The Kids Are Not Alright

This is a post by guest blogger George and has not been edited in any way.

Kids today are a menace. You see it everywhere you go, any time of the day, on the news or in the public scene. They are constant and consistent parasites for attention, amusement, and anarchy. They lack any sort of moral fiber, show no signs of consideration and zero respect for their parent figures, authorities, and even within themselves.

There’s no explaining needed for what I am going on about. Everyday you switch on the Telly or open the front page of the daily newspaper will always include a sad and disturbing story of kids and their sordid affairs. The law offers no boundaries to their actions; their humanity at times is very questionable. The Werribee high school DVD saga is just one of many dark tales about our youths that would make any parental figure or adult wish they had no part of.

Over this week, I personally witnessed two separate events that really sickened me in a lot of ways and left me a state of disbelief and disgust. The first was during a visit at Big W in Southland Shopping Centre. There we were browsing board games in the toy section where we noticed two kids not older than 13 making a racquet with a certain toy that speaks when operated. Foul language was audible along the section of the shop where any shopper nearby could hear them. Next moment, we see them running around a-muck with plastic swords and bouncy balls yelling more profanities and play fighting as moving from aisle to aisle. However, the most shocking part was when one of the youths threw one of the balls and narrowly missed a young mother pushing a stroller. The lady firmly called for them to “cut it out”, whereupon one of the rascals replied rudely “I DIDN’T FUCKING THROW IT”. The young mother responded by saying that she was directing it to whomever threw the ball, and the stupid brat came back with “Well I’m going to throw it back at him”. This just exemplifies the extreme low level of consideration, common sense, and respect demonstrated by these two little goons. I’m fairly certain that these two particular kids come from some special school or institution.

The second moment of youths gone badly was just yesterday after lunch on a train back to my workplace. I happen to hop onto a carriage where there were three high school youths sitting at one of the ends of the carriage. They were probably in Year 7 or 8 and each were playing the old spitball game targeting random passengers leaving the train at every stop. Just before every time the train closes its doors and departs, they would position themselves just next to the opening and blow spitballs through straws aiming at complete random passengers. Every opportunity excited them; every time there was a hit or a near miss they would crack up and make a scene as if it was the funniest thing they’ve experienced. The thoughts that ran through my head the whole time during that whole train ride was hoping that these kids get into real big trouble for it, whether by the train authorities or getting their asses kicked by blowing those disgusting spitballs at the wrong person.

These two separate incidents were real eye openers for me. Even though I should not be surprised, I simply could not comprehend these wreck less and inconsiderate youths. Having been at their age level and experiencing the teen years myself, I can understand some of the reasons behind their actions and their intolerable behaviors. I can admit that I and the friends I grew up with were not angels ourselves. We were always seeking amusement and laughter at the expense of fooling and confusing people we did and did not know. However, we always knew we were always out there to make ourselves look foolish rather than embarrassing others. We knew our limits and when or if we ever stepped over the time. There were never times were we would go out and do something intentional or not that could hurt others or causing damage people’s property. Any moment one of us believed we had gone too far, one would stop himself and the others, usually warning that it would lead us to too much trouble or simply out of concern and respect for the safety or well being of people we had no grudge against. I guess even though we loved a good fun time doing these silly dares and pranks, we still adhered to some of the morals that we learnt at home and at school.

I was talking to my workmate and discussed what both us believed was the root of the problem. We shared the same theories that it has a lot to do with the level and quality of today’s parenting. Kids nowadays most likely did not have the same upbringing as most us decades ago. A good number of us who are in the late 20s grew up with either parent present at home to keep watchful eyes, and keeping us in line. While today’s preteens and adolescent are still nurtured, fed, clothed and provided for, it is very obvious that they lacked certain values that their mothers and fathers probably did not take into account. These values that most of us adults are aware of and understand the importance of are respect, responsibility, accountability and moral decency. Parents of youths nowadays neglect this somehow whether they assume too much that their kids will learn it somehow or they just don’t have the time to becoming their kid’s role model.

A point also discussed was simply the difference in society today compared to our time about over a decade ago. What you see on TV, movies, video games, magazines today would have been banned and inaccessible to youths back a while ago. All that violence, sex, drugs, bad attitudes, drunkenness, are influencing kids even in Primary school. To make things worst is how easy these corrupt materials can be accessed and consumed by our problem children of today. Technologies and the innovation of the Internet and mobile phones make it so much easier for kids today to mingle and devise mischief and disorder. Today these tools are so affordable and free to access that it is a much a lifestyle to these kids just as the TV, the microwave and the toilet.

Let’s also point out the lack respect and responsibility. My workmate was spot on when she said it was simply how they grew up and what they had growing up. Kids today have and always had everything given to them at their disposal. They expect money, food, transport, and freedom like it was their birthright, not their privilege. With that they are corrupt minded, believing that the world evolves around them and everyone including their parents should kiss their feet and be treated like Kings and Queens. Take away their money and their freedom, and we all know what they will turn into and what they will do. Running away from home, taking drugs, standing outside the red light district; there’s no limit to what they’ll do for the special attention they crave every minute of their lives.

My solution to what I call a world epidemic: Don’t have kids. If you already have them and they are uncontrollable, let’s start thinking GENICIDE. The world can be a better place, buy pets instead.