What do we consider a "child" ?

[Kippy]

Do teenagers count? I can deal with the little ones to a certain extent based on the fact that they are still pushing boundaries and perhaps don't know completely yet how they should behave (the age at which it's the responsibility of a parent to set boundaries, teach manners, etc). In these cases it's the adults in the situation with whom I'm most frustrated.

Teenagers, however. They should know better. I have absolutely no patience for anyone over the age of 10 making a public nuissance (be it littering, throwing food, cursing loudly, letting a door slam in someone's face, pushing, etc). If a 3 year old accidentally runs into me, gets up and runs away without so much as looking at me, that's fine. I don't get upset with the child. If a 15 year old does it...?

I *DESPISE* teenagers in groups (in the UK at least) for this reason. Kids in this country are so goddamned rude and their assholishness seems to increase as the numbers increase (kids are seriously a million times more polite in the US).

I have had teenagers follow me and openly make fun of me in broad daylight. I've had teenagers walk into me and look at me as if to say "what the fuck are you doing there?" and never apologise. I'm so sick of this shit. Teenagers are what make me hate all children.

I feel horrible for my parents for ever having to put up with my teenage self.

This is the main reason I get so annoyed with parents who aren't setting a good example for their tots, teaching them manners and good behaviour. I realise even the best of teenagers are going to probably get up to some not-so-hot activities (come on, we've all been there, like it or not), but how you're raised must make a big difference. I at least expect people to show basic, common respect.

A slightly related question, something that concerns me a lot as of late. I've noticed that in the UK it seems like violent crimes are increasingly committed by younger and younger people. I'm talking 14 year olds stabbing their school mates on the way home from school. Didn't violent crimes used to be committed almost exclusively by older people? An average 14 year old hasn't the ability to think past what they're going to do that night, let alone taking responsibility for someone else's life! What do you think has changed? Is it like this in other countries also?

/end rant (I can't believe I just typed that).

Kip

PS wouldn't it be cool if children had to go into slave labour until the age of 18?

[Amy!]

I hate teenagers!
The "tween" (vomit worthy word, yes?) set is almost worse. Entitled 12 year olds that bump into me in the mall while on their cell phones make me wish for a portable wood chipper to chuck them in.

[nirak]

I would say the rudeness is from age 10 right up to the age of 22 in some cases. I'm 26 and in college, and live in an area full of college aged kids. We've had kids throw beer bottles onto our sidewalk at night, teenagers ride their bikes across our lawn (that we've reseeded parts of), kids blaring the radio on their porch at 2 am on a thursday night.

That's what I get for living in a college town, though.

HOWEVER- I would have never, ever thrown bottles in someone's lawn, drunk or not. So part of it is just general rudeness.

I agree with not blaming the kid in most cases if they are very young. Even very well behaved children have their off days, and you have to expect some of this type of behavior in public. It's when I'm trying to watch a movie, eat dinner, or look at artwork that it will get on my nerves if it does not stop.

[queensiefaerie]

^ I agree with you nirak......Even an 18 year old in college can be a punk-ass....

[queensiefaerie]

(kids are seriously a million times more polite in the US).



Really? I find that hard to believe.

I also agree with the comments on the Parent's are more to blame than the toddlers actions.

[Kippy]

Yeah, okay so I meant young adults, but I didn't want to offend any of said audience who may read this. But I guess there are always exceptions to the rule.

I saw someone with a shirt once that said "I HATE STUDENTS." I was a student at the time but I still desperately wanted it. Ironically the person wearing it was sitting in a pub, drinking...

And whenever I visit the states, teenagers there are a breath of fresh air to me. When someone from a teenie group who are out shopping waits an extra 2 seconds to hold the door for me, my day is made.

[Kollins]

I honestly wish 2/3 (the poorly behaved 2/3) of kids aged 8 to 18 could just, I don't know, be kept in some sort of special institution.

I think it's safe to say that, although puberty and adolescence are difficult times when even good kids will sometimes do bad things, the truly rude and nasty 'tweens' and teens are the ones who, as toddlers and small children, were not reprimanded for bad behaviour by their parents.

As a child, I very quickly learned that throwing a tantrum ensured there was no way I would get what I wanted, while being nice and polite would usually work. So, I grew up into a person who is generally nice and polite. It's a pretty simple concept. Kids learn what works at a fairly early age, and if they learn that being loud, nasty, rude, selfish, and short-tempered will get them what they want, then they're sure to be holy terrors once the wild hormones and savage social pressures of puberty and adolesence hits them.

[CunterFartlett]

this is a case of extreme "late term abortion". If, by the age of 13, they're not up to par, beat 'em to death with a clothes hanger.

[SMMY]

^A thirty-nineth trimester postnatal abortion is in order there.