Todays generation

[Helios]

By that I mean many of those leading up to-and everyone born after 1990.

Something ive been noticing lately is that there seems to be a complete lack of innocence in today's youth. Its like the kids are thrown right into the adult mainstream but lack the responsibility or intelligence to do the right thing. The girls contnue to get ever sluttier and the entire "I dont give a fuck" attitude has just gotten way out of hand. Im not necessarily against experience but these kids are learning all the wrong things earlier than they should, most importantly because they're still too stupid to know its wrong.

They think they are elite, they think they are geniuses even if they are morons, they are incapable of attention for their fellow human beings. They are incapable of empathy with someone else. They will only agree with someone if he flatters their egoes and makes them think they are something special, and yet they are very mucn susceptible to being manipulated. I am talking of the mainstream usual young people.

Its as if the permissive shift that started back in the 60's has escalated into total savageness within the past five years. These kids are compltely without any sort of discipline. I constantly see kids running wild around the mall or the airport, then instead of diciplining the kid, not only will they not do that, but they wont blame the kid at all. Oh its not his fault, its society, tv, the internet, violent video games- you know, everything except shitty parenting. Maybe ill take him in to see a 300 an hour shrink to put him on some ritalin, or make him take tai chi, you know anything to avoid me actually having to make the effort to be a real parent.

Actually its not so much the kids I despise its rampant new-age parenting BS I cant stand. Because more than anyone else its their fault for letting their kids get this way.I reccomend the movie "Thirteen" sums up the whole situation quite well.

Sure im only nineteen and my own generaton isnt exactly perfect either but by no stretch of the imagination is it as bad as these kids are. This quote comes to mind when I think about how permissive parenting has become.. "When an opponent declares, "I will not come over to your side," I calmly say, "Your child belongs to us already... What are you? You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community." - Adolf Htler

[Mach]

It's called societal evolution. It's more of a degradation. It's what happens when liberalism continues it's onslaught of "freeing" society's acceptance of immoral acts.

[Viper]

Social problems instead of social responsibility. It's complete bullshit.

No one wants to take personal responsibility for their own actions anymore. It's pathetic.

[xbdestroya]

I'm not feeling the problem really. Helios, all I can say to you is that I felt much the same about your generation, but wouldn't you agree that as you guys get older, you're 'normalizing' out? Same thing will happen to these young ones - everybody comes into their own in the end.

[Mach]

Why take responsibility when government can take care of everything for you? Why do what's right when you're told by society you have no purpose in life and you have no God to be accountable to? The logic behind the progression to sinful chaos is so obvious it slaps you right in the face when you actually stop and think about it.

[xbdestroya]

Hmmm... actually I see young people as more involved than ever before in volunteer activities and socially activist causes. So, I say if slutty girls want to help make the world a better place, bring on more slutty girls! And I like the eye candy as well. ;)

[Mach]

It's because "social activities" have been considered a trendy hip fad now..Something cool kids do to show they're hip and "tolerant" (of what? They never have an answer.) And these activities are again superficial. They're the equivalent of the Pharisee going into the Temple to tithe a large amount in front of everyone as a way to make themselves look good in the eyes of others.

True liberalism gives one large Middle Finger to morals, dignity, honor, and tradition. There is no such thing as a historical pendulum...only pockets of revival of traditionalism and good.

[xbdestroya]

Uh huh. I disagree. I think that performing positive social works - if that's what's considered cool - then that's something we should be proud of. It doesn't matter why somethign is considered cool. Twelve year-olds don't know why they're doing what they're doing anyway - regardless of era or reason. So for social activism to be considered cool - I think that's somethign to be proud of as a society.

I would also point out, for you religious guys out there, that the youth of today are *much* more religious on the whole than say, in the 80's. That much is for sure.

In fact to point to an example of the level of awareness in our youth toay, I need only to point to the numerous 12-15 year-olds on this very forum community. They are *much* more involved and aware of the world around them and the politics and social issues of our times than I ever was at their age... and so I applaud you, the younger members of the E-mpire forums.

[Bryan]

Red herring.

Red herring.

And.... Red herring. Thank you very much. It is an admirable tactic.

[D3adcell]

The main problem I see now is kids no longer being kids, they are trying to rush into being an adult as fast as they can. See kids having relationships and even being sexual active at younger and younger ages. It's not a good thing. Kids need to be kids. Also parents need to whip their kids, enough of this blaming other people, whip the shit out of them.

[Mathx]

Why do i have a feeling that if the kids today grew up...they will bring about the end of the world...

[xbdestroya]

When you consider that during the Middle Ages 14-year olds regularly got married off, and boys ruled kingdoms - and the average life expectancy was like thirty years old - it makes one realize we don't have it so extreme.

Seriously, I feel as if we're all just wrapped up in 'when I was your age' syndrome. I don't see any behavior from modern kids that I find overly frightening. It's the 'adults' that are scaring me these days.

[Phryne Astynome]

Oh please, people haven't changed much at all. The only difference is that people (teenagers) are more open about their permissive and egotistic attitudes. I don't know about you but I prefer a tolerant but permissive society over an intolerant and moral society.

The 1950s, which many of the moral conservatives seem to reminisce over, was just as bad as today if not worse due to the intense bigotry during this time. Did you know that most women (around 81% from some statistics I have seen) in the 1950s lost their virginity before marriage (no doubt the women were younger than 18 when they lost their virginity due to the early age of marriage during this time)? Did you also know that prostitution was rampant (with brothels no less) during this time as well? These teenagers were just as sexual, just as stupid, and just as irresponsible as the teenagers of today. The only difference is that those teenagers of the 1950s were more hush about it due to the moral climate of the time.

Also in case you are not aware, the kids of today also perform more community service than the kids of yesterday. Much of that community service is self-serving (due to college admissions and such) I will admit but at least it is better than nothing. Oh, and more of these "I don’t give a fuck" teenagers attend college than ever before. Furthermore, at least today's teenagers are tolerant about different races and sexualities.

[GentleLamb]

This is nothing that hasn't been said about the "next generation" generations ago.

[Bryan]

Oh please, people haven't changed much at all. The only difference is that people (teenagers) are more open about their permissive and egotistic attitudes. I don't know about you but I prefer a tolerant but permissive society over an intolerant and moral society.

Potential.. rising.

The 1950s, which many of the moral conservatives seem to reminisce over, was just as bad as today if not worse due to the intense bigotry during this time.

Hahaha, some of us like to call it ostrich syndrome. If you don't see it, it isn't there.

Oh, and more of these "I don’t give a fuck" teenagers attend college than ever before. Furthermore, at least today's teenagers are tolerant about different races and sexualities.

Stick around, my friend.

Ah, might I also ask a question? How is it, that when conservative politicians always have a presence in American government and politics, that the issues that some of you have with the more visual lack of 'morals' and 'tradition' are able to be blamed on liberalism exclusively? In fact, we could be completely to the point, and ask ourselves if any faction of politics is even slightly responsible! That's what I'm talking about when I say "red herring" repeatedly in a post. I agree that the reality of the situation is not so much a lack of morals and tradition, but that now it is all more noticable. Kids will be kids, and that's just something that we will all have to get a grip on.

Raise your hand if you were perfect as a teenager. And you're right, I can't see it -- not that you're raising it anyway.

[Crow]

i noticed this alot when i was in college due to the fact that my college was part of my old high school, so instead of leaving to go to a new place we just carried on, made it alot easier, either way kids from the lower years(grades) in school used to come and trash our decent toilets, and try to piss us off because we where like 17 and 18 at the time and they thought we couldn't hit them or anything because they where young, technically they where right but ah well, either way i remember this one day they where pissing around as normal and the head of our College came and told them to go to class, either way some little kid yelled to him "Fuck off you fat twat"...i was seriously in shock, the teacher didn't even do anything. Then i realised the only teacher they wouldn't say that to was this one really cool teacher who was really strict when he needed to be...

basically what im saying is parents should give their kids a good slapping at times, fuck all this "cant bruise kids" bullshit, i remember being 11 and when i got a beating i would never prick around as much afterwards

beat your children

[Helios]

Ah, might I also ask a question? How is it, that when conservative politicians always have a presence in American government and politics, that the issues that some of you have with the more visual lack of 'morals' and 'tradition' are able to be blamed on liberalism exclusively? In fact, we could be completely to the point, and ask ourselves if any faction of politics is even slightly responsible! That's what I'm talking about when I say "red herring" repeatedly in a post. I agree that the reality of the situation is not so much a lack of morals and tradition, but that now it is all more noticable. Kids will be kids, and that's just something that we will all have to get a grip on.


How can it be blamed on liberalism exclusively? Well I for one base most of my assurtions on what ive seen first hand. For example when I lived in the midwest(obviously conservative dmonated) you still saw some of the same behaviors I mentioned but you saw less of it, and not to such a savage level. Which brings me back to my original point that being of the parents not parenting their kids.

Im sorry but that "kids will be kids" remark doesnt really hold with me. Not when I see 11 and 12 year old kids smoking. That most certainly isnt "just being a kid" thats a kid trying to imitate an adult way too early and no one being there to tell him there's something wrong with that.

The illusion of being more open about these kinds of actions only makes them acceptable. And it will never be acceptable that there are 13 year olds having as much sex as someone twice their age. Its just sickening that this is almost considered "ok".


Raise your hand if you were perfect as a teenager. And you're right, I can't see it -- not that you're raising it anyway.

Compared to some I was a f--king angel, because I at least had the decency not to cuss out or physically assault my parents.

[kaphwan]

I can definitely see the loss of innocence in children. There are children as young as nine cursing like sailors. But nobody in our age group swears profusely so it's most probably something they'll grow out of.

And towards the end of disciplining children, when dealing with an insolent little brother I've found the best method is to grab the subject by the shoulders, shaking them around a bit and then tell them why what they did wrong is detestable. No bruises, no emotional scars. The shock leaves them more likely to see your point of view "torturing small animals is not okay", or what have you.

[Megatron40]

I can agree on that. A darn good number of kidos were just as bed then as today. I would say take it back another 50 years though. I doubt they were as bad. Let's take the picture off kids and look and what's around today. Those naughty kidos that grew out of it have been making everything deemed immoral back then ok today. Back then of course they were hush hush about losing their virginity or whatever. Nowadays parents (the people in the 1950's or whatever) don't give a rip. Heck I had a friend a few months back before I graduated high school tell me "My mom doesn't care. She just said don't have any kids. Do it safe and I won't care". My gosh. Same with drinking and smoking and swearing. Parents just care less. The kids of the 50's and 60's don't care as much as their parents did. Not that people have changed what they're doing... but that they changed what's acceptable based on their on mischievous childhood.

No I won't blame it on democrats. I know a heck of a lot of republicans that think they're conservative... they don't know the meaning of the word. It is a liberal thing, but seeing as you liberals don't mind it's not really an insult is it?

Yes there were kings at age 14 and such. Did people like them? Not usually even though I have no doubt there are a fair few youngins that were half way decent.

I would also like to raise my hand to the question of how many of you were perfect as a teenager. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a perfect person. But I'm a virgin still, I don't swear. I don't even slip and say a swear word. I never smoked. Never drank. Not once. And wouldn't you believe it? It was due to religious reasons.

There are a good number of very religious people. There are an even huger number of people like Mach was saying that are like the Pharisees... I just graduated. I know the people that do this. I can give you phone number so you can talk to them for yourselves. I'll even give you the phone numbers of the people who are in these wonderful service giving groups. I heard them plenty a time saying "Yeah I didn't want to go, but I had to", "Know what I did over the weekend? I went and helped paint the park." And right after they got they're scholarships they quit those groups. And wouldn't you know it? One of the guys was telling me how many girls have sucked his weiner and swearin like a right old sailor with a dash or two of taking the Lord's name in vain. Not to mention he gets drunk every weekend. Just because you say you believe in Jesus doesn't mean you're religious. You have to show it. Just because you say you're in love doesn't mean you're in love. You have to show it (or you'll get dumped so fast). Just because you say you're proud to be an American doesn't mean you're proud to be an American. You have to show it.

Where'd you get that statistic of 81% of women lost their virginity before high school was over? How accurate do you really think it is? I said that I am still a virgin. Didn't you just snigger because everyone's doing it? Or maybe snort in disbelief? Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you want any less to be "cool".

[Mach]

It's a testament to the sad state of affairs of our time when a group of adults has to be schooled by a Transformer on basic principles of societal evolution.

[Phryne Astynome]

Nowadays parents (the people in the 1950's or whatever) don't give a rip. Heck I had a friend a few months back before I graduated high school tell me "My mom doesn't care. She just said don't have any kids. Do it safe and I won't care". My gosh. Same with drinking and smoking and swearing. Parents just care less. The kids of the 50's and 60's don't care as much as their parents did. Not that people have changed what they're doing... but that they changed what's acceptable based on their on mischievous childhood.

Bad parents exist everywhere in every period. Read some literature written during an early period of time like "The Awakening" and "The Great Gatsby" and they give examples of bad parenting. Granted, this is fiction but most of these works are considered realistic. Also, literature usually reflect the life and sentiment during any particular period of time.

There are a good number of very religious people. There are an even huger number of people like Mach was saying that are like the Pharisees... I just graduated. I know the people that do this. I can give you phone number so you can talk to them for yourselves. I'll even give you the phone numbers of the people who are in these wonderful service giving groups. I heard them plenty a time saying "Yeah I didn't want to go, but I had to", "Know what I did over the weekend? I went and helped paint the park." And right after they got they're scholarships they quit those groups. And wouldn't you know it? One of the guys was telling me how many girls have sucked his weiner and swearin like a right old sailor with a dash or two of taking the Lord's name in vain. Not to mention he gets drunk every weekend. Just because you say you believe in Jesus doesn't mean you're religious. You have to show it. Just because you say you're in love doesn't mean you're in love. You have to show it (or you'll get dumped so fast). Just because you say you're proud to be an American doesn't mean you're proud to be an American. You have to show it.

Yup, I see this all the time. But did you know this was common in every period of time as well. Back during the Renaissance; the priests used to sleep with hookers, steal money from the poor, and engage in all sorts of indulgences forbidden to the followers. This was, of course, one of the reasons why Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation.

Where'd you get that statistic of 81% of women lost their virginity before high school was over? How accurate do you really think it is? I said that I am still a virgin. Didn't you just snigger because everyone's doing it? Or maybe snort in disbelief? Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you want any less to be "cool".

I got this piece of statistic from a textbook used in an lower division psychology class in a college near where I live (which is ranked top 5 in the nation in graduate psychology). I know a couple of students there and I glanced through some of the textbooks that they had and saw this little piece of statistic. I think it is very accurate. The average age when most people lose their virginity in the United States is 14-15. It was probably even earlier back then due to the early marriage age during the time.

[Megatron40]

Let me clarify what my beef is. I won't deny that human behavior in general hasn't really changed. It's that's it's becoming acceptable now. No one cares if you go shag someone's wife. They just say... bummer and carry on with life. No one cares that a 12 year old is cussing out anyone that looks at them (except for the older folk... I'll go into that in just a second). No one cares that skanks in high school and junior high are prominent. They accept it as life. I think the general assumption here for most people is that these kinds of things are pretty stupid/immoral/etc, it's just the opinion on what should be done about it (if anything) that differs. I live by the quote I'm about to misquote "Evil only prevails when good men do nothing". So do we just let people do there own thing? I'm not going to stop people from being gay. I'm not going to stop people from swearing. I don't have the kind of power and I wouldn't put it into effect if I did, but that does not mean I accept it. And that is where my argument is. Here's an off the wall analogy... remember Hitler? Give him a little and he wants some more. That's not just Hitler though. That's everyone. I still stand by that I think that things weren't this bad a 100 years ago or even 500 years ago. ONLY because it wasn't accepted and punishment was put into effect if you were caught doing something. Now days punishment doesn't even exist. I won't be suprised when the day comes when everyone gets to run around naked and just shag whoever they please and I won't be suprised when swearing isn't looked down upon in the least (except for the old fogeys). I certainly won't be suprised to see more and more high school shootings or dropouts. You know why? No one cares. The ones who do care can't win that war because more and more people don't care. I do recall many and old person at church ranging from 40-70 talking about how we have a lot worse things in way of sinning and such these days. Maybe they're just forgetful or something, but I doubt all of them are. It's degradation. No one cares. That's conservative and liberal alike. Maybe I'm just an 18 year old extreme conservative who's stubborn to change, but I accept that because I don't like what I see and from what my elders have told me. It's just getting worse and worse and worse.

Oh... Have children been disobeying parents as much as they did in lets say 1900? Or 1800? or 1700? or 1600? Not from what I've studied.

I still doubt that statistic. Even if it is true. I doubt it was true for 1900 or 1800 and so forth. Not with how parent were back then. Beat you if you so much as looked at their daughter and what not. Heck... Tom Sawyer was a saint compared to most of the kids I see now. And this is Mr. Twain we're talking about. Mr. Satire and cynic himself. I guess he didn't portray the the kidos very well... or maybe it wasn't acceptable...

[The Dude]

Today's generation is morally bankrupt, IMO.

[Phryne Astynome]

Let me clarify what my beef is. I won't deny that human behavior in general hasn't really changed. It's that's it's becoming acceptable now. No one cares if you go shag someone's wife. They just say... bummer and carry on with life. No one cares that a 12 year old is cussing out anyone that looks at them (except for the older folk... I'll go into that in just a second). No one cares that skanks in high school and junior high are prominent. They accept it as life. I think the general assumption here for most people is that these kinds of things are pretty stupid/immoral/etc, it's just the opinion on what should be done about it (if anything) that differs. I live by the quote I'm about to misquote "Evil only prevails when good men do nothing". So do we just let people do there own thing? I'm not going to stop people from being gay. I'm not going to stop people from swearing. I don't have the kind of power and I wouldn't put it into effect if I did, but that does not mean I accept it. And that is where my argument is. Here's an off the wall analogy... remember Hitler? Give him a little and he wants some more. That's not just Hitler though. That's everyone. I still stand by that I think that things weren't this bad a 100 years ago or even 500 years ago. ONLY because it wasn't accepted and punishment was put into effect if you were caught doing something. Now days punishment doesn't even exist. I won't be suprised when the day comes when everyone gets to run around naked and just shag whoever they please and I won't be suprised when swearing isn't looked down upon in the least (except for the old fogeys). I certainly won't be suprised to see more and more high school shootings or dropouts. You know why? No one cares. The ones who do care can't win that war because more and more people don't care.

Are you sure no one cares? There are a lot of support groups for these types of people such as Planned Parenthood, Alcoholics Anonymous, and etc. These things didn't exist in the past. People care more than ever before IMO. These groups help these "immoral" people get back on track. Most of the people who engaged in those “immoral” behaviors in the past such as in the Victorian Age were shunned by people and ostracized. Are you sure things weren't bad 100 years ago or 500 years ago? Blacks were segregated in all walks of life during that time. Also, the KKK was extremely powerful 100 years ago as well. Other ethnic groups such as Jews, Poles, and Italians also faced incredible discrimination. Make sure you remember that parents taught their children these racialist beliefs. Let's not romanticize the past because the past was pretty bad.

I do recall many and old person at church ranging from 40-70 talking about how we have a lot worse things in way of sinning and such these days. Maybe they're just forgetful or something, but I doubt all of them are. It's degradation. No one cares. That's conservative and liberal alike. Maybe I'm just an 18 year old extreme conservative who's stubborn to change, but I accept that because I don't like what I see and from what my elders have told me. It's just getting worse and worse and worse.

The elders said the new generation sinned a lot more than their generation? Hmmm, I don't know, discriminating against other ethnic groups seems quite sinful to me. A generation that supported the internment of the Japanese during WWII doesn't seem like a moral generation to me. I also think limiting access to resources (such as college) was quite sinful as well. Let's not also forget the rampant organized crime during the past with the likes of Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, and Meyer Lansky. Many of the problems from the past seem to have been ameliorated in this newer generation if you ask me.

Oh... Have children been disobeying parents as much as they did in lets say 1900? Or 1800? or 1700? or 1600? Not from what I've studied.

You are right on this one. The children in the past simply could not afford to be disrespectful to their parents because the family unit was much more crucial during those times. The family unit was a far more powerful entity as most children in the past did not attend school and had to learn from their parents. Family was often the only source of knowledge for most children back in those days thus they were not disobedient as they are now.

I still doubt that statistic. Even if it is true. I doubt it was true for 1900 or 1800 and so forth. Not with how parent were back then. Beat you if you so much as looked at their daughter and what not. Heck... Tom Sawyer was a saint compared to most of the kids I see now. And this is Mr. Twain we're talking about. Mr. Satire and cynic himself. I guess he didn't portray the the kidos very well... or maybe it wasn't acceptable...

I assure you that statistic is very accurate since it was done using proper statistical methods such as randomization and etc. Also, back in the early 1900s and 1800s, a lot of boys lost their virginity early because their fathers took them to a brothel as a coming of age ritual. This ritual is still common in parts of the world such as in Thailand. A lot of children use to work in sweatshops in the past so they were probably more mature than the children of today's gen. The situations are very different and thus they can't be compared directly.

[Dark_Cloud]

I dont think kids today are any less moral than they ever were. Granted, they do have sex way more and at a way younger age, but that's about it (althought it's probably the worst thing for them). Kids are always rebelious. That's a fact of life. However, my problem lies within the fact that parents arent giving their kids enough moral foundation so that when they get older, they have something to revert too when they realize causing havoc for everyone isn't the best way to go.

If you do nothing but dicipline a kid, he will most likey do the opposite of what you say just out of spite. If you dont dicipline them at all, they will have no sense of moral values or authority. The trick is getting a good balance between the two that is right for the specific individual. However, in todays society, single parents or two parents that work dont have enough time to spend with their kids. They cant impress vlaues and morals onto them. Jesus warns of this many times. He says something to the effect of, "there is harldy a sin worse than leading a child astray".

See, I don't believe in devorce if you have a kid. If you hate eachother, well then you can argue till your faces turn blue when the kid is at school. But for petes sake, have enough respect for you child not to expose them to all the stuff that goes on in broken home. If you are responsible enough to make the decision to have a kid, then you better be willing to be in it for the long haul.

Although a kid with a moral anchor must drag it around for the rest of their lives (it is no doubt a burden sometimes), at least they will be able to turn and walk the other way when they see the fire comming. The ones who have ony been taught to float in the wind like a leaf will be blown into the flames and there is not much they can do about it. The point is to stress personal responsibility. This goes for adults as well as kids. Our society is to focus on everyone being a victim. I highly doubt we will last much longer with the way things are going.

[Bryan]

I'm the product of a broken home, and I will agree with Tim here - I'm lucky that I have a good mom. She had a good balance between allowing me some freedom and drawing the line. I mean sure, I'm a commie pinko bastard, but it could be worse, my friends. It could be worse.

[C.J.]

Ha! Broken home? My mom kicked me out after my dad left us! The only thing keeping me from running hell on Earth is my own concept of common sense and decency.

[Mirai]

The main problem I see now is kids no longer being kids, they are trying to rush into being an adult as fast as they can. See kids having relationships and even being sexual active at younger and younger ages. It's not a good thing. Kids need to be kids. Also parents need to whip their kids, enough of this blaming other people, whip the shit out of them.
Okay, now, my mother whipped the shit out of me.

My mother whipped the shit out of me and I have five scars on my back for it. And I've grown up to be a strong and intelligent individual.

However, by no means do I endorse hitting children.

Why? Because my mother beat me until I was twelve, when I finally stood up to her and told her that I would never let her hit me again. Before that day, I was one of those kids in question here. I rebelled and I was a fuckwit. Only after she stopped hitting me did I turn around.

That sort of heavy handed punishment is NOT necassary, especially when you consider a lot of serial killers and more extreme criminals were disciplined in such a way growing up.

The fuckwits at my school who start shit at any chance, I know that a lot of their parents beat them. Meanwhile, the students that are high academic achievers, many of which I'm close friends with, have never had that happen to them.

There is nothing to suggest a beating is the right way to go about this sort of thing.

[Omega]

Theres a big difference between an ass whoop'n and getting the ever loving shit beat out of ya.

[Mirai]

Yes, but that difference can get blurred with every stroke.

[D3adcell]

I know ass whoopins sure kept me in line. Whenever I did something i wasn't supposed to I would get whipped. I was afraid of getting that belt across my ass so I tried my hardest not to fuck up. There is a differrence between being a kid and doing something like breaking a piece of pottery from china on accident or saying fuck and your parents hear you.

[Coded-Dude]

of course you also have things like:
parents swearing in front of their children and then telling them they can't say such words. And you wonder why they become defiant.....? Knowledge is becomeing and easily attainable source, and children learn hipocracy early causing them to rebel because of it.

[Megatron40]

There's abuse and there's getting in trouble. I know I'll spank my kids if they say some rukus of a word around me or play ball in the house when I've told them repeatedly to take it outside or something. But I'm not going to kill them for it. I'm not going to be soft either though. What punishment really is it if you just send the child to his room? It's worthless. I never learned a thing from it. Take my old english teacher...

She's 4 years old and she tells her mom she's running away. Her mom is like, "okay are you sure? Well you're going to need..." and then proceeds to pack up a suitcase for her daughter. My 4 year old english teacher is just in awe... doesn't realize what's going on. Her mom after packing her toothbrush and such says "I suppose I should make you a lunch. You might not have anything to eat for a while". My 4 year old english teacher is still in awe. And before she knows it, she's on the front porch with suitcase and lunch and the front door closing behind her. Did she ever say she was running away again? Certainly not.

My english teacher 5 years old now. She sees another girl fall on the floor whining and screaming because she can't have a doll or something. And this idiot girls mother is like "Oh dear... shh... we'll get you the doll... there there don't cry." My 5 year old english teacher decides to test it. So she's sitting there screaming on the floor for a good 5 minutes when she realizes her mom isn't there anymore. A store clerk comes up to her and asks her if she's Sharron and tells her that her father is on his way to pick her up. Did she ever try to get what she wanted like that again?

Even dogs know when they can get away with something. You know how they came up with the puppy dog eyes? Try this. His wife trains dogs. And does very well at it. Dog peed on the carpet and she comes chasing after the dog. The dog runs to her husband and starts licking him and cuddling up beside him. The husband gave way to the puppy dog eyes and told his wife not to be so hard on the dog.

Children need discipline. Not extreme of course. That's just ridiculous. In training a dog if you hit him hard and long enough he'll bite back. Lesson learned: Do what's necessary... no more and no less. I know many of you can attest to that as you already have. But do we let the kidos run wild and free? Hardly. There's a firm medium that needs to be found. Punishment enough to TEACH a lesson, but no more than that. You don't even have to physically touch them as my english teacher showed! Punishment for wrong donig is a necessity, but SHOULD NOT be over done.