Is it me? Or does the majority of 7-10 year olds swear, fight, and smoke all kinds of crap behind everyone's back?

I was at a Video Game store (Eb games) , looking at stuff when a little girl said "Hey *Jason or some name I can't remember* Come here! I found something cool!" Then Jason or w/e shouts back immediately, "Shut the (f) Up,before I beat the (s) out of you (b)!".

The kid musta been 7 or something!!

Another one, I was checking the mail (one of those mailboxes at the street corner with numbers) and I see a second grader (I knew him,I tutored him) walking down his usual route,then some 3rd - 5th grader walked up behind and pushed him down hard,took his backpack,and ran. Unfortunately for the bully,someone was outside washing their car,and caught him. (I woulda got him,but it would have been messier >:| )

Also,On the local news, 12 year old found sucking up cocaine through a straw... With his mouth. He said he thought it was powdered sugar.

Point is, whats going on with this world?! What makes them do these kinda things?!

Phew,had to get that off my chest...

He he he
I dont smoke or do drugs but I guess I piss people off proper bad when im bored ill say (f) and (s) in real life conversations soccasionaly not often I use da (b)*female wrd* a lot on my sister as its coming up for puberty on her and she is acting like 1 constantly

This is one of my pet peeves. I'm really tired of the level of disrespect that is tolerated by society. I think it is because everyone is scared to speak up and call kids on the wrong they do.

For example, one of my neighbor's kids was up on the roof of their house, and the parents weren't home. They were running around on the roof and jumping onto trees. Not a very good example of being a responsible 8-year old. That's bad enough, but when a neighbor told the parents, they were accused of lying and were told "My kid would never do that..."

(Danger: Old guy's "when I was a kid..." story fast approaching.)

When I was about 9 or 10, early in the winter, my friends and I really wanted to go out on the newly frozen lake. The ice was maybe and inch and a half thick, and when we walked on it, it bowed with each step. We were out there for maybe 5 minutes when my dad pulled up in the car and dragged my sorry little self home. A neighbor had called my house and told on me. They may have saved some kids from freezing to death or drowning. I hated them for that. They did it every year for about 3 years, too.

(Old guy's story zone now ended)

I think people are too isolated from their neighbors, and don't have the community I had growing up. There's too much fear, and too many people ignore what is going on around them. Then kids operate under a belief that no one will call them on their bad behavior.

^ They seem to Operate on the Belief that no one will call their wrongs, Because Truly No one will any more these days ! Parents don't have to Gut to tell their kids what to do anymore, of course there is some that do But plenty who don't these days ! Parents of Today are Raising tommorows Presidents, would you like to have a President that is a Rebel like todays Children/Teenagers?
I sure wouldn't.But there is Nothing that we can do about it, Society Accepts it so that makes it ok. Families of Today are nothing they used to be, It used to be that you ate dinner together as a Family, nowadays Parents are to Busy working or just don't want to be a Full Family.
Then you can add in the Factor of all the Single parents out there that have to do it all by themselves, particularly single Mothers. I have noticed in my personal life that Boys raised by Single Mothers without a Male Figure or a Father Figure tend to be more Feminized or act more like a Female like then Boys raised by a Stable Family Structure ( Father & Mother ) Together raising the Child.
Todays Divorce Rate is SkyHigh, A Broken Family is Normal nowadays. In all of This Mess is the Leaders and CEO's of Tommorow. Teen suicide is another rather Sad but true statistic, Teenagers Killing them selves because of all the Stress and Depression that is put upon them from Society, and what do the Doctors do to help this problem? They perscribe Anti-Depressants Which just mess up the Minds of the person anyway... We have 7-12 year olds Bringing Weapons to School, Teenagers Murdering other Teenagers on School buses, Kids killing their Parents. And what gets blamed for all of this? All of the medications that the Doctors are perscribing to Solve the problems... When Truly the Doctor isn't to Blame, The Family Structure really holds the Blame, That and Removing one of the Most important Subjects from School, Removing God from our School systems has really Screwed up the Schools, has it not? Back before that was officially done, the Problems at Schools were
Running in the Hallways, Chewing Gum during Class, and Talking while the Teacher was Talking. Today the problems of Schools today are Guns and Knives, Teachers Truly have become Hunted by kids around the Country who don't like coming to School. Anger is another Problem that is Running around the Streets in the Teens and Kids of Today, Kids that are Subject to their Parents getting Divorced become angry at themselves and Blame themselves for their parents getting Divorced.

The mind is like a Great Big Baloon, You Fill it up with Air. Too much air and it will Explode, Your mind can only Hold so much Anger Held inside before the Kid / Person will Explode and possibly wind up Injuring or Killing another Human being.

Whew, Well That is My Opinion on the World.
All of this is My interpretations and Beliefs Based on that I am being Taught and what I am percieving from Todays Youth...

Its the enviroment around them its not just the kids or the parents fault its their peers and surroundings. I know if I found a kid I knew doing anything disrespectful I would have a word of give them a piece of my mind, physically.

We can all thank Madalyn Murray O'Hair for her lawsuit in 1963 to remove prayer in public schools!!! She and her atheist friends have been blamed for rising teen pregnancy rates, crime, drug use, violence and youth-related problems.
This is what happens when you take prayer out of the schools!!
This country was founded on Christianity and our ancestor's prayers and hard work were what grew our country into the most powerful nation in the world in just a couple hundred years.
Without God, this country (just as quickly as it rose) can fail.

This country was also founded on the slavery of African people, genocide of the Native American people, denial of basic rights to females.
While you wag your holier than thou finger at the world, watch what historical company you keep.

It's impossible to take prayer out of schools. Christians can (and continue to) pray at any time and any place - how can you regulate that? What was removed from schools was the parroting of group prayers that are, for the most part, meaningless. They sound good but have little substance. We're more worried about how things sound, or look. Put the blame where it belongs: our self-indulgent society.

What a day!

Well, they can't make people of other religions say "under God" in the pledge of allegiance. For example, I am a Jew. I slightly modify that particular line because I believe in a god of a different name that just "God". Get the picture? Prayer is OK, but you can't force anyone to do it. And @Sherm, can you prove that they were related at all???

@Baba,

Nice list. It's unfortunately true, too. Good examples of how power can be misused, and even justified to other people, often through the abuse of religion. Those events hurt some of my ancestors, and still cause pain today.

@ all

So how can we help the young 'uns be more respectable members of our communities? What would be a positive step forward?

Well now, finally someone brings up a very good subject, well one that I'm interested in. Lets see here, 7-12 year olds huh? Well for one thing that is just crazy for them to be doing this. Here is an example. My friends and I were driving around town last weekend, we had Dragula by Rob Zombie going and the windows down. Well when he drove by a groupe of say about 12 year olds, one of of them said, "Turn that f**king, sh**y, queer-a*s misuc off, bi*ches. Well when I heard this I slamed on the brakes. My friends and I got out of the car and we three whent up to about 6 of them, and I said "What did you just say?!" He tried to tell me off, but he studdered when I glared at him and then he shut up. Well after that my friend yealled at him, my other friend cussed them out, and I intellictually dissed them. We told them to say they were sorry and to learn t talk decent in the presence of a female, becasue my girlfriend was in the car also. They agreed and then walk away. E then got into my car and drove off. Well as you can see we wont stand for any of that stuff. Also drugs?? Are you serious! I can't believe that! I have never touched the stuff, but my friend does smoke pot and drink and smoke cigarrets. Yet he knows that I wont and he doesn't do any of those things near me or any of my stuff. Also I feel we as a world my genereation messed it up and gave us all a "bad rap." No I like loud music and heavy meatl, but I can not stand rap!! Curseing in music with me is not as bad. Unless ro or white zombie is on, but I dont listen to it for the curseing, only for musical purposes! So yea I guess I've covered it enough. Later guys.

Accept the precedent of the ancient Greeks: Teach Ethics at the earliest stages of primary education. Ethics as in Not Morals; Not illustrative of A particular religion or religious group; nondenominational, nonethnocentric, anti or post-egocentric. Integral.

If a society teaches children to believe that success is equated with materialism, or that a celebrity lifestyle is an objective apart from artistic or academic achievement, or that the ends justify the means because the desires of the one are so rarely considered in relation to the needs of the many, then from whom will they be taught lessons to the contrary?

Last edited: Saturday, June 25, 2005 at 2:57:45 PM

Just a couple signs for ya that the Judgement Day and the End of the World is near :S :S

Wow,I actually understood half of that Narth!

Uh,I agree Nyar...I guess. *Fumbles with dictionary*

Last edited: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at 4:49:35 PM

Nyar's right on. Kids have learned all too well from their parents and the society they live in. There seem to be way too few examples of selflessness, deferred gratification, and just plain caring. So, who does it fall to? Schools? Churches?

How about what happens inside each and every home? That's where most of life's learning happens. We need each home to feel more responsibility for what goes on in and around them.

Lets not turn this into ANOTHER topic on religion now, shall we? ;)

I am 12.

Smoking is bad.

Drugs are very bad.

Swearing is just plain rude.

Correct spelling is gud! I mean good. :)

I will never go to public school, as there is too much bad stuff happening there. There is an interesting article about teasing in a school near our town, I will find it and post it here later.

@Freedom,
Great post.

YOUR 12 RACER?!?!?Your such a good skinner and modder wow such talent in you well yes the schools are partly the problem the people I know who are homeschooled are very respectful, and know from right and wrong I just wish people could learn from people like Racer, and also be careful of who your friends are if you can't be yourself then don't bother being with them I know I can be myself and act the way I want to without them looking at me wierder...than they usually do :P but anyway I hear about all these people doing drugs having sex and all this stuff and alot of the girls I hear who have had sex in high school wish they wouldn't have I just want everyone to know be patient and you will be rewarded with the greatest gift possible and why do drugs you can get just has high from getting up to fat I get up too fast alot of the time and I get real dizzy after I get out of a big struggle on TT or something like that. If you think you need drugs or sex or anything people force on you they are wrong no one can force you to do anything you have your own free will just choose wisely on your actions every action has a consequence.

@all

Here's an idea: put your posts in a spell checker !

Hey Baba, did you say "Holier that Thou"? Did I say I was better than anyone else? No I did not! Did I say that there were no mistakes made during the infancy of this country? No I did not? Sure there were mistakes made. But all of the examples you listed are in our past.

Okay guys, This is getting a little Heated...
Chill for a Moment, please No Flaming starting in this Thread
@ Oz:

Lol, Well that is kinda Funny Considering what you said about your GirlFriend being in the car, Your Friend Cused them out... %)
@ LGM:

That is what I was saying in my Earlier post... The Home has the Greatest influence on a Child..
@ Mr. Big Show

This is soo true...
@ Pyronin:

I am homeschooled also.. There truly is a difference in the person

@ Sherm.
Everything you referred to was "in our past".
Hehe
Also the oppression of women, Native Americans and African Americans are all too present day.
Don't delude yourself.
It's "as American as apple pie"

Sorry Freedom, didnt mean to get the thread off track.
I'll try to get my 7-12 year olds to weigh in...

OK, iam 11 and I have to a mitt that we swear lots
I try not too....
Its weird to think this is the lanuage older people will be speaking in the near furture

In the uk I dont see many 7 to 12 year olds swearing, its like above 14-16 when they turn into chavs or gangsters that they start to swear.

@Freedom,

I'm homeschooled too!

@Pyronin,

Thank you! And yes, I'm 12. I have learned more things from staying home and playing TT all day than being at skool.... I mean school. :)

The people in TT have taught me so much about life, religion, politics, programming, you name it. You guys rock, I bought myself an Xbox and I'm going to get a Live subscription just to keep this going.

I would love to be homeschooled though high school, I know a few very close homeschooled friends who are going to public high school soon, and I have heard how tough these kids are nowadays, smoking and all that junk in the halls.

Our town that we had lived in for 18 years has become loaded with crime, we moved to a small town near by which has near no crime. In our old town I had to build my self a small high powered air pressure water balloon launcher from scratch just to make myself feel safe, those things could very well injure people who are not more than 50 feet away. Thankfully in this small town I do not have to use it anymore for anything but summer fun.

Whew, that was one of the longest write-ups I've ever written here! This is my personal opinion on this subject, it is long, but worth it.

Atari forever,
Racer445

Well... AHEM, I am 12, and the only times I've cussed are on ThinkTanks a couple times, when given permission my an admin (thank you CrapBlaster :) ). But I do agree that the majority of ppl around my age do cus and are overall dipnuts. That's exactly the reason I switched to a small private school from public. There was a lot of bullying, and teachers don't do much... :( a small, informal, private school is a much better environment B)

@Racer-- ur 12 too??? Wow, didn't think that XD

Last edited: Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 7:14:28 AM

I'm homeschooled...well,I was,until I decided to go to public high school.

I wont have to worry about bullying,I'm taking kung-fu! Muahahahahaha...

Baba, I think I remember seeing a picture of you on one of the "What do you look like?" threads and your skin is darker than mine. So what? I don't have a problem with that. The problem I have with your comments is that every man, regardless of the color of their skin, has the exact same opportunities in this country as I have had. There are far more "people of color" where I work and I happen to be in the minority. It's what that man chooses to do with those opportunities that makes the difference. That goes for women in America as well. As far as the Native Americans go, yes they were done wrong. The "White Man" took their land for pennies if not for free. That was not right and maybe there should be more reparations made. But the Native American today, like the African American, has the same chance as I do to earn a living and create his own domain. The problem with so many people today is that they tend to dwell on the past so much that they forget to live for today.

@Racer:

I began being Homeschooled Right outta Elementary School, I am in 10th Grade now and Plan to be Homeschoold right on through High School !
Can you say "No peer Presure for me !"
-Free

We need a 24/7 TV channel of Leave it Beaver.

Hi: mind if I chime in?

This quote is somewhat untrue:

Because stuff like this is still happening.

The recent equality report that was issued by the urban league states that:

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income of black families is 59 percent that of white families.

This is from an article found here:

The minority has the same 'theoretical' chance as any other person to make it in this world. But there is more at play here than 'theory'. Racism is a systemic problem, where people who are raised up in unspoken, cultural discrepancies, and are largely unaware of, treat one another differently. It isn't an in your face issue anymore like it was 40-50 years ago. It's gone underground, and it is manifested in economic indicators and social factors. This report is a big indicator that we still have a large problem, and you can't ignore it, and wash it away with treatises of how this country was founded. If you haven't lived it, you don't know it, and life is hard for everyone, but it's harder for those who happen to be a few shades darker.

Deny it all you want, continue on in your bootstrap economics and educational ideals. The numbers speak for themselves.

Last edited: Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 9:13:27 AM

Hey homeschoolers! I'm a public school teacher, and I have a question for you.

Do you think you have done so well because you have very supportive parents who care a great deal about you and suport you in every way? The families that I know who homeschool are very dedicated to their kids and expect the best from them. Interestingly enough, almost all of their kids are doing good things.

I also have taught hundreds of students in my career, and most of them are respectful and fine people. Some are not. I don't think it's fair to blame schools for society's weaknesses. It is easy, but not fair.

And, good for all of you who are not examples of kids going bad. We appreciate it.

Last edited: Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 3:34:01 PM

It really doesn't hang on the school... Perhaps the people that the 7-12 year old has lived with? Drunken parents,bad friends,bullying,evil teachers. The list goes on and on...

Memphis,

Right on! We have some ideals that enable us to deny that past practices still have impacts. We cannot forget this, and need to find ways to break the cycles of poverty that some people fall into.

Situational poverty, like losing a job and going broke is a different thing than generational poverty, where generation after generation of a family lives in poverty. That's a tough thing to break out of. We need to make opportunities available to break those cycles.

Come on people. Jeez. I always tune out when I hear "kids today..."

We have been hearing this same tired lament for decades. Back in the 50's we heard the exact same crap, and the 60s and the 70s. Look at the actual facts and stats, not the fear mongering on Fox News (not to mention the current administration). Crime rates are falling. Crimes against children are falling. Violent crime is falling.

I did some bad sh*t as a kid and teen growing up in the 60s and 70s. All the stuff mentioned above: I did most of it (okay, I didn't snort coke or beat kids up). I now have a Ph.D. And a loving family and am raising a really cool daughter. But I am privileged enough to have been raised in a loving, caring, well educated white middle-class family; I now enjoy a decent salary and a good place to live. I will not judge others who have to live in poverty, rural or urban.

The problem is not drugs
The problem is not foul language
The problem is not disrespecting adults
The problem is not lack of religion

Kids cussing or smoking a little pot do not cause the real problems in this country; it's poverty, hunger, hopelessness, lack of opportunity, lack of healthcare (see above). The social institutions -- both local and national -- that actually build community and foster caring for others have been undermined by corporate capitalism, the destruction of the social fabric of our cities, suburban "communities" that are built around consumption rather than mutual support and a media which blames individuals (blaming the victims) rather than social institutions (corporations) and (capitalist) social relations for our ills. Privatizing the schools, privatizing SS, a profit driven healthcare system; all of these put profit before people. So why are we surprised when we see the social fabric unravel?

What we are seeing here is a decline of the middle class -- the direct result of government policy and corporate practices -- not swearing or prayer.

When the 10% of the population begins to spread the 80-90% of the wealth that they control and ALL Americans can enjoy the great wealth of this country then these problems will fade. Then we can have healthcare and mental healthcare for all, free decent education, access to drug and alcohol rehab, cheap college education, decent wages and benefits so both parents don't have to work 2 jobs each, etc. Don't you think it would be better to give a man or woman a decent education and a dignified job at $30,000 a year than putting him in prison for the same amount of money?

Don't blame poverty on the poor.

Ok Memphis, maybe the small slice of Americana I live in doesn't quite reflect that of the majority of this country. But around here, there are plenty of opportunities for the minorities to make something of themselves. It's whether or not they choose to do so that is up to them.

The cause?

Lag.

Lol.

@Freedom,
I have been homeschooled since 1st grade! I'm glad to see there are others out there who have been homeschooled from that age aswell. :)

Im home schooled also ive been homeschoolin since 2nd grade [ I start school a 11:00 AM and end at 1:00 PM %) ]

LGM:

Yes, Actually I do...
My parents are Very Supportive, They don't expect me to do something (like going to college)...They wait and see what I wanna do with my own life, Then they Back me up on it !

@ Freedom

I'm glad to hear that. Their support has been a big factor in your success. My point was that is not the case for everyone. Some kids have to survive with parents that don't have any idea of how to provide that support.

@ Pugwash

Man, what a great post! You really hit the nail on the head.

We have a country where relatively few people control the economy. Some wealthy people do spread that money around, and try to do good things, but many do not. There are many needs people have that are going unmet. How much does a WalMart employee make? 7 or 8 dollars an hour? That comes out to be $15,000 or so a year. How much does the CEO make?

(LA Times article)

Some say they earned it. I wonder why they need that much. I don't know what Scott does with all the bucks, but I don't think all that much of it is benefitting others. Greed has costs. Poverty is one of them. We need to create a society that provides equal opportunity. We aren't there yet.

Last edited: Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 12:18:24 PM

I don't think we'll ever get there...

I am 14, Dont Swear, Dont Do Drugs, Smoke, Bully or any other thing and yes I Do go to a State School, ALot of you are being unfair, Not all State schools are like that and thats whats upset me that most of you are saying that state schools have bullying and Bad Pupils but they dont 8(

Preach it brotha...preach it.. 8o
pedro and pugwash r right guys all u guys r talking about is the bad stuff that kids do [some of it is not true] there r alot of good things that kids at public schools and even state schools do... %)

Hey, I just thought of something. I teach in Washington State, US. We call the schools that are funded by taxes from the public "public schools". In other places, I think "public schools" means something else. If you are from another place, we might be confusing each other. I'm not certain, but I think "public school" means something else in other countries.

I've attended public school all my life, and I still do. Sure, there are SOME 'incidents', but that happens at every school. If you go to a bad school, there isn't much you can do except make a lotta tough friends, and fast. Then stick to em like glue.

Well personaly I go to a private school.....it doesnt matter to wat kind of a school u go to now days because there are always disobedient kids......they are always doing things..........i personaly think it has to do with the environment in which they grew up in and the way their parents raised them and other adults took care of them.......many adults r finding tat kids now show no respect and tats all because parents and adults dont have the courage to say no to them.....for instance......i went to a party yesterday......most of the time the parents werent even downstairs and by the end of the party people were playing "spin the bopit" (like spin they bottle.....they couldnt find a bottle though)......personaly these are the kids who are constantly fooling around at my school..........my parents have done a very good job at parenting me.......they told me no on things tat were not appropriate.........taught me to be a good and to be not ashamed to be myself..........they encourage me to do my best and to follow my dreams.....both of my parents are there for me and though I feel they can be over protective......at least they care enough for me.....although my bro (ROACH) may have made a few mistakes with the law......my parents helped him and have been worried for him and put all of their time into their 3 kids........they have not had a vacation with just the two of them my whole life....we barley go on vacations.......but my parents work so hard to keep their kids protected......many kids I know swear a lot.....i try not to.......but do sometimes......i think if parent just worked on taking care of their kids and not taking the easy way and just leaving them to themselves....kids today dont care about their future....not many any way.......they care just about now....which is okay to do......but sooner or later their gonnna have to think about their future before its too late......its this counties fault for not making a good environment for kids to grow up in.....and for parents for not saying no to their kids.....(although.....parents tat have said no and are beaten by their kids have worked hard-they just needed to say no when the kids were babies to things)..........tats wat I think anywayz

~Dark Angel (SA)~ XD