I happen to have the privilege: listening to some very ungrateful young people today

[SPAGo 98]

why do we have to be talking about a "particular age group"? couldn't we just talk about a particular group of cruel people who just happened to be a particular age group?

and i highly doubt that shallowness and ignorance is a trait found primarily in teenagers.

 

[lilboo]

couldn't we just talk about a particular group of cruel people who just happened to be a particular age group?

Agreed-as I said we all have things that could use improvement.
We could just as easily raise a tirade about crotchety old folks...
(just saying good-bye to my mid-20s and am getting crotchety myself )

Arrogance, vanity, cruelty-in its many shades and motivations-are all ageless.

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

Sad to know people act and think like that, regardless of who they are or how old they are.

And for the record... I am 21 and I think that couples of any age holding hands is really incredibly sweet.

 

[DocRafiki]

Were the kids saying it so the old people could hear? If not, WHO CARES?

 

[Mermaid02]

I'm considerably older now..... but I do remember being a teenager and being selfish, rude and at times cruel. My dd is about to turn 13 and although I haven't seen rude or cruel- boy have I seen selfish. The whole world revolves around HER. I also remember having rather a "pack mentality" I might do or say things with a group of kids I NEVER would have done alone or with just a friend or two. It's the nature of the Beast (and boy was I a BEAST ) And just because it's not uncommon behavior, doesnt' make it okay. Now that I'm a crotchety old lady- I probably would have said something to them.

 

[browneyes]

Sometimes kids make fun of things they don't comprehend. Those kids probably have parents that don't show affection to each other or to their kids. They probably don't know anything about love.

However, I'd be sorely tempted to say something to those idiots. I know it wouldn't do any good, they'd just make fun of me after I left. But still, if it bothered me enough, saying something to them would've made me less angry-I think.

 

[Mamu]

Spago98 I agree I find a lot of adults in this category too. We live in a world of self-centered people.

While I don't understand teens, and thier attitude towards an aging society. It make me ill to see this same attitude in adults.

Most of these teens will grow up to be tomorrow adults. Will there attitudes change I sure hope so, or tomorrow seniors will thrown to the dogs.

 

[Blondie]

Were the kids saying it so the old people could hear? If not, WHO CARES?

The answer is YES! And I CARED! Unfortunately, I didn't feel safe enough saying something w/my son with me. Had my DH been with us, I would've been tempted. I didn't want to be followed out of the mall to my car by these "people."

Yes, there are uncaring and inconsiderate people, of all age groups everywhere we turn. It's sad, but true.

Maybe I should've put a disclaimer after my post, just to be P.C.

**this post reflects the general opinion of one person regarding a particular group of people in a mall--please do not see yourself being referred to here**

I find it odd that some people here became so defensive about it.

 

[Dream]

Blondie, what you saw was awful and rude, ugly and mean. Those kids should be ashamed of themselves! Can I just give a couple of examples of teens I have seen in action recently hoping to offer some positive examples here?
Early this summer I was with a group of 300 11 and 12 year olds, led by a 17 year old, as they learned about problem solving, understanding folks from different backgrounds and cultures, basic greetings in many languages and how to handle peer pressure. It was awesome!
I know a very special 14 year old ...very active in student govt., drama club, baseball and Boy Scouts who is with our little den every week leading our little 8 year olds in wholesome fun...all the while showing them BY EXAMPLE how to be a good citizen and a kind human being.
I have watched groups of teens give up entire weekends to help younger kids learn about the out of doors, respecting others and respecting themselves.
I watched a group of 16-18 year olds as they left the airport on their way to Brazil this summer to build houses and a hospital for people who otherwise would have nothing.
I have watched a group of warm, smiling teens "take over" a room of elderly folks in a nursing home, gladly giving up their Saturday bringing smiles to folks who otherwise would have none. Ever seen a 90 year old man and woman do the macarena led by a 16 year old? It brings tears to your eyes.
I know you know all of this and I am not minimizing your experience at the mall. I just had to offer "the other side" on this thread....the "side" where teens are active, involved, caring and respectful. Maybe it's just old Dream putting on her rose colored glasses again, but I hope these wonderful teens are the majority!

 

[caitycaity]

spago, i agree with you 100%. i'm not so far remved from being a teenager that i don't remember how it feels when the older folk start ganging up on all teenagers. i used to hate that.

this comment especially would be burning me up: "And Spago, one day you'll be old enough to realize how cruel and inconsiderate a few words can be." uhhh, who says he doesn't understand that now? it sounds to me from his posts that he does. that is a really condescending and (imho) rude comment. maybe just about as rude as making fun of the old people, in this case you're just making fun of young people instead.

 

[danacara]

Amen, Caity.

I find that condescending to teenagers tends to blow up in the face of the speaker, but that's usually because one or two particularly adept, smart, and savvy teens object to their generalizations. I think we would all agree that Spago understands the impact of hurtful words - Spago is not only as sensitive as any of us, but he's incredibly smart, to boot.

For every teen/twentysomething who spouts off in the mall, there is another teen/twentysomething who is as Dream described. I wish that same ratio held up in all age groups.

 

[Robinrs]

This is so sad. Unfortunately generalizations are sometimes earned due to the fact that some of us REMEMBER those days, not because we know nothing about them.

I was not the typical teen, but I was surrounded by them. And sometimes we said things we didn't really mean just because we knew our friends would agree with it. My parents raised me to always respect my elders, but I remember a time when being rebellious was more important than obeying the doctrine my parents put on me just to be "cool".

Even then I knew I was the exception and not the rule.

While I hated hearing the generalizations about teenagers, I knew that I had to make it right for me. Now that I'm an adult I get frustrated when I see so many good teenagers doing good things and as I always say, "those are the ones who DON'T get the print" (press). Good teenagers are not news.

What this post really emphasizes is ignorant rude people, whose disrespect was not just because of their age, but because of their lack of maturity. Maturity sometimes does not come with age but it takes maturity to suppress your reaction or verbal response to something that "bugs" you.

 

[CathyCanada]

I think generalizing one particular group is wrong. That was one group of teens. As idiotic as they were, that is not to say that all kids are like that. It is like talking about a particular race of tour group when I have seen bad behaviour by Caucasian tour groups of all ages as well.

I believe the point spago and some of the other young 'uns here are saying, don't group us with them. I personally think that we have a VERY mature, wise and really nice group of kids/teens/young adults that post here, and I couldn't imagine any one of them exhibiting the type of behaviour you witnessed.

I would have been pissed too, Blondie, I am very protective of those I care about and mean-spirited people just piss me off anyway.
CC

 

[Miss Jasmine]

This is an interesting thread...
First, I can't help but to feel bad for those teenagers. Obviously they are lacking something in their lives, most likely love, maybe discipline. There is so much in this world now that brings sadness to kids such as divorce, violence, lack of quality time with parents, etc.

As with Dream, I have seen so many teens do so many good things. I was blessed to go on a trip with college and high school students to help at orphanage in Mexico. You should have seen them with the kids and with the adult workers. It was an amazing week that forever changed my life. I have also been with college students who go to known areas where homeless people "live" and buy them dinner and take them clothes. I could tell you all about all the wonderful things I have seen, but it would take me a few pages.

I do not like generalizations. Our young people deserve more. One of the best things I ever did was be a mentor. Sure the little girl was not a teenager yet, but she was in an at-risk environment. And I hope I helped make a difference in her life somewhere down the road, I know she made a difference in mine. So if you don't like what you see, I urge you to get more involved with teenagers or at risk children.

 

[goofygirl]

Sure, some teens only care about themselves.

They better enjoy it while they can.


Sometimes I long for the days where I didnt have anything to think about except the next class, what to wear, what new music to buy and when I was going to hang with my friends.

 

[Blondie]

As I have already stated:

**this post reflects the general opinion of one person regarding a particular group of people in a mall--please do not see yourself being referred to here**

I find it odd that some people here became so defensive about it.

I would have been pissed too, Blondie, I am very protective of those I care about and mean-spirited people just piss me off anyway.

That's all this thread was really about. Mean spirited people.

Next time I know not to state the ages of the people in question. Lord knows someone is bound to become offended.

 

[danacara]

Originally posted by goofygirl
Sure, some teens only care about themselves.

They better enjoy it while they can.

Do you honestly believe that adulthood makes for less self-centered people? No way. If paying a mortgage or having a child made people less self-centered, we'd be living in a far more benevolent society. JMHO.

 

[danacara]

Originally posted by Blondie

What I wanted to do was walk over to these "got the world by the balls" high and mighties and teach them a lesson....but it wouldn't have done any good.

When your young, everything seems to be yours. You don't yet have any wrinkles, or a mortgage for that matter. All they worry about is running home to IM their friends, what time is the first class tomorrow, and how late can I stay up tonight and still be awake enough for class.

All they worry about is how shiney their cars are, how "cool" they look to their peers and that "they're never gonna look like that when they're old."

Too bad they don't know that the real laugh is on them.

Blondie, be honest. It was always a thread about trashing young people in general - read what you wrote above. That's your own opinion, and you don't have to apologize for it, but let's not pretend that it's anything other than what it is.

 

[figmentvi]

I believe the point spago and some of the other young 'uns here are saying, don't group us with them. I personally think that we have a VERY mature, wise and really nice group of kids/teens/young adults that post here, and I couldn't imagine any one of them exhibiting the type of behaviour you witnessed.

You are very right as usual CC. We have some very terrific young people on this site.

When my 3 DD's were teenagers (actually one still is ), they would never have thought about doing something as cruel as the group of kids that Blondie encountered. And I'm sure my DD's will teach their children to be the same way.

As the 'ol saying goes: What goes around, comes around.

No matter what your age is, what your race is, what your religion is...if you have cruelness in your heart, it will come back to haunt you in some form or another.

So have no fear, payback is a "you know what"

 

[Blondie]

Hey Caity and Dana: