After much obervation and discussion with friends on the subject (one of whom started teaching high school), I feel the need to post this where I know people will read it.

There's been lots of talk of the world becoming a mess what with megacorporate control, scary technology that could get in the wrong hands, and so on. My concern is that the new generation of kids are being robbed of a chance to daydream and develop an imagination, as they are being force-fed a hectic schedule of sports, lessons and organized activities, pressure from competitive parents and constant distration offered by TV, videogames, the Net and so on.

And as the media repeats its favorite juicy little horror stories over and over, parents end up so scared of the outside world that they shleter the crap out of these kids, even spy on them with webcams sometimes.

I'm talking about a whole new generation that has hardly a moment left to their own devices, to do things like spending hours in the back of the house just drawing. Picking up a stick and pretending it's a gun or a conductor's baton or whatever you like. Pondering the fate of a dead bird on the ground and thinking about what life is and what it means. Singing just for self-amusement. Getting into regular, predictable mischief and having a story to tell about it years down the road. Quality alone time.

And they have no peace of mind now either. I'm starting to see, and hear about, (and I'm even related to) kids and 13-14's who are frustrated, spoiled, anxious, dependent as crackheads and convinced that the whole world revolves around them. And they have no imagination, they just "huh-huh", shrug their shoulders and whine.

Anybody else see this?

i think that it is hard to see the world through the eyes of a different generation. what you are describing is something similar to what our parents generation would have said about us... maybe not exactly, but you know what i mean. anyway, i have to agree that kids don't go outside and play as much as they used to. i see my little brother and his friends play video games non-stop. where as in my youth i went to my friends house and we got in trouble with fire works and running around doing bad stuff.

All the time, its like being young is uncool now, each year, the age at which kids try to be older gets less and less, it sickens me when I see 8 year olds dressed in the slutty fashions of today and trying to act old. 10 year olds smoking and even having sex is commonplace in many countries of the world, and thats just SO wrong.

I really miss my childhood, carefree abandonment and fun, not having responsibilities and being able to entertain ourselves with whatever our minds could conjure.

Those days seem long gone, kids dont seem to play imaginary games or anything anymore.

I find it kinda sad

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There's am Offspring song called the kids aren't alright. good song...

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It has to start somewhere,
It has to start sometime,
What better place then here?
What better time than now?
--Rage Against the Machine

yes i see this.

Combination of bad parenting, bad educational systems, bad support systems, bad society habits, bad corpotations, and a general feeling of paranoia, social angst and whats the point amongst todays youth (imo).

Its not something that cant be addressed, but its a tough dog eat dog world where even the most optomistic get down and down right dirty, i know of people who would rather not have children than bring them into this world.

But on the other had, we're here to have a life and this world has so much to offer. Its just a shame that youngsters dont think that it is accessible to them, and choose/given a constructed world view as its easiers.

I tell you what when i have children, and i will have them. I'll really limit their viewing of tv and games etc. Kr00t ur right, i cherish the days i played in my imagination and honesty think im better for it. Maybe a little more insane but that goes with my territory.

A healthy does of insanity makes reality more livable imo

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quote:

Originally posted by DrummeRaver86 There's am Offspring song called the kids aren't alright. good song...

hehe, forgot about that...

quote:

I tell you what when i have children, and i will have them. I'll really limit their viewing of tv and games etc.

good start....encourage alternatives, that's the thing.

quote:

what you are describing is something similar to what our parents generation would have said about us...

...which brings up an important question: is that subjective (every generation thinks the next one is dumber/has it worse), or is it objective (the world is becoming a worse place one generation at a time)?

uh, just bomb mtv and the next generation of kids will be normal again

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soulful/latin/deep house + jazz

i blame the baby boomers because they are the worst parents ever collectively. they view kids as "young adults" and treat them as such, constantly pushing people to grow up grow up grow up!

this hard nosed cynicism that everyone has these days is (in my perspective) an offshoot of moral relativism, making every person constantly vanguarding themselves against new dilemmas and issues, instead of accepting some common sense. makes for a very unfriendly world. What chance have kids got?

I feel the pain, bro! I'm 19 (which is old enough ) and I still think that I have too many responsibilities for my age! Kids these days get to 16 years old and are forced to sit exams, the outcome of which will determine how they live the rest of their lives. If thats not harsh on a 16 year old brain, I dont know what is.

But then there are obnoxious little brats out there who have everything laid out before them and are spoilt rotten. These kids need to learn how to handle responsibilty or they'll end up dealing hard drugs on some street corner before ending up in prison. Shove those ones into the army.

Complicated world we live in, eh?? Thank god for trance. If only TA's ruled the world...

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quote:

Originally posted by mndeg uh, just bomb mtv and the next generation of kids will be normal again

bahahahaha

you are SO right

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sempre contra a corrente do jogo

quote:

Originally posted by Taz ...which brings up an important question: is that subjective (every generation thinks the next one is dumber/has it worse), or is it objective (the world is becoming a worse place one generation at a time)?

i think its very subjective. the fact that we cannot relate to a different generation does not mean the world is going to end. Social trends that we might think destructive are a part of the natural progression of our society. whether it is the addition of technology such as video games or the internet, these things are not damaging to the effect that we today do not live in the same world that our grandparents did. While one might say that too much computer and not enough exercise is damaging, someone else can make the argument that in a highly technical society, early exposure is the best method of education.

now, whether or not we are noticing a decline in the morality of our society...i think the answer is definitely yes.