While I feel a little silly talking about kids these days, being only 22 myself, I still feel that the later generations are becoming more whiny. I suppose I should toss in some examples from my own life and just compare them to the kids I know of these days.
1. When I did something bad, I got my hair pulled. I was often dragged to my room to cool off if I was being a dick. I really hated my step-dad for being so strict with me. I had a curfew when I was 18.
2. My uncle used to constantly tease me and bully me, but I still loved hanging out with him. He once sprayed pepper-spray into my face for laughs. He was always punching me, kicking me, grabbing and pinching and all around bullying me.
3. When I wanted some pocket money, I had to work my ass off to get it. Clean my room, mow the lawn, do the dishes, stuff like that. I was a bit jealous since most of my classmates has this weird thing called an allowance. Their parents just gave them money every week.
As a result:
1. I understand why there are things like rules, laws and authority in the world. While I never say it out loud, I am grateful that my step-dad was strict with me, and I will try to be as much like him as I can when I father children of my own some day. And I'm still afraid to swear when my mother is present.
2. I can take a joke, and can handle teasing. I am quick to react to bullying, but I also understand that violence is not the first but the last solution to every hostile situation. I picked up a martial art for a hobby, and know quite a bit about self-defense, even outside my chosen art of combat. My understanding of justice is flexible but still solidly based on common sense and practical virtues.
3. I understand the value of money, and I enjoy work. I was thinking about hooking myself up with a pension plan at the bank soon, perhaps after next year.
What I've seen in children and their behavior:
1. The younger people in my unit (back during my service) constantly had problems with authority, both officers of the military during service as well as law enforcement afterwards, and many have shady backgrounds and outright criminal records. Children I know are disrespectful to teachers and tutors, and refuse to learn subjects they do not enjoy at school. But parent's nowadays aren't allowed to do anything, as anything beyond a simple "no" will result in social services taking the child away from the "abusive parents". Jeez.
2. My missus' little brother starts crying at the slightest hint of a teasing joke, and punching and clinging to grownups is his idea of getting attention. He can't take failure or negative responses at all, and always ends up making a huge ruckus about not getting his way. Again, any kind of physical discipline will result in the child being taken into custody.
3. My brother still lives with nothing but money from our parents as well as his late grandparents. He buys expensive luxury electronics that break after a bit of use, and then asks for money to buy new ones. He has never saved any money whatsoever. And he literally just tells our parents to give him money. He doesn't even ask anymore.
But of course, there are sweet, polite children all over the place, proving that a parent can still raise their children proper during such restricted times.
1. When I did something bad, I got my hair pulled. I was often dragged to my room to cool off if I was being a dick. I really hated my step-dad for being so strict with me. I had a curfew when I was 18.
2. My uncle used to constantly tease me and bully me, but I still loved hanging out with him. He once sprayed pepper-spray into my face for laughs. He was always punching me, kicking me, grabbing and pinching and all around bullying me.
3. When I wanted some pocket money, I had to work my ass off to get it. Clean my room, mow the lawn, do the dishes, stuff like that. I was a bit jealous since most of my classmates has this weird thing called an allowance. Their parents just gave them money every week.
As a result:
1. I understand why there are things like rules, laws and authority in the world. While I never say it out loud, I am grateful that my step-dad was strict with me, and I will try to be as much like him as I can when I father children of my own some day. And I'm still afraid to swear when my mother is present.
2. I can take a joke, and can handle teasing. I am quick to react to bullying, but I also understand that violence is not the first but the last solution to every hostile situation. I picked up a martial art for a hobby, and know quite a bit about self-defense, even outside my chosen art of combat. My understanding of justice is flexible but still solidly based on common sense and practical virtues.
3. I understand the value of money, and I enjoy work. I was thinking about hooking myself up with a pension plan at the bank soon, perhaps after next year.
What I've seen in children and their behavior:
1. The younger people in my unit (back during my service) constantly had problems with authority, both officers of the military during service as well as law enforcement afterwards, and many have shady backgrounds and outright criminal records. Children I know are disrespectful to teachers and tutors, and refuse to learn subjects they do not enjoy at school. But parent's nowadays aren't allowed to do anything, as anything beyond a simple "no" will result in social services taking the child away from the "abusive parents". Jeez.
2. My missus' little brother starts crying at the slightest hint of a teasing joke, and punching and clinging to grownups is his idea of getting attention. He can't take failure or negative responses at all, and always ends up making a huge ruckus about not getting his way. Again, any kind of physical discipline will result in the child being taken into custody.
3. My brother still lives with nothing but money from our parents as well as his late grandparents. He buys expensive luxury electronics that break after a bit of use, and then asks for money to buy new ones. He has never saved any money whatsoever. And he literally just tells our parents to give him money. He doesn't even ask anymore.
But of course, there are sweet, polite children all over the place, proving that a parent can still raise their children proper during such restricted times.
