Let's talk about our young people

B

Blessed

Well-known Member
I would like to hear what you think of our young people. Now that I am older, I am pleased to see that many of our young people display their manners. They hold doors open, say please and thank you, give up a seat to an older person, disabled person or pregnant lady. They are always helpful and kind when I least expect it. I think we have done a pretty good job at bringing our children.
 

win231 said:
Just a FYI:
When young people are nice, considerate & well mannered, it's not always due to their upbringing.
Some parents unwillingly teach their children what type of people NOT to be by their bad example.
I speak from experience.
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That can be true but isn't is sad that was their childhood. My Mom was not affectionate when I was a child but she did teach me how to behave. When I became an adult I forced her into hugs and kisses. I told her I loved her every time I saw her or talked to her on the phone. She grew up that way, there were 9 kids and her Mom was worn to a frazzle taking care of them and all of her farm chores. My last words to her were, I love you Mom, they are all waiting for you, we will be okay and will be together again.
 

@Blessed thank you for starting a great discussion thread.

I honestly don't spend a lot of time around young people, not having kids or grandkids. With that said, if I just looked at them on the surface I would think they are self-obsessed and addicted to their phones, but under the surface I think they are much more worldly aware and dedicated to causes than their predecessors. I think they are the ones who have the ability to make positive changes to the world as we know it.
 
dseag2 said:
@Blessed thank you for starting a great discussion thread.

I honestly don't spend a lot of time around young people, not having kids or grandkids. With that said, if I just looked at them on the surface I would think they are self-obsessed and addicted to their phones, but under the surface I think they are much more worldly aware and dedicated to causes than their predecessors. I think they are the ones who have the ability to make positive changes to the world as we know it.
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I too think there are two focused on the phone thing. They are no more addicted than we are. I don't have a cell phone but I spend way to much time on the computer. Technology we can't stop it, we just have to try to use it wisely. I also think they will change the world, to promote acceptance, end racism, end homophobia. I think they are more aware that everyone has something to offer society if we get rid of some preconcieved notion they have heard in the past. They are more willing to accept others for the people we all are. We won't see the end of it in our lifetime but it will end.
 
My husband often needs help when he is in public, and young people are always among those who step up.

I haven't been around any young people who are not focused on their phones. From what I can tell, they waste a lot of time on their phones -- hours every day.

I have been around lots of young people who have definite opinions on social issues and politics. However, none of them do anything about it except talk. And none of them think very deeply about these issues either -- how will their solution work? How will it effect the country in the short and long terms? Everything is black and white, good or bad, and running a country like Norway (for example) is no different than running the U.S. Everything seems so simple to them, when it is really quite complex.

That said, I really like being around young people.
 
I only have positive things to say about the younger generations. I noticed during Covid how many younger people were volunteering to help older people with shopping and collecting prescriptions. I took my mother's friend (a lady in her late 80's) to the supermarket to help her with her shopping one day and we were soon surrounded by much younger shoppers all volunteering to help.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I'm wheelchair bound. And I have to say young people are always coming up to help me. In fact, I run into some, who have an obsession about helping me.
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I've been watching college baseball. And they look SO young. They're all scrubbed up and ready for a life. They have a "we're going to tackle anything" attitude, and they have no idea what the hell is coming down the road. It ain't going to be pretty but they'll get through it. Just like we did.
 
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Generally, I think each generation is similar to the ones before.

Better in some areas, worse in others.

My niece and her idiot boyfriend had been profound jerks to me.

I think if my brother ever found out how much horrible stuff she has done to him, her own father...there would be big problems.


My brother might cut her off and scream at her.

Or, he can get emotional.

I am actually a bit worried that he will find out how truly horrible they have been...and literally take his own life.


He had a bad break-up around his college years. Had to go into counseling to recover from it.

If he found out that his own child, who has loved dearly, has been an absolute jerk to him, behind the scenes...I literally worry that he might take his own life.


I think it is all this internet anonymity...Just gives license to the absolute worst in people.
 
Blessed said:
That can be true but isn't is sad that was their childhood. My Mom was not affectionate when I was a child but she did teach me how to behave. When I became an adult I forced her into hugs and kisses. I told her I loved her every time I saw her or talked to her on the phone. She grew up that way, there were 9 kids and her Mom was worn to a frazzle taking care of them and all of her farm chores. My last words to her were, I love you Mom, they are all waiting for you, we will be okay and will be together again.
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I wasn't referring to lack of affection.
My mom was a raging, hating, witch who should have never had kids.
She had 3 brooms - one for sweeping, one for beating her kids with & one she rode on.
When she died, none of her 4 kids attended her funeral; we were too busy enjoying the moment.
 
dseag2 said:
@Blessed thank you for starting a great discussion thread.

I honestly don't spend a lot of time around young people, not having kids or grandkids.
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My wife and I are without children and grandchildren. We have found that most young people are interested in our appearance. Young ladies seem to love my wife's formal 1940's hair style, it's a great ice breaker. We meet many a young couple through our love of ballroom dancing. Time and again I can be seen in the arms of a young twenty something, twirling her around the dance floor, a silly grin on her face and, absolutely loving it.

When I get to sit down I share a moment with the lady I love: "I'm getting too old for all this." She readily agrees, having just spent five minutes jiving with a young fellow for whom the dance was easy!
 
horseless carriage said:
My wife and I are without children and grandchildren. We have found that most young people are interested in our appearance. Young ladies seem to love my wife's formal 1940's hair style, it's a great ice breaker. We meet many a young couple through our love of ballroom dancing. Time and again I can be seen in the arms of a young twenty something, twirling her around the dance floor, a silly grin on her face and, absolutely loving it.

When I get to sit down I share a moment with the lady I love: "I'm getting too old for all this." She readily agrees, having just spent five minutes jiving with a young fellow for whom the dance was easy!
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That sounds wonderful. I have always wanted to wear a beautiful gown and ballroom, dance, like Ginger Rogers. I have been able to enjoy some of that. My FIL was a wonerful dancer and I always danced with him at family weddings. I was not good at it, he and his sister competed in dancing when they were young.
 
I am pleased to say that like you, I know several really mannerable and kind young people. My grandchildren and their friends are among them. I see my middle (25) and youngest (17) grandsons most often. Neither will let me open doors for myself, they insist on helping me in and out of vehicles and show appreciation for the smallest things. All of the Gen-Xers I know are polite, helpful and respectful as well and I know many of them through my son and from our neighborhood. This is not to say I'm blind to young people who are not so nice. I know they exists but blessedly, they are not in our lives.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
All of the Gen-Xers I know are polite, helpful and respectful as well and I know many of them through my son and from our neighborhood. This is not to say I'm blind to young people who are not so nice. I know they exists but blessedly, they are not in our lives.
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There are intolerant young people, quite so, then again who hasn't come up against cussed baby boomers, people who were selfish and rude when they were young and haven't improved with age?
 
I don't have a problem with young people as a general rule. Some test my patience but I like to cut them some slack, remembering I was not an angel in my youth!
 
Yes, I think when they can be torn away from their phones they're really a very nice group. I walk with a cane and they're great about holding doors for me.

One day in Kroger I looked down and saw that my shoe had come untied. I was still looking at it when a teenage girl squatted in front of me, tied my shoe, popped up and bounced off while I was still thanking her! It was so endearing. I haven't had anyone tie my shoe for me in about 70 years.
 
horseless carriage said:
There are intolerant young people, quite so, then again who hasn't come up against cussed baby boomers, people who were selfish and rude when they were young and haven't improved with age?
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You talking about the Give Peace a Chance generation? The people who protested against the Vietnam War, pushed for Civil Rights, desegregation in the South, and not judging people by their appearance?

Or do you mean the "Me Generation" of the 70s and 80s?
 
Murrmurr said:
You talking about the Give Peace a Chance generation? The people who protested against the Vietnam War, pushed for Civil Rights, desegregation in the South, and not judging people by their appearance?

Or do you mean the "Me Generation" of the 70s and 80s?
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90s and 2000's
 
Does this fit in here(?):

"I am a seenager, a senior teenager"!

"I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later.

I don’t have to go to school or work.

I get an allowance every month.

I have my own pad.

I don’t have a curfew.

I have a driver’s license and my own car.

I have an ID that gets me special deals and discounts.

The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant. They aren’t scared of anything. They have been blessed to live this long, so why be scared?

And I don’t have acne.

Life is Good!

Also, you will feel much more intelligent after reading this, if you are a Seenager."
 

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