentration on those years of people lacking any humanity, compassion and sympathy.

[thalbergmad]

And there's no evidence that in the 1940 there were less ill-manner, arrogant and egotist people.

Perhaps there was even more, but it is possible that they did not display it in a similar fashion to the youth of today.

I was recenly privvy to a debate at our local Church about the behavour of today's youth, since the Church had been broken into on several occasions and vandalised almost on a weekly basis by local yobs. In addition, one of the local graveyards was also vandalised with ancient headstones being overturned, smashed and daubed in graffiti. Would this have taken place in the 1940's?

This year alone, almost 30 teenagers have been stabbed to death by other teenagers in London alone. In the Schools, teachers are spat upon and attacked. In hospitals, attacks by drunken youths have got so bad that some Hospitals have had to employ Security Guards. Would this have happened in the 1940's?

20 years ago i could have walked safely home after dark, but now i will not allow my mother to go out shopping alone in broad daylight, due to attacks on pensioners by gangs of young people. Would this have happened in the 1940's?

I don't know what Country you come from Elfboy, but it sure as hell ain't England.

I have spoken to many people who lived in the 1940's and lived in London during the Blitz. They are more scared now than they were then of Hitler's bombs.

It is you that needs to talk to people more Elfboy, not me. Go to an old peoples home or sit in on a WI meeting.

Thal

[term]

It's US as in "us modern people" ... otherwise I would've written "USA".

ouch.
ok then. 

[jakev2.0]

Population has grown considerably in the last century (baby boom, immigration etc.). For every one person 60 years ago there are four now.  Population growth is a good thing for the economy but also brings with it the ills of congestion, pollution, and crime. The volume of crime is larger, but it's unclear that the per person crime rate has changed. Statistics would be interesting to see. 

Whether or not the youth of today are better or worse morally than the youth of the last century is a subjective question. My grandparents' generation were disgusted with what the baby boomer generation was up to (i.e., peace, love, sex, rock & roll and all that)...just as my grandparents' parents were disgusted by their children's behavior. It's a never-ending cycle. Bach was considered a rambunctious young man.

But one thing is clear: if anything, the elderly are better off today than at any stage in human history, thanks in large part to the obvious technological and medical advancements.

[thalbergmad]

But one thing is clear: if anything, the elderly are better off today than at any stage in human history, thanks in large part to the obvious technological and medical advancements.

That is true, people are indeed living longer than at any time in history.

However, it has been predicted that the teens of today will not on average live as long as their gransparents. Technology can have its downside and no doubt has contributed in some way towards the high levels of obesity that is currently being experienced in some Western Countries.

My grandfather had to walk 10 miles to work and 10 miles back. He worked from the age of 10 until 70 and lived to a very advanced age. I am sure there are some who would get the car out for a journey of a few hundred yards.

Thal

Thal

[richard black]

Population has grown considerably in the last century (baby boom, immigration etc.).

Immigration? Most of the countries with large-scale immigration (UK, USA etc.) are the ones where the population has risen slowest. But worldwide, yes, the population has indeed increased like mad: and it possibly feels like even more because of the 'global village' - before TV and jet planes it was doubtless very easy to imagine Africa as several million square miles of largely uninhabited desert and jungle, an image quickly dispelled by TV news of Darfur, DRC, South Africa...... The trend towards everyone living in cities hasn't helped either, and while the UK's population has risen pretty slowly the city population has risen fast while the rural population has actually declined (well, depending on where you put the dividing line between rural and urban, i.e., how big must a settlement be to be an urb?).

And as history since the Greeks and Romans shows, not to mention experiments on laboratory rats and mice, if you crowd creatures together they get edgy and go mad.

[rc]

My grandfather had to walk 10 miles to work and 10 miles back. He worked from the age of 10 until 70 and lived to a very advanced age. I am sure there are some who would get the car out for a journey of a few hundred yards.

A few years ago, heading home after work I saw some guy drive up to a mailbox in his SUV and reeeeach out the window - not only driving to the mailbox but he didn't want to step out of his car either...  Though he would've had a much easier time if he just opened the door.

I've heard some predictions that we might have troubles here in Canada when it comes time to take care of the aging baby boomers...  Something to do with families having less children which will mean a smaller upcoming workforce.

Another thing that I'm not sure of is how individuals/famillies/nations can rack up so much debt.  I know so many people who are quite comfortable with living in the hole, some with as much as 2 years income worth of debt.  I don't understand how anyone can think it's OK to buy so much stuff with resources they don't have.  It gets paid for one way or another, who picks up the tab?

[richard black]

I know so many people who are quite comfortable with living in the hole, some with as much as 2 years income worth of debt.

2 years? If that's considered bad in Canada you're living in a prudent nation, friend. Here in the UK, at least until Northern Rock went belly-up (effectively) a few weeks back, you could get a mortgage for 5 times your gross annual salary if you shopped around.

I've heard some predictions that we might have troubles here in Canada when it comes time to take care of the aging baby boomers...  Something to do with families having less children which will mean a smaller upcoming workforce.

Just have to outsource the extended family to India and China, then!

[thalbergmad]

Here in the UK, at least until Northern Rock went belly-up (effectively) a few weeks back, you could get a mortgage for 5 times your gross annual salary if you shopped around.

Shockingly true and i have seen one for 6 times.

I predict in a few months, it will be hard to find 3.5x.

Thal

[Siberian Husky]

im 22 years old and a nasty son of a pregnant dog. i spit on old people every single day of my life. i do it only for the pleasure. i dont want to impress anyone, or create a reputation for myself. i just like seeing my saliva on other people's bodies, nothing sexual, strictly educational.

[momopi]

I used to be rude and swear a lot. Well, I'm still a bit rude. Children do grow up. And I have outgrown that part of me. What's sad is some cannot outgrow this bad behavior because it's already deep in their system.

I don't care about ghetto slang and the like (as a language major, I 'm a bit interested in it as well), what bothers me is the lack of respect among the general public.

How I wish they'd emphasize the importance of respect in schools and even in the household. If I have learned it earlier, I guess I wouldn't be involved in silly arguments all the time.

[alpacinator1]

Hmm...

I'm 14 and I think I'm fairly respectful, I enjoy classical music (and, admittedly, metal) but I certainly wouldn't play it at a high volume in a public place. My friends and I can get kind of loud and rowdy, and I do swear (although not in every sentence), but I don't think all kids are bad. It's never good to generalize.

[Bob]

Never?

[tanman]

Never?

me thinks that bob is plotting something...


anyway... there is a thing called adolescence... 
I know a person who was an absolutely terrible teen but after college he was actually very mature.

[db05]

me thinks that bob is plotting something...


anyway... there is a thing called adolescence... 
I know a person who was an absolutely terrible teen but after college he was actually very mature.

Yes, and I wonder if the previous generations didn't experience that... How unfair! Teens are terrible because their hormones are going berserk and things get difficult- school, work, whatever.

[cai hong]

Hey even if I'm still a youth I'm not like that.

Okay I maybe study in a girls school which is full of badasses,SMART badasses who behaved like you said before,but there are still some girls who are still nice though.I'm very depressed those badasses treat me badly,although I never had problems with them.I think they behave that way because they think being mean is cool.Well I think...

[rc]

It is kind of interesting to see where people wind up over the years.  Sometimes the well-behaved kids are actually repressed and once they're away from home BAM - a whole childhood of crazyness released at once!  One friend who always seemed very smart, under control, hard working, became a fullblown alcoholic as soon as he was out of his parents grasp.

I think they behave that way because they think beeing mean is cool.Well I think...

Yeah that's pretty much it.  Putting people down is the lazy way of making themselves look better, as opposed to looking cool on their own merit - that is BEING cool.  The coolest person I know is still popular to this day, because he's good to everybody, always a decent guy.  I think somehow he's so generally happy with life that he naturally spreads that to everyone around.

I once hung with a group of kids who tried to be cool by being pricks, making fun of everyone and everything, wrecking things.  I couldn't stand being associated with that, I had to distance myself.  Be glad you're not under that influence, it will drive drive away anything good and attract only the dregs.