[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by AGDee

A few points (that I haven't had time to express although I've been reading and reading on this thread):

1) EVERY generation thinks the "youngsters" are out of control in comparison to them. I'm not convinced that kids in general are any worse than they used to be. There have always been bullies and disrespectful kids, there always will be some.

2) I spend an inordinate amount of time interacting with Joe Average Teenager because I have two teenagers of my own. I see a LOT of teenagers. The vast majority are great kids. The majority are engaged in healthy activities, are respectful and polite to adults, and are working hard to make something of their lives. They are FAR more concerned about the world in general than I think my generation was at their age. I'm not sure we had any idea what was going on with politics, race relations, or the environment. These kids care about things more than I think we did. Other than having Muscular Dystrophy carnivals every year, I don't remember ever being encouraged by society in general to think about charity or community service. Our schools encourage this from kindergarten with school wide community service projects and clubs dedicated to community service. I see a lot of bright, generous, thoughtful kids (maybe because both of my kids are Scouts?) who are going to lead us in the future. I think they are well prepared to handle it. I also see a lot of kids who are FAR more independent than we were. They have not had moms at home to get them their after school snack. They do it themselves.

agreed...every generation thinks that the world is going to hell in a handbasket because of the next generation. Sometimes it's good to put things in perspective!