Signs that make you worry for the future
 

While on my way to advance vote just a half an hour ago I merged onto 17th Ave S.W from Richmond Rd to head east down the significant hill that is there. Ahead of me were a couple of vehicles honking at the stupefyingly ignorant skateboarder who was in the middle of a lane of traffic going down the entire hill. An F250 in front of me tried to 'herd' him over and the kid went around him and was now skating down the hill directly into the oncoming lane of traffic. He was utterly defiant at all of the criticism he was receiving, including my own. He was dressed well like a kid from a wealthy family rather than like a skate punk, although he did have the punk attitude down cold. He was perhaps 17 or 18 and might even be eligible to vote, it made me worry about the nonsense being drilled into our youth that gives them such attitudes and what that will mean into our future. It seems that youth are being weaponized & made into such obnoxious, demanding brats these days.

I tied this to the ridiculous protests, walk-outs and campaigns we see all too much of these days, I wonder what our future will bring. This was in my head as a cast my ballot and I was not left with a pile of optimism. I don't want our great nation getting ruined.

I welcome counterpoint examples to show how great some kids are, but sadly I know this kid is not an anomaly.

I hear ya Caber. I too went to vote early today. Lucky for me I went to a nearby small town to vote and I'd bet 90% of the votes there will be in the right direction.

One thing I have noticed with the younger generation is that so much emphasis is put on not offending any 'other' people that many people are letting others walk all over them while still feeling incredibly entitled about everything else.

I know there are still many good kids out there but it seems like its few and far between.

If you happen to be white, male or straight and happen to take pride in yourself vocally you will be strung up.

Sad state of affairs.

Grandson was just over and helped with Christmas cakes, a dog walk by River, same young fellow helped cleaned up after Thanksgiving supper last nite and was willing to do so and learn. Painted back fence and did my lawn last summer. So a good un.

But his brother is another story, like so many seems sullen, unwilling to think of others, unwilling to get off bum etc.

I always tell them "I don't see stupid written on your forehead, but I can darn sure see the eraser marks"!

You know what is even worse, the number of 40-50 year olds that are just as bad and haven't learned a thing as they got older. Was having supper yesterday and my SIL brought up banning all "Assault Rifles". She had not idea that civilian ARs and AKs are not full auto, and have magazines pinned at 5 rounds. Once I explained it to her she was quite embarrassed. It clearly tells me we aren't getting our message out well at all.

With respect to your specific issue, I really don't think there are a whole bunch more entitled, self centered kids now than there was 30 years ago. I think we forget just how opinionated, cock sure and obnoxious many of us were when we were 20 years old. I remember going back to University when I was 25, after being in the working world for 7 years, and thinking, what a bunch of deluded ahoes most of the students were. Most of them grew out of it and turned into good people. Like my buddy says, amazing how smart his Dad became once my buddy turned 30.

I'm feel quite the opposite of the OP.
I have 16 and 18 year old sons...both of whom are hard workers, don't expect that society owes them a thing and most of their friends are the same.
It is a particular generation that is to blame....the stereotypical millennial (23-35) that was brought up by the boomer crowd (and yes, I fall into that category). But in my opinion the younger people for the most part see that that attitude gets you know where and in fact realize that with the way the economy is going worldwide the only way to succeed is by hard work.
There will always be (and always have been) young people like the skateboarder in the OP's experience that have been brought up by self entitled parents and follow by example.
I'm an involved father, and am involved with many of the activities of my sons...maybe a total of 15 or 20 young people between 16 and 19...all are either in school or working...all just want to get on with things and make a life.
Every generation has their slackers and know it all's....and every generation has the oldsters who like to complain about the youth.

Can't remember who said it: The only two animals that don't have enough brains to tan their own hide are chickens and teenagers.

Colin

Was at a funeral for a friend a couple of months ago. He died of cancer in his 70’s. He was literally a pillar of the community. Celebrity singers came to just sing and show their respect. 100’s and 100’s of people attended two different services for him. One of the stories told was something very similar he did as a teenager down signal hill in Calgary.

I think we have short memories and think of ourselves more highly than we should.

I’ve seen just as many older people that make me worry about the future as the younger ones. If we can survive with the amount of older, uneducated, and miserable people around town and at work, there at least is hope for the future. And honestly kids who act like you have described probably did not have parents that taught them the right things. Negative miserable parents make negative miserable kids.

It’s easy to focus on what’s wrong, maybe keep an eye out for what is right. I see plenty of good well adjusted kids.

Love the saying.

Regarding the skateboarder going down the hill in traffic... he was probably a Red Bull professional skateboarder.

Hey Caber and others, I said many times on this general forum - LET DARWIN DEAL WITH FOOLS!!

Except it ain't powittwy cowwect to tell the general population......:sick:

*points to quote in signature*

Yes to this. I was a complete idiot in most of the things I did as an adolescent, and I like to think that I’m now pretty responsible. Family, kids, great job. I turned out ok. Maybe he wasn’t a “punk skater”, maybe he was just having fun. Yes, the middle of the road is not the best place to do it. But let’s not write him off as a lost cause quite yet. Think back........ were all of you perfect examples of upstanding citizens all your life? Didn’t think so. I have a “punk skater” teenage son right now. Pretty sure he’ll end up ok.

Looking around every day, Western civilization is on the down hill slide. We've had the luck to live at the peak. The present generation has adopted a defeatist attitude that will do us in. I worry about my Grand Kids.

Grizz

I said 30-some years ago that, "One More Generation, and The Barbarians Will Be At The City Gates, and There Will Be Nobody and Nothing Left To Stop Them".

Everyone laughed at me and said, "No way! You're just paranoid!"

Well guess what........

There are still lots of good kids and young people around.

And they are more than willing to hold back any horde of barbarians you care to name.

They just don't discuss these things out in public anymore for fear of being flamed and/or ostracized by their less intelligent peers.

Funny how ever generation seems to rag on the one after or before. I also don't think there are any more or less self entitled #%?! than before or after.

Is it our children or millennials that banned firecrackers, lawn darts, or throwing stars? Or currently (and previously) going after our firearms and crossbows?

The bigger problem here, in my opinion, is that there is always someone out there that isn't happy to just live their own life and go about their own business, but rather 'make the world a better place' by being compelled to tell everyone else how to live theirs (usually the same way).

Going back to our skateboarder, maybe he'll smarten up (probably), maybe he won't, hopefully he won't die. But every generation had him, only the skateboard may have been different.

Reading old newspaper articles there have been some articles where back in 1900 the citizens were upset because the young guys were racing their horses up and down main street. 1960's & 70's there were muscle cars that were revving up and down the same main street upsetting the oldtimers. In the 2000's the same main street has pride parades and electric scooters for the oldtimers complain about.

I was that bad kid.

What I hated most was being blamed for stuff I DIDN’T do.......that was the worst

Not me, I was an angel.............................They still haven't found all of the bodies:)

Kids will be kids.

What worries me for the future is the changing demographics of the country and the rising socialist politics. It seems like we're in an inescapable decline that is accelerating. The only way I can see it being reversed is if someone like Hitler 2.0 appeared and majorly reformed the system. But the swamp is too big to drain at this point and the masses have become too stupid, it would take a miracle. Back in the 1930s the corruption was a lot smaller and even then it won against the attempt at reform. So I echo the fear for my grandchildren. If they survive 100 years from now, they will be living in a vastly different world. My parents' generation may have been the peak in terms of luxurious lifestyle and sadly most of them seem oblivious to what's happening and excessively proud of themselves.

Most kids will grow to be good people. They had the same problem many moons ago, and will in the future.

“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”

― Socrates

What worries me about the future is all the young people that feel entitled to the money others have earned. They see what their parents and Grandparents have and feel they should have it to. Unfortunately, they feel it is easier to get it from the old folks than it is to earn their own.

You guys don't get it. YOLO!
 

Who are we to question their death defying stunts in the pursuit of greatness?
In the best tradition of the Darwin Awards, I'm all for it as long as they provide entertaining footage. :sHa_sarcasticlol:

What worries me is the baby boomer generation and their ailing bodies putting stress on our already taxed healthcare system......the younger generations seem to be more health conscious.

I don’t know what you’re talking about, most Boomers I know smoke less than a pack on the way to the store to get a 40 or rum and come back.

Vaping is the new smoke has more flavour then baskin Robin . Also they discovered a New lung disease.

Then again most boomers worked long careers, and paid taxes their entire day lives, instead of waiting around for handouts. So in reality, they paid for the services they are receiving.