General Chat

these kids are behaving like this cos they can when we were young we had respect for people, now the police dont want to know, they get away with it every time if my kids did it theyd answer for it and pay for what ever damage they did as for assault they shouldnt get away with it what ever age they are

Many of these kids behave like this because violence is the norm in their home and the society in which they move. The parents don't condemn it and teachers can't give any punishment without 'violating their human rights' - I am so sick of that phrase. did anyone read in the mail about the USA State where the prisoners all have to wear pink undershorts as a uniform (nothing else), obviously it is a warmer climate but the prison regime is hard, privileges cancelled for misdemeanors. The Sheriff (I think it was) said that he was concerned with the human rights of the victims and those who end up in prison should forfeit their human rights as part of their punishment. I wish we would go the same way. All the prisoners were determined not to re-offend and return. Ann glos

I agree Ann - It's sickening that Prisoners have more rights than innocent people, people aren't 'punished' in prison anymore so they don't care if they get sent there again! The Human Rights Bill has caused far more abuse than it has stopped. Now misbehaved children have the upper hand over their parents and society in general. Now prisoners expect far more than they deserve - and seem to get it. I'm only 30 but I look at kids today and remark on how I never would have behaved like that when I was their age! I always thought it was pensioners who said things like that, but I think everyone can see it nowadays? I have a step-son who my Husband and I only see during school holidays and we are often surprised by his behaviour - he's not nasty or really naughty, but his Mother just hasn't taught him any Manners or Respect and I believe that is the key to the problem with some of todays monstous youths - they need to learn RESPECT. Bring back smacking - it never did me any harm!

More sterotyping. If you are sick of the youth of today then you should be just as digusted as the parents of today.I doubt we'll see a thread tarnishing all parents with same brush. The trouble that would cause.

Can I just say that I am not stereotyping - I don't assume that all children are horrible, my nieces and nephews are all very well behaved and a pleasure to take anywhere, but they have all been taught respect and have all been smacked when the occasion has called for that sort of punishment. In many cases the parents are as much to blame as the children, but in others the parents just have no control anymore as society has taken their authority away.

Ann, you and I read the same paper. Brought a smile when they said the underpants were white orignially but they were being pinched so they dyed them pink, very fetching. It's a tent prison built for £50,000, boiling hot in the summer up to 130 deg F and freezing in the winter. No privelages and only two meals a day. Whose human rights are we more interested in? Ros

I have just seen that really annoying Crazy Frog Ringtone advert again and it made me smile.......they have covered up Crazy Frogs tiny and inconspicuous willy with a black box - obviously for fear of warping childrens fragile little minds! Can anyone else see the irony in that after reading the messages on this thread? Kaye x

I agree very much with what Bev, said earlier, the so-called do-gooders have and are letting our children down big time. Their good intentions have not only led to a lack of discipline amongst many but are in grave danger of destroying the good name of 'youth' itself. As Daniel said, not all youngsters are bad, which I think we all know don’t we of course but because of so much lawlessness and lack of respect going on and nothing really being done about it, a lot of our NICE, CARING, WELL MANNERED, RESPECTFUL, ENTERPRISING youngsters are fast being tarred with the same brush, which is so unfair on them. They are being let down also! The thing is, I feel we all need to work together on raising a respectful and decent society. We all need to play our part and not just leave it to others to hopefully sort out. Instead of just walking by and saying nothing when we see little ones misbehaving in the street, supermarket, etc. we ought to just stop and tell them what we feel they are doing wrong and not just leave it to the parents all the time, after all I think some parents these days could do with a bit of reminding. There is no reason why we can’t say something in a nice but firm way; it doesn’t have to come across as a put down. These children are our future and may be the nurse or doctor that will one day be looking after us when we are old. I don’t mean for us to put ourselves in danger by approaching a group of teenagers and older as that is silly these days, it’s a bit late for them, that is something the police need to help more with. I think it’s time to stop putting the minority above the majority. I also think it’s time to stop letting the bad apples of society to just rot the rest of the barrel. If we all do our little bit I’m sure we can turn things around. I’m pretty sure our youngsters will thank us for it in the long run. I remember hating my Father for being so strict when I was younger, but as I got older I felt so thankful to him, for I’m sure it’s helped to make me the, (hopefully) good person that I am today. Margaret

I do agree - to a point - Margaret. The trouble these days is that the parents are often as bad as the children! My Mum was telling me how she told a lad off in the supermarket for playing with the french sticks, she wasn't rude to him but firm - like you suggest. His Mother then had a go at my Mum! What can you do when the parents are happy for their children to behave like delinquents? I also believe that a big part of the problem is Children having Children - so many teenage Mums today - these girls and boys aren't mature enough to bring up their own children. Maybe that's a problem that should be tackled too?

I don't know if any of you watch the Paul O'Grady teatime show, but earlier in the week he had Graham Cole on (PC Stamp from The Bill). He talked a lot of sense, about how discipline has gone downhill, schools can't punish children, parents don't mind if their children behave like yobs. They were talking about 'hoodies' and them being banned from Bluewater. Paul was spot on when he said that it's not the hoodies, it's what's inside them! My teenage son has a hoodie, it's a nice warm garment that means he can be comfy and stylish - but if he goes out wearing it, he will either be banned from certain places or will be tarred with the same brush as the yob culture. Bendy, that was incredibly brave of you to insist on your son being charged - I have to say that I would do exactly the same thing. If my son misbehaves in whatever shape or form, then he will be punished in the most appropriate way. Mandy :(

Yes I know what you mean Kaye, like I said some parents need teaching just as much as the children do. It would be nice to see the shop assistants say something now and then too I think. I work in a large hotel on reception in the evening and one day we had a family in who's children were running around all over the lounge/reception area; this went on for a little while and the parents were saying nothing much to them; then the little boy started to play about with a lamplight so I went over to him and said for him not to play with the light because it is dangerous and that it is not something he should be playing with. I then went to the Mum and asked her to please keep her children from running all around reception and to keep them closer to where she was sitting. She did apologise and kept her children under more control. I know that some parents don't like being told or having their children told, but I do think that it helps sometimes to say something. Because some children don't always listen to their parents, if someone else tells them as well that then backs up the parents. Margaret

It is not often I add to these threads but feel I have to in this case.When you hear of the things kids get up to and you feel disgusted and think they can't do any worse, they find something that is even lower. I was prompted to add to this thread after reading the post on the ruler slapping teacher.As an eight year old we had a teacher in her fifties ' Miss Hepworth' she would use the ruler on us for talking in class. Girls the flat side and boys the edge across the knuckles and not just one slap.In my opinion if kids were taught to behave at an early age they would not grow into the yobs of today.

Struck with a ruler for talking and boys for some reason treated more harshly than girls. There's discipline and there’s cruelty. I'll always come back to the argument that my parent's generation never had national service or corporal punishment. Domestic upbringing is the key factor in this isue.

It will only get worse. Children no longer recognise boundaries. The politically correct, a vociferous minority, who crucify adults who lay a finger on young yobs now seek to have it made a criminal offence for even parents to administer a slap. The human race is set to become the first of the animal kingdom not to chastise its young with probably catastrophic results. Children have intelligence but no wisdom or feeling for others (except, perhaps, their mums) . They quickly learn that they are immune from retribution and that moulds their characters. Respect for others comes through nurture, not nature. len

My daughter and I were sitting having a lunchtime coffee in the middle of a shopping mall in Bexleyheath yesterday. A woman was just walking past us using her mobile and a lad ran past her and without even stopping, snatched her phone out of her hand and pushed her over. It was really busy but by the time we all realized what had happened he was out of the mall and down the road. A copule of men gave chase but he was gone from sight. She was, understandably, very upset and shocked, we got her tea and sat her down and someone phoned the police. We had to leave to get my grandson from school but someone else was waiting with her. Keep thinking about her today. Hope she is o.k. Linda

I have just read over the replys to this thread and I want to apologise to David Owen and Daniel if the way I worded this thread at the beginning indicated that I meant all of the youths of today! I do realise that it is the minority and yes I do believe that alot of it is sometimes the fault of the parents! I have a 13yr old son and I hope that I have brought him up to have more respect for other people than what I have seen other kids do! Im not a 'tough' parent but I will discipline him if Im needed to do so! These days it appears that some parents just cannot be bothered and as long as their chid is not under their feet then they are not bothered what they are up to!! I know where my son is and who he is with every minute of the day and regularly phone his mobile to check! This is not because I dont trust him but I dont want him 'falling' in with the wrong crowd!! I encouraged him to join the Sea Cadets, which he loves. It gives him discipline, teaches him respect and is also a fun place to go 3 nights a week and every other weekend!! Sorry if this is a bit long but I can understand why David and Daniel made their comments of which I totally agree! Bev x

I agree with all the comments made so far. The problem is, their parents are probably the same ie if they were told what their children had done, they would probably not think much of it as, in the majority of cases, the parents are just as bad,hence bad behaviour from the children. I don't know what can be done to change things. I agree, that the do gooders have not helped the situation. I would like to think that there are more good people than bad in this country. I have 3 boys who, have been taught from a very young age to respect everyone and treat everyone the way they would like to be treated themselves. I prefer not to smack where possible, but my boys know the threat is there. I would be absolutely outraged if any of my boys did so much as shouted abuse at anyone without just cause. Jackie

Sooner or later there's going to be a sort of revolt, I'm sure there is. It's got to be dealt with in a big way - and as far as I'm concerned, the sooner the better. There's some lads in our lane that have openly said that they can do what the 'f--k' they like (their words, not mine). They've thrown stones at our car and neighbouring ones, trampled in our front garden, to name but two things. And they're right - we can't do a thing about it. How old are the main offenders? 13-14. Luckily, most of the kids in our lane are great, but unfortunately the mindless yellowbellies spoil it for the majority.

To Daniel, I am pointing out what you could expect in the 1940's with no complaints from parents to what teachers are allowed to do today.Extreme I would admit but a woman teacher in her fifties five feet nothing with Victorian principles could do that and believe me she had respect.

A family story which springs in the time back in the late 1940's when a G. uncle was hit by a teacher for something which he maintained he never did. A mark was left on him and when my G grandmother saw it she promptly went down to the school, shouted at the teacher who assaulted her son and pulled him out of the catholic school. Next day she placed him into the next nearest school, a protestant school down the road where he stayed for rest of his school life. An example of how corporal punishment can be wrongly administered and the consequences. That was in the 40's.