What are Americans missing???

Kids are, at the end of the day, irresponsible and selfish. They're supposed to be... it's part of the process of growing up and they pretty much all grow out of it by the time they're in their late teens.

I wish that were true.  Society idolises adolescence to the point that many people (usually men) never grow out of it, and think that to do so would make them "boring".  I remember a riot in my hometown of Bristol which was "provoked" by a 35-year-old chav (with two kids of his own) crashing a stolen police motorbike into a police car which was trying to block his way.  "How can I tell his kids that the police killed their daddy" wailed his equally chav mother.  Yes, one has to cut her some slack, since she had just lost a son, but I'll bet half the rioters didn't even know the guy.

SO what is the answer to addressing the global youth and what do parents have to do to ensure they are raising their children to have respect but not to ostracize them from the other children and how they are being raised??? 
While I do agreethat the youth of today (at least those I am familiar with in the States) show little respect to self or others.  However, I am reminded that this was also the attitude that the adults had as far back as Socrates when he was put to death in part for corrupting the youth of Athens.  As time progressed it was Elvis and the Beatles who were the cause of wild youth and the lack of respect the youth were said to have.  Now here I sit in the 21st century complaining about how the youth has gone wild and not sure what to do about it.  Is it that the youth are bad or is it that we have just grown up and view the world differently???
I don't know the answers, I guess I too have placed a stereotype on the British people since I felt that I would be doing my child a far greater justice to relocate to a place where manors are still a part of life but it sounds as if things are just as bad.  Ohhhh what to do?

Children and teens have not changed since the beginning of time. They all get to a point (some more than others) where they try to take control and think they are ready to make grown up decisions. The difference is the grown up used to be able to put them back in their place and now they can get in trouble for it. All we can do in our own homes is to let the kids know that they have limits ( regardless of what their friends do) and we expect them to have respect and obey laws. End of story...no exceptions. So now when i tell my teens 'no', they may not like it, but under my roof they better accept it. They know I love them so I dont think I have to worry about them turning me in for infringing on their 'rights'. Hopefully, since a lot are realising what chaos the youth are turning into, enough will wise up and start parenting again so as to start making a difference.

Children and teens have not changed since the beginning of time. They all get to a point (some more than others) where they try to take control and think they are ready to make grown up decisions. The difference is the grown up used to be able to put them back in their place and now they can get in trouble for it. All we can do in our own homes is to let the kids know that they have limits ( regardless of what their friends do) and we expect them to have respect and obey laws. End of story...no exceptions. So now when i tell my teens 'no', they may not like it, but under my roof they better accept it. They know I love them so I dont think I have to worry about them turning me in for infringing on their 'rights'. Hopefully, since a lot are realising what chaos the youth are turning into, enough will wise up and start parenting again so as to start making a difference.

Exactly what I was thinking but didn't know how to put in words.  It is up to parents to teach their children the basics of respecting their elders and the law.

I remember a story in the paper where a parent had actually blamed the school for the upbringing of her child.  My first thought was - since when has it become the sole responsibility of the school to raise children??

Here Here!!!

That is what I was trying to say in my earlier posting about respect....

silly words  like Cha and  ta ra   and "y' alright?'   and just 'ta'  and HIYA!!   (all the ones that annoy me  ) 

silly words like Cha and ta ra and "y' alright?' and just 'ta' and HIYA!! (all the ones that annoy me )

And you just know that "HIYA" is going to be pronounced, through a mouthful of chewing gum, as "HI-YAAAAAAH" in an incredibly irritating, high pitched, nasal voice.

You don't happen to live in Essex do you?

silly words  like Cha

Cha?
What's that mean?

And you just know that "HIYA" is going to be pronounced, through a mouthful of chewing gum, as "HI-YAAAAAAH" in an incredibly irritating, high pitched, nasal voice.

You don't happen to live in Essex do you?

Ahem.. some of us live in Essex and don't sound or speak like that.

silly words  like Cha and  ta ra   and "y' alright?'   and just 'ta'  and HIYA!!   (all the ones that annoy me  ) 

I rather like 'ta'.  It's easy for kids to say, so they learn to say thanks before they can pronounce the full 'thank you'.  I've got a pal whose screen name is 'ta mum' and I found that original.

Cha?
What's that mean?

Tea,the elixir of life.

Dave

Cha?
What's that mean?

Tea,the elixir of life.

Dave

NO!!  it means bye.. ;Dbut it must be a  Brummie thing..

also  I know what you mean  about the  high pitched nasaly voice  through gum.. but again.. in Birmingham  not Essex..   

NO!!  it means bye..  ;Dbut it must be a  Brummie thing..

Must be one of these new expressions,never heard of cha except as in a cup of cha/char.

Dave

'Char' for tea, i know.
But never heard 'cha' for 'bye'!  And i speak to Brummies everyday, cos i schedule the maintenance/repairs for the bank's buildings at Brindleyplace, St Philips Place & Livery Street! 
I'll have to listen more closely, maybe!

I think I am only slightly in a different position than lots of folks.

I have been the the UK more than most folks I know and my brother lives there, so I get to hear his input.


My move to London is set for the second week in Aug., so its coming right up. After talking with my brother, there are a few things that I am aware I will miss:

1) Weather.  I live in California. I have twice the number of shorts that I do long pants.
2) Recreational Shooting. I enjoy target and skeet shooting and won't be doing any of that in the UK.
3) Mondo Stores. This is a double edged one. The convenience of walking into a home depot, Barnes and Noble, etc. is nice. By the same token, the smaller mom and pop shops are often a great pleasure.
4) Driving on the right.
5) Nearly year round BBQs.
6) Wide warm beaches.
7) Being less than a two hour drive from snow, beach, mountains, desert, lakes, forest.
Gas prices

Thats all I can come up with for now. I am sure that once I am there and really settled, there will be more subtle things that I discover I miss.

R

'Char' for tea, i know.
But never heard 'cha' for 'bye'! And i speak to Brummies everyday, cos i schedule the maintenance/repairs for the bank's buildings at Brindleyplace, St Philips Place & Livery Street!
I'll have to listen more closely, maybe!

It just occured to me,it may be brummy for ciao.

Dave