Are All Teens Drug/Sex Addicts? ...Really?

[Extasii]

Alright, I'm noticing a trend lately. "Adult" Literature (No, not pornographic) seems to be depicting teens, anywhere from 14-19, as either sex-crazed or buying drugs.

Now, I'm not normally one to complain, but I can see where this is going to lead. Parents who read these books are going to become paranoid. They will try to match any sort of pattern in the book with their child's life, and then condemn them for it. Now I'm not saying there aren't teens that do this, but think about it. How many times do you see a teen in the news for something other than this kind of behavior? This is going to lead to the same kind of paranoia that will cause parents to suffocate their kids, instead of letting them experience life for themselves.

Why am I complaining about this? My mom thinks I'm going to have sex with my girlfriend every chance I get these days. All because she read The Tenth Circle by Jodi Piccoult. It depicts the kids drinking and having a rainbow party.

Feel free to shoot me down now.

Thank,

JGreg

**EDIT**
For those who don't know, a rainbow party is when a bunch of people (no just kids!) get together, the girls are all handed different colored lipstick. When the night is thru, the guy with the most colorful... ehem, "unit" wins.

 

[Irridium]

Well, if people wrote about teens doing normal things it would be boring, lame, and not sell well. So books and the news find stories like that and turn little things into huge problems/"news" stories.

 

[Julianking93]

No but a lot of them are. It's stupid to think all of them are, but in reality, a shit load are at least where I live.

Almost everyone I used to know from my old school at the very least indulged in alcohol and marijuana. Others did shit like ecstasy and prescription pills like my stupid step sister.

While some don't do drugs, others (or maybe they just say they are) having sex with everyone. Sure, a lot of people don't do this, but far more I believe actually do than don't.

But the thing is, it's not like teens are the only people who do this.

Far more adults do what they consider "wrong for a teenager to do" than actual teens. I can't count how many adults I know who are alcoholics, drug addicts or sex addicts who cheat on their wives constantly.

 

[FactualSquirrel]

Well I think that's just the way all "simple" (for want of a better word) literature works, relying on stereotypes and trends to build a character.

I don't think it's that widespread an issue, if I'm honest.

 

[Nincompoop]

*shoots the author*

__
Why would a teen be on the news for anything other than misbehavior? Should they be on the news for being absolutely normal?

But I get how stupid parents can be, and think that every book that is a top seller is automatically the truth.

 

[Flamezdudes]

Obviously not, it's just people grouping a type of person together because of the ones more noticeable. I don't use drugs or even drink so... it's obviously not true. Just keep talking to your Mum and try to convince her.

 

[Ham_authority95]

Well, if people wrote about teens doing normal things it would be boring, lame, and not sell well. So books and the news find stories like that and turn little things into huge problems/"news" stories.

Exactly.

As a teenager myself, these presumptions are pure bullshit.

While there are teens like this, they're a pretty small minority.

 

[CD-R]

Teens are more or lest sex crazed. It's just a normal part of being a teen.

 

[pelopelopelo]

Most adults buy drugs on a fairly regular basis, too. They're just ok 'cause they're legal, right?

However no, most teens are pretty normal, even the ones that take drugs and have sex.

 

[Chase Yojimbo]

Im a porn addict, does that count? but take no drugs... and have no sex.... god im lonely /cry

 

[Samuel Cook]

Parents are always paranoid about their children, not just because of what they see and read on the news, but because they remember what it was like being a teen themselves. Some parents accept the fact that their child will do some naughty stuff and others become over-protective. It depends on how open-minded the parent is.

I do see where you're coming from though, I can remember my mum reading a news article on GTA:SA, and she thought I was going to go on a killing spree. I killed her first.

 

[Harmondale2]

well for one no their not all like that? and two the news wouldn't report on anything "good" in relation to teens these days, they always go for the most shocking murder drug orgy they can find. Honestly I cannot remember the last time I saw the news with more positive news then negative news.

 

[TheTim]

according to the media and press we are.
but were not.

 

[APLovecraft]

young people in literature have always been fucking and taking drugs etc, but personally first couple of weeks at uni i tried some new things in controlled circumstances, purely cos i's never get to again

 

[Mr.Mattress]

I am a teen who only occaisionally thinks of sex and has never had drugs/sex. As you can guess, I am also pretty socially awkward.

 

[Terminal Blue]

I won't deny I had a lot of sex in my teens. Why? Because I could.. there was no responsibility to do otherwise and frankly the rest of my life was pretty disappointing and miserable. I'm not even proud of it, in fact a lot of it makes me shudder in retrospect.

Similarly, while I personally never touched drugs, but most of my friends did. Some got addicted, a few still are to the best of my knowledge.

The teens are the time when people have most of the opportunities of adulthood but none of the responsibilities, it's also a time when people are often emotionally vulnerable and easily lead. Does that make it likely people will do drugs and have lots of sex.. yes, it does. Does it mean you personally will.. Hell no.. That's what your mother needs to understand. Books which show teens doing these things aren't lying, they're just being selective because frankly focusing on a group of teens who play it safe and generally don't misbehave would make for a pretty boring book.

 

[Sable Gear]

Teens are more or lest sex crazed. It's just a normal part of being a teen.

Thanks for the generalization.

OT: stereotypes are just easier to work with. True, the negative aspects of teen behaviour are far more prominent than the positive but that doesn't mean the 'safe' teen doesn't exist Being one myself, most people just think of us as being boring or acting to hide a stereotypical core. Frankly it's insulting but no one listens. I thank you for bringing up the topic.

Maybe adults are just jealous of all the fun sex and drugs we're all supposedly into. Or they're scared of being old and so paint themselves as the responsible ideal and spread hate for anything younger.

Yeah, shoot me too.